2016 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest Winners Announced

Little Rock, Ark. — July 22, 2016 — The homes of 17 electric cooperative members will soon become much more energy efficient thanks to the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Ninth Annual Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest. The 17 winning members’ homes will each receive up to $5,000 in energy efficiency improvements.

“Hundreds of electric cooperative members from across the state submitted applications,” said Bret Curry, manager of residential energy marketing for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. “Then, a statewide team of cooperative representatives objectively selected the 17 winning homes. The common theme among the homes is higher than average electrical consumption per square foot of living space and complaints about having to sacrifice comfort in order to keep the electric bill affordable.”

Curry said the energy efficiency makeover project is an educational program demonstrates basic building science. Member’s homes are used as a resource during the energy efficiency transformation makeover so others can learn how to implement energy savings applications and comfort improvement ideas within their homes.

Each winner will receive a comprehensive energy audit that includes a blower door air infiltration test, a ductwork leakage test and infrared thermal imaging scan. Upon diagnosis of the energy problems, a team of experts will properly install additional attic insulation, seal and insulate whole-house attic fans and attic access points, caulk and seal unwanted air leaks, reconnect, seal and insulate the ductwork. Winners also receive a heating and cooling system tune-up. Inefficient lighting will be replaced with LED bright stikTM bulbs courtesy of General Electric.

Grand prizes winners and their respective, locally owned electric cooperatives are:

• Crystal Hartman of Alma, an Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative member

• Hunter Smith of Crossett, an Ashley-Chicot Electric Cooperative member

• Earlene McBride of Star City, a C&L Electric Cooperative member

• Mark Scott of Gravette, a Carroll Electric Cooperative member

• Chris and Tonya Hankins of Pocahontas, Clay County Electric Cooperative members

• Tim Oppenheim of Jonesboro, a Craighead Electric Cooperative member

• Rebecca Ladd of Newport, a Farmers Electric Cooperative member

• Roger and Susan Emerson of Cabot, First Electric Cooperative members

• Tina Wilder of Blytheville, a Mississippi County Electric Cooperative member

• Bobbie Joe Johnson of Ash Flat, a North Arkansas Electric Cooperative member

• Tim and Sheila Bastien of Hampton, Ouachita Electric Cooperative members

• Brian and Diana Persing of Fayetteville, Ozarks Electric Cooperative members

• Brian and Diana Persing of Clinton, a Petit Jean Electric Cooperative member

• Harold and Katherine Piatt of Mena, Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative members

• Arva L. Parker of Langley, a South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative member

• Michael G. Stout of Fouke, a Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative member

• Andra Collins of Moro, a Woodruff Electric Cooperative member

Makeover progress can be viewed here or follow Smart Energy Tips on Facebook

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas comprise 17 electric distribution cooperatives

Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based cooperative that provides services to the distribution cooperatives and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), a generation and transmission cooperative. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to approximately 500,000 homes, farms and businesses in Arkansas and surrounding states.

For additional information, contact:

Rob Roedel, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, 501.570.2296 or rob.roedel@aecc.com | www.aecc.com