By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer First introduced in the 1950s, recessed lighting or “can lighting” is still a popular choice for residential and commercial lighting. Traditionally, these fixtures consist of a cylindrical or square-shaped metal housing that extends above the ceiling so only the trim or baffle is visible on the ceiling surface. A lamp or bulb is screwed into a socket mounted inside the top of the housing. When switched on, the fixture provides a streamlined and unobtrusive appearance that complements various interior design styles. Despite these benefits, recessed can lights have a reputation for being inefficient. Though they can be fitted with an energy-efficient LED bulb, many still use less-efficient incandescent bulbs. Recessed fixtures with housing that is not sealed can also lose costly heated or cooled air from the space below. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these energy losses can account for up to 50% of a ceiling’s total thermal loss. Though customers can install a more expensive, sealed can light or retrofit existing fixtures with seals, they now have another choice: canless recessed lights. Canless recessed lighting refers to a type of fixture installed directly into the ceiling. They do not have a recessed can or housing that extends above. Moreover, canless recessed lights are self-contained units that integrate the housing, trim, and light source into a single fixture. They are an ideal option for existing homes and facilities as they do not require any large holes in the ceiling and can be easily retrofitted to existing can lights. Compared to traditional recessed lights, canless recessed lights are generally more compact, allowing for quick and easy installation. This makes them suitable for installations in areas with limited space between the ceiling and other structures, like ductwork or pipes. They also have better energy efficiency since they eliminate the need for separate housing that is prone to air leakage and heat loss while utilizing solid-state LED lighting technology which produces the most amount of light per watt of electricity. Since LEDs produce very little heat compared to other bulb options, customers also save on cooling costs. Much like their predecessors, canless recessed lights offer multiple trim options, like baffle, pinhole or eyeball trim, to suit different design preferences. Perhaps the best surprise customers find is that canless fixtures typically cost 25% to 50% less when compared to their canned cousins. Like many other high-performing lighting products, manufacturers can submit their canless recessed fixture products for ENERGY STAR® recognition. Those displaying the ENERGY STAR® label on their packaging are the easiest way customers can assure they are selecting a quality, energy-efficient light. In partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, Southwest Public Power District wants to help their customers gain the most benefit from the electricity they provide. For additional ideas on ways you can make cost-effective efficiency improvements to your home or business, contact Southwest Public Power District or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is committed to working in partnership with local utility customers to maximize the value of their energy purchases in a cost-effective manner. To understand its importance in our future, we need to examine where energy efficiency began. As intelligence evolved, energy efficiency included finding easier ways to get work done. For example, the invention of the wheel was an early advance in energy efficiency. Fire is the oldest major source of energy controlled by humans. Its earliest uses began with and grew from cooking to heating of dwellings, clearing land, baking pottery and casting metal. Controlled fires required a considerable amount of effort for gathering fuel, so efficiency arose in the use of fuel. Around the start of the 18th century, fire powered the first steam engine. Its development was revolutionary since, for the first time, fire could produce mechanical work. It also gave rise to searching for ways to achieve higher efficiency. This scientific discipline eventually evolved into what we now call mechanical engineering. Only a few decades later, practical use of electrical power emerged, and by the end of the 19th century, humans began to produce more and more electricity to power incandescent lights and motors. Shortly thereafter, the invention of innumerable small machines and labor-saving devices made electricity a ubiquitous commodity. By the beginning of the 20th century, energy consumption per capita was accelerating. The 1973 "energy crisis" brought the realization that energy sources might not keep pace with mankind's ability to use energy. Energy efficiency as we know it today began and was called “conservation” with the concept of “Just Use Less.” Congress established the Department of Energy in 1977 to diversify energy resources and promote conservation. The electric industry began to see efficiency as an energy resource whose avoided cost is less than building another power plant or procuring in the wholesale market to meet customer demand. Efficiency programs began to yield market impacts beyond cost-effective energy savings. On March 15, 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched the ENERGY STAR® brand to help customers recognize high efficiency options. Around the same time, performance contracting began to provide access to needed capital and services for building energy performance improvements. Recognizing that efficiency provided benefits beyond just saving energy, utilities began ramping up programs shortly after the start of the current millennium. Non-energy benefits such as managing electrical demand, increasing electric grid resilience and reliability, creating jobs, advancing technology and reducing greenhouse gas emissions became apparent. Electrification is also a form of energy efficiency. As cited in Forbes, on Nov. 9, 2023, “Transitioning from a fossil energy system to a fully electrified one could cut up to 40% of final energy consumption. In buildings, for example, Artificial intelligence-driven technologies can save up to 20% in a building’s energy costs by combining building, weather, and user data to predict heating and ventilation demand. Load-shifting can also be automated to cool supermarket freezers down to a much lower temperature than required outside the peak demand hours. When peak demand periods occur, refrigeration is switched off and the freezers effectively operate like a battery storing energy.” In homes, air-conditioning systems can be operated in a similar way to provide energy demand reductions during peak periods while still maintaining indoor comfort. Going forward, efficiency will be increasingly recognized for its financial and strategic value. There is a renewed focus on getting the most economic value from each unit of energy. Renewable generation will continue to grow, as well as energy storage, demand management and re-using waste heat. For years, Southwest Public Power District, in partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, has been dedicated to safely generating and delivering reliable, low-cost, sustainable energy and related services, while providing outstanding customer service. For additional ideas on ways you can make cost-effective efficiency improvements to your home or business, contact Southwest Public Power District or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer Can you think back to your childhood and remember the "magic" of icicles? While growing up in a century-old farm house, I remember wintry "No School" days when my mom would bundle me up in so many layers of sweatshirts, coats and overalls that I could barely move. Then, I'd waddle outside and start my polar expedition around the farm to discover the winter wonderland and search for the perfect icicle. Inevitably, I would find the most beautiful ones hanging from the gutters on the south side of the house. Over the next couple of hours, I would keep checking to see how much they had grown. Then, before they became too long, I would break them off and carefully put them in the deep freezer thinking how refreshing they would taste in July when it's 95°F. Sadly, I never experienced that summertime sensation because mom always threw them out when she defrosted the freezer during spring cleaning. Unfortunately, not all stories involving icicles are as innocent or benign. It seems every winter, we hear a news of someone injured by falling icicles. More likely, we hear very little about the gutters pulled off homes when the icicles become too heavy or the ice that builds up on the roof behind them, melts and rots wood in attics. Their beauty disguises the warning of other potential damage including loosened or broken shingles, cracked chimney stacks, ruined insulation, damaged drywall or even a roof collapsing. Icicles form on days when the outdoor air temperature is subfreezing but heat escaping through the attic melts snow or ice on top. As it drips off the roof, a water droplet freezes as it loses heat to the cold air. Over time, ice gets thicker and thicker to create an ice dam. Eventually, the water behind the ice dam builds up enough to push under the shingles and into the house. Roof rakes, heat cables and ice dam removal companies only address the symptoms of ice damming. While you may never completely eliminate icicles, there are two parts to a long-term solution: reducing the heat escaping into the attic and removing the heat that does. Attic insulation and air sealing Since most of this misplaced heat comes from below the attic, ensure proper insulation and air sealing. According to the Department of Energy, Nebraska homes should have enough insulation to equate to at least an R49 value in attics. This value is equal to about 15 inches of fiberglass batt material assuming an average of R3.25 per inch of thickness. Note that if you have loose-fill insulation in your attic, the R-value of does not change proportionately with thickness. Rather, manufacturers provide coverage charts that specify the amount needed to achieve a particular R-value. Air leaks transmit a lot of heat into the attic quickly. When trying to seal up sources of these leaks, pay particular attention to the following items that often penetrate into the attic: • Chimneys • Plumbing stacks • Recessed lighting from the ceiling below • Bathroom and clothes dryer ventilation Of the four, bathroom and clothes dryer exhausts can be the worst. Not only do they bring heat into the attic area, some are not completely ducted outside and dump warm, moisture-laden air right into the attic. This often leads to problems similar to ice damming such as rotting rafters, ruined insulation, moisture inside walls, mold, and peeling paint. More attic ventilation Though secondary to insulation and sealing, ventilation is also important. No matter how much you insulate, some heat will still come through. Proper attic ventilation promptly moves the undesired heat outdoors before it causes melting on your roof. Many homes built before 1980 have inadequate attic ventilation. When checking your attic's insulation levels, look for these signs of moisture problems: • Damp insulation • Unnaturally dark or discolored decking • Dark streaks on roof boards around nails • Orange resin beads on rafters signaling sweating wood • Moisture on roof boards and rafters • Crumbling, curled roof shingles Southwest Public Power District, in partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, are happy to help you make the most of the energy needed to keep you warm, safe and sound this winter. For additional ideas, as well as information on EnergyWiseSM incentives to help with the cost of efficiency improvements, contact Southwest Public Power District or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer Many Nebraska homes use an air-source heat pump (ASHP) to provide indoor comfort during the winter season. Considering 40% of average annual residential energy is used to keep homes warm, ASHPs provide higher energy efficiency than any furnace. As a result, owners reduce the impact of increased energy needs during the three coldest months of December through February. But much like any appliance, how ASHPs are used and maintained will effect how much energy they save. If your home or business is heated by an ASHP, consider the following recommendations to get the most from your system. Properly Install an ASHP Optimal performance starts with proper installation of the right heat pump. Oversized heat pumps can cycle on and off more often than they ought to, which often leads to premature breakdowns. This can also lead to unbalanced temperature and humidity levels throughout the home causing possible comfort and health concerns. A variable capacity heat pump (i.e., one where the compressor’s speed can vary), will alleviate those concerns. Be sure the HVAC professional you select performs a load calculation on your home to determine the right size of ASHP is installed. The load calculation identifies the amounts of heating and cooling your home will require throughout the year. For accuracy, the contractor measures windows, doors, walls, ceiling height, etc. and uses a computer program to assess all values. Change Air Filters Regularly Changing air filters every one to three months helps your system move air more easily and ensures better indoor air quality. Electrostatic and reusable filters should be washed quarterly. The frequency of cleaning can range from weeks to months depending on use and dust volume. After a couple of times, you should have an idea of how often your system requires this maintenance. Use a Smart Thermostat A smart thermostat can help you take advantage of energy savings by setting the thermostat back during nighttime and unoccupied hours, then preventing auxiliary or emergency heat from engaging while returning to the previous setting. Many smart thermostats program themselves by learning your household’s routines and can easily be adjusted via a mobile device on days that are not routine. Consult your HVAC technician to identify which smart thermostats are compatible with your heat pump. Keep Outdoor Units Clear The key to an ASHP’s winter efficiency comes from its ability to capture heat from outdoors and transfer it into the home. For that to happen, the outdoor unit must have adequate space around it for proper airflow. Clear any debris or obstructions that may hinder the heat pump’s performance. Know that when an ASHP goes through its defrost cycle, the moisture driven off the outdoor coils can pool and refreeze under the outdoor unit. During extended cold periods, the refrozen ice can continue to build up and restrict airflow under the unit. Most ASHP outdoor units are installed on extended legs to prevent this from being a problem. Otherwise, excess ice must be removed. Perform Routine Inspection, Maintenance and Cleaning Since ASHPs provide heating and cooling to your home, they likely operate for more hours than other residential HVAC systems. At a minimum, have a professional HVAC technician perform a system tune-up to clean outdoor coils, check refrigerant levels, inspect critical components and advise how to get the best performance from your particular ASHP system. Along with Southwest Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District wants to help you keep your home or business comfortably warm this winter. They may also provide EnergyWiseSM incentives to defray the cost of purchasing a heat pump, smart thermostat or having your heat pump system tuned-up by a professional HVAC contractor. For more ideas on how you can make your home or business EnergyWiseSM, contact them, or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer If you’re one of the more than 4,600 Nebraskans with an electric vehicle (EV) registered in Nebraska this year, congratulations! According to www.fueleconomy.gov, your vehicle converts more than 77% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels. Conventional vehicles only convert about 12% to 30% of the energy stored in gasoline and diesel-fueled vehicles only fare a little better, falling short of 40%. When you’re driving an EV, you’re driving the “top-of-class” for energy efficiency! To garner even more efficiency, consider these practices for EV charging: Do not fully charge the battery - To maximize battery life, daily charging should be to approximately 80% of battery capacity. For occasional use and long trips, charging to 100% is fine, but everyday charging to full capacity can lead to decreased battery life. Another issue with charging to 100% is the vehicle regenerative braking will not engage, meaning the EV is not running at maximum efficiency. Avoid extreme heat while charging - If possible, avoid charging in extreme heat. Although battery packs are designed for extreme conditions, it is better to charge during the coolest times of day, so the battery thermal management system doesn’t get overworked. Pre-heat during cold weather - For a fully electric vehicle (not a plug-in hybrid) the battery – rather than the hot gas engine – becomes the primary source of heat. When an EV’s heater is engaged in sub-freezing temperatures, the battery capacity will be greatly reduced and will not achieve full range. Pre-condition the vehicle by turning on the heater while the car is still plugged in and wait several minutes prior to driving while the vehicle is still connected to the charger to maximize range in cold weather. Charge at the right time of day - Night-time charging is best since the strain on the electric grid is often the lowest. Consequently, some local electric utilities provide special rates for off-peak charging. Many EV chargers have smartphone apps and network capabilities that allow users to program charging for certain times of day to get the most economical power. Use an ENERGY STAR®-certified charger - With more than 240 unique models from more than 17 manufacturers, using a certified ENERGY STAR® EV Charger assures: o Energy Savings - EV chargers are typically in standby mode (i.e., not actively charging a vehicle) for about 85% of the time. During this time, certified chargers provide the same functionality as non-certified products but use 40% less energy in standby mode. o Safety - Not all EV chargers are safety certified, including some from large online and storefront retailers. All ENERGY STAR-certified chargers are tested for safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. o Smart Technology - Most ENERGY STAR certified EV charger models are networked, allowing for remote power monitoring and control of the charging state of the connected vehicle. These smart grid-ready products allow some households and property managers to participate in special energy programs offered by some local electric utilities. Along with Southwest Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District wants to help you efficiently and safely get from point A to point B on the road. They may also provide EnergyWiseSM or other incentives to optimize charging your EV. For more ideas on how you can make your home or business EnergyWiseSM, contact them, or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer From October through March, the average Nebraska home consumes more than one-third of its annual energy requirements to keep warm and cozy. It is no wonder heating is the largest energy expenditure most people have. Here are a few ways to keep a few more energy dollars in your pocket this year: 1. Evaluate your insulation. Since it is seldom seen, most people do not consider whether their home is adequately insulated. Inside exterior walls and above ceilings, insulation is critical to maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature and lowering energy usage. Throughout Nebraska, attics should be insulated to a minimum R-49. Exterior walls providing an R-value less than 13 definitely have need for additional cavity or exterior sheath insulation. 2. Seal air leaks. While old windows are often characterized as energy losers, it is usually the air leaks around and through them that causes the greatest energy losses. Worn out frames and cracked seals can allow warm air to escape during the winter. Cracked caulking and improper sealing during installation are additional reasons to investigate. 3. Tune-up your heating system. Have a certified HVAC specialist perform a tune up to ensure all of the heating system's parts are in good working order. This includes inspecting your heating system, cleaning and adjusting each component as necessary, replacing the filter, and testing its overall efficiency. Regular maintenance for your HVAC system will prevent breakdowns, increase efficiency, extend the system's lifespan. 4. Use space heaters wisely. Space heaters can consume a lot of energy, especially if used continuously. Be mindful of when and where you use them. They can be more effective at reducing heating costs if they are used in one specific room or area instead of the entire house. However, if that room or area is not well insulated and has air leaks, the space heater will run nonstop, resulting in higher energy costs. 5. Manage the fireplace. If a fire isn’t burning in the fireplace, keep the fireplace damper closed. When the damper is open and there isn’t a fire burning, warm air can escape through the chimney. Purchasing energy-efficient fireplace grates is also a good investment. These grates will help circulate cool air into the fireplace while pushing warm air back into the room. 6. Install a smart thermostat. Set it up to adjust temperatures to 70°F or lower when you’re home and to automatically lower the set point to 65°F or lower during bedtime hours or while no one is home. Along with Southwest Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District wants to help you efficiently keep your home warm this winter. They may also provide EnergyWiseSM incentives for reducing the cost of some efficiency-improvement projects. For more ideas on how you can make your home or business EnergyWiseSM, contact Southwest Public Power District, or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager  Cory Fuehrer Wind washing: It’s not a new, evolutionary way of laundering clothes. It’s not a water- conserving approach to personal hygiene. It’s not even a technique for cleaning dirty windows. Rather, wind washing is the movement of unconditioned air around or through buildings in such a way that diminishes or nullifies the intended thermal performance. More simply put, wind washing may be eroding the benefits of your home’s insulation, especially in the attic. Therefore, it could be causing your home to use more energy during heating and cooling seasons. Most often, wind washing is caused by airflow coming through the soffits or roof vents into unconditioned attic spaces. While air movement is necessary for proper ventilation, it shouldn't move through insulation. When it does, gusts can push loose-fill insulation out of place, causing bare spots and uneven insulation. Blown-in fiberglass and rockwool insulation are most vulnerable to its effects. Typically, the problem starts in open, vented soffit areas where roof trusses set on the top plate of exterior walls. The solution is to direct air flow within the attic while eliminating its opportunity to pass through insulation. Start by raking loose-fill insulation away or pulling blanket insulation back from vented soffit areas. Air seal rim joists and drywall seams with spray foam insulation. Also seal floor cavities below attic knee walls and cantilevered floors, if necessary. Install rafter baffles or vents at each rafter bay to direct air flow above rather than through attic insulation. Cut foam board to snuggly fit between ceiling joists and install them to serve as soffit dams. These should extend four inches above the final level of insulation where possible. Remember, the US Department of Energy recommends insulating attics in Nebraska to an R-value of 49. This will likely require an insulation depth of 16 to 18-inches. Redistribute existing insulation back evenly into affected areas and add new insulation as necessary. If wind washing continues in problem areas, consider installing a roll of batt insulation over the top to confine loose-fill insulation. As part of home maintenance, remember to inspect attic spaces annually for the effects of wind washing and settling insulation. Southwest Public Power District in partnership with Nebraska Public Power District wants to help you gain the most value from the energy required to heat and cool your home. Qualified customers may be eligible for EnergyWiseSM attic insulation incentives to help with improvement costs. For more ideas on how you can make your home or business EnergyWiseSM , contact Southwest Public Power District, or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer How much electricity can you save by using ceiling fans to keep cool this year? That depends on how you use them. Take a moment to understand how they can keep you cool while potentially saving some “green” in your electric bill. Unlike your air conditioner, a fan only moves air. Even when it is extremely cold, our bodies perspire, albeit much less than when we are hot. As air comes in contact with our bodies, that perspiration evaporates. The process of evaporation requires “heat” energy for the moisture to change from a liquid to water vapor. The reason we cool down in this process is that much of the required heat comes from our bodies. Several studies have shown that using ceiling fans in combination with air conditioning allows occupants to adjust to a higher air conditioning temperature setting while experiencing the same level of comfort. On average, study participants were able to adjust their thermostats four degrees higher with no noticeable impact on comfort. Since fans require, on average, 60 to 100 watts of energy, and the average central air conditioning system requires more than 3,000 watts, you can save over the course of the cooling season. During summer months, be sure your fan is running in a counter-clockwise direction. This pushes air directly down on occupants to maximize comfort from the evaporative effect. Ceiling fans also provide the opportunity to save energy during the rest of the year. During spring and fall when it is cooler outside, you can use fans to keep comfortable instead of turning on the air conditioning system. As we transition to the heating season later this year, run your fan in a clockwise direction. This will push air upward to reduce the drafty feeling, while forcing lighter, warmer air down around the perimeter of a room to mix with the cooler, heavier air lower in the room. It is important to note ceiling fans are much like lights. If no one is in the room, they will not benefit anyone. Like a light left on, they use electricity needlessly and only add to your electric bill. So, remember to turn it off when leaving. For maximum energy saving benefits, you might consider an ENERGY STAR® ceiling fan. These fans circulate an average of 15 percent more air than other ceiling fans using the same amount of energy, all without sacrificing style or attractiveness. To reap optimal energy saving benefits from your ceiling fans, it is important to install several fans throughout your home. They should be placed in key locations where occupants spend the most time. For best performance, your ceiling fan blades should be between seven to nine feet above the floor, 10-12 inches below the ceiling and be at least 18 inches from the nearest wall. Southwest Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power District want to help you keep cool this summer! For more ideas on how you can make your home or business EnergyWiseSM, contact them, or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.