Grill safely this summer

By: NPPD's Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer Are you looking for a quick and easy way to keep a small area comfortable during a heat wave or cold snap? Using electric space heaters can be expensive to run and window air conditioners can be difficult to install. Instead, consider purchasing a portable heat pump and accomplish heating and cooling with one single unit. Portable heat pumps work by using electricity and refrigerant to move heat rather than generating it directly. During the heating season, heat is extracted from outside air and transferred indoors through one or two hoses mounted in a window opening. Single-hose units will pull in air from inside the room and exhaust it outside. Dual-hose portable heat pumps will have one hose for pulling air from outside, and a separate hose for expelling air. Dual-hose units recycle indoor air and do not exhaust it outdoors. For this reason, dual-hose units are typically more efficient than single-hose units. When temperatures climb outside, portable heat pumps can reverse this process to provide cooling. Though they are not the perfect solution for all space conditioning needs, portable heat pumps offer advantages. They are: Mobility Unlike window air conditioners, ductless mini split or central air-cooling systems, portable heat pumps are easy to move from room to room. Most have wheels to make one-person relocation simple. Easy to Install Nearly all portable heat pumps come with a window kit that their one or two hoses attach to. By closing the window around the kit’s frame, making provisions for water condensing out of the air and plugging the unit into a standard wall socket, it is ready to heat or cool. No professional installation is required. Inexpensive While comparable in price to a window air conditioner, portable heat pumps are more affordable than ductless mini split or central air-cooling systems. Efficient When it comes to heating, portable heat pumps are two to three times more efficient electric space heaters. While permanently installed cooling systems tend to be more efficient, portable heat pumps are just as, if not more efficient, than window air conditioners, especially when selecting an Energy Star®-certified model. While a portable heat pump is an excellent, energy-efficient choice for renters, temporary use or small-space climate control (approximately 300 to 600 square feet) where installing a permanent unit is not allowed, they do come with some disadvantages: Noise Because the operating components are housed inside the unit, they tend to be louder than ductless mini split or central air-cooling systems. However, they are usually quieter than window air conditioners while operating around 45 to 55 decibels, which is comparable to a quiet-to-normal conversation. Limited Heating Capacity As the temperature drops outside, the amount of heat required to keep the indoor area comfortable increases. Portable heat pumps also do not have the ability to defrost themselves during freezing weather. Therefore, most stop operating when outdoor temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Though that covers about half of the annual hours when heating is needed in our homes, Additional heat sources are necessary when the mercury dips lower. Window Compatibility While hose kits quickly mount into the openings of single-hung, double-hung and sliding glass windows, modifications to the kit’s frame must be made to fit into casement-style windows. Humidity Control Because single-hose units create a negative pressure inside, they pull in unconditioned air from outside through cracks and openings throughout the home. Therefore, a double-hose model is necessary to provide dehumidification. Condensation When operating, condensation (water vapor) collects in a reservoir. This must be manually dumped every few hours or drained through a line. If not, the unit will shut off. To address this, some units have an internal pump to push the condensate through a drain line that exits through the window kit. Limited Capacity Portable heat pumps can only heat or cool a single room at a time. Depending on the size of the room, they may struggle to do so. Larger rooms are more likely to have hot and cold spots that create a less-than-comfortable environment. While portable heat pumps provide a great solution to temporary heating and cooling needs in a single room, other types of heat pump systems bring greater efficiency and comfort when a longer-term solution is desired. In partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, your local public power provider wants to help you gain the most value from the energy needed to keep comfortable inside. For more energy-saving ideas, including EnergyWiseSM energy efficiency financial incentives, contact your local utility or visit www.energywisenebraska.com .

Southwest Public Power District has an opening for the position of Engineering Technician. Duties include, but are not limited to, assisting in the maintenance of the District’s geographic information system (GIS), system planning and improvements, and implementing technology as required to improve the distribution systems. The District operating hours are a compressed work schedule with every other Friday off. This position requires passing a pre-employment drug and alcohol test. Southwest Public Power District offers an excellent wage and benefit package, including paid vacation, sick leave, paid health insurance, and funded retirement plan. Southwest Public Power District’s headquarters office is in Palisade, Nebraska. The region’s schools, small communities, and recreational opportunities make it a great place to live and raise a family. Interested individuals must email a resume, including job training and three references to: jobs@swppd.com . Southwest Public Power District is an equal opportunity employer. Position will be open until filled. 

Southwest Public Power District has an opening for the position of Journeyman power line worker. Duties include, but are not limited to, maintenance and construction of overhead and underground distribution and sub-transmission facilities. The District operating hours are a compressed work schedule with every other Friday off. After-hours and on-call duty are required. This position requires heavy lifting, pole climbing, and other strenuous activity and working well with other crew members. Must be able to complete associated written and electronic documentation. Must possess a valid Class B CDL and pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test. Southwest Public Power District offers an excellent wage and benefit package, including paid vacation, sick leave, paid health insurance, and funded retirement plan. Southwest Public Power District’s headquarters office is in Palisade, Nebraska. The region’s schools, small communities, and recreational opportunities make it a great place to live and raise a family. Interested individuals must email a resume, including job training and three references to: jobs@swppd.com . Southwest Public Power District is an equal opportunity employer. Applications due by June 30th, 2026.

Sometimes, your electric bill might creep up a bit in June, even before the hottest days of summer arrive. The increase often has less to do with extreme heat and more to do with how cooling systems operate early in the season. Air conditioning units that have been idle for months may not run at peak efficiency right away. Dust buildup, clogged filters or minor maintenance issues can make systems work harder from the start. Humidity also plays a role. Early summer air often carries moisture, which makes homes feel warmer and prompts air conditioners to run longer to keep the house cool. Longer daylight hours can contribute as well. More time at home with lights and electronics in use adds to overall energy consumption. To reduce early-season spikes, replace air filters before you ever switch on your a/c. At the same time, schedule routine maintenance and use ceiling fans to help circulate the cool air around your rooms. Setting your thermostat a few degrees higher than usual can also help manage costs without sacrificing comfort. Understanding why June bills climb is the first step toward keeping them in check.

Southwest Public Power District will be closed Monday, May 25th, in observance of Memorial Day. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, May 26th. If you need assistance during this time, please call (308)285-3295 to speak with an on-call representative.

As vacation season gets started, it’s easy to overlook the small appliances at home that keep using electricity while you’re away. A quick pre-vacation checklist can give them a vacation, too—and prevent them from wasting energy while nobody’s home. So, before you load up the car or head to the airport, start unplugging. First, the kitchen. Ice makers, second refrigerators and extra freezers can quietly run nonstop. If they’re empty or nearly empty, consider turning them off. Adjust your main refrigerator to a slightly higher temperature but keep it within safe food storage limits. Around the house, unplug electronics like televisions, gaming systems, computers and coffee makers. Better yet, connect them to a surge-protecting power strip so you can unplug them all at once. Many devices draw power even when not in use if they’re turned off but still plugged in. Water-related appliances are another common miss. Turn off or lower settings on electric water heaters if recommended by the manufacturer. Finally, adjust your thermostat. There’s no need to keep your home as cool as when you’re there, but don’t turn the system off entirely. A moderate setting helps manage humidity.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer Most homeowners who have heat pumps use them to heat and cool their homes. But a heat pump also can be used to heat water. You may have already seen one of these units in a “big box” or appliance store and wondered what it was and how it worked. Here are the details: Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat instead of generating heat directly through electrical resistance. It takes a lot less electricity to transfer heat than it does to generate heat. Therefore, heat pump water heaters can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pump water heaters work like a refrigerator in reverse. While a refrigerator pulls heat from their interior and dumps it into the surrounding room, an air-source heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air and moves it into their internal water tank. Another type of heat pump water heater has indoor and outdoor components that move heat from outside the home. Still others are integrated with other space conditioning heat pump systems, which combine all the required equipment into a single unit located inside home. Stand-alone heat pump water heaters, which contain all the necessary equipment in one unit, require installation in locations that remain in the 40º– 90ºF temperature range year-round. Rooms housing heat pump water heaters should provide at least 500 to 1,000 cubic feet (28.3 cubic meters) of air space around the unit. As heat is transferred into the hot water tank, cool exhaust air can be vented back into the room or ducted outdoors. Ideal locations for installation are in spaces with excess heat, such as a furnace room. The temperature of the room in which the unit is installed will drop when it is operating by 2 F° to 6 F° and perhaps even more during periods of high demand for hot water.  The energy to feed the heat pump water heater can come from passive solar gain, heat from a conventional heating system, the warming effect of soil surrounding a basement wall, or any other heat source. The cooling of air while the unit is operating is especially advantageous in the summer. If the unit is installed in a basement located in a humid region, it also removes moisture from the air, which reduces and may eliminate the need for a separate dehumidifier. Since the heat pump water heater operates as dehumidifier, a condensate drain must be available. In their “heat pump only” mode, heat pump water heaters cannot heat water as quickly as electric resistance water heaters. In this mode, they can only generate about 8 to 10 gallons per hour. To make up for this basic deficiency in performance, heat-pump water heaters are equipped with electric resistance elements that are energized whenever the heat pump cannot keep up with the demand for hot water. This feature improves the performance of the unit but does reduce its overall efficiency. Most heat-pump water heaters have controls that allow a homeowner to choose one of three modes of operation: •Heat-pump-only mode (the most energy-efficient). •Hybrid mode (heat-pump operation plus electric resistance backup). •Electric-resistance-only mode (a mode that you could choose during cold weather, when you might not want the appliance to cool the space where it is located). A study in the northeast U.S. revealed that households installing a heat pump water heater could save between $40 and $270 per year when compared to using an electric-resistance water heater. Savings calculations were based on a family household that uses 35 gallons of hot water per day, with an electricity cost of 17 cents/kilowatt-hour. Lower end savings were seen when the heat-pump water heater was installed in a bad location (a small, cold room). Conversely, the high end of the savings scale was seen when the unit was installed in a good location (a large, warm room). Your local public power provider, in partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, wants to help you make the most from the energy you use to produce hot water in your home or business. For more ideas on saving energy while running your business or home, along with possible EnergyWiseSM energy efficiency financial incentives to help with the cost of upgrading to a heat pump water heater, contact your local utility or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for additional details.

The days are getting longer, and that means you don’t need your home’s outdoor lights to automatically turn on quite as early. Take a few minutes this weekend to reset outdoor motion sensors and timers to avoid wasting electricity when natural daylight is available. Walk around your property and adjust timers to match sunrise and sunset schedules. Photocell sensors should trigger lights only when it’s actually dark. Motion-activated floodlights should be properly aimed to illuminate paths without lighting empty spaces. While you’re at it, replace any old bulbs with LED alternatives, which can reduce energy use. Consider smart lighting controls that allow scheduling from your phone or tablet.

The month or two between cold and warm weather gives you the perfect opportunity to save energy. Milder temperatures mean heating season is winding down, but it’s not warm enough for air conditioning. Some call this a “shoulder season.” Take advantage of the moderate weather by keeping both the heat and the air conditioning turned off. Instead, open windows to draw in fresh air and turn on ceiling fans. Inspect and seal air leaks and clean AC filters. Open blinds, curtains and shades during daylight hours to reduce the need for electric lighting. The shoulder season is brief, so forming smart habits now can keep energy bills lower while the outdoor weather keeps your home naturally comfortable.