903 455 1715 | Go360Green.com YOU’RE IN POWER.

Technology advancements are making it easier and easier to provide more efficient renewable energy

for our members. When you sign up to purchase renewable energy, you’ll lock in a reliable, affordable

five-year rate that makes becoming a Green Farmer easy. You decide how much renewable energy

is right for you: choose one block of power or eight blocks—up to 800 kWh.

TAKE CHARGE AND BECOME A GREEN FARMER.LEARN MORE AND ENROLL AT: Go360Green.com

by Farmers Electric Cooperative

by Farmers Electric Cooperative

Invest in clean, affordable power and lock in a five-year rate for as little as $12.50 per month.

360 GREEN SERVICES

RENEWABLE ENERGYWe're helping members reduce their environmental footprint with fixed rate renewable energy.

Most homes suffer from a series of small issues that add up to a large amount of energy loss and high energy bills. Enhancing your home’s energy efficiency does not have to be complicated or costly. You can lower your energy use drastically and save money by taking a series of small steps you can do yourself.

STEP 1: Monitor and control your usage. A Nest Learning Thermostat allows users to view and edit the thermostat's schedule, monitor how much energy is being used, and opt to receive

extreme temperature alerts before a pet overheats or pipes freeze. In addition, there is an option to enable alerts for dangers such as smoke and carbon monoxide. Nests are easy to install and Farmers EC will provides a $100 credit when you enroll in Rush Hour Rewards. This is one of the simplest ways to start saving energy and money.

STEP 2: Sealing air leaks. This step can add energy efficiency and savings on your annual energy bill. Simple fixes include installing weatherstripping on doors and caulking around windows, while bigger jobs might include sealing leaks in ductwork. Farmers EC provides members a weather stripping and sealant rebate up to $100. Checking for leaks: Some obvious signs and symptoms that your home has air leaks and can benefit from sealing are:

• Drafts around closed windows or doors.

• Visible gaps around the window or door trim.

• Noticeable pests and dust entering through gaps or holes in or around windows or doors.

• Odors from the outside entering the home.

• Peeling paint around interior window or door frames.

STEP 3: Add attic insulation. If you don't have enough insulation in your attic, your home will loose heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. Proper insulation keeps your HVAC system running less which means lower energy use and can provide up to 10 percent savings annually. Farmers EC provides members an Attic Insulation rebate up to $500. Evaluating your attic insulation: Once you’ve determined the type of insulation you have in these areas and its thickness, see the U.S. Department of Energy’s online insulation fact sheet to determine the R-values. Once you find out the R-values of your insulation, you can use the Home Energy Saver tool at http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/ to determine how much insulation you should add and where for maximum energy efficiency. STEP 4: Take Charge. Visit FarmersElectric.coop and download our Energy Saving Tips PDF, review other energy saving rebates, and sign up for a free Home Energy Audit that can provide more in-depth details about your home's efficiency.

Finally, for detailed instructions on how to prepare and undertake the above projects—or how to identify a contractor to do it for you—visit energystar.gov.

FARMERS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

CO-OP NEWS

by MARK STUBBSGeneral Manager

YOU’RE IN POWER.

Rush Hour Rewards is a program that utilizes the Nest Learning Thermostat to manage your home’s heating and cooling systems and help Farmers EC reduce electricity use during peak summer hours when temperatures soar and air conditioners cycle on creating an “energy rush hour.” Farmers EC will give residential members a $100 account credit when they enroll their Nest Learning Thermostat (maximum 2) and help reduce energy demand.

TAKE CHARGE, REDUCE ENERGY, AND GET PAID. LEARN MORE AND ENROLL AT: Go360Green.com

by Farmers Electric Cooperative

by Farmers Electric Cooperative

Special offer for Farmers EC members who currently have or are planning to purchase a Nest Learning Thermostat and enroll in Rush Hour Rewards.

360 GREEN SERVICES

RUSH HOUR REWARDS$100 CREDIT

The cheapest, cleanest, and greenest energy is the energy not used.

Energy efficiency.

Install Energy Star-qualified HVAC equipment. If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing

it with a unit that has earned Energy Star approval. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with qualified models can cut your annual energy bill by more than $115.

Before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and ducts. Sometimes these are the real sources of problems.

Heat and Cool Efficiently

FARMERS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

CO-OP NEWS

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system can have a big effect on your utility bills—and your comfort. Take the following steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Change your air filter regularly. Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every three months. A dirty filter slows down airflow and makes the system work harder to keep you warm or cool, wasting energy and money in the process. A clean filter prevents buildups of dust and dirt in the system that can lead to expensive maintenance or early system failure.

Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve gas mileage, an annual tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.

Install a Nest Learning Thermostat. Nest thermostats are ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of preprogrammed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs. Plus, members get a $100 enrollment credit for participating in Nest Rush Hour Rewards and a $50 loyalty credit each year they remain in the program.

Seal your heating and cooling ducts. Ducts that move air to and from a forced-air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent—and sometimes much more.

First, focus on sealing ducts that run through the attic, garage, or crawl space, if you have one. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. Do not use duct tape, despite its name.

After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.

Odds & Ends Fair, festival, class, or show—share your community event with

us and we’ll help you get the word out with the Farmers EC

Community Calendar.

SEND TO: event@FarmersElectric.coop

FarmersElectric.coop

Power TipKeep warm summer air outside where it belongs! Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.

Did you know?LED light bulbs produce about 70 percent less heat than incandescent bulbs. Swapping them in can keep your home cooler and save energy at the same time.

RECIPE

Creamy Mexican Corn

DIRECTIONS

1. Place corn, cream cheese, chiles, jalapeños, salt and pepper in a small saucepan and cook until cream cheese is melted and ingredients thoroughly mixed.

2. Spoon heated mixture into small bowls and top with crumbled cotija cheese, cilantro, and paprika.

This recipe was a winner in the Spicy Foods recipe contest from July 2015.

INGREDIENTS

1 can whole-kernel corn (15.25 ounces), drained

2 ounces cream cheese

2 tablespoons diced canned green chiles

1 teaspoon diced fresh or pickled jalapeño pepper, or more to taste

1-2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese

Add kosher salt and cracked pepper to taste

Add chopped cilantro to taste

Add paprika to taste

The concert series is a great FREE opportunity for family and friends to get together and enjoy The Harbor while listening to some of DFW’s best bands. There is something for everyone with classic rock, Motown, Top 40, country variety, and everything in between.

Every Thursday at 7:30 pm at The Harbor, 2059 Summer Lee, Rockwall. Learn more at playrockwall.com

June 7: LimeLight – Pop Variety

June 14: Metal Shop – 80’s Rock Variety

June 21: King George Band – George Strait Tribute

June 28: Infinite Journey – Journey Tribute

EVENT SPONSORED IN PART BY FARMERS EC

Rockwall Concert By The Lake

June Dates Flag Day - Thur 14th | Father's Day - Sun 17th