BY MITCH ROSS

When I was in school, we were taught the food pyramid as a way to conceptualize portions and the variety of foods needed for a healthy diet. While the food pyramid has been replaced with the MyPlate concept, the simple efficacy of using a pyramid to relay priorities has stuck with me. I still remember that having a foundation of healthy grains, fruits and vegetables was considered important, while sweets were to be consumed sparingly.

As an energy auditor, I also use the pyramid concept to teach the proper sequence of priorities for those wishing to lower their energy usage and save on their electric bills. Much like those of us who wish the food pyramid foundation were sweets, I find many homeowners think the initial solution to high energy costs is adding solar. Like sweets, solar should be used sparingly and only after everything else that can be done is completed.

The Energy Pyramid has a foundation of Energy Conservation, a middle section of Energy Efficiency and a peak of Intermittent Energy. 

Energy Conservation is the foundation of a strategy to lower energy costs. It is the prevention of wasteful energy use. Setting the thermostat to reduce HVAC runtime, turning off lights and fans in unoccupied rooms, sealing leaky ducts and turning off computers and gaming systems when not in use are all great examples. Focusing on Energy Conservation can have a significant impact on energy usage!

Energy Efficiency is using less energy to perform the same tasks or produce the same results. Examples include replacing old HVAC systems with efficient heat pump systems, swapping incandescent bulbs with LEDs or changing out traditional electric water heaters with efficient heat pump water heaters. Many home efficiency measures can be implemented and will pay for themselves within just a few years, making them a worthwhile investment. 

Lastly, Intermittent Energy, such as solar, is energy that is not continuously available due to uncontrollable external factors. While residential solar may seem like a good solution, it is among the least cost-effective measures. It has a poor payback when compared with most energy conservation and efficiency measures. I have been to homes with solar, and the homeowners are still unhappy with their energy costs, because now they are paying an electric bill on top of their solar financing bill. I have also been in homes with solar that have ductwork in terrible condition, older inefficient HVAC systems, water heater leaks and other big issues that would have been much more cost-effective to resolve. 

When addressing energy costs, it’s my hope that you will conserve first and see what efficiency can do for your home — before trying to make a meal of the sweets. 

Visit energy.gov for more information on energy savings, or contact Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative (1.800.468.2176) to schedule an energy audit. 

Mitch Ross is the energy efficiency manager for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.