A conversation with Cuivre River’s Neal Harrell

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative’s (CREC’s) Neal Harrell has helped members understand their energy use for almost 21 years. He’s also spent a fair amount of time working with net metering, which includes member-owned solar power systems and how they safely connect to CREC’s system.

Renewable energy has been part of CREC’s overall power mix for many years. In fact, during 2023, 17% of the total power supply came from renewable energy (13% wind and 4% hydro).

The easiest way for members to go one step further and get involved with renewable energy is to participate in our net metering program. Harrell has worked with nearly 250 CREC members who have made this choice. Since wind velocities in eastern Missouri are not conducive to residential windmills, all of CREC’s net metering accounts have been solar.

Harrell is an advocate for members who want to add solar panels, as long as that member has done the math to understand what the panels can and can’t do for their utility bill. He has seen several members get burned by internet ads that promise “free” systems and/or high-pressure sales reps, plus companies that have left members without warranties after going out of business. He does offer some wise advice to those who want to add renewable energy to their own homes.

Q: What’s the first thing a member should do?
NH: The cheapest energy you’ll ever buy is the energy you don’t use. By that, I mean weatherization and insulation. If I’m losing air (heated or cooled) out of my house, it doesn’t matter how efficiently a heating, cooling, or solar system is rated, it won’t be efficient with leaking air. You’ll get the most bang for your buck when you pick the lowest-hanging fruit first.

Q: How should someone go about looking for air leaks?
NH: Inspect everywhere pipes and cables enter the home. Use caulking and/or spray foam to seal around pipes and cables on the outside and inside the home. You can even go in the basement during daylight hours and look for light leakage or feel for air leakage (day or night). If you can see daylight from your basement, just think about your energy dollars being sucked out of your wallet. You’re paying to condition the living space, so you want to keep your hard-earned dollars where you want them to be, and that location is inside the house.

Q: I know there’s insulation up in the attic. Isn’t that already enough?
NH: Not necessarily, especially if you’ve been in the home for years and haven’t stuck your head up there to look around recently. Insulation can settle over time, plus since 2021, energystar.gov recommends R-49 or greater attic insulation for our area. I bet most people don’t have that much in the attic. It’s out of sight and out of most people’s minds.

Q: So basically you’re talking about “sealing the envelope” by adding insulation and sealing gaps and air leaks.
NH: Yes. Once you take care of the envelope and we keep our conditioned air inside the home, then you can look at the next lowest hanging fruit and check the efficiency of that heating and cooling system. Your heating and cooling system makes up about 40-60% of the average home’s energy consumption, followed by refrigeration. This is even important for members who use propane or natural gas to heat their homes.

Q: What else do I need to look for with my heating and cooling system?
NH: First, is it clean? Is the outside unit clogged with leaves and pollen? Does it have weeds growing near the unit? Have you blocked airflow by storing items too close to the outdoor unit? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re restricting airflow to your outside unit, making it operate more and costing yourself money. Inside the home, have the filters been changed regularly? Regular service to the system will help it operate more efficiently and last longer. Clean filters and ductwork may even reduce in-home allergies. We install these systems in our homes for our living comfort, so why not take full advantage of what they have to offer.

Q: When should I replace my heating and cooling system?
NH: Usually I see it happen on either the hottest or coldest day of the year, but that’s not the best time to negotiate for a new system. If you’ve lived in your home for many years, you may need to be proactive and ask yourself if it’s time to replace the heating and cooling system. Newer air conditioners have higher minimum efficiency standards than units that may be 15-20 years old. Will you be staying in the house for a few more years? An updated heating and cooling system may make the house easier to sell. However, it may take seven to 12 years, on average, to recoup payback on a new system. Every member should evaluate their options and do what’s best for their situation.

Q: You made a reference to refrigeration earlier. How costly can it be?
NH: That amount generally depends on the age of refrigerators, how many you own, and their locations. Newer refrigerators operate more efficiently than a model from 25 years ago. Do you have (or need) more than one refrigerator? We often see that someone gets a new refrigerator and then keeps the older one for beverages. That second one often ends up in an unheated/uncooled area, such as the garage. How efficient is that old refrigerator when it’s trying to keep your beverage at 35 degrees when the air temperature is 100 degrees in the garage? A household refrigerator was not designed to operate in those conditions. If I can reduce my current energy use by 25% with efficiency improvements and weatherization, I just reduced the amount of energy and the number of solar panels that I will need.

Q: Are there other ways to save on energy use?
NH: Don’t leave lights, appliances, and electronics on when they’re not in use. This isn’t as easy today with appliances that are “always on” and using a trickle of electricity. Items such as TVs, coffee makers, and game consoles are using small amounts of energy by just being plugged in. These types of items are known as “energy vampires” because they are always using energy. It’s tough to eliminate the vampires unless you unplug the cord.

Watch for more to come on energy efficiency and renewables!