Wellington residents are starting to reap the rewards of the city of Wellington and Kansas Power Pool's Energy Efficient Refund Program.
The program offers refunds for qualified purchases of energy efficient utilities which include heat pumps, refrigerators, air conditioners and electric water heaters.
Vicki Brown was presented with a $200 refund check Wednesday at the Wellington City Office. Brown and her husband recently installed a new heat pump in their home after having an energy audit done at their home. The heat pump cost close to $7,000.
However, after viewing the results of her energy audit Brown found that a new heat pump would pay for itself in a relatively short period of time. "It showed that it would probably be about $100 a month worth of savings. It would be much more in the winter than in the summer. It was about $1,200 or $1,500 a year worth of savings. Within a matter of three or four years it will pay for itself."
Wellington offers free residential audits after having received training from the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority and Oklahoma State University.
The audits usually take under two hours. Linemen measure the outside of the home, as well as windows and doors. They also look for weak spots that may be wasting energy.
Residents can usually expect about a day and a half to get results back from the audit. Information must be calculated using a computer program that is very accurate.
Brian Lewellen, Wellington electric distribution department, said, "The computer is going to give a guesstimate, I guess you'd call it, on what a house should be spending. Typically I can get within $5. I get their last months bill and go off of that. It will break down where their energy consumption is going. It's all broke down. Then it tells you if their are any spots that need improvement like your insulation or windows."
The free energy audit compliments the Take Charge competition that Wellington is currently involved in with several other small communities in Kansas. The competitions next event will focus on weatherization tips. Other details for the event have yet to be announced.
Dorothy Barnett of Kansas's Climate and Energy Project has helped with the Take Charge event. Barnett feels Wellington residents are seeing a huge bargain with the free energy audits.
"It's a great resource that is free. There aren't many other communities that will give you a free energy audit. That's usually valued at several hundred dollars," Barnett said.
To set up a free residential energy audit, call the electric department warehouse at 326-7211.
Wellington, Kan. —
