Board of DirectorsDaniel PetersonPresident

Bryan CooverVice President

Dareld NelsonTreasurer

Bryan HuckeSecretary

Rodney BakerTrustee

Tom EllisonTrustee

Larry HubbellTrustee

Diane McCartneyTrustee

Jason ZwahlenTrustee

Offi ce HoursMonday-Friday8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact Us1511 14,000 RdP.O. Box 368Altamont, KS 67330866-784-5500www.twinvalleyelectric.coop

Twin Valley Electric Co-op, Inc.Ron Holsteen, CEO

1511 14,000 Rd, P.O. Box 368, Altamont, KS 67330866-784-5500

www.twinvalleyelectric.coop

T W I N VA L L E YE L E C T R I C CO - O P

NEWS

Ron Holsteen

FROM THE CEO

Find us on FacebookSearch for Twin Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

At Twin Valley Ownership Matters Studies have shown that communities where owners occupy the majority of homes are more successful academi-cally, are more physically fi t and have a stronger sense of community. While owning a home may not be possible or desirable for everyone, ownership does matter. It just seems to make sense that we treat things we own with greater care.

Chances are you probably don’t think too often about your ownership role with your electric cooperative. As a member of Twin Valley Electric Cooperative can take pride in the fact that you are an owner of your electric co-op. While at times it may seem easy to take the provision of electric-ity for granted, we are working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to make sure you, the member-owners of the co-op, are well taken care when it comes to your electricity needs.

Locally-based cooperatives be-lieve this special bond and obligation to be an integral part of the commu-nity. Twin Valley Electric Cooperative understands that you can’t sell elec-tricity to a business that has closed its doors or to people that have left the community because there are not enough local opportunities. Electric-ity is a critical need, but it takes more than poles, wires and kilowatt-hours to make a community.

Twin Valley Electric Board

members and staff actively participate in several local economic development groups and committees, such as SEK, Inc., the HELP committee in Altamont and the Labette County Busi-nessmen group that meets monthly in Bartlett. Twin Valley also off ers Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (REDLG) to qualifying mem-bers wanting to start or expand their businesses.

We are owners of our co-op, and in a real sense, we are owners of our community. Our community is strong. Think about how much greater it can be when we work cooperatively to tackle our future challenges. If we act like owners on a consistent basis, we will put even more care and attention into our community, and we will look locally for solutions. Finding local solutions can help keep money—and people—right here in our community.

We all have a role to play. As your local electric cooperative, we promise to do our part for the com-munity. If you have thoughts about how we can do a better job, please contact me at 866-784-5500 or at memberservices@twinvalleyelectric.coop. You are the owners of the co-op, and we welcome your active participation.

JANUARY 2017 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 16-A

“A light-emitting diode (LED) is a two-lead semiconductor light source. It is a p-n junction diode, which emits light when activated. When a suitable

voltage is applied to the leads, electrons are able to recombine with electron holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence, and the color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photon) is determined by the energy band gap of the semiconductor.” WIKIPEDIA

If you happened to drive by your cooperative at night over the Christ-mas season, you probably noticed the soft-white lights on our office and warehouse. There are 475 individual C9 equivalent sized LED bulbs framing the north and west side of the building. The efficiency and durability of the LEDs were the reason we decided to go that direction to accent our beauti-ful facility. The estimated lifespan for

the LEDs are 100,000 hours and since they are a sealed hard unit, they are very durable and not fragile like the old glass incandes-cent bulbs.

We needed 19 strings to complete the front. An entire string of 25 of the LEDs are only 43 watts while one C9 incandescent bulb is seven watts. You can attach 25 strings of the LEDs together and plug them into a single outlet. In our case, we have them plugged into an automatic timer rated at 1,875 watts. With the incandescent C9 bulbs, you are limited to approximately 75 bulbs or three strings.

I see LEDs becoming the norm for every lighting need in the near future. The 2007 law phasing out 100-year old incandescent lightbulb technology in favor of newer lightbulbs that waste less energy while providing more ef-ficient lighting options is working. LEDs have improved their efficiency roughly 50 percent and have given consumers more options as federal regulations

have tightened according to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Ad-ministration (EIA).

Today’s LEDs give off nearly 100 lumens per watt and could be up to 150 lumens per watt by 2020. That is up from 60 lumens per watt in 2012. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) give off 55-70 lumens per watt and tradi-tional incandescent bulbs give off 13-18 lumens per watt. In addition, competi-tion is driving the price of LEDs down. A North Carolina-based company recently released a 60-watt equivalent LED that costs $7.97, but will generate $135 in lifetime savings due to longev-ity and efficiency.

So what’s the only true drawback to LEDs? The warmth of light given off by the LED as measured by the color rendering index (CRI). Incandescent bulbs have a CRI around 100 and LEDs have a CRI ranging from 20-30. This means they are a “cool” light. EIA states that some LED manufacturers have made advances to get CRI values above 80, but at this time it is not cost effective, but I am sure the gap will be closing rapidly as development goes along. Efficiency and longevity should far outweigh any concerns of “cold” light.

I hope I have been able to shed some light (sorry) on the present and the future of LED lighting. I hope your 2017 is starting off well for you and yours. If you have any questions, comments or want a specific subject addressed, email me directly at wworthy@twinvalleyelectric.coop.

William Worthy

NOTES FROM OPERATIONS

Shedding Some Light on LEDsExactly 475 individual LEDs decorated the

Twin Valley office during the holiday season.

Twin Valley linemen Kendall Manners (left) and Joe Brooks hang the LED lights.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING JANUARY 201716-B

N E W S F RO M T W I N VA L L E Y E L E C T R I C CO O P E R AT I V E

THE BEAUTY MARK in Oswego recently received a revolving Rural Economic Development Loan Program (REDLG) loan from Twin Valley Electric.

The Beauty Mark is a salon lo-cated in downtown Oswego. They off er hair and nail services, as well as tanning. With massage services coming soon.

“Twin Valley Electric Coopera-tive utilizes this program because it helps local businesses expand and provides them with an inter-est free loan,” said Ron Holsteen, Twin Valley’s CEO. “We are happy to partner with The Beauty Mark to help bring new jobs to the community.”

Beauty Mark Receives REDLG Funding

Happy New YearTwin Valley Electric wishes you a happy and prosperous New Year!

Twin Valley Named 5-STAR CO-OPTwin Valley Electric is proud to be rec-ognized as a 5-star Co-op for our eff orts through the Co-ops Vote initiative.

Five-star status marks the highest level of engagement in Co-ops Vote. The National Rural Electric Cooperative As-sociation (NRECA) has recognized Twin Valley and member coopera-tives nationwide for their eff orts in promoting civic engagement among members.

of engagement in Co-ops Vote. The National Rural Electric Cooperative As-

tives nationwide for their eff orts in promoting civic

Energy Savings for Every SeasonWhile saving money through greater energy effi ciency may be a year-round objective for many consumers, the way to achieve this goal varies by season. There are a number of factors that impact energy effi ciency, includ-ing weather, the age and condition of the home and desired comfort levels.

Fall and winter: keeping heat inTo maintain a warm indoor environ-ment in chillier weather, you can take simple steps to increase energy effi -ciency. Fall is a great time to examine seals on doors and windows to check for air leaks. Caulk and weatherstrip as needed to seal in warm air and increase energy savings. Similarly, ex-amine outlets for air leaks, and where necessary, install gaskets around the outlet to prevent drafts. During the day, open cur-tains or drapes on south-facing windows to enable sunlight to heat your home naturally. Close curtains or drapes at night for an added layer of window insulation.

As the temperature drops lower with the onset of winter, schedule a service appointment for your heating system to ensure it is operating at an optimal level. Low-cost or no-cost steps for energy savings include tap-ing or affi xing heavy, clear plastic to the inside of your window frames to create an additional barrier against cold air. Ensure that the plastic is tightly sealed to the frame to help reduce infi ltration. Use a program-mable thermostat to set the tem-perature as low as is comfortable when you are home (ideally around 68 degrees). When you are asleep or away, turn the temperature down 10-15 degrees for eight hours. Accord-ing to the Department of Energy, this

small adjustment can help you save approximately 10 percent a year on heating and cooling costs.

Spring and summer: keeping your coolDuring warmer months, energy savings and effi ciency will require diff erent measures, many of which are inex-pensive. If you live in a climate that is cool, open your windows in the evening and turn off your cooling system while sleeping. In the morning, shut the widows and blinds to hold in the cool air. Where practical, plant trees and shrubs that provide shade in warm months and sunlight in winter. In addition to the aesthetic value, well placed trees can take heat gain from the sun and provide needed shade by

creating a canopy for the house.

In extremely hot weather, your cooling system works harder to close the gap between the high outdoor temperature and the cool indoor

thermostat setting. To lessen the dif-ference in temperature between the two—and to lower cooling costs—set the thermostat as high as you can while maintaining your comfort level. Moreover, using a ceiling fan in con-junction with your air conditioning can allow you to increase the thermostat setting approximately four degrees with no reduction in comfort levels.

During the hottest months, it’s all the more critical to replace any remaining incandescent bulbs with LEDs. The wasted heat from the old bulbs impacts energy use and creates unwanted heat. For additional energy savings and effi ciency, employ a pro-grammable thermostat to adjust the settings a few degrees higher when no one is home or when your family is sleeping.

There are a number of factors that impact energy effi ciency, including weather, the age and condition of the home and desired comfort levels.

JANUARY 2017 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 16-C

Twin Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., will send one high school junior to the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., and one to the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

To QualifyThe applicant must be a high school junior living within the cooperative’s territorial boundaries and the child of a Twin Valley Electric member.

To ApplyApplicants will be expected to study and take a

quiz over information sent by Twin Valley regarding electric cooperatives. There will also be a SHORT INTER-

VIEW ON MARCH 3 to pick the winners. All participating students will receive a prize.

To apply please complete, sign and return the ap-plication below to Twin Valley, P.O. Box 368, Altamont, KS, 67330 BY FEBRUARY 17, 2017.

Youth Tour Selection ProcessApplicants must complete an application and return it to the cooperative office. Finalists will be quizzed and interviewed by a panel of judges at the cooperative offices.

For More InformationFor more information, contact Jennifer at 866-784-5500.

Name of Applicant ____________________________________________ Applicant’s Phone Number _______________________________________Address ________________________________________ City_______________________________ State __________ Zip _______________Birth Date _______________________________________ Twin Valley Account # ________________________________________________Name of Parents or Guardians __________________________________________________________________________________________Parents' Phone Number _______________________________________________________________________________________________School _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________I agree that all information supplied in this application is accurate and true.Signature of Applicant ________________________________________________________________________________________________I hereby grant permission for the above named applicant to enter the 2017 Youth Tour competition sponsored by Twin Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian ____________________________________________________________________________________

Don't Miss this FREE Trip of a Lifetime!Attention High School Juniors

Application for Youth Tour Contest - Due by February 17, 2017

Each year, students from Kansas join more than 1,700 youth in Washington, D.C., to attend the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. This year’s Youth Tour is scheduled for June 8-15, 2017.

Kansas delegates attend Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp along with students from three other states to develop leadership skills and learn about co-ops. The 2017 CYLC will be July 14-20.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING JANUARY 201716-D