MONCKS CORNER — The U.S. Department of Energy says the average American family spends $1,300 a year on home energy bills, but because of wasteful habits and the prevalence of inefficient climate control systems, water heaters, appliances and insulation some of that energy is wasted — which means some of that money is also wasted.
There are several simple steps homeowners can take to make their homes more efficient, like being more energy conscious and using compact fluorescent light bulbs. Other measures, however, will require a greater investment of time and money.
The good news is the ultimate savings associated with these improvements will be more significant. The better news is Santee Cooper can help its residential customers with a Good Cents Low Interest Loan. Santee Cooper introduced the program in 1982 and has loaned more than $16 million to more than 4,000 customers.
A Good Cents loan can help customers finance projects that will improve their homes’ efficiency and result in lower energy costs. Loans range from $500 to $20,000 and can be applied to the following upgrades:
• Insulation (attic, wall, floor, duct)
• Replacement windows
• Insulated doors
• Caulking and weather stripping
• Heat pump water heaters
• Heat recovery devices (when used with an electric water heater)
• High-efficiency electric heat pumps
• Electric water heaters
• Electric ranges
• Solar water heaters
“Talk of energy efficiency has gained a lot of momentum in recent years, but Santee Cooper has been encouraging the wise and responsible use of electricity for four decades,” says Jill Watts, director of customer communications for Santee Cooper. “What really sets us apart, I think, is the service our energy experts provide in conjunction with the loan. They’ll conduct a home energy audit to determine the best cost-saving energy improvements and even help you choose a contractor to do the work. We want our customers to feel comfortable in their homes and with the process.”
Customers interested in applying for a Good Cents Low Interest Loan for their next home-improvement project can visit www.SanteeCooper.com/MyHome where they will find information about the application process, rates, approved contractors and more.
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility and provides power to more than 162,000 customers in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties and water to 136,000 consumers in Berkeley and Dorchester counties. The utility also generates the power distributed by the state’s 20 electric cooperatives to more than 685,000 customers in all 46 counties. Santee Cooper is the largest provider of electricity in South Carolina. More than 2 million South Carolinians receive their power directly or indirectly from Santee Cooper. For more information, visit www.SanteeCooper.com. For information on how Santee Cooper lives green and how you can go green with Santee Cooper, visit www.SanteeCooperGreen.com.