Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine March 2021

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2021

all, what can the average consumer do about it? Good question. Let me suggest that even if the weather never returns to the 2021 level, there are other considerations. The move to reduce the supply of natural gas will have an even greater result because it will be a year round problem. That leaves us with the darlings of solar and wind. I spent years running numbers and stating that solar for residencies would not make sense until the cost per watt was less than $3.00. Well, it is below $3.00 now with very attractive financing. While that may make your overall electrical power bill low, low, low; it does not solve the problem we had with the cold weather of 2-21. If we convert our electrical supply away from fossil fuel generation, what will we do on days when 2-21 returns and solar is greatly reduced due to snow build up on panels and overcast skies? Again, what can the average person do. Energy Efficiency has the best opportunity to reduce electrical consumption and to benefit homeowners from day one of weatherization and high efficiency HVAC equipment. For that reason, I would encourage all contractors to at least provide homeowners and business with the option of improving their structures and installing high efficiency equipment. Also remember that Indoor Air Quality can and should be included in a total package. You, the HVAC contractor are in a super position to ensure stable electrical supply by reducing consumption while providing the most comfortable home and business.

Electric Dilemma

Appeals to Conserve Rolling Outages

Blackouts On February 15, the electrical grid managers — Southwest Power Pool and Midcontinent Independent System Operator asked their customers, Entergy Arkansas and Southwest Electric Power Company, to direct their homeowners and businesses to reduce electrical consumption. Why? Because demand for electricity was at all-time highs. Yes, we all know it has been cold but we don’t always realize how weather affects our normal life other than the snow on the roads. SWEPCO reached a level 3 which means they were required to implement power outages. How long? Well, you folks in northwest Arkansas know how long it actually affected you. SWEPCO’s statement said, “not…for more than a few hours whenever possible.” Entergy Arkansas reached a level 2 which required an appeal to its customers to reduce consumption. One nightly weather report asked homeowners to reduce their thermostat to 60 degrees. Man, that is cold. By the time you get this March issue of the NewsMagazine, the emergency will have passed and it will be old news in the minds of most folks. We are absorbed in our daily lives and something a week old is good coffee shop and hair salon conversation but that is about all. After