LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

You have the power to care through LCEC’s Power to Share Program

February 24, 2021 – This past year has had devastating financial impacts for so many people throughout the world. Even with the help of stimulus money, many of our neighbors are having to making the tough decision between paying the electric bill or the mortgage. You can help someone in need by donating to the LCEC Power to Share Program. This program is a partnership between LCEC and the United Way where short-term emergency assistance is available to customers in LCEC’s service territory who meet the requirements. To make a donation, you can visit the Power to Share page on lcec.net at https://www.lcec.net/about-lcec/community-and-education/power-to-share and fill out the contribution form, or visit www.unitedwaylee.org, click on “Donate Now” and enter LCEC Power to Share. With LCEC’s Power to Share Program, you have the power to care!

Ways to save electricity and money with LCEC energy saving tools

February 16, 2021 – In addition to the many simple ways you can save electricity, LCEC offers customers three interactive tools to make saving even easier! Not only will these online tools help you understand and manage your energy usage, they can also help you discover new ways to conserve energy while reducing your electric bill!

SmartHub – This tool helps LCEC customers manage usage, compare monthly bills, receive alerts, convenient pay, and receive important information. It is available on your computer or mobile device.

Interactive Home – Understanding your electric usage is easy and fun with the online Interactive Home. By spending a few minutes clicking through the “virtual” home, you will learn many proven ways to save energy dollars year after year. Many of the energy-saving suggestions are low-cost or no-cost.

Calc-U-Savers – Calc-U-Savers help to answer many of your energy questions by analyzing your usage and assessing ways to save through our energy tips. Calc-U-Savers options include an energy advisor, appliance, lightening, pool/spa, and television.

For more ways to save or to get started with any of these three amazing tools, visit lcec.net.

Applications being accepted for LCEC Environmental Funding Awards

February 9, 2021 – March 15 is the deadline to apply for LCEC’s 2021 Environmental Funding Awards. To apply for an environmental funding award from LCEC, organizations can visit https://www.lcec.net/about-lcec/community-and-education/environment. Interested organizations must meet certain criteria to be considered for the award including being located within LCEC service territory, funding utilized for projects/programs related to the environment and the utility industry, and having a demonstrated need for funds. Funding is awarded twice a year with deadlines happening in March and September. For assistance or questions, contact pr@lcec.net. More than $120,000 has been awarded since the program’s inception in 2013. LCEC’s Environmental Funding Award Program is just one of the many ways that LCEC positively impacts and supports wildlife and the environment.

Are your windows helping heat enter your home?

February 2, 2021 – In sunny SWFL, 30 percent of cooling costs are attributed to glass and windows. There are several ways to help lessen the load that windows put on your air conditioner. Our LCEC energy experts recommend:

Residential window tint:
Significant air-conditioning savings can be attained by blocking solar heat before it reaches the windows by using special heat-reflecting glass or heat-reflecting glass coatings (residential window tint). Reflective glass or reflective glass coatings should be rated to reflect at least 65 percent of all solar heat to be considered efficient in Southwest Florida. Since east- or west- facing windows are the main source of intrusive heat, it is especially helpful to use shading devices on these windows since they experience many hours of direct sunlight.

Shade:
Awnings, storm shutters, shade trees and porch or lanai roofs are all very effective in blocking solar heat. To be 100 percent effective, the exterior shading device must never allow direct sunlight to touch the window’s surface. South-facing windows experience a great deal of direct sunlight in the winter months when the sun rides lower in the sky. In the summer, south-facing windows are largely shaded by the overhanging soffit of the roof.

Avoid skylights if possible:
Skylights experience many more hours of direct sunlight than any vertical window and should be avoided if possible. Existing skylights can be tinted, covered, blocked or shaded to lessen their load on the air conditioner.

LCEC energy experts also recommend considering energy-efficient features such as double-pane, low-E glass when upgrading windows. To learn more about how heat enters your home and other green energy tips, visit lcec.net.