South Carolina's electric cooperatives are launching a statewide energy efficiency and consumer education study.  While aimed largely at making the state's highest-in-the-nation percentage of manufactured homes more energy efficient, site-built homes are also part of the study.

The study, called 'Help My House,' will test different approaches to cost-effective energy solutions in more than 1,200 homes, including manufactured and site-built homes. Manufactured homes, many of them older, less-efficient models, make up nearly 20 percent of South Carolina housing. For electric cooperatives, the number is even higher at 24 percent. That's three times the national average.

The S.C. Budget and Control Board's State Energy Office awarded Central Electric Power Cooperative, the cooperatives' wholesale power supplier, $2.9 million for the statewide study. Central Electric's additional funding brings the total budget to $3.3 million.

Nineteen of the state's electric cooperatives will participate in the education and research study, including Aiken, Berkeley, Black River, Blue Ridge, Broad River, Coastal, Edisto, Fairfield, Horry, Laurens, Little River, Lynches River, Marlboro, Mid-Carolina, Palmetto, Pee Dee, Santee, Tri-County and York.

Beginning Monday, March 1, consumer-members of the above co-ops will have the opportunity to apply for one of the available energy efficiency measures offered through their cooperative.  Printed applications for some of the measures can be found in South Carolina Living magazine or in a member's latest electric bill.  Applications will be accepted through April 30.  Members may apply only for the measure being offered by their cooperative.

'We know that energy efficiency can save our members money,' said Ron Calcaterra, Central Electric's president and CEO. 'This study will show us which efficiency measures will give them the biggest bang for their buck.  It will also help educate our members on how to use energy more efficiently.'

'The benefits of this study to the citizens of the state are two-fold,' said Ashlie Lancaster, an official with the energy office. 'Not only will the residents who participate in this study see savings from their homes becoming more energy efficient, but residents state-wide will benefit as we learn the most effective ways to reduce energy use in manufactured homes.'

Each of the 19 co-ops will participate in at least one, but not all, of the following field tests:

• 200 manufactured homes will receive standard weatherization assistance (Aiken, Berkeley, Black River, Little River)
• 200 manufactured homes will receive energy-efficient roof retrofits (Broad River, Horry, Mid-Carolina)
• 200 manufactured homes will receive high-efficiency heat pumps (Blue Ridge, Coastal, Lynches River, Palmetto, Santee)
• 200 manufactured homes will receive ENERGY STAR appliance upgrades (Coastal, Marlboro, Palmetto, Tri-County, York
• 400 homes will receive a new in-home display power monitor (Edisto, Fairfield, Laurens, Pee Dee)

Go to helpmyhouse.org/hvacupgrade to apply for the manufactured home high-efficiency heat pumps.

Go to helpmyhouse.org\solarthermal to apply for the solar thermal water heater.

Data from the field tests will enable utilities and policy makers to determine which energy efficiency approaches have the greatest impact and should be emphasized in the future.

'By learning the most efficient measures to reduce energy costs in these homes, the state will be able to take a more strategic approach to energy efficiency,' Lancaster said. 'This could be a great relief to moderate and lower income families which unfortunately tend to have higher percentages of their income going to their power bills.'

This grant is part of $68 million in federal economic stimulus funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy to the South Carolina Energy Office for the purpose of reducing energy costs, increasing the use of renewable energy and creating jobs.

The Help My House study is the latest in a series of measures co-ops in South Carolina are taking to save energy and money.  Since 2008, the co-ops have given away more than two million energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs to consumer-members.  And last year, the co-ops awarded home energy efficiency makeovers valued at up to $10,000 each to seven families in the state.  More information on that program is available at HelpMyHouse.org.