McLean County Judge-Executive Curtis Dame is encouraging residents across the region to attend an upcoming energy-efficiency seminar hosted by LG&E and KU, with a focus on helping individuals and businesses save money and reduce energy consumption.
The event is set for 12 p.m. on December 18 at the Community and Senior Citizen Center, located at 875 Walnut Street in Calhoun. Representatives from LG&E and KU’s Energy Efficiency Department will lead the session, which includes presentations on residential and business programs such as thermostat rebates, smart power strip savings, electric vehicle charging support, business incentives, and free energy audits.
Dame said the idea stemmed from his own experience with KU’s online residential energy audit.
“I signed up and did the residential home online energy audit, and I saved about 11% on my monthly bill just by using things like automated power strips,” he said. “That inspired me to call KU’s government rep and ask if we could do something to teach the average homeowner a few of these tricks.”
The event will outline how to reduce “phantom power” usage — energy drawn by devices even when turned off — and highlight other cost-saving steps, such as using LED lighting, updating appliances, and sealing air leaks.
Dame said the county is also exploring partnerships with local fire departments to conduct walk-through energy audits using thermal cameras to identify areas of heat loss.
“It might not sound glamorous, but a $30 savings a month adds up,” he said. “That could mean Christmas gifts or paying down short-term debt for a lot of families.”
Though the event is hosted in McLean County, all surrounding county residents are welcome to attend. The session will provide details on eligibility, how to apply for rebates and incentives, and where to access discounted energy-saving products.
“This is a passion project for me,” Dame said. “The best way I know to give people a little stimulus is to help them be more efficient. Instead of figuring out how to help folks pay their utility bills, why not help them lower them before it even happens?”
More information about KU’s residential and business programs will be available at the event, which will feature multiple representatives and educational materials. No RSVP is required.
