Skip to main content

    Phone Missouri Member Service Hotline: 1-888-461-2667

Pay Online w/ SmartHub
Quick Pay
Rebates
Home
Menu
  • About Us
    • Cooperative Profile
    • Cooperative Principles
    • BREC Office Locations
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment
    • About Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Update Contact Information
    • Contact Us
  • Billing & Payments
    • Pay Bill Online
    • Budget Billing
    • Prepay Program
    • Payment Locations
    • EBill
    • Rates
  • Programs and Services
    • Reporting An Outage
    • Capital Credits
    • Right of Way Management
    • Security Lights
    • Rebate Programs
    • Together We Save
    • Call Before You Dig!
    • Solar / Net Metering
  • Resources
    • Wiring Specifications
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Low Cost/No Cost Energy Efficiency Tips
    • Choose EV
    • Kids Energy Links
  • News & Events
    • See all Recent Posts
    • Annual Meeting
    • Rural Missouri Magazine
    • Co-op News
    • Youth Tour
  • Safety
    • Electrical Safety at Home
    • Outdoor Electrical Safety
    • Holiday Lights
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Safe Electricity.Org
    • Farm Safety
  • Outages
    • Reporting An Outage
    • Storm Center
    • Generator Safety
    • Winter Storm Safety

Low Cost/No Cost Energy Efficiency Tips

Low Cost/No Cost Energy Efficiency Tips

A few minutes and a few dollars can go a long way in making your home more energy efficient.

Seal cracks and gaps around your home.

As you put away your storm windows consider adding weather stripping around leaky doors and caulking around window frames.  TogetherWeSave.com, a website sponsored by Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, the branding program of the nation’s not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric co-ops, shows how easy it is to use a caulking gun to seal up leaks around vents, ductwork, and windows. A typical member at BREC can save more than $200 annually by taking this simple step. 

Change filters regularly.

Change furnace and air conditioner filters monthly. Dirty filters restrict air flow and reduce the overall efficiency of your heating and cooling system by making it work harder on hot summer days.

Clean the refrigerator inside and out.

Now’s a good time to not only throw out that leftover fruitcake from the holidays but check the temperature settings on your refrigerator. Ideally, a refrigerator’s temperature should be between 37 and 40 degrees for maximum operating efficiency.  When it’s time to replace that old refrigerator, be sure to buy one that’s ENERGY STAR rated. These energy-efficient appliances can save BREC members as much as $100 a year based on calculations from the TogetherWeSave.com.

Think sun block.

TogetherWeSave.com points out that by pulling down the shades on your windows this spring and summer, you could save about $35 a year.  Your local hardware store likely carries lots of inexpensive window coverings. Best of all, by blocking the sun, your house will stay cool and comfortable year-round.

Enjoy spring breezes.

Use a clothesline during warmer months and let sunlight and breezes dry clothes naturally. This will reduce your electric bill by not running a dryer, and add a genuine clean scent to your family’s laundry.

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • News

Contact Information

Black River Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Address: 2600 Highway 67  or  P.O. Box 31 Fredericktown, Missouri 63645

Phone: 573-783-3381 or 1-800-392-4711

Member Service Hotline: 1-888-461-2667

©2025 Black River Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • About Us
    • Cooperative Profile
    • Cooperative Principles
    • BREC Office Locations
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment
    • About Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Update Contact Information
    • Contact Us
  • Billing & Payments
    • Pay Bill Online
    • Budget Billing
    • Prepay Program
    • Payment Locations
    • EBill
    • Rates
  • Programs and Services
    • Reporting An Outage
    • Capital Credits
    • Right of Way Management
    • Security Lights
    • Rebate Programs
    • Together We Save
    • Call Before You Dig!
    • Solar / Net Metering
  • Resources
    • Wiring Specifications
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Low Cost/No Cost Energy Efficiency Tips
    • Choose EV
    • Kids Energy Links
  • News & Events
    • See all Recent Posts
    • Annual Meeting
    • Rural Missouri Magazine
    • Co-op News
    • Youth Tour
  • Safety
    • Electrical Safety at Home
    • Outdoor Electrical Safety
    • Holiday Lights
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Safe Electricity.Org
    • Farm Safety
  • Outages
    • Reporting An Outage
    • Storm Center
    • Generator Safety
    • Winter Storm Safety