July 28, 2025 • 12 mins
In this episode of Co-op Conversations with DEMCO, host David Latona sits down with Ashley Carradine, DEMCO’s Energy Services Coordinator, to talk about easy ways members can reduce their electric use—especially during the hot summer months—without giving up comfort or control.
Ashley explains how much energy typical household appliances use and where you can make the biggest impact. From laundry habits and ceiling fan tricks to tips for managing pool pumps and smart thermostats, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you take control of your energy bill.
You’ll also learn about DEMCO’s Levelized Billing program, which can help you avoid seasonal bill spikes by spreading your usage costs more evenly across the year.
Looking to save even more? Visit DEMCO.org to download your free DIY Home Energy Audit Checklist and explore additional energy-saving resources.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
David Latona:
Welcome to Co-op Conversations with DEMCO,
where we talk about the topics that impact your power, (00:05):
undefined
your co-op and your community. I'm your host, David Latona.
As temperatures rise, so can your energy use, and that often leads to higher bills.
But here's the good news. Saving energy doesn't mean giving up comfort or control.
(00:29):
In this episode, we'll talk about some small changes you can make that can lead to big savings on your electric bill,
and you won't have to sacrifice your comfort or convenience.
Joining me is Ashley Carradine, DEMCO's energy services coordinator.
Ashley works directly with our members to help them understand their energy use and find simple,
(00:55):
effective ways to improve efficiency.
Ashley, welcome.
Ashley Carradine: Thanks, David. I'm excited to be here and to be able to share some ideas that can really help our members stay cool and save (01:00):
undefined
money.
David Latona: I'm so excited to have Ashley here. She does such a great job working with our members that may have questions about their (01:08):
undefined
bills or just their usage, and I know we want to dive right in because this is one of the most important topics to our members.
Let's kick things off with basics.
Is that okay? Ashley, can we do that?
Ashley Carradine: Absolutely. (01:27):
undefined
David Latona: Okay. What are the top energy users inside a typical member's home? (01:27):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Well, did you know that heating and cooling can make up 47% of a home's energy use? (01:34):
undefined
David Latona: 47? (01:41):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes, water heating uses about 14%, and the rest comes from lighting, (01:41):
undefined
laundry, and appliances. A good way to think about this is if the average electricity bill for a
1,500 square foot home is around $150 per month during the summer,
nearly half of that about $75, goes to cooling alone.
David Latona: So that seems like a lot to me. But I've lived here in South Louisiana long enough to know that that is very true. (02:06):
undefined
So nearly half your bill goes to staying cool.
That's impressive.
Ashley Carradine: Exactly. And that's why those systems are the best place to focus. (02:19):
undefined
If you want to lower your bill without giving up your comfort.
David Latona: That's good info. I know not everybody thinks about that when they're thinking about a high usage bill. (02:27):
undefined
So let's talk about some of those smart changes.
Ashley, can you share a few tips that help members save energy without giving up comfort?
Ashley Carradine: Absolutely. One of my favorite tips is a laundry tip. (02:45):
undefined
Run the spin cycle twice on your washing machine because it actually removes more moisture from your
clothes, which means your dryer won't have to work as hard or as long.
David Latona: I have never heard that before, but it makes sense. (03:02):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: It does. (03:06):
undefined
David Latona: Oh my goodness, what a great tip because our dryers take more energy than do our washers, (03:06):
undefined
right because of that heating element.
Okay. Great tip right Ashley.
Ashley Carradine: And speaking of washing machines, don't fill your washer machine up all the way because the more (03:17):
undefined
clothes you have — number one, you're not going to wash your clothes fully.
And then you're going to put those into the dryer, and it's going to take extra long to be able to dry those
clothes. And if you're not running it on a second spin cycle, then it's going to take double the time,
(03:38):
if that makes any sense.
David Latona: That does. Great tip. (03:39):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Another easy one is using ceiling fans. (03:41):
undefined
They help circulate the air and make rooms feel cooler so you can raise the thermostat a few degrees.
Just make sure to turn them off when you leave the room.
And speaking of thermostats, try setting it at 78 degrees when you're home and even higher when you're away,
because that alone can make a noticeable difference.
(04:03):
One awesome thing is to avoid using your oven on really hot days.
David Latona: Oh, tell me about it. (04:08):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes. Me last night, trying to cook. (04:09):
undefined
It heats up your kitchen and makes your air conditioner work extra hard.
Instead, get your grill or use a microwave.
And one thing, do not forget electronics.
Many devices draw power even when they're off.
Plug them into a smart power strip or unplug them when it's not in use.
David Latona: Oh great idea. (04:30):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes. (04:32):
undefined
David Latona: I love that about the washer. I really like that about the fans. (04:32):
undefined
And you know, another thing I've heard is that the fan only cools you off when you're in the room.
So, like you're saying, when you leave.
Turn that fan off because it's not doing – it's not cooling anyone off,
or it's not cooling off the home.
Ashley Carradine: That is correct. (04:49):
undefined
David Latona: Those are great tips. And what about outdoor features like pools and fountains? (04:51):
undefined
I know it's the summer and we've got a lot of use in our swimming pools.
If you own a swimming pool, what's some good advice there?
Ashley Carradine: Yeah, and a lot of people don't think about the outdoor water features like the pool pumps, (05:03):
undefined
because that can be a big contributor to your energy bill, especially if they run 24/7.
Those that have pools truly don't need the pump running all day.
You can usually reduce the runtime 6 to 8 hours a day and still keep that water clean.
(05:26):
It helps to run your pump before 8 a.m.
or after 8 p.m., when fewer people are at home or using appliances and their air conditioners.
That actually helps manage overall demand, and it can reduce cost.
David Latona: Excellent tips. Those are so great, especially considering indoors, (05:40):
undefined
outdoors. And DEMCO has great resources on our website that walk you through all of this.
Is that correct?
Ashley Carradine: Yes, absolutely. We have power smart energy efficiency resources with lots of helpful information, (05:51):
undefined
including a brochure that you can download a DIY home energy audit checklist.
All of this helps you assess your energy usage room by room, and it gives you suggestions for improving efficiency throughout
your home. And you can download all of this at demco.org/powersmart.
David Latona: It's a great tool for identifying where your energy is going and what you can do to reduce it. (06:17):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Exactly. You only pay for the power you use. (06:25):
undefined
So the more efficient your home is, the less you spend.
The checklist can help you take control of your usage and manage your budget more effectively.
There are tons of useful ideas packed into that one resource.
David Latona: That's great. You can find the checklist and other energy saving resources at demco.org. (06:43):
undefined
And if you want to explore even more, check out energy.gov energy saver page for step by step
DIY projects. We also want to mention something that could be helpful to members looking to avoid seasonal bill
(07:05):
spikes. DEMCO's levelized bill program.
Would you talk a little bit about that, Ashley?
Ashley Carradine: Yes, I would love to. I am actually on this myself, my husband and I for our home. (07:10):
undefined
Levelized billing is a great option to members who've been at their current residence for at least 12 months.
It doesn't reduce your overall energy use, but it does make your bill more predictable.
Instead of big swings during peak heating and cooling months, your bill stays about the same month to month because it's based
(07:35):
on a rolling 12 month average.
David Latona: That's great. I know that can be really helpful, even for folks that are, (07:38):
undefined
they're on a fixed income, and they need to budget a little more accurately month to month.
So it's helpful in that way.
Ashley Carradine: Yes, most certainly. You still pay for the energy you use, but the charges are spread out to avoid extreme highs or (07:48):
undefined
lows. To qualify, you need to have a zero balance and payments must be made on time to stay enrolled.
If you're interested, you can sign up through your MyDEMCO portal.
David Latona: That's great. I'm going to go do that myself because that sounds like a very beneficial member offering. (08:08):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: It definitely is. Like I said, my husband and I have been on it for about three years now, (08:15):
undefined
so it definitely helps me because I'm the one who pays MyDEMCO bill.
David Latona: Excellent. Let's move into some frequently asked questions. (08:23):
undefined
This is when we dip into the mailbag.
I hope that's all right. Ashley.
Ashley Carradine: Yes, of course. (08:30):
undefined
David Latona: Here's one we hear a lot. Should I turn off my AC completely when I (08:31):
undefined
leave the house?
Ashley Carradine: It's better to raise the thermostat a few degrees rather than turning it off. (08:40):
undefined
That way, your system doesn't have to work overtime to cool everything back down when you return.
David Latona: That's good. That's good. Because I know that's a popular question. Great to hear from the expert on that. (08:52):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: It is a very popular question. (08:57):
undefined
David Latona: Another one we see here is do closing vents in unused rooms help save on my (08:59):
undefined
electric bill?
Ashley Carradine: No, it can actually backfire. It creates pressure in your system that reduces efficiency. (09:08):
undefined
It's best to leave them open and keep airflow balanced.
David Latona: That was a shocker. It was like I expected some creepy music in the background when you said that, (09:18):
undefined
because I thought turning off one vent in a room would help out, but maybe it'd be detrimental to the unit itself?
Ashley Carradine: Yes, it definitely is. That's often a sign that your air conditioner is short cycling. (09:28):
undefined
If it's turning on and off too frequently, it may be running long enough to pull moisture out of the air.
So a properly sized system and smart thermostat can help manage that.
David Latona: Excellent. Here's another one. Is it better to leave lights on or turn them off if you're stepping (09:45):
undefined
away for just a few minutes?
Ashley Carradine: Turn them off. (09:55):
undefined
David Latona: Turn them off? (09:57):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes. Modern lighting, especially LEDs, use very little energy to turn back on. (09:58):
undefined
Leaving them on waste energy, even for short periods.
David Latona: That's great advice. I'm so glad we have you on the show. (10:08):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Thank you. I actually have LED lights in my home. (10:11):
undefined
David Latona: Okay, excellent. So here's one that my wife and I argue about. (10:14):
undefined
What about the dishes? Should I use the dishwasher, or if there's only a few,
should I wash them by hand? What's the best bet with my energy consumption?
Ashley Carradine: So I had to learn this myself because I am one that likes to wash dishes by hand. (10:28):
undefined
I prefer not to use the dishwasher, but a full dishwasher is actually more efficient than washing by
hand. Just skip the heat dry setting and let your dishes air dry instead.
David Latona: I'm so glad you said that so I can tell my wife. (10:46):
undefined
Okay, finally, we're gonna give you a break so.
Does using cold water really make a difference when doing laundry?
Ashley Carradine: It does. Heating water takes a lot of energy, so using cold water whenever possible is one of the easiest ways (10:59):
undefined
to save.
David Latona: Okay, so I lost that one, but that's okay. (11:09):
undefined
Ashley, thanks so much for joining us and sharing these super helpful tips for our members to save on their electric bills.
Ashley Carradine: Thank you David. It's all about making small, smart choices that add up and help our members stay comfortable (11:19):
undefined
while managing their bills. For more energy saving tips and resources,
visit demco.org. Remember to download the DIY home energy audit checklist to start saving today.
And if you're interested in spreading out your energy costs more evenly.
(11:40):
See if you qualify for the levelized billing.
You can sign in to your MyDECMO account portal or call 1-844-my-DEMCO.
Select option three and a member services representative can assist you.
David Latona: This has been such great information. (11:54):
undefined
We appreciate you for being here.
Thank you all for listening to Co-op Conversations with DEMCO.
Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
If you liked what you heard, leave us a review.
Like and share the episode with a friend.
For Ashley Carradine, I'm David Latona.
(12:17):
Let's keep the conversation going.
undefined
your co-op and your community. I'm your host, David Latona.
As temperatures rise, so can your energy use, and that often leads to higher bills.
But here's the good news. Saving energy doesn't mean giving up comfort or control.
(00:29):
In this episode, we'll talk about some small changes you can make that can lead to big savings on your electric bill,
and you won't have to sacrifice your comfort or convenience.
Joining me is Ashley Carradine, DEMCO's energy services coordinator.
Ashley works directly with our members to help them understand their energy use and find simple,
(00:55):
effective ways to improve efficiency.
Ashley, welcome.
Ashley Carradine: Thanks, David. I'm excited to be here and to be able to share some ideas that can really help our members stay cool and save (01:00):
undefined
money.
David Latona: I'm so excited to have Ashley here. She does such a great job working with our members that may have questions about their (01:08):
undefined
bills or just their usage, and I know we want to dive right in because this is one of the most important topics to our members.
Let's kick things off with basics.
Is that okay? Ashley, can we do that?
Ashley Carradine: Absolutely. (01:27):
undefined
David Latona: Okay. What are the top energy users inside a typical member's home? (01:27):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Well, did you know that heating and cooling can make up 47% of a home's energy use? (01:34):
undefined
David Latona: 47? (01:41):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes, water heating uses about 14%, and the rest comes from lighting, (01:41):
undefined
laundry, and appliances. A good way to think about this is if the average electricity bill for a
1,500 square foot home is around $150 per month during the summer,
nearly half of that about $75, goes to cooling alone.
David Latona: So that seems like a lot to me. But I've lived here in South Louisiana long enough to know that that is very true. (02:06):
undefined
So nearly half your bill goes to staying cool.
That's impressive.
Ashley Carradine: Exactly. And that's why those systems are the best place to focus. (02:19):
undefined
If you want to lower your bill without giving up your comfort.
David Latona: That's good info. I know not everybody thinks about that when they're thinking about a high usage bill. (02:27):
undefined
So let's talk about some of those smart changes.
Ashley, can you share a few tips that help members save energy without giving up comfort?
Ashley Carradine: Absolutely. One of my favorite tips is a laundry tip. (02:45):
undefined
Run the spin cycle twice on your washing machine because it actually removes more moisture from your
clothes, which means your dryer won't have to work as hard or as long.
David Latona: I have never heard that before, but it makes sense. (03:02):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: It does. (03:06):
undefined
David Latona: Oh my goodness, what a great tip because our dryers take more energy than do our washers, (03:06):
undefined
right because of that heating element.
Okay. Great tip right Ashley.
Ashley Carradine: And speaking of washing machines, don't fill your washer machine up all the way because the more (03:17):
undefined
clothes you have — number one, you're not going to wash your clothes fully.
And then you're going to put those into the dryer, and it's going to take extra long to be able to dry those
clothes. And if you're not running it on a second spin cycle, then it's going to take double the time,
(03:38):
if that makes any sense.
David Latona: That does. Great tip. (03:39):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Another easy one is using ceiling fans. (03:41):
undefined
They help circulate the air and make rooms feel cooler so you can raise the thermostat a few degrees.
Just make sure to turn them off when you leave the room.
And speaking of thermostats, try setting it at 78 degrees when you're home and even higher when you're away,
because that alone can make a noticeable difference.
(04:03):
One awesome thing is to avoid using your oven on really hot days.
David Latona: Oh, tell me about it. (04:08):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes. Me last night, trying to cook. (04:09):
undefined
It heats up your kitchen and makes your air conditioner work extra hard.
Instead, get your grill or use a microwave.
And one thing, do not forget electronics.
Many devices draw power even when they're off.
Plug them into a smart power strip or unplug them when it's not in use.
David Latona: Oh great idea. (04:30):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes. (04:32):
undefined
David Latona: I love that about the washer. I really like that about the fans. (04:32):
undefined
And you know, another thing I've heard is that the fan only cools you off when you're in the room.
So, like you're saying, when you leave.
Turn that fan off because it's not doing – it's not cooling anyone off,
or it's not cooling off the home.
Ashley Carradine: That is correct. (04:49):
undefined
David Latona: Those are great tips. And what about outdoor features like pools and fountains? (04:51):
undefined
I know it's the summer and we've got a lot of use in our swimming pools.
If you own a swimming pool, what's some good advice there?
Ashley Carradine: Yeah, and a lot of people don't think about the outdoor water features like the pool pumps, (05:03):
undefined
because that can be a big contributor to your energy bill, especially if they run 24/7.
Those that have pools truly don't need the pump running all day.
You can usually reduce the runtime 6 to 8 hours a day and still keep that water clean.
(05:26):
It helps to run your pump before 8 a.m.
or after 8 p.m., when fewer people are at home or using appliances and their air conditioners.
That actually helps manage overall demand, and it can reduce cost.
David Latona: Excellent tips. Those are so great, especially considering indoors, (05:40):
undefined
outdoors. And DEMCO has great resources on our website that walk you through all of this.
Is that correct?
Ashley Carradine: Yes, absolutely. We have power smart energy efficiency resources with lots of helpful information, (05:51):
undefined
including a brochure that you can download a DIY home energy audit checklist.
All of this helps you assess your energy usage room by room, and it gives you suggestions for improving efficiency throughout
your home. And you can download all of this at demco.org/powersmart.
David Latona: It's a great tool for identifying where your energy is going and what you can do to reduce it. (06:17):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Exactly. You only pay for the power you use. (06:25):
undefined
So the more efficient your home is, the less you spend.
The checklist can help you take control of your usage and manage your budget more effectively.
There are tons of useful ideas packed into that one resource.
David Latona: That's great. You can find the checklist and other energy saving resources at demco.org. (06:43):
undefined
And if you want to explore even more, check out energy.gov energy saver page for step by step
DIY projects. We also want to mention something that could be helpful to members looking to avoid seasonal bill
(07:05):
spikes. DEMCO's levelized bill program.
Would you talk a little bit about that, Ashley?
Ashley Carradine: Yes, I would love to. I am actually on this myself, my husband and I for our home. (07:10):
undefined
Levelized billing is a great option to members who've been at their current residence for at least 12 months.
It doesn't reduce your overall energy use, but it does make your bill more predictable.
Instead of big swings during peak heating and cooling months, your bill stays about the same month to month because it's based
(07:35):
on a rolling 12 month average.
David Latona: That's great. I know that can be really helpful, even for folks that are, (07:38):
undefined
they're on a fixed income, and they need to budget a little more accurately month to month.
So it's helpful in that way.
Ashley Carradine: Yes, most certainly. You still pay for the energy you use, but the charges are spread out to avoid extreme highs or (07:48):
undefined
lows. To qualify, you need to have a zero balance and payments must be made on time to stay enrolled.
If you're interested, you can sign up through your MyDEMCO portal.
David Latona: That's great. I'm going to go do that myself because that sounds like a very beneficial member offering. (08:08):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: It definitely is. Like I said, my husband and I have been on it for about three years now, (08:15):
undefined
so it definitely helps me because I'm the one who pays MyDEMCO bill.
David Latona: Excellent. Let's move into some frequently asked questions. (08:23):
undefined
This is when we dip into the mailbag.
I hope that's all right. Ashley.
Ashley Carradine: Yes, of course. (08:30):
undefined
David Latona: Here's one we hear a lot. Should I turn off my AC completely when I (08:31):
undefined
leave the house?
Ashley Carradine: It's better to raise the thermostat a few degrees rather than turning it off. (08:40):
undefined
That way, your system doesn't have to work overtime to cool everything back down when you return.
David Latona: That's good. That's good. Because I know that's a popular question. Great to hear from the expert on that. (08:52):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: It is a very popular question. (08:57):
undefined
David Latona: Another one we see here is do closing vents in unused rooms help save on my (08:59):
undefined
electric bill?
Ashley Carradine: No, it can actually backfire. It creates pressure in your system that reduces efficiency. (09:08):
undefined
It's best to leave them open and keep airflow balanced.
David Latona: That was a shocker. It was like I expected some creepy music in the background when you said that, (09:18):
undefined
because I thought turning off one vent in a room would help out, but maybe it'd be detrimental to the unit itself?
Ashley Carradine: Yes, it definitely is. That's often a sign that your air conditioner is short cycling. (09:28):
undefined
If it's turning on and off too frequently, it may be running long enough to pull moisture out of the air.
So a properly sized system and smart thermostat can help manage that.
David Latona: Excellent. Here's another one. Is it better to leave lights on or turn them off if you're stepping (09:45):
undefined
away for just a few minutes?
Ashley Carradine: Turn them off. (09:55):
undefined
David Latona: Turn them off? (09:57):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Yes. Modern lighting, especially LEDs, use very little energy to turn back on. (09:58):
undefined
Leaving them on waste energy, even for short periods.
David Latona: That's great advice. I'm so glad we have you on the show. (10:08):
undefined
Ashley Carradine: Thank you. I actually have LED lights in my home. (10:11):
undefined
David Latona: Okay, excellent. So here's one that my wife and I argue about. (10:14):
undefined
What about the dishes? Should I use the dishwasher, or if there's only a few,
should I wash them by hand? What's the best bet with my energy consumption?
Ashley Carradine: So I had to learn this myself because I am one that likes to wash dishes by hand. (10:28):
undefined
I prefer not to use the dishwasher, but a full dishwasher is actually more efficient than washing by
hand. Just skip the heat dry setting and let your dishes air dry instead.
David Latona: I'm so glad you said that so I can tell my wife. (10:46):
undefined
Okay, finally, we're gonna give you a break so.
Does using cold water really make a difference when doing laundry?
Ashley Carradine: It does. Heating water takes a lot of energy, so using cold water whenever possible is one of the easiest ways (10:59):
undefined
to save.
David Latona: Okay, so I lost that one, but that's okay. (11:09):
undefined
Ashley, thanks so much for joining us and sharing these super helpful tips for our members to save on their electric bills.
Ashley Carradine: Thank you David. It's all about making small, smart choices that add up and help our members stay comfortable (11:19):
undefined
while managing their bills. For more energy saving tips and resources,
visit demco.org. Remember to download the DIY home energy audit checklist to start saving today.
And if you're interested in spreading out your energy costs more evenly.
(11:40):
See if you qualify for the levelized billing.
You can sign in to your MyDECMO account portal or call 1-844-my-DEMCO.
Select option three and a member services representative can assist you.
David Latona: This has been such great information. (11:54):
undefined
We appreciate you for being here.
Thank you all for listening to Co-op Conversations with DEMCO.
Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
If you liked what you heard, leave us a review.
Like and share the episode with a friend.
For Ashley Carradine, I'm David Latona.
(12:17):
Let's keep the conversation going.
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