Berkeley Electric Cooperative members Russell and Deborah Johnson were fighting a losing battle with the air conditioner in their manufactured home not far from the co-op’s headquarters in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.
“Our inside unit would continuously run all the time. We were paying for the power but no cool air, and it was very hard for us to get comfortable in our home,” said Russell Johnson, who requires supplemental oxygen.
But these days the Lowcountry heat and humidity are more bearable for the Johnsons, and they’re saving, on average, $60 on their monthly electric bill. Last year, they were one of 44 Berkeley EC households to qualify for energy-efficiency funding from Google that went toward a ductless mini split and heat pump in their home.
And now even more of the co-op’s members will benefit from greater comfort in their homes, thanks to a new $500,000 grant from the technology giant to support energy improvements for low- to moderate-income households. The latest grant follows last year’s $250,000 award, bringing Google’s total contribution to the co-op to $750,000.
Google has operated a data center on Berkeley EC lines since 2007, and two more are under construction in nearby Dorchester County.
The new round of funding will help about 100 additional households, according to the co-op. The co-op’s in-house certified energy auditors will continue to manage the program along with Hope Repair, an outreach ministry of Pointe North Church in Moncks Corner, and other partners.
“Google reached out to us because of our institutional knowledge, expertise and partnerships in the community,” said Libby Roerig, the co-op’s director of marketing and communications. “It’s a shining example of the cooperative difference that we’ve been quietly helping our members every day, and Google is aware of that.”
At each qualifying home, a team led by Berkeley Electric Director of Energy Services Eddie Plowden install mini-splits, compact heating and cooling systems that control the temperature in specific rooms without using traditional air ducts. The units would normally cost about $9,000 with installation, but with the grant they’re about $5,000, Roerig said.
The ductless models have an added benefit of improved air quality, Plowden said. “A lot of these homes have inefficient HVACs and ductwork that’s either leaky or dirty. If we can bypass the ductwork, it’s not only improving energy efficiency but also improves their environment and safety.”
Meanwhile, the Johnsons are enjoying a better quality of life with their new cooling system. “When you’re trying to get comfortable at night with a small window unit and 110-degree weather, it was horrible,” said Deborah Johnson. “I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
Victoria A. Rocha is a staff writer for NRECA.