PINEVILLE, La. – Cleco’s 14th annual fan drive will help some elderly customers stay cooler this summer and manage their electric bill as the company distributes more than 500 fans to approximately 20 councils on aging throughout the company’s service territory.

“Thank you to Cleco employees, the community and local businesses for helping collect fans for the elderly,” said Kristen Lemoine, communications representative for Cleco. “The fans help the elderly stay cool and comfortable during the hot summer months. Some recipients are on fixed incomes and rely solely on the fans to keep them comfortable. That alone speaks volumes about the need and benefit of the fan drive.”

Fans help keep homes cool by making the air feel 10 degrees cooler, and they allow customers to remain comfortable at a higher thermostat setting. “We recommend a thermostat setting of 78 degrees and supplementing with fans to create a cost-effective way to cool a home,” said Lemoine. “Air conditioning and heating account for nearly 50 percent of a home’s energy use. Focusing on ways to safely set your thermostat at a higher setting during the summer is a good way to manage an electric bill.”

Other ways to help control electric bill costs are to run heat-generating appliances in the evening. Always keep shades and drapes closed during the day to help keep out the sun’s heat. Elderly individuals interested in receiving a fan should contact their local council on aging. For more information about energy conservation visit the Cleco website at www.cleco.com. Below is a listing of all agencies receiving fans:

Acadia Council on Aging 
Allen Council on Aging 
Avoyelles Council on Aging 
Beauregard Council on Aging
Calcasieu Council on Aging
DeSoto Council on Aging
Evangeline Council on Aging
Grant Council on Aging
Iberia Council on Aging
Natchitoches Council on Aging
Rapides Council on Aging
Red River Council on Aging
Sabine Council on Aging
St. Landry Council on Aging
St. Martin Council on Aging
St. Mary Council on Aging
St. Tammany Council on Aging
Vernon Council on Aging
Washington Council on Aging