by jboullion | Aug 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Alliant Energy:
“Higher summer temperatures and humidity levels mean higher electric bills. This is a direct result of the increased use of air conditioning and other appliances,” says Tim Heinrich, Director of Customer Support Services for Alliant Energy. “However, there are many free and low-cost ways to stay cool and comfortable this summer – while keeping electricity costs in check.”
Customers utilizing window air conditioners may want to consider using a timer to turn on the air conditioner half an hour before returning home rather than running it while you’re gone. Be sure to keep the filters clean to maximize performance. If possible, locate the unit in a window that is most central to the area you are cooling and on the shadiest side of the building. Customers in the market for a new window air conditioner should make sure it is the proper size; it’s better to get one that’s too small than too large. A larger unit will start up and turn off more frequently and won’t be as effective at dehumidifying the air.
For customers with central air conditioners, Alliant Energy suggests keeping them well maintained to ensure peak efficiency. That means scheduling yearly maintenance and regularly checking the refrigerant charge as well as indoor and outdoor air coils.
Setting back thermostats or using a programmable thermostat during long periods of time, such as at night while you are sleeping or during the day when no one is home, allows homeowners to save energy without having to sacrifice comfort. Resist the urge to override the pre-programmed settings. Every time you do, you use more energy and may end up paying more on your energy bill.
Used in combination with your air conditioner, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise your thermostat setting without reducing your comfort. The airflow produced by the ceiling fan creates a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Be sure to turn the fan off when you’re not in the room to save energy – ceiling fans cool people, not rooms.
Finally, the less you use air conditioning, the less electricity you use. If you keep your windows closed to keep humidity out while the air conditioning is off, a well insulated home should only rise a few degrees throughout the day while you’re not home.
Alliant Energy offers a few additional tips for customers to save energy and reduce electric bills, by:
* Keeping window blinds and shades closed during the day.
* Grilling outside or cooking with microwaves instead of conventional ovens.
* Using the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded. If available, use the dishwasher’s energy-saving features such as partial-load setting and no-heat drying cycle.
* Replacing incandescent light bulbs, which generate heat, with more energy efficient fluorescent bulbs as they consume less energy and last longer.
* Considering whether maintaining a second refrigerator or freezer unit is worth the additional $150 dollars it costs a year to run. If so, place the extra unit in the basement where it is naturally cooler so the appliance will not have to cycle as frequently.
For additional information on how to become more energy efficient year-round, Alliant Energy encourages customers to contact Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, by calling 1(800)762.7077 or visiting focusonenergy.com .
by jboullion | Aug 9, 2010 | Uncategorized
Open House – 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Unity School Gym, 1908 State Road 46
Geronimo Wind Energy, LLC, will host a community-wide open house in Balsam Lake on August 11, 2010, to provide residents with information on Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) and the wind energy resource within Polk County, Wisconsin. Geronimo Wind Energy, LLC, will provide community members with the opportunity to discuss a broad range of topics surrounding wind energy, including the potential for wind power within Polk County. Informative display stations and handout materials will be available to facilitate understanding of WECS.
For more info, call (952) 988-9000 or visit www.geronimowind.com
by jboullion | Aug 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an announcement made by Focus on Energy:
Two FREE opportunities to see how farms are using new technologies and how they have made their operations more energy efficient.
What does being energy efficient mean? Focus on Energy has helped more than
3,000 farms in Wisconsin save thousands of dollars on their energy bills. Saving energy isn’t the only benefit, increased productivity and higher profits are also realized.
Visit two farms — Pfaff’s Prairie Diary, Melrose, and Ted Janke Farm, Histon — to see two perspectives on using technologies to save energy and money!
by jboullion | Aug 3, 2010 | Uncategorized
AC_FL_RunContent( ‘codebase’, ‘http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0’, ‘width’, ‘411’, ‘height’, ‘184’ , ‘src’, ‘http://storybridge.tv/sites/all/themes/storybridge/swfs/sbplay_seg02c’, ‘quality’, ‘high’, ‘pluginspage’, ‘http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer’, ‘align’, ‘middle’, ‘play’, ‘true’, ‘loop’, ‘true’, ‘scale’, ‘showall’, ‘wmode’, ‘transparent’, ‘devicefont’, ‘false’, ‘id’, ‘sbplay_seg02c’, ‘bgcolor’, ‘#000000’, ‘name’, ‘sbplay_seg02c’, ‘menu’, ‘true’, ‘allowFullScreen’, ‘true’, ‘allowScriptAccess’, ‘always’, ‘movie’, ‘http://storybridge.tv/sites/all/themes/storybridge/swfs/sbplay_seg02c’, ‘salign’, ‘tl’, ‘FlashVars’, ‘pathPrefix=http://storybridge.tv&segList=%2Ffiles%2FMagicEnergyMain_poster.jpg%0D%0A%2Ffiles%2Fgreenview_magicenergy_0.swf%2C3%0D%0A%2Ffiles%2Fep137main_1.swf%2C81%0D%0A%2Ffiles%2Fep137main_2.swf%2C73%0D%0A%2Ffiles%2Fep137main_3.swf%2C66%0D%0A%2Ffiles%2Fep137main_4.swf%2C9%2Chttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.mge.com%2Fmy_mge%2Fserviceforms%2FEmailMessage.htm%3Fsendto%3Deduservices%40mge.com%0D%0A%0D%0A&lc0=Z&lc1=X&lc2=X&lc3=X&lc4=X&autoplay=false&pingPath=http://storybridge.tv/files/ping.txt&myTitleIn=MAGICENERGY&mp4_path=/files/MaGicEnergy.mp4&selfURL=http://storybridge.tv/greenview/magicenergy&nextNode=http://www.storybridge.tv/greenview/gengreen/greencity&nextNodeTitle=GREEN+CITY&nextNodeTease=Environmental+activism+is+nothing+new+to+Madison.++The+city+has+been+a+steward+of+the+land+for+generations+and+was+the+first+city+in+the+nation+to+offer+a+curbside+recycling+program.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+recent+years%2C+city+government+has+pushed+the+envelope+with+the+100K+Challenge+–+a+call+to+reduce+carbon+emissions+as+a+city+by+100%2C000+tons+over+5+years.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+this+story%2C+hear+what+a+renewable+energy+expert+says+about+government%27s+role+in+clean+energy+and+see+why+the+Mayor+believes+the+city+must+take+a+stand.%0D%0A%0D%0A++%0D%0Awindow.onload%3Dfunction+%28%29+%7B+document.getElementById%28%22liHome%22%29.className+%3D+%22off%22%3B+document.getElementById%28%22liAskBob%22%29.className+%3D+%22off%22%3B+document.getElementById%28%22liGenerationGreen%22%29.className+%3D+%22on%22%3B+document.getElementById%28%22liWindEnergy%22%29.className+%3D+%22off%22%3B+document.getElementById%28%22liSolarEnergy%22%29.className+%3D+%22off%22%3B+document.getElementById%28%22liArchive%22%29.className+%3D+%22off%22%3B%7D+&nextNodeImg=http://storybridge.tv/files/ep91thumb_poster.jpg’);
From Madison Gas and Electric:
It’s magic when kids can learn… and laugh! That’s the goal of the MaGicEnergy show. For years, performer Bob Kann has taken the program into schools and libraries throughout the area.
Watch the story to see how Bob uses magic and comedy to entertain and inspire! See why audiences walk away armed with specific tools to conserve energy and protect the environment.
Interested in bringing MaGicEnergy to your school or library? Click here and tell us about your group.
by jboullion | Jul 23, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Ricardo Lopez in the Pionerr Press, St. Paul, MN:
River Falls has launched a program to encourage homeowners and businesses to install solar energy systems.
While a few months into the project and only one resident — who owns a solar installation company — has signed up, the western Wisconsin city is confident more residents will take part.
Known as the Renewable Energy Finance Program, city and community leaders say the program shows River Falls’ commitment to the environment and renewable energy.
With an $18,000 loan, Mike Harvey is installing solar panels and an electrical system to the home he shares with his fiancee. The money will be paid back through an assessment added to his property taxes.
“I went the day they had the paperwork available to fill it out,” Harvey said of his eagerness to sign up.
The lone resident to take out a loan through the program, Harvey owns River Falls-based Synergized Solar, a solar panel distribution company.
He estimates the panels, which are wind and weather rated, should pay for themselves in about 11 to 12 years with saving on electrical costs.
River Falls has been recognized as a regional leader in pushing “green” energy. This new initiative has been in the works for two years, said Mike Noreen, conservation and efficiency coordinator for River Falls Municipal Utilities, which administers the program. Residents can qualify for a loan of up to $50,000, and Noreen said the agency set aside $500,000 for the loans.
It is designed to help homeowners who previously thought renewable energy systems were out of their financial reach, said Kelly Cain, sustainability director at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
“From a social justice equity perspective, it helps to level the playing field for everyone,” said Cain, adding the River Falls program is the most significant step any city has taken. Cain is also a member of the Powerful Choices committee, a River Falls group heavily involved in renewable energy planning, including the new solar program.