[Ask Mr. Tight-Watt]
Ask Mr. Tight-Watt: Wattage
Thursday, March 27, 2008
This month's questions: measuring appliance wattage and replacing light bulbs with energy-efficient ones.
This month’s answers to questions from our Smart Choices readers are answered by Jean Eels, E Resources Group in Webster City. E Resources Group provides education on the environment and energy and also provides evaluation services.
Q: When an appliance is said to use between 2 to 3 watts or ...
[Appliances]
Appliances: Out with the old?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Replacing big-ticket items is never fun, but can replacement actually save money?
Shelling out the big-bucks for appliances is much harder than for that trip to the Caribbean after a long winter. But just because the fridge can last nearly 20 years, should it?
With recent advances in technology, an appliance upgrade may pay for itself with dollars saved on utility bills. Wh...
[Appliances]
Convection ovens: Just a lot of hot air?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
You can save energy and cook faster with convection ovens.
Oven airflow: It’s the difference between three sheets of perfectly golden cookies and charred cookies on the top and bottom racks. The same airflow allows for crowded ovens and cooler kitchens when preparing holiday meals – with perfect, restaurant-esque results.
In traditional ovens, ...
[Energy Efficiency]
Energy Myth of the Month: ceiling fans
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Are ceiling fans really energy savers?
Myth: Ceiling fans don’t have much impact on improving the energy efficiency of my home.
Fact: With proper installation and usage, ceiling fans can play a role in energy savings year round. In the summer, fans spinning in a counterclockwise direction create a wind chill effect that ...
[Energy Efficiency]
Shedding light on saving energy dollars
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Our expert illuminates ways to cut your lighting costs.
Curt Klaassen, Energy Resource Station Manager with the Iowa Energy Center at Iowa State University, provided an educational program at the Momentum Is Building conference in February 2008 for electric cooperative staff and home building professionals.
He presented information that is also useful f...
[Energy Efficiency]
Energy News from the Department of Energy
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Interesting news about energy in our world from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) newsletter, EERE Network News, published by the U.S. Department of Energy, covers national and international energy efficiency and renewable energy news, events, Web sites and energy facts.
Most recent issue of EERE News
EERE News Archives
...
[Seasonal Topics]
April holidays
Thursday, March 27, 2008
With spring finally here, every day is a holiday–but just in case you needed an extra reason to celebrate, here are some special dates.
April 2
Sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Kick Butts Day was created to help kids take a stand against smoking. The website has tons of ideas for community activism and activities that let youth take the issue into their own hands. Visit the Kick Butts Day site or the state chapter ...
[Agriculture]
Farming sustainably
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sustainable agriculture helps the planet and can cut costs, too.
Interest is snowballing in sustainable agriculture–a way of farming that:
Protects soil fertility
Provides an adequate, dependable farm income
Reduces the use of nonrenewable resources
Minimizes adverse impacts on health, safety, wildlife, and the environment
Conserv...
[Community Development]
‘Top rural spots’ for Iowa counties
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Area counties garner national recognition.
Iowans know how special their state is, and now, once again, so do others. For the fourth year, Progressive Farmer magazine has named the Best Places to Live in Rural America.
While the state can’t claim a national Top 10 spot as it did last year when Sac County was named the No. 7 spot in th...
[Environmental]
Go for green living on Earth Day
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
This April 22, paint the town – and your pets, yard, home, and car – green!
If you're already doing the basics (fluorescent bulbs, recycling, fuel-efficient car) and want to take your concern for Mother Earth to the next level, here are some ideas you may not have tried:
Green your home
Say bye-bye to standby. TVs, DVD players, cell chargers, iPods, Blackberries, cable bo...
[History]
Save Iowa’s wildlife
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Where have all the bison (and elk and prairie chickens) gone?
Since Iowa’s settlement in the early 1800s, Iowa has seen a dramatic decrease in the variety as well as the number of animal species in our state. It’s hard to believe that as the earliest settlers moved into the state, Iowa was home to large numbers of bison, elk, wolves, cougars and pr...
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