[Energy Efficiency]
Freezer Fixes
Monday, June 14, 2010
Open up your freezer to save food … and dollars. Don't have a freezer? Here's how to buy—and use—an efficient one.
By Kathy Roth Eastman, Smart Choices Editor
If you have a freezer—beyond the one attached to your fridge—you may already realize what a gold mine of opportunity you have in saving food dollars. If you only have your fridge freezer, opportunities for savings exist, though in smaller quan...
[Ask Mr. Tight-Watt]
Ask Mr. Tight-Watt: Radiant Barriers
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Can a radiant barrier in the attic reduce your air conditioning costs? It may sound like a good idea, but read this before you buy!
Q: I have been approached lately by several companies selling radiant attic barriers, telling me that we can dramatically reduce our heating and cooling costs by installing such a barrier. Do they work? Will they cut my heating and cooling costs? —Annie, a Smart Choices reader
Mr. Tight Watt&...
[Ask Mr. Tight-Watt]
Ask Mr. Tight-Watt: Exterior Insulation
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
How do you insulate the walls in a brick home?
Q: I have an older brick house and there is no room between the walls for insulation. Can I put the insulated panel on over the brick and put siding on over that? ? Dave, a Smart Choices reader
Mr. Tight Watt asked Bill McAnally, our building expert from Iowa Central Community College, to a...
[Food & Nutrition]
Depression-Era Recipes
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
As the recession drags on, you can take cooking lessons from the Great Depression.
Many people are looking to the Great Depression for ideas on how to cope—and cook—during this recession. The Depression-era recipes of Clara Cannucciari, an Italian-American grandmother—egg drop soup, pasta with peas and potatoes and more—are a YouTube hit, and cookbooks from...
[Agriculture]
Building a Longer Growing Season
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
High tunnels (hoop houses) can extend the Iowa growing season for flowers and veggies.
Here in Iowa, it seems that winter drags on and on and on … and, of course, picking fresh vegetables or fragrant flowers in the off-season seems like an impossible dream. However, that’s not necessarily the case, as Linda Naeve, Iowa State University Extension (ISUE) and Jan Libbey and ...
[Ask Mr. Tight-Watt]
Ask Mr. Tight-Watt: Church Lighting and CFLs
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Two experts weigh in on the number of bulbs a circuit can handle.
Question: My church is looking to cut energy costs by regular bulbs with CFLs. One circuit controls fixtures for 30 light bulbs. Is there limit on the number of CFLs that can run on a circuit? — Tom, a Smart Choices reader
Mr. Tight Watt asked Rob Kirkpatrick, Service Concepts, and Paul...
[Environment]
Lawn Mowing Low-Down
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Switching to an electric mower will help keep your yard “greener” this year.
Do you own a gas guzzler? The answer is probably yes, but we’re not talking about your car. The culprit is actually your lawn mower. According the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) almost all gas mowers sold today use gas inefficiently which leads to the release of more emissions into the ...
[Energy Efficiency]
Basic Weatherization = Energy Efficiency
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Don't let the air out this summer ... to save on your energy bills.
By Megan McKoy, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Children running in and out of the house on a hot summer’s day may hear a common warning: ‘”Don’t leave the door open—you’ll let the air out!” But how many adults do the same thing without real...
[Energy Efficiency]
Hunting Down Vampire Electronics
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The energy these appliances drain is driving up your electric bill.
By Scott Gates, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Most homes these days never quite shut down for the night. Although lamps may be off, dark rooms are typically spotted with tiny red and green lights of appliances and the glow of digital clocks.
All of those little lights, clocks, an...
[Energy Efficiency]
Commercial Lighting
Monday, May 25, 2009
This historical data may help you determine the best lighting for your business.
Lighting is a major consumer of electricity in commercial buildings and a target for energy savings. “Lighting in Commercial Buildings” presents information collected by the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) and includes data on types of lighting equipment, the amoun...
[Co-op EnergyCast]
Co-op EnergyCast Archive - 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
See previous sessions of our online Co-op EnergyCast.
You can listen and/or watch previous sessions of Mr. Tight-Watt's Co-op EnergyCast below. View slides only, audio only, or a video of the session. All sessions last about 30-40 minutes.
To receive an email reminder about future EnergyCasts, please complete our form.
May 20, 2009 - Steve Anderson...
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