December 2010
Volume 64, Number 12, December 2010
“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”
Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier
Contents Features
The Buzz About Neon
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Published by the
Nebraska Rural Electric Association
Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Jay Holmquist President Barry DeKay, Niobrara Valley EMC
Freelance writer Shelley Frear shares the story of how the dazzling flash of neon lights began to dot the Nebraska landscape following World War II.
An Emphasis on Efficiency
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Public power districts and electric co-ops have long been in the business of energy efficiency. Learn how helping customers save energy also helps reduce the demand for power.
Vice President/Secretary Gary Dill, Roosevelt Public Power District Treasurer Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.
Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan does not imply endorsement for products by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price, Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Jacob North Companies, Box 82046, Lincoln, NE 68501. Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN 0193-4937.
Departments EDITOR’S PAGE
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SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy
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CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley
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RECIPES
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ADULT PEN PALS
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MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS
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On the cover Happy Holidays! Frost turns a milk canister into a frozen sculpture. Photograph by Sandhills Images photographer Bob Rooney.
Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.
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EDITOR’S PAGE
The business of energy efficiency nergy efficiency isn’t a new concept for public power districts or electric cooperatives. Nationally, we’re known as leaders in helping our members better manage their electric use. Nebraska is no exception. Public power districts and electric cooperatives offer a variety of incentives and services to help you save. Cornhusker Public Power District offers incentives for installing residential heat pumps. Elkhorn Rural Public Power District provides customers with a Phantom Load calculator on its website. Midwest ECC offers heat pump and water heater rebates to customers. The list goes on and on. And most of our fellow electric co-ops around the country provide similar services. Surveys by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, our national service organization, found that 93 percent of rural electric co-ops educate those they serve about energy efficiency, through the magazine you’re reading right now to bill inserts to TV ads. Nearly 80 percent perform residential energy audits, which identify ways you can boost of the energy efficiency of your home to keep electric bills affordable. Contact your local electric utility to find out what programs they offer. Check out some of the different calculators now on Nebraska Public Power District’s website (www.nppd.com) and available to you 24/7 in the comfort of your home. They have calculators on appliances, heating, irrigation, lighting and televisions. If you have a plasma or LCD TV in your home, you might be surprised by the amount of electricity it is using. Investing in energy efficiency also includes what we do here in Nebraska. One program that is making a significant impact on energy efficiency in Nebraska is the Refrigerator Recycling Program. Many homes have an old working refrigerator or freezer running in the garage or basement. In addition to keeping your beverages cold, that refrigerator is running up your electric bill each month. That’s because it can use three times as much energy as a newer one.
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by Wayne Price
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But there’s an easy solution: Have the old, secondary refrigerator or freezer picked up for free, and you’ll pick up $35 in cold cash when you recycle it. (Limit two per household.) The program is for residential customers only and the appliance must be a working, secondary appliance. Recycling is performed by JACO Environmental and pick up must be coordinated through your local electric utility. This program enables you to work with NPPD and your local electric utility to save money and help the environment. Nebraska is not alone in these investments, either. Electric co-ops across the country are upgrading power lines, replacing transformers, and installing advanced metering infrastructure to increase efficiency of their operations. Of course, when it comes to efficiency, much more can be done. According to a study by the Electric Power Research Institute, Americans could save 236 billion kilowatt-hours by 2030 if utilities everywhere adopted simple energy efficiency initiatives. That’s five times the amount of electricity New York City uses in one year. It’s easy for you to get started on the path to energy efficiency. Call or visit your local electric utility to learn more about our energy efficiency programs and services. You can also visit www.togetherwesave.com and discover how making little changes around your house can result in big savings on your energy bills. I would also encourage you to visit your local electric utility’s website. Many PPDs and electric cooperatives provide additional online information about the programs and services they offer. Stop by www.nppd.com as well. NPPD’s website is packed full of tips and ideas to help save you money on your electric bill. Helping you keep electric bills affordable is just another way those of us at Nebraska’s public power districts and electric cooperatives are looking out for you.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
GUEST EDITORIAL
Grassroots: You have the power; make a difference hen the Nebraska Legislature convenes in January, the Nebraska Rural Electric Association (NREA) will begin its third year of the Grassroots Initiative. The Grassroots Initiative is an effort by the NREA to bring together the members of Nebraska’s rural electric public power districts and cooperatives to increase awareness of the issues we face and to increase communication between our elected officials and those they are elected to represent. With a host of important issues ranging from cap-and-trade legislation to generation and energy efficiency mandates being discussed in Lincoln and Washington, D.C., Nebraska’s public power districts and cooperatives are turning to their consumer member-owners to help keep Nebraska’s electric rates affordable.
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Unlike a well-funded media campaign, a grassroots movement mobilizes the individual, increases awareness of the issues, and seeks to shape the political debate from the bottom up. Every consumerowner in Nebraska has the opportunity to become active. You can start by joining the Our Energy, Our Future campaign at www.ourenergy.coop. By doing so, you will send an e-mail to your members of Congress asking them to keep energy legislation fair, affordable, and achievable for Nebraska’s electric ratepayers. In addition, joining this campaign will
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sign you up for the elected leaders can be NREA Grassroots vital to ensuring they Initiative and will are aware of the issues ensure you receive affecting the electric important email notices industry and feel comabout legislation and fortable working with issues concerning the the NREA. The NREA electric industry in Grassroots Initiative Nebraska. provides you with the With so much emphatools you need to sis on individual particbecome well informed ipation, a grassroots on the issues and to James Dukesherer movement is by no reach out to your electNREA Grassroots means easily organized. ed representatives. Log Coordinator It can be difficult for on to the grassroots seceach individual to tion of the NREA webunderstand the importance of their site at www.nrea.org. Here you will active participation. Collectively, find action alerts, bill summaries, however, a well-organized grassthe monthly grassroots newsletter, roots movement can be an incrediand a host of additional materials bly powerful advocacy tool if a critwhich are designed to keep you upical mass of participants is mobito-date on the issues affecting our lized behind a shared message. industry. Currently, more than 12,000 There has never been a more Nebraska’s have signed up for the important time for rural electric Our Energy, Our Future campaign. consumers to become involved in These individuals have done their shaping the legislation that will part to send more than 3.7 million determine our future electric rates. emails and postcards nationwide to If we truly are to make a difference, Congress. With such widespread however, we must each embrace participation, this campaign has our individual duties in this collecplayed a vital role in shaping the tive effort. A grassroots campaign energy policy debate occurring in is a continuous process, one that Washington; but more can be done. will take a persistent effort from As a result of term limits and the everyone who participates. Once we recent elections, 47 of the 49 senado so, we will begin to see how an tors representing Nebraska have increased understanding of the six or less years of experience in issues, better relationships with the Unicameral. With so many new elected leaders, and thousands of faces in this legislative body, buildconcerned ratepayers will truly ing strong relationships with our make an impact.
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The Buzz about
NEON by Shelley Frear
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ollowing World War II, Nebraskans, and Americans in general, were restless and ready for change. They packed their vehicles and hit the open road. With the pavement rushing beneath their wheels, motorists were drawn to the brilliant luster of liquid fire illuminating motor inns, restaurants, movie theaters, and glamorous casinos – even on the darkest of nights. As businesses nationwide discovered an advertising gold mine in the dazzling flash of neon lights, these colorful signs soon began to dot the American landscape. Nebraska’s horizons were no exception. Statewide, businesses and organizations alike embraced the vibrant
technology to illuminate their name and capture potential consumers. But as have many treasures of days gone by, the neon sign has dimmed in popularity in recent years. Time and technology have changed, and arrays of new lighting systems have become available. So it seems reasonable to ask if the familiar, flashy backdrops of the late 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s that have adorned Nebraska’s cities and towns could go the way of the drivein theater and the roadside motor inn? Is it possible than an American icon one hundred years in the mak-
A neon sign in Chadron was damaged during a hail storm. Photograph by Shelley Frear
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ing might be banished to the attic of memories due to environmental challenges, more energy efficient technologies, and legislation that regulates outdoor artificial lighting? Such an occurrence would be a sad ending for what many Nebraskans consider beautiful pieces of our history. Thankfully, the answer to neon’s destiny is not so bleak. It has an invisible cord that links it to America’s mobile cultural history – to Nebraska’s history. And it may be that this passionate nostalgia for the colorful appeal of a time long past will be the important element in the continuation of its use, both throughout Nebraska and nationwide. It is doubtful that Georges Claude had any notion of the phenomenon that would follow the display of his neon lamp in Paris, France in December 1910. From this technological infancy, it wasn’t long before the first neon signs emerged. Earle Anthony, the first known American to embrace this new technology, purchased two “Packard” signs for use at a Los Angeles car dealership.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Already by the early 1920’s, approximately 150,000 signs were in use throughout the United States; and by the late 1940’s and early 50’s, Nebraska businesses were cashing in on the explosive business potential that the dazzling lighting displays created. Bob Norris, President of Nebraska Neon Sign Company of Lincoln, recollects a variety of Nebraska companies from banks and car dealerships to liquor stores and power companies that began utilizing outdoor neon signage as an advertising vehicle to entice the public. According to Norris, “Deets Music, Robert’s Dairy, and Tony and Luigis” were three local businesses in the early 1950’s that took advantage of the growing popularity and business potential of these signs. The flash and brilliance of neon drew Nebraskans, as well as out-ofstate travelers, to stop by attractions such as the Fort Cody Trading Post in North Platte and Pioneer Village in Minden. As early as 1931,
even Nebraska villages such as Exeter elected to welcome residents and visitors alike to their town with the bright red glow of neon. So what is it about the radiance of gas filled argon tubes that has captivated Americans and attracted businesses so thoroughly to its potential uses for one hundred years? Brad Love, owner and manager of Love Signs, Inc. in Norfolk, Nebraska, believes one aspect of neon’s attractiveness can be found in it’s emotional appeal. “Neon creates a distinctive mood,” says Love. “It employs a lively environment, especially at night. Neon colors are vibrant, bright colors.” And, according to Love, it is the rich colors that are, in fact, its biggest advantage in advertising. “Neon is very bright and the variation in the colors is so brilliant.” In addition, Love points out the artistic element as a further component of neon’s allure. “It is such a fine craft. The letters and shapes are made by hand – by a skilled person
– using 40” sticks of tubing. Each piece is individually done. Air must be continually blown into the tube as it’s being bent and shaped.” Neon signs can be as simple as letters that spell out a word or message, or a more elaborate animated outline or flashing design. The handcrafted aspect of this type of sign, however, underscores one of the disadvantages found in selecting it for advertising. Because the sign is created by hand “the product is more labor intensive. Also, exposed neon can crack and break more easily” than other signs, says Love, leading to costly repairs. It is this cost factor, coupled with the advanced technologies and options available in LED (light emitting diodes), florescent lighting, and fiber optics that have tarnished some of the shine from neon’s popularity in recent years. LED’s for example, operate on a lower voltage system; therefore they consume less Please turn to page 8
A Nebraska Neon Sign Company crew removes the Exeter sign in order to repair it. Opposite: The repaired sign greets visitors to Exeter. Photograph by Leesa K. Bartu
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The Buzz about Neon From page 7 power. This gives LED signage a cost and an environmental advantage. As does the fact that once cracked or broken, the mercury inside an argon tube must be recaptured and disposed of properly – an expense not found in newer technologies. Although the true advantage and disadvantages of neon compared to newer technologies is hotly debated, it is for these reasons and more that a decline in the popularity of neon has resulted in the slow but steady disappearance of its brilliant illumination in many parts of the night sky. A further environmental challenge to the continued and potential use of neon has also emerged within the last decade. Many states and municipalities are implementing new codes that will regulate the overall light and brightness output allowable by any outdoor illuminated sign. These potential restrictions are aimed at lessening sky glow and glare, by-products of night illumination viewed by some groups as environmental hazards. Might the adoption of such codes result in further limiting the use of neon signs? Norris and Love do not believe such laws will have a detrimental affect. Norris confirmed that Lincoln does have an ordinance that regulates lighting output. He also allowed that enforcement of such laws could be challenging. Love concurred, stating that even when lighting laws are in place, “policing the levels would be difficult.” Despite all the challenges, Love sees a potential revival of neon, as it begins to make a reappearance in many larger cities. “Neon definitely has a more upscale look,” he said. Its distinctive appearance stands out against competing lighting alternatives. LED’s may operate with a slightly lower voltage, but the restrictive color palate available in this technology limits the creative possibilities available to businesses.
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The repaired neon sign is installed by the Nebraska Neon Sign Company. Photograph by Leesa K. Bartu
Further, within the art community, neon has become a genre all its own, with art galleries and lighting exhibitions devoted solely to its distinctive beauty. Museums have been created to illustrate its evolution and, in many instances, to house old and out of use signs from the past. Yet, the ultimate hope for neon’s survival may be found in the nostalgia factor linked to the revival of a classic symbol of America’s past. It was this nostalgia and love for the
past that recently moved the Exeter Community Foundation to repair its broken EXETER sign back to its former glory. And broken or operable, Nebraska cities and towns are still peppered with the ghosts of neon’s glorious past. From Chadron’s ABC Electric sign that has greeted customers since the mid 1940’s, to Columbus’ downtown theater marquee, the one hundred year history of neon still surges through the electrical veins of Nebraska.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Stay warm and safe under the covers
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blanket of snow on the ground brings out the electric blankets in homes across the United States. Unfortunately, every year faulty electric blankets as well as improper use start thousands of fires. Follow these suggestions: • Replace your blanket if the fabric or wiring is worn or damaged. • If your blanket has scorch marks or loose connection, replace it. • If the blanket is older than 10 years, it is time to upgrade to a newer blanket with more stringent safety features. • Never use a blanket that is wet or switch it on to dry it out. • Roll or fold your blanket and store in a dry place. The less the creases when folding it, the better. • Do not leave the blanket on while you sleep, unless it is an all-night blanket with proper safety controls.
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Celebrating 75 years of rural electrification eventy-five years have passed since President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues an Executive Order on May 11, 1935, establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) as an agency of the federal government. Rural electrification partners came together on September 26 at the Keystone Business Center in McCook, Neb. to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Administration. The Master of Ceremonies was the Rev. Clark Bates of McCook (as U.S. Senator George Norris). Guest speakers included John Allen, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Utah State University; Jessica Zufolo, Deputy Administrator for USDA Rural Utilities Service, and Robert Harris, a McCook native who is with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Honorable service recognitions will be presented by Nebraska Public Power District President/CEO Ron Asche. Also attending were USDA Rural Development Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, Nebraska Rural Electric Association General
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The Master of Ceremonies was the Rev. Clark Bates of McCook (as U.S. Senator George Norris). Manager Jay Holmquist, Colorado State Director Jim Isgar, and former Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service Chris McLean along with more than 100 attendees. The REA has ties to Nebraska as the first community to receive power through the REA system was Tecumseh, Neb. McCook is home to U.S. Senator George Norris who helped craft the REA legislation.
Robert Harris, a McCook native who is with the Tennessee Valley Authority, delivers remarks during the celebration at the Keystone Business Center in McCook.
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Today, REA's successor, the Rural Utilities Service, a mission area of USDA Rural Development, finances electric, telecommunications including broadband, and water and waste systems across rural America. The Rural Electric Program was designed around the ability to collectively come together in a cooperative manner to share knowledge and resources that would provide electricity to every rural household. Among those who hailed this bold new move were leaders, both rural and governmental, who were convinced that an electrified America would mean powerful and productive benefits for all of the country. Those receiving honorable mention recognition for their service and dedication to Rural Electrification in Nebraska included: • Jim Phinney, McCook Public Power District • Dale Caskey, KBR Rural Public Power District • Paul Neil, Dawson Public Power District Board • Jerry Palmer, Burt County Public Power District • Eddie Boltz, Howard Greeley Rural Public Power District • Roy Olsen, Howard Greeley Rural Public Power District • Dennis Zimmerman, Wheat Belt Public Power District • Jerry Meyerle, Twin Valleys Public Power District • Gene Lienemann, Wheat Belt Public Power District • Don Schaufelberger, Nebraska Public Power District • Bill Beck writer of the history of public power utilities The event was sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council, Nebraska Public Power District, USDA Rural Development, Nebraska Rural Electric Association, the Norris Institute, Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise, McCook Public Power District, Southwest Public Power District and Twin Valleys Public Power District.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
NREA General Manager Jay Holmquist, left, visits with attendees at the 75th anniversary event.
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An Emphasis on
Efficiency by Magen Howard
ou’re probably familiar with the concept of energy efficiency ― doing more with less electricity. Some even call efficiency the “fifth fuel”, behind coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewables, to show its importance in the mix of technologies that produce power for our nation. Energy efficiency benefits both rural electric systems and their consumers. When customers use less energy, they not only help keep their individual electric bills affordable but reduce the overall demand for power. That, in turn, delays the need for electric systems to build new generating plants and saves everyone money. Due to various efficiency measures, per capita energy consumption by electric system customers has grown less than 1 percent per year since 1978 despite an explosion in computers and other home electronics. Before that date, average residential electricity use by rural electric customers increased by about 7 percent each year, according to information from the federal Rural Utilities Service and Herndon, Va.-based National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, a supplemental lender to electric co-ops. A key piece in this trend has been the introduction of national energy efficiency standards for appliances. In the early 1970s, the amount of energy a refrigerator, for example, used depended on its design and the amount of built-in insulation. Due to ever-higher energy efficiency standards since then, the typical fridge
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today consumes 75 percent less electricity than in 1975 even though the size of the average unit has grown from 18 cubic feet to 22 cubic feet, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). “Appliances consume a huge amount of electricity, so they provide enormous potential to both save energy and take pressure of consumers’ pocketbooks every month,” explains DOE Secretary Steven Chu. The Energy Star program has also played a role in raising the bar for energy-efficient appliances and electronics. Launched in 1992 by DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star-rated products in more than 60 categories deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money. Helping you save Public power districts and electric coops have long been in the business of energy efficiency it’s a natural extension of their business model. “Unlike investor-owned utilities, not-for-profit, consumer-owned PPDs and electric co-ops aren’t structurally motivated to sell more kilowatthours,” observes John Holt, senior manager of generation & fuels for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Arlington, Va.-based service organization of more than 900 public power districts and electric co-ops across the U.S. “Rural electric systems systems ― to deliver a safe and reliable supply of
electricity at an affordable price ― strive to maximize use of existing resources and infrastructure.” He adds: “Efficiency can help temporarily head off the need for constructing new generation. The biggest payoff comes from customers switching to more energy-efficient geothermal heat pumps, lighting, and appliances, combined with improved power plant efficiencies and expansion of load management programs that reduce electricity purchases during times of peak demand when power
Rural Electric Nebraskan
costs skyrocket.” According to NRECA surveys, 93 percent of PPDs and electric co-ops conduct energy efficiency educational efforts such as holding public meetings and seminars; publishing reams of information in statewide consumer publications, local newsletters, bill stuffers, and websites; broadcasting radio and TV advertisements; and even launching a sweeping promotional campaign, “TogetherWeSave.com.” Almost 80 percent of PPDs and elec-
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tric co-ops offer residential energy audits and 66 percent offer commercial and industrial audits as well. Depending on a home’s age and upkeep, savings from acting on an audit’s recommendations can be significant. Brian Sloboda, senior proadvisor for NRECA’s gram Cooperative Research Network, predicts that most rural electric system customers will see bills at least 5 percent to 10 percent lower—“amounts that far outpace anything spent.” To encourage customers to implement efficiency steps, more than 40 percent offer efficiency and weatherization services, including selling and installing high-efficiency lighting systems, electric water heaters, geothermal and air-source heat pumps, insulation, and Energy Star appliances, while roughly 50 percent include interactive energy use calculators on their websites. Most rural electric systems are taking advantage of recent technology advancements, too: upgrading power lines, replacing older transformers, using advanced equipment to control voltage fluctuations, and deploying advanced metering devices. Others are encouraging consumers to change out traditional incandescent lightbulbs with energyefficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). “They are doing everything they can to keep customers’ electric bills as low as possible, and energy efficiency is a big help,” Holt remarks. “You continue to use the same products at your home, but at a lower cost. The lights are on, the air conditioner is running, but they’re more efficient, so you use less electricity.” And rural electric system customers are answering the call. A recent NRECA study showed a majority taking low-cost or no-cost energy-saving steps like turning off lights when they leave a room, turning their thermostat up in summer and down in winter, replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs or lightemitting diodes, adding weather stripping around doors and windows, and only running the dishwasher or washing machine with a full load.
Looking to the future According to DOE, if every American household replaced one incandescent bulb with a CFL, our nation would save enough electricity to light 3 million homes and save more than $600 million a year. And that’s just lightbulbs. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an independent, non-profit research and development group that counts PPDs and electric co-ops as members, sees massive potential for savings if energy efficiency initiatives are enacted nationwide. “The achievable potential at the low end—what we call realistic—is 236 billion kilowatt-hours saved by 2030, roughly five times the present electricity consumption of the New York City metro area [annually],” states Omar Siddiqui, EPRI program manager for energy efficiency. “At the high end is a reduction of 382 billion kilowatt-hours by 2030.” Efficiency’s greatest impact will likely come from advances in commercial lighting, commercial office equipment—particularly information technology components like servers and data centers—and home electronics. “Large screen televisions, game consoles, laptops to cell phones—where there isn’t a strong efficiency standard now in place—opens up opportunities for efficient versions that result significant savings,” Siddiqui said. To uncover your own opportunities to save energy and money, call your local PPD or electric co-op or visit their website. “Energy efficiency remains key to how public power districts and electric co-ops will keep electricity affordable in the face of rising prices,” concludes NRECA CEO Glenn English. “They are putting their expertise to work in fashioning innovative programs that will help members get the most out of every kilowatt.” Sources: Cooperative Research Network, NRECA Market Research Services, Electric Power Research Institute, U.S. Department of Energy, Rural Utilities Service, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
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Watch for big screen savings by Brian Sloboda
he days of large console televisions, with their wood grain exteriors and antenna wires or rabbit ears, are long gone—no more using needle nose pliers to change channels after the knob breaks or fiddling endlessly to adjust the horizontal and vertical holds. Today’s televisions offer larger, thinner screens and, thanks to digital cable or satellite connections, provide a virtually unlimited number of channels. However, some models require a tremendous amount of energy to operate—almost as much as a refrigerator. And the average American household owns 2.93 TVs, according to a 2010 Nielsen report. All of this energy use adds up. The Natural Resources Defenses Council found that U.S. televisions use more than 46 billion kWh per year, or about 4 percent of residential electricity use. In response to consumer concerns, TV manufacturers are designing sets that use less energy without sacrificing screen size or resolution. Are you in the market for a new TV, or do you want to make sure you’re using your current TV efficiently? These tips will help you tune in to big screen energy savings.
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High-Definition=High Energy Use Although a high-definition TV (HDTV) transforms the latest blockbuster movie into a theater-like living room experience, these sets generally use more power because of better pic-
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ture clarity. Also, energy consumption often relates to screen size. The larger the screen, the more electricity required. Four types of TVs are currently available: plasma, liquid-crystal display (LCD), rear projection, and cathode ray tube (CRT). CRT televisions are the most difficult to find because they employ old technology and screen sizes rarely top 40 inches. Plasma screens often are cited as
the largest energy user mainly because their large 42-inch to 65- inch screens typically draw between 240 watts to 400 watts. Most consume electricity even when turned off. LCD TVs don’t need much power to operate 111 watts on average. Most LCD screens range in size from 21 inches to 49 inches. These TVs fall into two categories: those with cold-cathode fluorescent lamps to illuminate the screen; and backlit models employing a light-emitting diode (LED). LED
units offer several benefits, notably better picture quality and thinner and lighter screens. They also use slightly less energy, at 101 watts. Rear projection televisions tend to be the most energy efficient and boast the largest screen sizes. However, due to their overall weight, rear projection sets are not as readily available as plasma and LCD models. Shopping for an energy-efficient television can be difficult. Television manufacturers rarely advertise energy consumption, and it almost never appears on instore labels, though new Energy Star requirements may change that in 2012. Faced with these difficulties, consumers need to conduct their own energy use research through unbiased online sources such as CNET.com, an online journal for the technology industry. Look for specific model numbers, which you can take to the store. Tune in to Savings If you’re not in the market for a new TV but want to make sure your model is operating efficiently, these tips from CNET.com may help you save energy: • Turn the TV and other connected devices off when they’re not being use • Turn down the LCD’s backlight you’ll save energy and still retain better picture quality • Turn on the power saver mode, which many new TVs offer • Control room lighting. While many energy-saving tips reduce brightness of the screen, you can compensate by dimming lights around your TV. Sources: CNET.com, Natural Resources Defense Council, Nielsen
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Follow these tips for healthy living
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taying healthy is more important now than ever. Good health will improve your quality of life and help you remain productive. Plus, staying out of the doctor’s office – and the hospital – will save you money. That’s important in any economic climate. What can you do to stay healthy? Here are a few basic tips to follow: Watch your weight Keeping your weight in a healthy range can allow you to walk, talk, and even breathe more easily. And being overweight increases your chance for developing chronic dis-
eases, like coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. What can you do to achieve or maintain a healthy weight? Eat healthy, whole foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Replace cookies with fresh, easy-tograb fruit like plums and blueberries. Avoid salty and heavily processed foods, like bagged corn chips coated with orange cheese and chocolate snack cakes. Perhaps most importantly, make sure you don’t eat too much and watch your portion sizes. New research from an international con-
Tai chi is a Chinese martial art. It’s slow, training form qualifies as a musclestrengthening activity recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Photograph provided by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
December 2010
gress on obesity found that the rise in obesity in the United States since the 1970s was virtually all due to increased energy intake (calories). Now that’s food for thought. Get regular physical activity Exercise can help you control your weight, avoid disease, and feel better. To reap these benefits, it’s important to work regular physical activity into your day to stay healthy. Haven’t exercised in a while? You can start small, by parking a little further away from the grocery store, or by taking the stairs at work. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you get about 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity five days a week. “Moderately intensive” doesn’t mean you need to train for a marathon. You can meet this guideline by taking a brisk 30-minute walk five days a week. You can even break that down further by taking three 10-minute walks per day. The organization also recommends two sessions of musclestrengthening activities each week. To accomplish this, you can lift small weights or do tai chi or yoga. See your doctor Visit your doctor regularly to get the health screenings that are right for people your age. Your doctor can often catch something when it’s at its earliest stage – and still treatable. Also, 56 percent of large employers offer services of health coaches, according to Money magazine. These are usually nurses or other specialists like dieticians and respiratory therapists who can help you manage ongoing health conditions, develop healthy habits, or answer health questions after regular doctor’s hours. Ask your HR department or insurer if this service is available to you.
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SAFETY BRIEFS
Keep holidays bright and safe with electrical awareness he bright, festive holiday season can also be a time of potential hazards, injuries and even death. No not from a fracas at the mall over the last holiday necktie just before the family gift exchange, but from electrical holiday decorations. Those beautiful Christmas trees, holiday lights, and festive ornaments take a significant toll annually by contributing to fires, electrical burns, and even death. On average, 5,000 people visit the emergency room each holiday season, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). More seriously, the holiday season will record an average of 400 fatalities and 130,000 fires that are attributed to electrical decoration mishaps. In 2009, the CPSC says there were 200 Christmas tree fires in US homes caused primarily by faulty electrical light strands, with 10 resulting fatalities. Why do so many electrical fires occur at Christmas? Consumer research indicates that 76 percent of homeowners decorate their homes, and 70 percent will use electrical decorations. However more than 20 percent of those homes will leave decora-
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tions on throughout the night or when no one is home. Since Christmas trees usually cannot be blamed for spontaneous combustion, the National Christmas Tree
Association says overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are the most common cause of fires. Holiday decorative lights are involved in more than 200 home structure fires per year, causing more than $7.5 million in direct property damage according to the National Fire Protection Association. To avoid being part of the statistics, create a safety checklist to follow when preparing your home for the holidays: • Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets,
loose or bare wires, and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire. • Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses. • When hanging decorations, do not connect more than three light strings together. • Never attach electrical decorations with nails or staples. Use plastic hooks. • Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed. • Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent electric shock. • Before using any electrical decorations outdoors, make sure the product is approved for outdoor use. • Look for ENERGY STAR qualified LED products to light interior and exterior environments. • Opt for LED holiday lighting instead of traditional incandescent light strands. • Always look for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or other testing agency label when shopping for new electronic devices. Source: SafeElectricity.org
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Slaying energy vampires with Smart Strips s children, most of us were told to turn off the TV when no one was in the room to keep from wasting energy. But with today’s televisions, turning off the set doesn’t save as much energy as you think. “Off” doesn’t really mean off anymore. Several devices found inside your home are commonly referred to as “parasitic loads,” “phantom loads,” or “energy vampires”—consuming electricity even when switched off. Phantom loads can be found in almost every room, but a favorite “coffin” is your entertainment center. Most TVs today slowly sip electricity while waiting patiently for someone to press the “on” button. They also use energy to remember channel lineups, language preferences, and the time. VCRs, DVD players, DVRs, and cable or satellite boxes also use energy when we think they’re turned off. Studies show that in an average home, 5 percent to 8 percent of electricity consumption stems from phantom loads. To put that in perspective, the average North American household consumes roughly 10,800 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. If you estimate that 6.5 percent of your total electricity consumption comes from phantom loads, the amount drained by these vampires equals about 700 kWh annually—or $70 every year. So how can you tell which devices are okay to leave plugged in and which need to have a wooden stake driven through their hearts?
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on/off switches, such as lamps, hair dryers, or small kitchen appliances like toasters or mixers they don’t draw any power when turned off. How do you slay other energy vampires? Try plugging household electronics like personal computers, monitors, printers, speakers, stereos, DVD and video game players, and cell phone chargers into power strips. Not only do power strips protect sensitive electronic components from power surges, you can quickly turn off several items at once. (Routers and modems also can be plugged into power strips, although they take longer to reactivate.) Smart Strips = Easy Savings Power strips, however, are often hidden behind entertainment centers or under desks and forgotten. A better solution may be found in “smart strips.” Most smart strips feature three outlet colors, each with a unique task. The blue outlet serves as a control plug, and is ideal for a heavily used device like a TV or computer.
Anything plugged into red outlets stays on—electricity to these receptacles never cuts off making them perfect for satellite boxes or other appliances that need constant power. The remaining outlets, generally neutral or green in color, are sensitive to current flowing through the blue outlet, so turning off the TV or computer cuts power to them as well. Some smart power strips can be made even smarter with timers or occupancy sensors that determine when to cut power to various devices. Smart strips are available online or at specialty electronic retailers and generally cost $20 or more depending on their size. Payback generally can be achieved in under one year, depending on the type of equipment the strips control and how often they are used. Maybe our parents asked us to turn the TV off because vampires, phantoms, and parasites haunted their electric bills. These days, smart strips can chase these load monsters away from your home—and your pocketbook.
Identify Plug Parasites Microwave ovens and alarm clocks, which use relatively small amounts of standby power, are acceptable to leave plugged in. A digital video recorder (DVR) uses a fairly significant amount of power when turned off, but if you record programs frequently you will want to leave it plugged in. You don’t have to worry about unplugging items with mechanical
December 2010
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CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS
Humidifiers cool air, energy bills by James Dulley
I am in the market for a room Q :humidifier, but I don’t know which type is best for my home. Can using a humidifier reduce my heating bills even though evaporating water cools? Is using only one adequate for my house? suffer during winA :terMostfrompeople overly dry air in their homes. Since the indoor humidity level drops or increases gradually as seasons change, the variation of indoor humidity levels may not be noticed. These changes throughout the year are a function of the region of the country, so always check with local experts for specific advice. Properly humidified indoor air is not only comfortable and healthy for your family, but it can reduce your winter heating bills. Room humidifiers typically use less energy than a 100-watt light bulb. Many models have built-in humidistats that automatically switch the unit on and off, so they consume even less electricity than listed on the unit's nameplate. There is a cooling effect when the water from the humidifier evaporates, so running the humidifier will actually cool a room’s air slightly. This is the same evaporation process (perspiration) of moisture from your skin that makes you feel cool as water changes state from liquid to vapor (gas). However, the heat generated from the humidifier’s electricity usage offsets the slight cooling effect. Just like sweating outdoors on a low-humidity day make you feel cool, the same process occurs indoors in dry air. The amount of moisture evaporation from your skin is greater when the indoor air is excessively dry, so you may actually feel chilly when the indoor air
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temperature is high enough for comfort. The evaporation of your skin's moisture can also dry your skin, make you itch, and irritate sinuses. Running a humidifier helps you save energy by reducing the chilling effect of the evaporation of skin moisture. By properly humidifying the air, you can feel comfortable at a lower room temperature. This
The room air flows through a wet wick inside this evaporative humidifier to add moisture to the air. Illustration provided by Kaz allows you to set the furnace thermostat lower and you should end up saving much more energy than the humidifier uses. Depending upon your specific climate, you should be able to save one to two percent on your heating bills for each degree you lower your furnace or heat pump thermostat setting. The proper type of room humidifier depends on your family's needs and the size and room layout of your house. One or two room humidifiers are generally enough for a reasonably airtight, energy efficient home. Older, leaky houses may need more or larger-capacity models. Humidity
in the indoor air tends to naturally migrate throughout the house. Cooking, bathing and washing clothes and dishes also adds a significant amount of moisture to the room air. Often they add too much in specific rooms, such as bathrooms. For daytime use, an evaporative type of humidifier is effective and the least expensive to buy. These humidifiers use a wick material which has one end submerged in a water reservoir. It naturally draws up water from the reservoir. There is a fan inside the humidifier which draws room air through the wick where it evaporates into the air stream. Evaporative humidifiers are easy to keep clean which is important to minimize mold and microbe growth in the wick. Some of the wicks are treated with an antimicrobial substance. Evaporative models usually have a three-speed fan. The highspeed can be noisy, so this may not the best option for a bedroom. The low-speed setting on some models is quiet enough not to interrupt sleep. If your children tend to get colds, a warm mist humidifier would be a good bedroom choice. These models boil water to create water vapor. The steam is mixed with room air before it comes out so it is not too hot. Germfree models include a UV (ultraviolet light) purifier chamber to further sanitize the air flowing through it. These include a humidistat and use about 260 watts of electricity. Another design uses ultrasonic waves to create water vapor mist. These are the most energy efficient, using about 50 watts of electricity. A very quiet fan blows the mist into the room. I use a Vicks ultrasonic humidifier in my own bedroom at night.
Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
NPPD signs wind energy purchase power agreement here's more wind power on its way to being built in Nebraska. And it means that Nebraska Public Power District will be at the halfway point of its strategic goal for new renewable energy resources. NPPD, along with Midwest Wind Energy, LLC, Edison Mission Group (EME), and EME affiliate Broken Bow Wind, LLC, announced in September that a 20-year power purchase agreement has been finalized, paving the way for construction of an 80-megawatt wind farm near Broken Bow, Neb. Construction on the Broken Bow facility will begin in October 2011, and is expected to be in operation by the end of 2012. The project is a direct result of NPPD's efforts to expand wind-powered generation by issuing a request for proposal in 2009 for wind farms to be constructed near Petersburg and/or Broken Bow, which resulted in 22 proposals. In February 2010, a power purchase agreement was reached between NPPD, Midwest Wind, and EME on the Laredo Ridge Wind Farm, also 80-megawatts in size, which is currently under construction near Petersburg, Neb. It will be operational by the end of the year. Broken Bow Wind is the third project by Midwest Wind Energy and Edison Mission Energy to have a power purchase agreement with NPPD. Selection was based on achieving the lowest cost of energy, when combining the power purchase agreement and associated transmission costs. Under terms of the agreement, Broken Bow Wind, LLC, will own and operate the facility, and NPPD will purchase the electric output. Midwest Wind Energy/Edison Mission currently has a 20-year power purchase agreement with NPPD for its 80-megawatt Elkhorn Ridge Wind Farm near Bloomfield, Neb., that became operational in 2009.
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December 2010
“With the addition of the Broken Bow facility, NPPD will be halfway to the Board of Directors strategic goal of having 10 percent of its energy resources come from new renewable energy resources by the end of 2020,” explained Dave Rich, NPPD renewable energy development manager. Rich also noted that NPPD will be discussing with Omaha Public Power District, Lincoln Electric System, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, and Grand Island Utilities on their interest in purchasing a portion of the generation from the wind farm. “With three projects in operation, under construction, or under contract, Nebraska Public Power District is one of Edison Mission Energy’s very valued customers for renewable energy, and the state of Nebraska has provided a good business environment for developing wind projects,” said Ron Litzinger, chief executive officer of EME’s parent company, Edison Mission Group. Not including Broken Bow, EMG companies have a wind energy portfolio of 29 projects in operation or under construction in 10 states with a total generating capacity of more than 1,800 megawatts.
“This project is another demonstration of how the public and private sectors can work together to provide reliable, renewable energy to Nebraska's customers,” said Mike Donahue, executive vice president of Chicago-based Midwest Wind Energy. “First, with our Elkhorn Ridge project and now, with Laredo Ridge, we have developed a model for successful publicprivate partnerships.”
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DOWN HOME
RECIPES
Cranberry Sauce Cake 1 can (16 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce 3 cups flour 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup walnuts or pecans 1 cup salad dressing 1 grated rind of one orange 1/2 cup orange juice Reserve 1/4 cup cranberry sauce for frosting. Sift together flour, sugar, soda and salt. Add cranberry sauce, nuts, salad dressing and
orange rind. Mix well. Stir in orange juice. Pour into greased 9 inch tube pan. (Line the bottom with waxed paper.) Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes or until done. Frost with cranberry frosting when done. Cranberry Frosting: 3 tablespoons margarine 2 cups powdered sugar 1/4 cup reserved cranberry sauce Mix together all ingredients and spread on cake. Garnish with more chopped walnuts if desired.
Joyce Bierbaum, St. Libory, Nebraska
Autumn Beef and Cider Stew 2 pounds beef for stew, cut into 1 to 1-1/2-inch pieces 2 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 can (10-1/2 ounces) condensed French onion soup 1 cup apple cider 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups) 1/3 cup unsweetened dried cranberries
Cook bacon in stockpot over medium heat until crisp; remove with slotted spoon to paper-towel-lined plate. Brown 1/2 of beef in bacon drippings over medium heat; remove from stockpot. Repeat with remaining beef; season with salt and pepper. Return beef and bacon to stockpot. Add soup and cider; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 1-3/4 hours. Add sweet potatoes and cranberries to stockpot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; continue simmering, covered, 20 to 30 minutes or until beef and potatoes are fork-tender.
Amish Sugar Cookies Cream the following ingredients: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup sugar 1 cup margarine 1 cup cooking oil Add: 2 beaten eggs Gradually sift in dry ingredients:
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1/2 cups flour teaspoon soda teaspoon cream of tartar teaspoon vanilla Make in small balls and roll in sugar. Flatten. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Joan Ewing, Sidney, Nebraska
Bubble Supreme 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 (15 oz.) can pizza sauce 2 (12 oz.) tubes of buttermilk biscuits 1 (3 oz.) package sliced pepperoni 1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper 1 small can sliced black olives, drained 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook ground beef with garlic powder until brown. Drain and crumble into small chunks. Stir in pizza sauce. Set aside. Tear biscuits into pieces and place in 13x9x2� greased baking dish. Top with beef mixture, spreading over entire dish. Add pepperoni, onions, green peppers and black olives. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle on cheeses. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes until cheeses are melted. Serves 6 people.
Brenda Mullins, Ravenna, Nebraska
Recipe provided by the Nebraska Beef Council 20
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Look for Adult Pen Pals next month ue to a low number of submissions sent in by readers for use in the December issue of the Rural Electric Nebraskan, no Adult Pen Pals submissions will be printed this month. Submissions sent for use in the December issue will appear in the January 2011 issue of the magazine instead. It is the policy of the Rural Electric Nebraskan to run Adult Pen Pal submissions only when at least six letters have been received by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association office in a given month. The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. Adult Pen Pal submissions can be sent to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.
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To appear in print The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. To be considered for use, submissions must: (1) Identify rural electric system providing magazine; (2) Include $6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3) Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include full name and mailing address (will not be used in magazine); and (5) Be first person, submitted directly by person to receive responses. Acceptance, editing and issue scheduling is at editor’s discretion. Address all submissions to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. All responses received by the Adult Pen Pal Service are routed directly, postage paid, to the response number assigned to each submission. To write To respond to one of the adult pen pal requests, write letter, place in envelope, seal and affix first class postage. Address to full, correct response #, c/o Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Your letter will be forwarded unopened. Do not send money or additional postage; forwarding is prepaid. Enclose your full mailing address for return correspondence. Once again . . . it is very important that all responses carry the full response number—both month and number—to be properly forwarded. Abbreviation Code C — Christian; C/W — Country-western; D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker; R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single; W — White; Wid — Widowed
December 2010
Avoiding common financial scams he world, it seems, never lacks for folks who want to separate you from your hard-earned money. And as means of information have gotten more sophisticated, so have thieves. Many popular ploys today involve some form of online identity theft, which can cause untold damage to your finances and credit. Since some legitimate financial business can be conducted online, how can you detect foul play? First, look for telltale signs of amateurism, like misspellings, poor grammar, or words typed in ALL CAPITALS. Second, know the rules. While you may receive e-mail notices from some companies—for instance, letting you know that your credit card payment is due—no bank or other institution worth its salt will ask you to send sensitive information electronically, an unsecure method of communications. Whether a scam is small-scale or large, don’t become a victim. Some steps you can take to protect yourself include: • Don’t open e-mails from senders you don’t know—just delete them. Especially avoid clicking on any links, pop-ups, or attachments. • Know the identities, websites, addresses, and phone numbers of companies you do business with. If you have concerns about an e-mail
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you receive, call the institution to verify. • If you stop receiving statements for bank, credit card, or even utility accounts, investigate. Identity thieves sometimes change billing addresses so you won’t find out they’re running up charges. • Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computer, and update them regularly.
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