Rural Electric Nebraskan by Nebraska Rural Electric Association

December 2012

OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE SEEN THE USES FOR ELECTRICITY CHANGE. BUT ITS VALUE HASN’T. If you question the value of electricity, consider its role in your daily life. From the comforts and conveniences of home to the time-saving tools at work, electricity is vital to how we live. In 1952, Tri-State was formed as a consumer-owned power provider with the mission of delivering reliable, affordable electricity throughout the rural West. Today, we generate and transmit electricity to our 44-member co-ops who, in turn, serve more than 1.5 million people across a 200,000 square-mile territory. Collectively, we know we’re delivering more than electricity. We’re delivering quality of life.

www.tristate.coop

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association • P.O. Box 33695 • Denver, CO 80233 • Wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives in Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming.

Volume 66, Number 12, December 2012

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier

Contents Features

Spotter’s guide to Transmission poles and lines

Published by the

Visit us at www.nrea.org

Transmission structures and towers carry mass volumes of highvoltage current over large distances across Nebraska.With a little practice, you can begin to identify devices attached to towers and even guess voltage levels.

General Manager Jay Holmquist President Gary Dill, Roosevelt Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District

The Santa Lady of Eustis Nancy Laier has collected just about everything Santa Claus related over the years. She opens her home to visitors each year to share her collection and the Christmas spirit.

Treasurer Ron Jensen, Loup Valleys Rural 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. Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

December 2012

Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley

RECIPES

ADULT PEN PALS

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

On the cover Nancy Laier has been collecting all sorts of Santas since 1966. See related story on Page 12. Photograph by Wayne Price.

EDITOR’S PAGE

Continuing education is critical in our business n October I attended the 2012 Communications and Marketing Conference hosted by Tri State G&T in Westminster, Colo. It is one of the few conferences I attend on a regular basis but I try to go because I know it is important to continue to learn. I want to always be better at what I do. Attending workshops or conferences is one way that I can continue to develop and acquire new skills to use on the job. The same goes for the men and women who serve on the boards of our state’s rural electric power districts and cooperatives. These elected directors often make multimillion dollar decisions that can impact the electric system for many years down the road. One of the greatest strengths of our rural electric program is the commitment of directors, managers, and employees to education and professional development. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) offers a multi-part training program designed to prepare directors to make wise business decisions in the boardroom. Of nearly 7,000 active directors in the rural electric program today, nearly sixty percent have earned their Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate (CCD). These directors and many others are now focused on NRECA’s Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) courses to stay current on such important issues as power supply, regulatory requirements, and environmental stewardship. Five locally elected directors from electric cooperatives and public power districts in Nebraska received the Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate from NRECA. Eight directors completed the NRECA Board Leadership Program. These individuals were recognized at NRECA’s Region VII and IX meeting in October for their commitment to education and attainment of the Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate before an audience of more than 1,000 electric cooperative and public power officials from 13 states. Today’s electric utility environment impos-

by Wayne Price

es new demands on rural electric utility directors, particularly increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance skills and a working knowledge of the cooperative principles. Electric cooperatives and public power districts in Nebraska have a commitment to work through the Nebraska Rural Electric Association and NRECA to sharpen this body of knowledge for the benefit of their electric consumer-owners. The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, or CCD, program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses: • Director Duties and Liabilities • Understanding the Electric Business • Board Roles and Relationships • Strategic Planning • Financial Decision Making Directors have several opportunities during the year to earn their CCD certificate, including NRECA’s pre-annual meeting training, pre-annual director’s conference training, summer schools, statewide association sponsored programs and on-site training. NREA hosts a course in conjunction with its annual legislative event in February. The CCD certificate is earned by attending all five required courses and successfully completing a learning assessment for each. The NREA member-system directors that received the CCD are Charles Carlson and Richard Erwin from Cedar-Knox PPD; Lawrence Franzen from Cornhusker PPD; Bruce Gerk from Highline Electric Association; and Don Heller from Stanton County PPD who, sadly, passed away earlier this year. There were eight directors who completed the NRECA Board Leadership Program. They included: Dwane Piere from Burt County PPD; Danny Kluthe from Cuming County PPD; Rod Zohner from Elkhorn RPPD; Randy Rowan and Stan Tuton from KBR RPPD; Gene Chohon from Niobrara Valley EMC; Don Heller from Stanton County PPD; and Paul Robinson from Wheat Belt PPD. Congratulations to all of the directors for your hard work and dedication.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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Spotterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to

Transmission Poles and Lines by Maurice Martin

Rural Electric Nebraskan

ransmission structures and towers are like interstate highways for electricity, carrying mass volumes of high-voltage current over large distances. These structures stand 55 ft. tall or more and connect power plants to a series of substations and tie one bulk power region of the grid to another. The towering behemoths, surrounded by cleared land (called right-ofway), seem simple and unadorned. But a closer look reveals interesting details. With a little practice, you can identify devices attached to towers and even guess voltage levels.

Volts vary First step? Determine what you’re looking at. Higher voltages on power lines require more space between each other and other objects, allowing people, vehicles, and other equipment to move freely underneath. For this reason, transmission towers usually stand 55 ft. to 150 ft. high. Most are made from steel, but some are concrete, wood, or even ductile iron. Wooden distribution poles, found in neighborhoods (unless your lines run underground), are generally about 40 ft. tall. Transmission voltages usually run between 23,000 volts and 765,000 volts. Compare that to the voltage of your home’s electrical sockets: 120 volts for most outlets, 240 volts for a clothes dryer or stove range. Voltages in your home are enough to kill you, let alone what power lines carry. Transmission facilities carrying power for long distances operate between 115,000 volts and 765,000 volts. Substations reduce power to 23,000 volts to 69,000 volts for delivery on smaller transmission lines to your rural electric system’s distribution grid. There, local substations step power down further, normally to 12,500 volts, so it can be safely carried by distribution lines to communities. A transformer outside a home or business lowers the voltage to 120 volts or 240 volts.

December 2012

The conductors—or energized lines—are grouped in threes to transmit electricity more efficiently. Photograph provided by Cooperative Research Network

Knowing wires: conducting and non-conducting Transmission tower conductors— the energized lines—are made of steel-reinforced aluminum cable and are always arranged in sets of three. There could one conductor per group (three total), two conductors per group (six total), and sometimes more. Groups may be arranged in a triangle or laid flat, but there will always be three (or a multiple of three). This three-way grouping helps electricity travel efficiently. However, if you look at the top of the tower, you may see one or two smaller, solitary wires. These wires go by several names—overhead ground wire, static wire, and pilot wire. The wire absorbs or deflects lightning strikes, conveying excess electricity safely to the ground. Under normal conditions the wire does not carry electricity. Some overhead ground wires are grouped with fiber-optic cables.

Essentially made of glass, fiber-optic cables cannot conduct electricity and are not affected by lightning. Alternatively, you may notice fiber optics running a few feet below transmission conductors—seemingly small, by comparison. Adding telecommunication lines to utility poles gets the most out of the large investment necessary to build transmission systems. Fiber-optic lines may be operated by the rural electric utility or leased to cable or phone companies.

Estimating volts The first rule of thumb for estimating volts: the higher the transmission tower, the greater the voltage. Transmission lines can’t touch the towers that support them—otherwise, the current flows to the ground. They’re separated from towers by bell-shaped insulators (known as “bells”). The rule of separation works here too—higher voltages require more separation between conductors and towers—hence more bells. This table Please turn to page 8

Transmission poles & lines From page 7 shows the general correlation between bells and voltage.

Line Voltage 69,000 115,000 138,000 161,000 230,000 345,000 500,000

Number of bells 4 7 8 10 12 18** 22**

**Represents required number of bells if the conductor is attached using a “V-String” configuration.

Sometimes bells are added in case a utility wants to increase voltage later, so counting bells isn’t a surefire way to estimate the strength of electricity carried on the wires.

More uses for Transmission Towers Towering transmission structures often double as weather data collectors. You may notice spinning cups of an anemometer measuring wind speed, or other meteorological equipment. The potential current and power sent over a conductor changes with the weather—if the wind helps cool a line, more current can flow through without a dangerous buildup of heat. Early tower designers discovered large birds like to build nests on the girders. Birds can cause an outage if excreted waste, which is very conductive, lands on an insulator and triggers a short circuit. Rather than have birds nest in random and potentially dangerous spots, design-

Transmission towers may look like simple structures, but because of the extremely high voltages of electricity flowing through their wires, engineers take great care in their design to safeguard people, vehicles—and birds. Photograph provided by Cooperative Research Network • Do not climb utility structures. ers include platforms for nests. If Stay a safe distance from all platforms attract a nesting pair of described equipment. hawks, for examples, they’re easy to • These measurements and spot. descriptions represent common configurations; in the real world, design varies.

The Path of Power

This “spotter’s guide” helps you understand what you’re looking at and provides a better understanding of the electric utility network. But remember:

Maurice Martin is senior program manager for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the Arlington, Va.based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Give the gift of safety this holiday season

hopping, decorating, baking, and holiday entertaining are all part of what makes the holiday season a cherished time for family and friends. But these customs can be stressful, so be sure to put safety at the top of your holiday to-do list with these tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International, and for more information, visit holidaysafety.org. â&#x20AC;˘ When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree will stay green longer, reducing the risk of fire. â&#x20AC;˘ On artificial trees, look for a â&#x20AC;&#x153;fire resistantâ&#x20AC;? label. â&#x20AC;˘ Always purchase electrical decorations and lights from reputable retailers and check that a nationally recognized testing organization like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has approved them. Inspect electrical decorations for damage, such as cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections, before use. â&#x20AC;˘ Never connect more than three strings of incandescent lights together. â&#x20AC;˘ Consider using battery-operated candles in place of traditional candles. â&#x20AC;˘ Remember to turn off, unplug, and extinguish all decorations when going to sleep or leaving the house. Once you have the safety procedures down, think about giving safety for the person who already has everything. Newer smoke and carbon monoxide alarms provide better protection than ever before and are easy to install. Both types of alarms should be placed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Additional smoke alarms should be installed inside each bedroom. Tamper-resistant receptacles easily replace standard outlets to

provide a simple, permanent solution for protecting children from shock and burns. An electrician can install arc fault circuit interrupters (ACFIs) in the electrical service panel to provide enhanced protection from home electrical fires. A home electrical inspection makes a great gift for people with older homes. Many potential electrical hazards can be identified during an inspection, allowing them to be corrected before tragedy strikes. Unlike gifts that may be quickly forgotten, your loved ones will continue to benefit from the gift of safety long after the holidays have passed. Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International

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Entertaining can be draining Power strips can help cut down on “phantom power” draws from many electronics olidays can be draining: dinner at the in-laws; parties at work and school; buying, wrapping, unwrapping, and cleaning up. While at the end of a long day this season it’s nice to fire up the bigscreen TV and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” note that when you go to bed your TV and home entertainment system doesn’t really take a rest. Many of these devices, as well as your computer equipment, use energy even when turned off— for example, your HDTV could be remembering the last channel you viewed or the language you speak, or trying to turn on faster. This power draw is commonly called “phantom” or “vampire” load. According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the average home attributes 8 percent of its monthly electricity consumption to these energy vampires.

Fortunately, TVs and DVD players often have power saving settings in the setup menu. Although altering the factory settings usually means the unit will take a few more seconds to start, it’s worth taking a look

ability to record programs to a DVR or VCR or having to reprogram the TV every time you want to watch a show. Of course, there’s always a catch. If you unplug your television or cable/satellite receiver box, it usually has to run its initial setup program when switched back on. Depending on the model, it could take up to 20 minutes for channels to be recognized, and you may have to reset preferences. Most of us aren’t willing to do that every day. The bottom line is the entertaining doesn’t have to drain your budget. In fact, the money you save by eliminating the energy vampires in your home may even be enough to go out to a movie.

Use a smart power strip to slay those energy vampires.

if you want to trim your electric bill. If there’s no power saving option, you can slay that energy vampire by using a smart power strip. This technology allows you to plug devices into a specially marked section of the strip to keep power flowing to them while letting you turn off other items. This way, you can shut off your stereo, DVD player, or audio system without losing the

Brian Sloboda is a program manger specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network (CRN).

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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Santa Lady of Eustis, Neb Nancy Laier of Eustis, Neb. opens her home to more than 300 visitors each year. by Wayne Price

he symbolic figure of Santa Claus, Kris Kringle or St. Nicholas has found a comfortable home with Nancy Laier of Eustis, Neb. She has collected all sorts of versions of the man from the North Pole and displays them in her home for hundreds of visitors each year. “I have quite a few of them,” she said, while standing in her living room completely surrounded by all shapes and sizes of Santa Claus. “I’ve made a lot of them and have received many of them as gifts.” She’s made Santa figures from a variety of strange items like animal hooves, shotgun shells and even a pig’s ear. She has singing Santas, dancing Santas, scooter riding Santas, and guitar playing Santas. Even Santa playing Jazz. She has Santas from all over the world. She has Santa snow globes and Santa jewelry.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

If you are interested in seeing Nancy Laier’s collection, call her to schedule a visit. 308-486-4551

There are many Santa figures from Germany and a Santa collection by artist Thomas Kincaid. Nancy began collecting the jolly man in the red suit in 1966 when she won a stuffed Santa Claus for her son in a drawing at Pizza Hut in North Platte. She starts unpacking her collection to display upstairs beginning in November and puts them away every year on February 1. The basement collection stays up all year long.

She gives tours of her home to visitors from all over the United States and to area school groups. More than 300 people came to see her Santa collection last year. “I’ll give tours as long as I can,” she said. “I really enjoy it. It works best if people call first.” Nancy has converted different rooms of the house into special Santa themed rooms: Santa with animals, Santa with kids, and Santa on horseback to name a few. She is a retired math, social studies and art teacher at St. Patrick’s in North Platte for 14 years.

December 2012

Clockwise from top: She has Santa playing a variety of musical instruments and songs. Shelves in her house are filled with figures and ornaments. The Santa collection in the basement stays up year-round. Rooms are set up with Santa themes.

A homeowner checks on her battery backup unit, which supplies power to critical circuits during an outage. Photograph provided by Silent Power

Stay charged with a battery backup system Battery backup systems can be viable alternatives to emergency generators by Douglas Danley

ome battery energy storage systems are a convenient alternative or supplement for emergency generators. But consumers should be careful and consult their local rural electric utility before buying one. In their simplest form, battery energy storage systems are larger versions of uninterruptible power supplies sold to back up home computers. Because of the expense to power an entire household during an outage—especially one that has a heat pump or central air conditioning—a home battery energy storage system usually connects to an isolated “subpanel.” The subpanel, in turn, allows power from the batteries to flow to identify critical loads, such as refrigerators, well pumps, home security systems, computers, and TVs.

When the power goes out, battery energy storage systems automatically provide generation for appliances connected to the subpanel as long as stored energy lasts. Battery sets have the advantage of being quiet and extremely reliable but typically boast sufficient capacity only for a few hours of load and carry a hefty price tag—up to 10 times the cost of an emergency generator. When considering battery energy storage as a supplement or replacement for a generator, it’s important to select equipment that meets appropriate Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards, and to have the systems installed and inspected by a licensed electrician. Like emergency generators that run off gasoline, diesel fuel, or natural gas, adequate ventilation remains important because even “sealed” batteries can give off harmful gases if something goes wrong with the charging process. With the popularity of residential

solar panels and small wind turbines increasing, some companies are combining these “backyard” renewable power systems with interactive battery storage setups. During an outage, the solar array or wind turbine can be used to extend life of the batteries. If you are considering a battery energy storage unit for use during outages, or if you have a renewable energy system you’d like to integrate with battery backup, be sure to contact your public power district or electric cooperative before investing to ensure that the system is approved and will be hooked up correctly. In many cases, you will need to enter into an interconnection agreement with your rural electric utility before the device can be put in. Douglas Danley is a technical liaison and consultant specializing in renewable energy for the Cooperative Research Network (CRN).

Rural Electric Nebraskan

8 toddler pitfalls to avoid on Christmas morning by Ashley Grimaldo

egardless of your nostalgic, Christmas-morning-frenzy memories, you’ll quickly learn that a no-holds-barred approach doesn’t go over well with your toddler—especially on the most anticipated morning of the year. Don’t wing it Christmas morning. Get a game plan together now so that your entire family can enjoy the holidays without going into meltdown mode.

Decide on a number of sweet treats allowed.

With the font of sucrose flowing throughout the holidays, be a sugar-monitor fiend and make sure other house visitors know your rules. If you have a struggle with, ahem, I-want-to-be-the-favorite grandmothers, get it out in the open first rather than commencing a power struggle on Christmas. According to the American Heart Association, children should limit their intake to about 4 teaspoons of added sugar each day.

Get to bed early the night before.

While establishing family traditions for Christmas takes precedence over toddler routine, make your plans reasonable for the younger crowd. Try to wrap up Christmas Eve activities early and give plenty of down time before going to sleep. Junior needs good rest to enjoy the following morning. He won't get it if he stays up until 10:00 with out-of-town visitors.

Limit gift opening to a small number.

Three is good. This will be the hardest part of your holiday experience. Regardless of your convic-

December 2012

tions, the gift-giving fever kicks in at Toys 'R Us and you go crazy buying, wrapping—and still more buying—several days ahead of Christmas. Even this late in the season you can nab holiday coupons from sites like CouponSherpa.com for one or two special gifts—open them earlier in the week rather than all at once on Christmas morning.

Wrap up with quiet time and a nap.

Plan a Christmas morning activity.

After opening a few presents and enjoying time with visiting family, give your toddler plenty of time to decompress alone in a quiet space. Review the fun times of the morning with her and read a special book to help calm her down. Be on the lookout for overstimulation— nasty meltdowns, hyperactivity, and avoiding eye contact should be a red flag to flee the scene and recover.

In the throngs of gift-wrap thrashing, laughing and emotion, kids with a typically predictable routine can become stressed out by the absence of normal. If your toddler is particularly sensitive to big events, make sure you have a small, soothing activity planned— like watercolor Christmas trees or lacing boards of holiday characters—to keep your little one anchored.

Space out opening Christmas gifts.

You'll probably feel enormous pressure for your kid to open every gift, respond with enthusiasm and then give a huge, grateful "thank you" to the recipient. It just won't happen if you rush through the gift opening. Some moms prefer to open one gift every other day for the week

leading up to Christmas—a godsend when winter storms hit and the family is stuck indoors. Keep in mind that your preschooler will enjoy his offerings much more if he has time in between opening to play with the goodies.

Construct all toys the night before.

Most parents learn this the hard way after their first Christmas with kids. Kids don’t want to open up a box, especially the preschool crowd. They will either get frustrated while you sweat over a screwdriver and instructions written in Mandarin or lose complete interest. Skip the $5.99 for wrapping paper and tie a simple bow on your ready-to-play toys. Start putting them together now so you aren’t up past midnight, bleary eyed with a wrench, on Christmas Eve.

Don’t stress your kids with posed photos.

Get candid with these fantastic tips from Photography Blog! A surefire way to send your toddler into defiance is demanding he smile in a picture with his hand-knitted sweater. Even though Aunt Jean may get a little ticked off that she can’t see Junior with her woven creation Christmas morning, it’s not worth the struggle. Opt instead for unposed, spontaneous smiles. Ashley Grimaldo comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys blogging on money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents. She lives with her husband and three children in Bryan, Texas. Ashley has been featured among such media outlets as Redbook, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and CBS News-Houston.

SAFETY BRIEFS

Be prepared for a safe winter driving season he leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter driving. Before winter arrives install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs. Have a cell phone handy. Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal. Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season. Plan long trips carefully. Listen to the radio or call the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions. Always travel during daylight and, if possible, take at least one other person. Dress warmly. Wear layers of loosefitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Carry food and water. Store a supply of high energy "munchies" and

several bottles of water. If you become trapped in your vehicle during a winter storm, stay in the car. Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You may become disori-

Frostbite and Hypothermia Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims. A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite. Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion. If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk first. Use your own body heat to help. Source:â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;FEMA

ented and lost is blowing and drifting snow. Display a trouble sign. Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood. Occasionally run engine to keep warm. Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater when the car is running. Also, turn on the car's dome light when the car is running. Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a downwind window slightly for ventilation. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Do minor exercises to keep up circulation. Clap hands and move arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay in one position for too long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping. For warmth, huddle together. Use newspapers, maps, and even the removable car mats for added insulation. Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Don’t let energy savings go up in smoke by Kelly Trapnell

our fireplace creates a warm, cozy atmosphere during wintry weather, but don’t let it add unnecessary dollars to your electric bill. Fireplaces heat the room they’re in but at the expense of the rest of the house. Most of the heat in traditional fireplaces goes up the chimney instead of warming living space, and the draft pulls heat from other rooms. So if your thermostat is located away from the fireplace, it will work harder to maintain room temperatures for the rest of the house. Fireplace “inserts” help boost energy efficiency. However, emissions from old inserts and fireplaces without inserts are up to 20 times worse than using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-certified wood stoves, pellet stoves, or gas/oil furnaces. So look for an EPA-certified insert if you want to supplement your home’s heating. Contact a local retailer to learn about efficient stoves and inserts that will circulate hot air into a room to help lower heating costs. But keep in mind the disadvantages of using high-maintenance fires as heat sources, including constant attention and ash disposal. If you don’t have an efficient insert but love a crackling fire, follow these measures for safety and improved efficiency. • Seal those cracks. While sealing drafts around your home, don’t forget to check the chimney. Smoke and heat that escape through cracks can pose a fire hazard. It’s best to hire a professional to fix cracks in highheat areas. • Fight the draft. If you plan on a long-lasting fire, lower the thermostat to save energy—just be prepared to wear a sweater in other rooms—and resist the temptation to

December 2012

Fires are a low-efficiency, high-maintenance source of heat requiring constant tending and ash removal. Photograph by Kelly Trapnell crank the temperature back up after the fire goes out. • Clean sweep. A National Fire

Protection Association standard suggests having your chimney and fireplace inspected once a year, and cleaned or repaired when necessary. Even if you don’t use your fireplace often, an annual inspection will find any blockage from animal nests or other deterioration. • Batten down the hatch. Keep the chimney flue closed when not using your fireplace to prevent conditioned or heated air from escaping. • Choose your wood wisely. Wood that’s dried at least six months provides the best heat, so avoid any that’s wet or newly chopped. And the harder the tree species, the longer your fire will burn. This makes ironwood, rock elm, hickory, oak, sugar maple, and beech good choices. Store wood off the ground and away from your house to remove the threat of termite infestation, and cover the top to lessen moisture but leave the sides open for circulation. Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Consumer Reports, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chimney Safety Institute of America

For a FREE color brochure send the ad coupon or call toll free 800-658-7076 or fax 507-462-3211. www.nordaashomes.com P.O. Box 116, Minnesota Lake, MN 56068-0116

REC

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Soundproof for peace, quiet, and efficiency by James Dulley

Our house walls need more Q :insulation for efficiency and perhaps better soundproofing. We are also planning to add a bedroom. Will insulation make the existing rooms quieter and the new room more soundproof? wall insulation can be A :anAdding expensive project and above the skill level of most do-it-yourselfers. In many older houses, particularly ones with masonry wall, there is little space inside the walls for additional insulation. In many cases, it’s worthwhile to spend more on insulation with the highest R-value per inch, which is a number showing the ability of insulation to resist the transfer of heat. Higher R-values indicate more effective insulation. Any type of insulation you add to save energy will help somewhat to

soundproof the walls, but you need additional improvements for significant noise dampening because sound travels mostly through the wall studs. For your new room addition, carefully installing fiberglass batt insulation boosts your home’s energy efficiency. The key word is “carefully” because fiberglass batts don’t provide protection from gaps at the wall joists—it’s up to you to make sure spaces are caulked or spray foamed before insulating. Every crack and gap reduces the overall efficiency of the new wall. It’s difficult to eliminate all the air gaps in your existing walls, but having foam insulation injected is effective because it fills in spaces to eliminate air leakage. Another option is to build a second insulated wall against the inside existing wall. You’ll lose only about

This is a design of a wall with STC 66 soundproofing properties. This design uses double decoupled walls with special soundproofing panels on each side underneath the drywall. Illustration provided by Homasote

four inches of floor space for the new wall, which you can frame with 2 ft.by-4 ft. pieces of lumber, insulate with foil- or kraft paper-faced fiberglass batts, and then cover with drywall. This method is particularly effective for older houses with full masonry walls. If your windows are old, installing new ones makes the greatest improvement in saving energy and blocking outdoor noise. The airtight quality helps, but most new windows also use heavy inert gases in the gap between the panes that further reduces sound transmission. In fact, simply caulking and weather stripping your old windows can have a dramatic effect on reducing noise, and it improves the energy efficiency of your house by keeping heated or cooled air from leaking out and outside air from seeping in. In turn, your heating and cooling system won’t need to work as hard and use as much energy. When planning your new bedroom, do some research regarding the STC (sound transmission class) rating for various types of wall construction. A typical uninsulated interior wall with drywall on each side of 2-by-4 framing has an STC of about 34. If there are common heating ducts and holes for electrical outlets and phone jacks, the STC of that interior wall may be only 25. Keep in mind that these openings are also culprits for drafty rooms, so using an inexpensive outlet insulation kit is one more way to improve energy efficiency. Adding insulation inside the wall increases the STC by very little—normal conversation would still be easily heard. At the other extreme, with an STC of 66, yelling is barely audible in adjacent rooms. As with outdoor walls, your first step in soundproofing interior walls is to get out the caulk gun and seal any gaps in the walls and at joints. It won’t help energy efficiency much, but it does block the vibrations that create sound. Another consideration is the type of

Rural Electric Nebraskan

noise you want to block. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s normal household sounds and voices, many standard soundproofing methods are effective. If you want to block deep bass vibrations from music or a home theater, a thicker wall is best. You can create that by installing two layers of drywall or using a high-density wallboard. If using drywall, you can nail them tightly together or leave them slightly separated for the benefits of decoupling. Decoupling the two surfaces of a wall is critical to block sound transmission. That means drywall on one side is not attached to the same wall studs as the drywall on the adjacent wall. One simple method is to install a second layer of drywall over the existing one. Make sure not to screw it into the wall studs or very tightly to the existing drywall so it stays decoupled. This method also increases the thickness of the wall for blocking bass vibrations. Another method is to stagger the studs on wider headers and footers in the wall cavity. The drywall on each wall is attached to every other stud so there is no direct path for the sound to travel. You can also try installing thin resilient metal strips over the studs. The new drywall is attached to these strips and not directly to the studs. Strong soundproofing board made of recycled materials, such as Homasote 440, installed over the studs is another option. Screw the drywall or resilient channels to this board. The following companies offer wall soundproofing products: Acoustic Sciences, (800) 272-8823, www.asc-soundproof.com; Certainteed, (800) 782-8777, www.certainteed.com; Homasote, (800) 257-9491, www.homasote.com; Owens Corning, (800) 438-7465, www.owenscorning.com; and Serious Energy, (800) 797-8159, www.quietrock.com.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

December 2012

DOWNâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;HOME

RECIPES

Ground Venison Stew 1 4 6 6 3

lb. ground venison large potatoes large carrots stalks celery large onions

2 cups tomatoes or juice 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste Water as needed

Cut up vegetables into 1 inch chunks. Brown venison with onions. Add rest of vegetables and seasoning and bring to a boil, then simmer until vegetables are done and juice is almost gone. Serve with hot rolls.

Doris Rempe, Lawrence, Nebraska

Sausage Stuffed Onions 6 medium Bermuda, or other onions 1 pound sausage 1/2 cup bran flakes

Smoky Chipotle Pot Roast with Cornbread 1 boneless beef chuck shoulder, arm or blade pot roast (2-1/2 to 4 pounds) 1-1/2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained Prepared cornbread or corn muffins Press chili powder evenly onto all surfaces of beef pot roast. Heat oil in stockpot over medium heat until hot. Place pot roast in stockpot; brown evenly. Pour off drippings. Add tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 2 to 3 hours or until roast is fork-tender. Remove roast; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Return liquid to stockpot; bring to a boil. Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until sauce is reduced to 2 cups. Carve roast into thin slices; top with sauce. Serve with cornbread.

Recipe provided by the Nebraska Beef Council

1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon sage Dash of pepper 3 tablespoons milk

Peel onions, cook in boiling salted water 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Remove centers to form cups, reserving center portions, Cook sausage until brown; drain off fat. Combine with bran flakes, seasonings, milk and reserved onion, chopped. Fill onion shells. Place in shallow baking dish with enough water to cover bottom of dish. Bake in oven at 350 degrees 45 minutes. Pass the catsup or tomato sauce.

Linda Bogus, St. Paul, Nebraska

Caramel Drizzled Pumpkin Poke Cake 1 box Betty Crocker Supermoist 1/3 cup vegetable oil yellow cake mix 4 eggs 1 cup canned pumpkin 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1/2 cup water Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 for dark or nonstick pan). Spray or grease bottom of 13 x 9 inch pan. In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour into pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Immediately poke cake every inch with handle of wooden spoon halfway into cake. Topping: 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk 2 (12 oz) jars hot fudge topping

1 (12 oz) can fluffy white frosting 1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) Caramel topping for drizzling

Drizzle condensed milk evenly over top of hot cake. Spread with knife to get milk into holes. Let stand until milk has been absorbed into cake, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile place hot fudge topping into medium microwavable bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high 15 to 20 seconds or until smooth. Spoon and spread over cake, spreading into holes. Run knife around sides of pan. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Spread frosting over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans. Just before serving, drizzle caramel topping over each serving of cake. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator. Makes 20 servings.

Darlene Hrouda, Stanton, Nebraska 20

Rural Electric Nebraskan

DEC - 1: WCF, NS, 50s, central Nebraska, educated city gal looking for correspondence with 45 and up gentleman. Got to LOVE P.U.’s, J.D.’s, and Cadillacs. DEC - 2: DWM, 53, NS, live in south central Nebraska looking for a kind fun loving lady, who enjoys the simple things in life, who is down to earth and has family ties. Send photo and phone number.

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.

DEC - 3: DWM, 60+, central Nebraska, hyperactive with no bad habits, great shape and a free spirit. Looking for someone in their 60s who doesn’t think they are old. Your photo gets mine. DEC - 4: DWM, NS, ND, from central Nebraska would like to meet a 62-68 country cowgirl that likes outdoors, horses, horse sales, rodeos, ranch rodeos, steer roping, and team roping. Please no pets – cats, dogs, pot-bellied pigs or snakes. Photo and telephone number.

DEC- 5: DWF, NS, mid-50s, long dark hair, dark eyes, 5’7”, 150 lbs, central Nebraska “farmers daughter” cowgirl is looking for a 50-60s, NS, farmer/rancher to enjoy life & good times. I love horses, rodeos, trail rides, camping, fishing, county fairs, concerts, C/W and old rock & roll music, dancing, kids, and animals. Photo & phone number. DEC - 6: DWF, 60s, from central Nebraska, like being outside, listen to the birds, watch animals or people. Enjoy cooking and family. I would like to meet a Christian gentleman to share things with and maybe turn into something special.

To Someone Who Stutters, It’s Easier Done Than Said. For information, write or call toll-free: THE

STUTTERING FOUNDATION

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1-800-992-9392 www.stutteringhelp.org

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ll Ca ree lF l o T

To write

Siz

O es A ther vail abl e

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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.

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Price includes material, delivery, construction, factory trusses, screws Open M - F 8 to 5

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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 2012

Ask about our Outstanding Warranties

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MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS Gascosage Electric Cooperative (GEC) seeks General Manager Headquartered in the city of Dixon, Missouri, the cooperative serves approximately 9,700 consumers located in Pulaski, Miller, Maries, Phelps, and Camden counties. The city of Dixon, with a population of 1,547, is located 45 minutes from Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, the Midwest's premier lake resort destination that offers world-class boating, golfing, shopping and fishing and a wide variety of lodging, restaurants, state parks, and other recreational activities.

The Wild Game on your land is worth $200 to $30,000 each year, every year! For information without cost or obligation, call

1-877-738-4915 BIG RED OUTDOORS 437 N Ash St., Dodge, NE 68633 Farm • Industrial • Commercial

The General Manager of GEC is responsible for the day to day management of the cooperative and reports directly to a board of directors. Applicants should possess a broad knowledge of rural electric cooperative distribution system management with an emphasis in the areas of long-range planning, financial management, budgeting, human resources, and fostering positive long-term relationships with the GEC board of directors, members and the public at large. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree from a four-year accredited college, or alternatively, have at least 10 years experience at a senior staff/managerial level. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 5 years experience in the rural electric cooperative industry sector at a senior staff/managerial level. Please provide a complete application package, including cover letter, resume and recent salary history, along with 6 verifiable business and 3 personal references, no later than March 1, 2013 to: Andrew Sporleder Johnson & Sporleder, LLP 304 E. High St., Suite 200 P.O. Box 1670 Jefferson City, Mo. 65102

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