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Volume 69, Number 1, January 2015
“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”
Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier
Published by the Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp President Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Ron Jensen, Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District
Contents Features
Safety in Your Home It becomes increasingly more important as you grow older to consider your own safety and take necessary precautions when using products that present potential safety hazards. Take a look at this list of hazards to identify possible problems in your home.
Powering Rural America in the 21st Century
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 Quad Graphics, 2300 Brown Ave., Waseca, MN 56093. 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.
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Tim Lindahl, general manager at Wheat Belt Public Power District in Sidney, Neb., shares the story of how Nebraska’s rural electric systems have had to rely on technology and innovation in order to become and remain a cost competitive provider.
Treasurer David Keener, Niobrara Electric Association, Inc. Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.
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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 New Year! A thick blanket of fresh snow covers the countryside. 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.
January 2015
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EDITOR’S PAGE
Restoring power after a storm is no easy task ost of us would have a difficult time living without electricity. It is necessary for just about everything we do these days. We depend on it to light our homes, open our garage doors, run our appliances, cook our food, and supply us with power for our computers, televisions and smartphones. We all know how frustrating it is when the power goes off and we’re left in the dark. When they happen, electric outages can be annoying and inconvenient. Providing electricity to you requires a lot of dedicated, hard-working people. It requires even more of them to restore power after an outage occurs. We tend to count the seconds until the power is back on, but we need to remember there are certain steps that must be made to ensure electricity is restored to the greatest number of customers as quickly, and safely, as possible. The cause of an electrical outage can range from an animal in the wrong place to a severe storm passing through. When an outage occurs employees of your rural electric utility start working to identify the problem and determine the steps to take to restore power. Snow and ice are often the cause of downed power lines in Nebraska. Rural electric utility crews must identify how many poles and which lines are damaged in the wake of a storm. This helps determine how many customers are without power and which steps need to be taken to begin restoring power to everyone. If transmission lines are damaged and power needs to be rerouted, the electric utility will likely work with Nebraska Public Power District or Tri State G&T during the restoration process. High voltage lines from NPPD and Tri State G&T bring power to distribution substations all around the state, providing power to thousands of customers. Crews must also check these substations for damage following a storm. However, if the problem can not be resolved at the distribution substation, crews must inspect the lines between the substation and the customer’s meter. When these lines are repaired power is restored to the farms and homes along the line. Most of the time crews
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identify which lines will bring power back on to the greatest number of customers and get to work repairing those lines first. If your power does go out, here are a few tips to remember: • Watch out for downed power lines. They could still be energized and potentially deadly if you come in contact with them. • Report the outage to your electric provider as soon as possible. Don’t assume your neighbor has already called the utility. • Be sure to contact your electric provider before an outage if loss of power to your home affects life support systems or could cause any additional threat to your family’s health and safety. It’s a good idea to be ready for an outage just in case. So while crews are working hard to restore power, you and your family will be able to get by until the lights come back on. • Store a few basic items in your home. You should have at least a three-day supply of water on hand, one gallon per person per day. It’s also a good idea to have a three-day supply of non-perishable, high-energy food on hand—protein bars, breakfast bars, and canned food are winners. • Remember to store handy tools like a radio, can opener, flashlights, extra batteries, hand sanitizer, and first aid supplies. Include a seven-day supply of medications for you or other family members. • Retain copies of important documents— birth certificates, passports, and insurance policies. Think about including family photos, candy, nuts or other snack food, or a deck of cards to help pass the time. Rechargeable flashlights in key areas of the home provide instant light if the power goes out. If using a portable generator, connect equipment you want to power directly into outlets on the generator with a properly rated extension cord. Never operate a generator inside your home—because of carbon monoxide poisoning—or connect a generator directly to your home’s wiring unless your home has been wired for generator use. Lineworkers’ lives could be put in danger from power backfeeding onto electric lines.
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an you imagine working a job that requires you to lift heavy equipment and perform detailed tasks near deadly high voltage? Now imagine doing this 40 feet in the air, and sometimes, in extreme weather. This is the life of a lineman. These brave men [and women] answer when called – and they do so to ensure that you are provided with safe, reliable electric service. But how do they stay safe when working in these conditions? Rural electric system linemen are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times when on the job to keep them safe.
January 2015
These items make up a lineman’s basic PPE. While working on electrical lines, they also may be required to wear equipment belts, tool pouches, safety straps and other types of equipment. A lineman’s gear usually weighs about 50 pounds – that’s a lot of extra weight when working in hazardous conditions. So, the next time you see a lineman – be sure to thank him for keeping the lights on. But more importantly, thank them for the hard – and often times dangerous – work they do, day in and day out.
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Safety in Your Home
Room by Room As you become older, it becomes increasingly more important to consider your own safety and take necessary precautions when using products that present potential safety hazards. very year more than 1 million people in the United States over the age of 65 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with products in their homes that they use every day. With the senior population in the United States soaring and “baby boomers” approaching their sixties, this number of injuries could easily double over the next 20 years. That’s why it is important for you to identify safety hazards and understand some simple steps to overcome them. Take a walk through your home and use the following checklist to identify possible safety hazards. When you spot a potential problem, take the appropriate action to address it immediately.
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Kitchen • Buy UL Listed electrical appliances. • In the range or stove area, check all electrical cords for fraying or cracking, step stools for splitting or cracking materials, and throw rugs for tripping hazards like bumps and turned-up corners. • Keep appliances and their cords away from water. If an appliance falls into the water, don’t retrieve it until you have unplugged the appliance. Do not use the product again until it is inspected and repaired by a
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qualified technician. • Never use or attempt to repair a damaged appliance; always consult a qualified technician. • Keep all portable and countertop appliances unplugged when not in use. Appliances plugged into an outlet have dangerous electrical voltages inside even when they are turned off. • Every home should have working, UL Listed smoke detectors and fully charged UL Listed fire extinguishers strategically placed in the kitchen, garage and workshop. Family room • Make sure all extension cords bear the UL Mark. • Never keep an extension cord plugged in when not in use. The cord will still conduct electricity until it is unplugged from the outlet. • Never use an extension cord that is cut, damaged or repaired. Touching even a single exposed strand of wire as fine as a thread can cause an electric shock or burn. • Never run an electrical cord under a rug or carpet, or drape it over a hot surface such as that of a radiator or space heater. If a rug or other items cover the cord, heat cannot escape, the cord can become too hot and a fire could possibly start.
• When replacing a light bulb in a portable lamp or fixture, make sure that the replacement bulb is of equal or lesser wattage than that recommended by the lamp or fixture manufacturer. Using a light bulb of higher wattage than the manufacturer recommends can cause the lamp or fixture to overheat and start a fire. • Only use portable electric air heaters as a supplementary source of heat; these devices are not intended to replace home heating systems and should not be used without supervision. Always keep flammable materials including bedding, clothing, draperies, rugs and furniture at least three feet away from the heater. • Check all rugs and runners for tripping hazards like bumps and turned up corners. • Inspect the fireplace and chimney for fire hazards. • Make sure all passageways are clear. Bathroom • Keep space heaters, radios and other electrical products away from bathtubs and sinks. • Keep medications, cleaning products and other poisons away from children and pets.
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• Make sure that you have ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets installed in the bathroom as well as in the kitchen, laundry room and workshop. • Check the bathtub, shower, rugs and mats for slipping hazards. • Check the water temperature for possible burn hazard and cabinets for safe storage of medications. • Make sure all small appliances bear the UL Mark. Bedroom • Install UL Listed smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms outside every sleeping area and near fuel-burning appliances. • Install fresh batteries in smoke detectors and CO alarms at least once a year. • Develop and practice a fire escape plan for your household. Every family member should know at least two ways out of each room. • Test smoke detectors and CO alarms regularly and clean them as indicated in the use and care booklet. Hardwired units, defined as those permanently wired into a home’s electrical system, should be tested monthly. Battery-operated units should be tested weekly. • Make sure the area around the bed is clear of items that could cause tripping, including electrical and telephone cords, rugs, and runners. Basement, garage and workshop • Make sure all power tools bear the UL Mark. • Check fuse and breaker boxes for possible malfunction and shock or fire hazards. • Check cords on tools and extension cords as well as lawn and garden tools and supplies. • Inspect the floor and eliminate slippery grease stains with a degreaser. To prevent future oil slicks, you may want to apply special epoxy-based paint that repels oil and makes cleanups easy. • Check for proper ventilation. • Make sure flammable liquids are stored properly. Stairs • Check for proper lighting on and around stairways. • Attach handrails securely to walls and posts. You should be able to put your entire weight on the handrail without damaging the handrail, the wall or the post. • Examine handrails and steps for possible defects or weaknesses. Make sure the handrails are easy to see, even in low light or at night. • Check stair coverings for possible tripping hazards. • Do not place loose rugs on steps, or at the top or bottom of stairways. Source: Underwriters Laboratories
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Energy efficiency and the “tiny house movement” “tiny house movement” has gained attention nationally as a reaction to the increased construction of larger homes. Popularized by the documentary “Tiny,” a television show, and other media coverage, these homes typically measure less than 1,000 square feet – a far cry from the typical American home. In 1973, the average U.S. home measured 1,660 square feet. Since then, U.S. homes have grown by over 60 percent to reach an average size of 2,598 square feet in 2013 – despite a slight dip in 2008 through 2010. But do smaller homes actually use less energy? What are the factors that determine how much energy a house consumes? As the size of homes increases, so do the energy demands on it. There’s additional space to be
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heated or cooled, more lighting is required, and it’s likely that the number of appliances will increase as well. Examining only a home’s size will show a strong positive correlation between the square footage of a home and its energy consumption. To look at an extreme case, homes that measure over 6,400 square feet (the top 1 percent of homes) use two and a half times as much electricity as home sized at 1,600 square feet; but this isn’t the whole story. Other factors such as the age of the home, climate, income and behavior influence energy consumption as well. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that homes built after the year 2000 use only 2 percent more energy than homes built before 2000 even though the newer homes are on average 30 percent
larger and contain more electronic appliances. There are several reasons for this equilibrium in energy use despite the greater building size. First, homes are becoming more energy efficient. They are lit with CFLs and LEDs instead of incandescents and use more efficient appliances. For example, an older refrigerator can use about twice as much energy as a newer model of similar capacity. Second, homes are being built with more energy-efficient features. This includes better building shells, modern windows and more insulation. Larger homes in particular are more likely to include these types of energy-saving features. These changes are due not just to technological advances but policy changes that tightened building codes and raised the minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances. Programs such as EnergyStar have helped to educate consumers about the efficiency and cost-savings of their products. Lastly, more Americans are moving south to more moderate climates. This means that less energy is used on space heating, and although the southern migration has resulted in a 56 percent increase in energy used for air conditioning, it’s not enough to offset the space heating reduction. What this ultimately means is that the amount of energy a home uses is not pre-determined by its size. While moving into a tiny home may not be practical or possible -they are often not allowed under current zoning regulations and only make up around 1 percent of homes – realize both large homes and small homes have the potential to be efficient or inefficient. Rather than moving into a tiny home to save energy, consider looking into energy-efficient retrofits – contact your local rural electric utility for ways to save.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Advancements in technology ublic power districts and electric cooperatives have come a long way. In the mid 1930s, nine out of 10 rural homes were without electric service – a service that now, the majority of us greatly depend upon in order to live our day-to-day lives. Electricity is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Today, in order to meet consumers’ electrical needs, rural electric systems are providing reliable power using the most advanced technologies available.
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automated meter reading (AMR). With AMR in place, many rural electric systems have the ability to an advanced meter create infrastructure (AMI). AMI can be established when automated equipment (found at substations and
on distribution lines) is teamed with AMR. AMI allows a variety of advanced applications to become possible, including outage management, “blink” monitoring and remote disconnect and reconnect. AMR and AMI play major roles in keeping reliable power flowing to your home and the smart grid running efficiently.
Equipped for reliability When public power districts and electric co-ops were first forming, state-of-the-art equipment like we use today simply wasn’t an option. Groups of men gathered their strength to raise utility poles, and spools of thick, electrical wire were unraveled and strung individually. Once the poles were set in place, these ambitious men climbed the poles to hang the wire. Today, digger/derrick trucks are used to dig holes and place utility poles and electric lines, along with bucket trucks that have replaced the majority of climbing. These advancements not only improve the safety of our line workers, but they also make the process less strenuous. Much like setting poles and stringing electrical wire, clearing rights-of-way is no longer done by hand; thanks to technological advances, power saws and tools have made clearing much easier. And clearer rights-of-way mean reliable electric service. Accountable metering Even though they may come in different styles, all homes across the U.S. have one thing in common: an electric meter. These small devices are constantly keeping a tally of electric use. While older styles of meters – that track kilowatts with small, spinning discs – are extremely efficient, many electric cooperatives have integrated a much more advanced design into their systems –
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Resolve to make your home more energy efficient appy New Year! This is the time of year when we often resolve to make changes of all types. Here’s an idea for you. Instead of focusing on the typical resolutions, such as losing weight and exercising more, why not resolve to make your home more energy efficient? And with winter in full swing, this is a good time to think about making energy-efficiency improvements to your home. Your thermostat is in full heating mode and generally, winter heating requirements cause us to spend more money than we do for cooling. This is because the laws of nature dictate how heat behaves on Earth. As a reminder, heat moves to cool. On a cold winter day, the heat generated by a heating source is moving through building materials, cracks around doors and windows, unsealed holes created by electrical and plumbing penetrations and
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improperly installed and inadequate insulation. Furthermore, winter usually doles out a larger temperature difference between the indoor thermostat setting and the outdoor temperature. The greater the temperature difference, the more energy is required to maintain the desired temperature inside your home. To be clear, not all homes are energy inefficient. So how does one know whether or not his/her manufactured or standard built home is energy efficient? Here is a simple way to do it, based on your average monthly utility usage. Simply multiply the square footage of your home by 10 cents. For instance, a 1,500-square-foot home multiplied by 10 cents (.10) equals $150.00. A 2,000-square-foot home multiplied by 10 (.10) cents equals $200. And so on. Next, calculate your total electric bills for a one-year period. If you heat
with natural gas or propane, be sure to add those bills into the total. Next, divide the total by 12 months to establish the monthly average. If your monthly average exceeds the squarefootage multiplied by 10 cents (.10) calculation, you most likely have an opportunity to make some energy efficiency improvements. Many of the public power districts and electric cooperatives in Nebraska have a trained energy efficiency expert on staff who can help identify and offer solutions for high bills and comfort issues. Contact your local rural electric system to get more information on making your home more energy efficient. Also, be sure to visit www.smartenergytips.org for many energy savings ideas and solutions, as well as information on our new podcasts. In the meantime, stay warm and start working on your energy efficiency resolution!
Rural Electric Nebraskan
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New Technology Powering rural America in the 21st century by Tim Lindahl Wheat Belt Public Power District General Manager t was a dark, cold, and stormy night when all of a sudden, the lights went out. A feeling of fear, anger, and disbelief all run through your mind as you fumble for the flashlight and the number for your electric provider, while posting your feelings on your Facebook wall. Then, nearly as quickly as they had gone out, the lights come on. This is a glimpse of the benefits of a self-healing grid, which is just one of the research projects we are conducting.
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Above: LED bulbs are becoming less expensive and many rural electric systems offer incentive rebates to consumers. Top: The NEST thermostat learns your habits and self-programs for more efficient heating and cooling.
It was a dark, cold, and stormy night.... when, guess what, the lights did not go out. This is a glimpse of the benefits of another research project that anticipates outages to allow for their repair before they happen, or another that coats the lines with a solution that prevents the formation of ice, or the countless technological advances that allow us to keep your lights on 99.99 percent of the time. Most of you probably never give your public power district or electric cooperative a second look when it comes to technological advancements. This is how I was as an outside IT professional years ago. I viewed my electric provider as an archaic organization operating in much the same manner as it did in the 1970’s. This perception could not be further from the truth. With a very small fraction of customers per installed mile of line, or much more exposure to weather events than our counterparts in the cities, the rural electric system has had to rely on technology and innovation in order to become and remain a cost competitive provider. Our most recent advancements have developed in the area of communications. We can now easily “talk” to devices in the field. In our case, we have the ability to
Nebraska’s electric rates are among the top 15 lowest in the U.S.
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check equipment on our system in the most remote areas that we serve, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, without sending a truck. We can identify many problems when they are small and correct them during the good weather, rather than waiting until the coldest night, during a raging storm. We track our system’s performance and trouble spots, focus on improving those areas, and reducing energy losses in our system. We are installing “intelligent” switches and line conditioners that allow automatic reaction and correction to voltage and power quality, which allows us to utilize our existing infrastructure to serve more load. The integration of these types of technologies not
Visit the website at: www.workingfornebraska.org Rural Electric Nebraskan
only reduce electric energy waste and allow for more optimum use of our system, but also reduce fuel and vehicle use. This allows us to make much better use of the talents of the people behind the power. Technology is used beyond us locally to operate the “grid.� New emission controls, higher output wind turbines, more efficient fins on gas turbines are just a few items that help us meet our everincreasing demands on the system. Then there is your side. We advocate for technologies that can improve your life, while reducing your bill. LED lighting is probably the most recent development, offering a very long life, utilizing a fraction of the energy, and changing the concept of the light bulb. We have lights in our office that we control with our phone, and can change properties of the light, such as color and brightness. Need to read a quiet book in the corner, turn it to a soft white. Drop your sewing needle, turn it to a bright white high intensity light. Your heating/cooling system is one of the largest consumers of energy that you probably have in your home or business. An item that helps to control this cost is the NEST thermostat, which learns your habits and self-programs for more optimal heating or cooling, and reduces energy consumption without sacrificing comfort. Higher and higher efficiency heat pumps, motors, and appliances continue to
Above: Jim Weeda, IT Manager at Wheat Belt Public Power District, tests the signal from an AMI system at the meter location. Photograph provided by Wheat Belt Public Power District help lower your electrical usage while not sacrificing your way of life. Like anything we do these days, there are usually many pros and cons to doing it, and integrating technology into our grid and our lives is not any different. Your rural power provider spends a great deal of time evaluating these pros and cons, and puts things into place to help mitigate the cons. There has been a great deal of talk recently about cyber security and the threat that it poses to the electric grid. This is a con of utilizing some technologies, but there are many
safeguards, much thought, and a great deal of study going into utilizing the variations of the implemented technology to solve that problem as well. There are many things that can happen, but the scare is usually much, much worse than the risk. I drive a car, knowing that I may become hurt in an accident, but I do what I can to minimize the possibility of getting into the accident, or if I do, not to be hurt. Much like this, we also are diligent and prudent in our use of technology in your 21st century rural electric system. We are always looking at new ways of solving problems. We cooperatively come together to identify problems and develop solutions. Many things thought not possible or economical a few years ago have now become possible, due to our working together to find ways to solve the engineering, environmental, and political problems that arise in operating the largest machine in the world. We are working hard for you, Nebraska.
Next Month: Environmental January 2015
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SAFETY BRIEFS
Protect your family with a carbon monoxide alarm t’s silent, deadly and lurks in the home while your family sleeps. Dubbed the “silent killer,” the colorless, odorless and poisonous gas carbon monoxide (CO) - kills 500 people and sends 20,000 more to the hospital each year. CO is produced and emitted by incomplete burning of fuel, such as propane, kerosene, gasoline, oil, natural gas, wood and charcoal; and because it is odorless and colorless, people can be exposed to CO without even knowing it. However, CO poisoning is avoidable and preventable if the necessary safety measures are taken. UL recommends a three-part strategy that consumers can easily employ to protect themselves and their loved ones from the poisonous gas: INSPECT, PROTECT and DETECT.
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Inspect Fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, hot water heaters and stoves require yearly maintenance. Over time, components can become damaged or deteriorate. Have a qualified technician inspect your fuelburning appliances once a year as
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they can identify and repair problems with your fuel-burning appliances. Protect Protect your family, especially while they sleep. Purchase and install ULListed CO alarms outside each sleeping area, including the basement and any other locations required by applicable laws. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before installing a CO alarm. The ULListing on a CO alarm means the product has been found free of foreseeable hazards and is safer for your family. Do not place a CO alarm within five feet of household chemicals. And, avoid placing your alarm directly on top of or near fuel-burning appliances as these appliances will emit some CO when initially turned-on. Make sure you test, so your alarm works the best! Test and replace the battery in your CO alarm at least once a year. If your alarm is wired directly into your home's electrical system, you should test it monthly. If your unit operates off of a battery, test the alarm monthly and replace the battery at least once a year.
Know the signs of potential CO poisoning. CO poisoning may be the cause of flu-like symptoms such as headaches, tightness of chest, dizziness, fatigue, confusion and breathing difficulties. Because CO poisoning often causes a victim's blood pressure to rise, the victim's skin may take on a pink or red cast. Detect If your CO alarm goes off - GET OUT - quickly and safely! If your alarm sounds, evacuate the building and call the fire department. If you or your loved ones experience symptoms of CO poisoning - headache, dizziness or other flu-like symptoms - seek medical attention immediately. And, when you return home, be sure to open windows and doors for ventilation. Then, call a qualified technician to inspect your appliances. Streaks of carbon or soot around the service door of your fuel-burning appliances, moisture collecting on the windows and walls of furnace rooms and fallen soot from the fireplace or small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney are all signs of a CO problem in your home.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Prevent ice dams with insulation cicles put the finishing touch on many of Thomas Kinkade’s paintings of nostalgic-looking homes locked in time and surrounded by a winter wonderland. Perhaps you have quietly passed the time watching an icicle form, becoming longer and longer with each drop that trickles downward. Or maybe as a child, you energetically jumped to pull icicles off the sides of your home to use as a toy sword. Icicles may seem beautiful, magical or picturesque, but they can also signal big troubles for you and your home. Icicles are the result of “ice dams,” which are a buildup of ice on the roof along the overhang or eave. Eaves are the parts of the roof that extend beyond the exterior wall and gutters attach to. Ice dams form when the upper part of the roof is warm enough to melt snow but the eaves and gutters are cold enough to freeze the runoff into icicles. As the ice gets thicker and thicker, it stops water as it comes down the roof, making an ice dam. Eventually, water coming down the roof is backed up enough that it does not refreeze because it continues to be warmed by the house and its attic. Finally, as the water gets deep enough behind the ice dam, it is pushed up under the shingles and into the house causing water damage. The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep your attic cold in the first place. The majority of heat in the attic comes from heat inside the house leaking into the attic. If your house has big, beautiful icicles, you are probably using way more energy than you need to keep your home warm. So what can you do?
I
utility company to learn more. If more insulation is needed, you may qualify for an EnergyWise energy efficiency incentive from your local electric utility to help offset the cost of the additional insulation. Air leaks transmit a lot of heat into the attic quickly, so they are important to stop as well. Pay particular attention to sealing up and insulating the following major sources of heat in the attic: • Chimneys • Plumbing stacks • Recessed lighting • Bathroom and clothes dryer ventilation Bathroom and clothes dryer exhausts can be the worst of the four. Not only are they bringing heat into the attic area, some are vented right into the attic. This will bring additional moisture into the cooler area and can lead to problems like rotted roofs and rafters, ruined insulation, moisture inside the walls, mold, and peeling paint. Though secondary to insulation, ventilation is also important. No matter how much insulation is in your
attic, some heat will still come through. Insulation and sealing only slows down heat transfer. The purpose of attic ventilation is to give that heat somewhere to go. Note that most homes built before 1980 have lousy ventilation. Again, if you are not sure, visit with your utility company, local hardware store, or home contractors in the area. Your local utility and Nebraska Public Power District want you to stay comfortably warm this winter. Part of our commitment to delivering lowcost, reliable energy is helping you make the most of the energy you use throughout the year. For more ideas on how you can make your home or business EnergyWise, contact your local utility or visit www.nppd.com.
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Attic insulation and air sealing This is the primary way of stopping ice dams. Since most of the heat comes from the below the attic, ensure the attic is properly insulated and air sealed. In Nebraska, your attic should have enough insulation to equate to an R38 value. If you are not sure, contact your local hardware store or
January 2015
17
CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS
New touch-control faucets save water and energy by James Dulley
My kitchen faucet has a very Q :slow drip and the finish is worn. I want to replace it with one that is attractive and convenient to use. I often wash dishes by hand, so what is the most efficient design to purchase?
plumbing products, similar in concept to EnergyStar for appliances, called WaterSense. To qualify for a WaterSense label, the faucet must be 20 percent more efficient than standard products in a category. The
: Most people think of a A kitchen faucet as just a simple valve to turn water on or off and to set the water temperature. But the proper selection of a kitchen faucet has a significant impact on water and energy savings, not to mention convenience, health and kitchen decor. You should never ignore a dripping faucet, even if it seems to be leaking cold water. The leak may actually be coming from the hot water side, but it feels cold by the time it gets to the faucet and drips out. Even a slow leak from the hot water line can add up to substantial energy costs over time. Keep in mind, heating water is the greatest home energy consumer following general home heating and cooling. Although you will not see it directly on your electric bill, using cold water consumes energy too. It requires a great deal of energy to purify, pump and treat. Two primary factors affecting water and energy efficiency of a kitchen faucet are the maximum flow rate and the convenience of controlling the flow and temperature. For many years, two-handle (hot and cold) controls were popular. Today, onehandle kitchen faucets are almost always used. In addition to defining your style and decor, the size and shape of the faucet may impact your overall water consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a listing for
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Touch the faucet anywhere to turn water on and off without readjusting the flow rate. Photograph provided by Delta industry standard is 2.2 gpm (gallons per minute) maximum water flow rate. Look for the WaterSense label. The most recent, convenient and efficient feature for kitchen faucets is the touch-control feature. Without having to turn off the water via the handle, the water flow can be controlled with the wave or touch of a hand. By not having to adjust the handle each time, water is not wasted by readjusting the temperature. This provides significant water and energy savings – particularly when rinsing during food preparation and when washing dishes by hand. For most people, using a standard faucet consumes more water and energy when washing dishes by hand than when running a properly loaded efficient dishwasher. With the touchcontrol feature, careful hand washing can be more efficient than the
dishwasher. Another advantage of this feature is the faucet handle is touched less often with dirty hands, so the attractive finish lasts longer. Also, with all the health concerns today about diseases from cross contamination of foods, touching the handle less is a real plus. Very few people wash the handle each time they have touched it. Of the two no-hands technologies, I use the type that senses touch from your body (hand, forearm, elbow, etc.). It detects the slight electrical change from your touch to open or close a special valve. For example, when I am rinsing dishes, I can hold several plates in each hand and just tap anywhere on the faucet fixture with my elbow to start the water flow and stop it when they are rinsed. The other technology has a proximity sensor on the top and in the front of the faucet neck. Waving a hand over the top sensor triggers the solenoid. This does require one free hand. The sensor on the front of the neck senses hands when they are in a typical hand-washing position. Tall spouts with a pull-down sprayer are convenient to use and also result in savings. They provide a professional look, which is popular in today's kitchens. Depending upon the under-cabinet clearance, select the tallest one you can. Some are as tall as one foot. You will appreciate the height when you have to rinse a large platter or fill a large pot. The pull-down sprayer increases the functionality of the faucet. If you use the sprayer feature option often, select one with a pause button. This allows you to stop the flow temporarily when moving utensils or rinsing various foods without having to wave over or touch the fixture.
Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Is renewable energy making money? by Steven Johnson Electric Co-op Today
enewable energy is an increasing source of revenue for electric utilities, but it’s still a drop in the bucket compared with fossil fuels, according to a Census Bureau report. Led by rapid growth in wind energy, revenues from renewables for electric power generators jumped by 49 percent to $9.8 billion from 2007 to 2012, the bureau said in its 2012 Economic Census Industry Series. But renewables—wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass and solar— accounted for just 8.2 percent of all industry revenues in 2012. They have a long way to go to match the $79.7 billion in revenue attributable to fossil fuels. “As industries evolve, so does the Census Bureau to continue to collect relevant data that informs America’s business decisions,” said Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson. “Industries that use renewable energy resources are still relatively small, but they are rapidly growing.” The five-year data, released last month, provide some of the first Census Bureau breakdowns on renewables. They show that wind energy has become the top moneymaker among alternative energy sources with $5 billion in 2012 revenues, blowing away hydropower at $2.4 billion. Fossil-fuel generation accounted for almost 67 percent of industry revenues in 2012. Nuclear checked in at $30 billion in revenues in 2012, about 25 percent of all revenue and triple the tally for renewables. Overall electric generation revenues in the United States dipped by 1.2 percent to $119.5 billion between 2007 and 2012, the bureau said. The decrease, triggered in part by a poor economy, was
R
January 2015
When it comes to electric utility revenues, solar power and other renewables are gaining momentum but have a long way to go to match fossil fuels. (Photo By: SunEdison) mostly felt in the fossil fuel sector as revenues fell by 6.7 percent. Fossil fuel-related operations still
account for the lion’s share of workers in the power sector. The bureau said more than 75,000 workers were employed in 1,389 fossil-fuel establishments, including coal, oil and natural gas. Excluding hydro, the number of renewable producers more than doubled from 312 in 2007 to 697 in 2012, with more than 13,400 workers. But nuclear showed even more impressive employment gains, with a 39.3 percent increase in employment to 52,906 in 2012. Employees looking for a big payoff might first turn to nuclear and geothermal facilities, the bureau noted. At $111,468 and $101,100 respectively, they reported the highest average annual employee salary. Source: Electric Co-op Today
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Down Home Recipes
Dinner Tips for Picky Eaters hen it comes to promoting a healthy diet, it can be difficult to convince children to eat their fruits and vegetables. The last thing you want to do is take away from quality family time by persuading picky eaters to complete a nutritious meal, especially at the dinner table. Try these strategies to get kids excited about adding vegetables to their favorite dinner meals. Spark interest by getting kids involved. It’s easy to get kids more engaged in mealtime by including them while you’re preparing and cooking family meals. Teach kids how to measure out herbs and spices, or have them pick out their favorite vegetable to serve with dinner. Embrace variety to keep dinner time boredom from creeping in. Just like adults, kids can become bored with the same old rotation of veggies every week. Branch out from the basics. With affordable prices and a broad selection, it’s easy to spark kids’ interest by encouraging them to look forward to a new vegetable to try. Introduce new foods slowly, pairing them on the table with familiar foods. It can be difficult to get little ones to try new foods-especially fruits and veggies, so introduce foods slowly. Add in new flavors and tastes along side their favorite dishes. Try serving you family’s favorite dips, salsa or hummus with veggies to get them more willing to expand their taste preferences. Starting at a young age will help kids establish healthy, well-rounded eating habits to last a lifetime. There’s no better time than dinnertime to start modeling smart behaviors for them to follow. Source: www.birdseye.com
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Pan-Sauteed Orange Chicken with Broccoli 1
1/4 1 1
2 1
Orange, juiced and zested (about 1/3 cup juice and 2 teaspoons zest) cup soy sauce teaspoon cornstarch pound thinsliced chicken breast Salt and ground black pepper All-purpose flour tablespoons olive oil bag Birds Eye Recipe Ready
Broccoli Stir-Fry cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons minced ginger 1 1/4 cups low sodium chicken stock or broth 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar Cilantro for garnish 3
Blend orange juice, soy sauce and cornstarch in small bowl; set aside. Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge lightly in flour. Heat oil over mediumhigh heat and cook chicken, turning once, 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked
through. Remove from skillet and keep warm. In same skillet add broccoli, mix and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisptender. Add garlic and ginger and cook 1-2 minutes or until just fragrant. Stir in orange juice mixture, orange zest, chicken stock and rice wine vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and starts to thicken. Add chicken back to pan and let flavors combine 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Reader Submitted Recipes Easy Mini Apple Pies with Vanilla Whipped Cream Mini Apple Pies: 1 package (14.1 ounces) refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts) 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 2 teaspoons flour 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon Topping: 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup flour 2 tablespoons cut up cold butter 1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon 1/4 cup chopped walnuts Vanilla Whipped Cream: 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract Preheat oven to 425°F. For the Mini Apple Pies, unroll crusts on lightly floured surface. Using 3 1/2inch round cutter, cut out 6 rounds from each crust. Re-roll scraps as necessary. Press dough rounds into muffin pan sprayed with no stick cooking spray. Set aside. Toss apples, brown sugar, flour, vanilla and cinnamon in large bowl. Divide evenly among crusts. For the Topping, mix brown sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon in medium bowl until crumbly. Stir in walnuts. Sprinkle evenly over apple filling. Bake 14 to 18 minutes or until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Meanwhile, for the Vanilla Whipped Cream, beat cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Serve Mini Apple Pies with Vanilla Whipped Cream. Source: McCormick & Company, Inc.
January 2015
Jake’s Soup 1 lb hamburger, browned & drained Add: 2 cans of Hormel Chile without beans 2 cans of Hormel Chile with beans 1 quart diced tomatoes Melt: 1 lb or less of Velveeta cheese 16 ounces of cream cheese Heat all in crock pot until good and hot. Serve bowl of soup with a few Frito Lay chips on top.
Joan M. Kallhoff, O’Neill, Nebraska
Simple Apple Crisp 12 1 2 1 1 2
apples peeled & diced cup sugar teaspoons cinnamon cup brown sugar cup margarine or butter cups flour Dash of lemon juice
Put apples in 9 x 13 inch pan. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over apples. Mix the brown sugar, butter, and flour as you would for a pie crust. Spread over apples. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Bernie Prochaska, Abie, Nebraska
Sour Cream and Eggs 2 1/3 3 1/2 5 1 5 1 1/2 1
tablespoons butter cup onion, chopped tablespoons red & green peppers, diced cup mushrooms, diced large eggs, beaten cup sour cream slices bacon, cooked & crumbles cups Swiss cheese, grated cup cheddar cheese, grated Salt & pepper, dash
Saute onions, peppers, & mushrooms in butter. Combine with eggs, sour cream, bacon, cheeses, salt and pepper. Pour into baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until center is set.
Elizabeth Poss, Scotia, Nebraska
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The alarm clock doesn’t wake you up. Power does. Power is like a trusted member of the family. It’s there when we wake up and with us all day, doing the work we need. Electric cooperatives across the West are working hard to make sure that power is reliable, affordable and responsible. With their power supplier, Tri-State, co-ops are innovating to help homeowners, farmers and ranchers, and businesses use power wisely. In doing so, members of electric co-ops save money and make better use of resources. Learn more at PowerWorksForYou.coop.