September 2013
TECHNOLOGY HAS E VOLVED OVER THE YE ARS. And we’re evolving with it.
While our not-for-profit mission to provide reliable, affordable and responsible electricity to our member electric cooperatives has stayed the course for more than 60 years, the way we deliver on it is advancing ever y day. We are diversif ying our generation resource por tfolio while making investments to increase the efficiency of our power deliver y network – all to provide the best possible value to rural electric consumers. Learn more about where we’re headed at 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 67, Number 9, September 2013
“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”
Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier
Published by the Visit us at www.nrea.org
Contents Features
Singing the Sun Down
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Mark Peyton, a biologist for the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, tells how cicadas are one of a number of creatures that “sing” the sun down and the moon up each night.” He explains how katydids, locust, and cicadas have been misidentified by people throughout history.
General Manager Troy Bredenkamp President Gary Dill, Roosevelt Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District
You’re on our team Pat Pope, President and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District, reports on how Nebraska, the only state in the nation served entirely by public power, maintains affordable and reliable electricity year after year.
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 Quad Graphics, 660 Mayhew Lake Rd. NE, St. Cloud, MN 56304. 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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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 A barn in Saline County sits empty. Photograph by Wayne Price.
Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.
September 2013
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EDITOR’S PAGE
Be aware of what’s in your child’s backpack art of the training I received during basic training in the U.S. Army involved carrying a ruck sack filled with about 75 pounds of gear down pine tree shrouded asphalt back roads which crisscrossed Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The combination of the heat and humidity of the South in June was bad enough but with the extra weight of the pack, it was enough to send some of my fellow soldiers to the infirmary. It was a lesson I will never forget. The other morning when I saw my kids head for the door with their school backpacks on, I was reminded of those days of carrying a fully loaded pack. And it got me thinking that I should probably make sure my kids weren’t carrying too much weight in their backpacks. I did a little research online and found that a pack that’s too heavy can cause serious injury to a child. According to Dr. Leonel Hunt, an orthopedic spine surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center and the Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Center, most parents and their children are unaware of the potential injury from an overloaded backpack. “While backpacks are considered the most efficient way to carry books and other items kids need for school, it’s important they weigh less than 15 percent of a child's body weight,” said Hunt. “Otherwise, over time, a child can experience back pain and soreness that can lead to problems that may require medical treatment.” Compared to satchels or briefcases, backpacks are considered safer because they distribute weight evenly across the body and are supported by the back and abdominal muscles. Children and teens also prefer them because they are fashionable, hold more items, and come with multiple compartments that help them to stay organized. But despite their usefulness, a major study recently reported by the American Physical Therapy Association has found that more than 50 percent of children surveyed carry backpacks that are too heavy. “When a backpack is filled with heavy books and incorrectly positioned, the weight’s force can pull your child backward. To compensate, your child may bend forward at the hips or arch his or her back, causing the spine to com-
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by Wayne Price
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press unnaturally,” said Hunt. “This can lead to shoulder, neck and back pain.” Wearing a backpack on one shoulder can also cause the child to lean to one side to compensate for the extra weight and can also lead to pain. In severe cases, children can develop a condition called “scapular winging,” which occurs when the nerve that supplies the shoulder muscle becomes pinched, causing the muscle to not function properly. Girls and younger children may be especially at risk for backpack-related injuries because they are smaller and often carry loads that are heavier in proportion to their body weight. To help your child wear a backpack safely, consider the following: • Keep backpack use limited to necessities only. See that your child cleans out his or her backpack daily by removing any items that can be left at home or in a locker. • Distribute weight evenly. Encourage your child to wear both straps of the backpack whenever he or she carries it. This will help distribute the weight of the backpack evenly across the back and promote good posture. • Recognize signs that the backpack is too heavy. Pay attention to whether your child is slouched or leaning to one side when wearing a backpack or is experiencing any type of back pain, tingling or numbness in the shoulders or arms. • Select the proper backpack. Enhance comfort and safety by purchasing a backpack with multiple compartments, so that weight is more evenly distributed. Padded straps can also help prevent straps from cutting into shoulders. Newer backpacks with wheels are also an option, provided that the handle extends long enough to allow children to stand upright while pulling it. The backpack and wheels must also be sturdy enough so that it does not topple over. • Pick up the backpack properly. Teach your child how to pick up his or her backpack by demonstrating how to bend at the knees and grasp the pack with both hands before putting it on. “Pain and injury caused by backpacks can be avoided,” says Hunt. “Encourage your child to pay attention to this issue in September and throughout the school year.”
Rural Electric Nebraskan
GUEST EDITORIAL
Where electricity and technology meet igital clocks...if the electric utilities would have recognized the impact digital clocks were going to have on the rural electric industry, they would have lobbied long and hard against the technology. Until digital clocks began showing up in homes across the United States in 1960’s, brief power interruptions/blinks weren’t as noticeable in their electric service. Today, sensitive Gwen Kautz electronics inGeneral Manager vade our lives. Dawson Public Technology Power District and innovation have affected cultures and their surroundings in a number of ways. Our children have grown up with cell phones, computers, the Internet, and online banking. In many societies, technology has helped develop more advanced economies and has allowed the rise of a leisure class simply because electronic devices makes doing things so much easier and more convenient. The manner in which electricity (power lines and poles) is distributed remains unchanged and has for decades. Many people aren’t aware that the rural utilities are working hard to introduce new technologies to improve system reliability by developing line systems which detect outages and heal themselves when possible. One of the major areas where advancements are taking place involves down-line automation (or DLA). DLA is an umbrella term describing the use of digital meters and equipment, software applications, and two-way communications. Down-line automation allows your power company to effectively monitor the flow of electricity in near real-time; identify voltages out of
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allowed ranges; pinpoint outages; and transmit signals to transformers, capacitors, circuit breakers, and other devices to initiate diagnostic or corrective actions that can isolate, reroute power around, or even remotely repair the cause of a power interruption. But if you’re just a user of electricity, the only thing that’s important to you is that power is there when you want it. In simple terms, utilities work towards building a system that uses technology to help the utility’s decision makers and systems operate the power delivery system effectively. It also provides information to consumers so they can make informed decisions about energy consumption. Today’s consumers demand higher reliability and improved power quality (no voltage drops or surges). They also want low rates which mean utilities must find ways to reduce expenses, such as having to dispatch several linemen after hours to restore power when the problem could have been detected early. From the late 1930’s to present day, the only way a utility knew a customer was experiencing an outage or other problem is by having the customer call. Today, systems that transmit signals to and from various pieces of equipment on the electric grid can predict and reduce outages by notifying the computerized system that there’s a potential problem. It’s possible for your power company to detect problems on the line during active monitoring but also notify the utility automatically even if you’re not home. By implementing a system that can re-route power automatically through down-line automation, utilities can reduce how long an outage lasts, and lower the number of customers who lose power. In sprawling, rugged service territories with densities sometimes as low as two or three consumers per mile, down-line automation can substan-
tially lower costs by reducing truck trips. Following massive storms, the ability to target outage locations from the office and efficiently dispatch line crews can significantly expedite getting the lights back on. Even the best operation and maintenance practices cannot prevent all outage events. System automation through advanced metering and DLA can quickly isolate problems and either automatically re-route your power, or send specific data about the event’s location which will reduce the time you’re out of power. Additionally, automation can make utilities more efficient and reduce power purchase expenses resulting in savings for you. This kind of technology is imperative as customers become more dependent upon electronic devices to do a host of every day conveniences. In a day and age where a new laptop is obsolete a week later, it’s important that utilities invest in infrastructure that is reliable and upgradable. It’s also important that the implementation of such services is done with a cost effective approach. So what might be the next technological breakthrough for the energy industry? While the electric grid gets a modern make-over, the problem of balancing the demand on the system still exists. Storage of electricity on a grand scale is the next hurdle. Our portable electronics become an increasingly important part of our life and with that is the need to recharge them. Enter now the portable charging devices as small as a tube of lipstick. Throw them in your pocket and charging your phone is convenient and quick anywhere. On a grander scale will be the “whole home” energy storage device that will carry your home through an outage. A low cost generator married to the perfect storage device will be what leads America to becoming energy independent. The question is not IF that will happen but WHEN. Will it be in our lifetime, in our grandchildren’s life time…or beyond?
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Singing the Sun Down by Mark M. Peyton
was sitting in the backyard with my wife Cindy and Lois, my mother-in-law, enjoying the late July evening. It was warm, but the kind of warm I dream about on those cold January nights with the snow flying and the wind howling. There was a light breeze, just enough to cool the skin and keep the mosquitoes at bay. As the sun sank behind the trees to the west, a cicada started “singing”, soon to be followed by another and yet another. The nightly Symphony of Summer had begun. Cicadas are one of a number of creatures that “sing” the sun down and the moon up each night. The Symphony Season begins in late March with the chorus frogs followed in April and May by a variety of birds, and then in July and August by a myriad of insects. Along with the “bugs” are the toads trilling from the flooded road ditch and the bull frogs calling from the lake. However, on that warm summer night it was the cicadas that held center stage. “Katie did….Katie didn’t,” Lois said. Cindy and I both looked at her.
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“What?” “Katie did….Katie didn’t” she repeated. That’s what katydids say; Katie did….Katie didn’t” “Except that isn’t a katydid,” I said. “No, she said, I know it’s a locust, but it reminded me of the katydid saying.” The old biologist in me couldn’t let that incorrect statement pass. “No, technically that isn’t a locust, it’s a cicada.” She looked at me, shook her head and replied. “Aren’t they the same thing?” No…and yet, in a way, yes they are. Katydids, locust, and cicadas have been misidentified by people throughout history. Katydids are a kind of grasshopper. They belong to the large group of grasshoppers called conehead or long horned grasshoppers. The other group of grasshoppers are your typical grasshopper, which are called short horned grasshoppers. Technically speaking, it’s the short horned grasshoppers that are locust, and then only under certain conditions is that term appropriate. Then, to further confuse things, the family name for the katydids is Tettigoniidae which comes from the Greek ‘tettly’, which in English means ‘cicada’. So it is understandable for someone to confuse a katydid with
both a locust and with a cicada. Using the incorrect name “locust” instead of the correct “cicada” came about from the early settlers in America and the Bible. Locust are common in the Middle East and the Bible contains a number of references to plagues of locust, the most famous being the plague that Moses called down upon Egypt. Locust and other swarming insects, however, were not common in Europe so the Europeans really didn’t know what was meant by swarms of locust in the Bible. When the European settlers came to America they encountered the emergence of periodic Cicadas. When the periodic cicadas emerge they do so in surprising numbers. They cover trees and they make a lot of noise. Unlike the locust of the Bible, the Cicadas are not harmful, but this was the closest thing to a “plague of locust” the European settlers had ever seen and so they called them by that name. Katydids, as grasshoppers, belong to the order Orthoptera, or “straight winged” insects. Included with the katydids and grasshoppers are the crickets, praying mantis, walking sticks, and cockroaches. Short horned grasshoppers here on the Great Plains periodically experi-
Rural Electric Nebraskan
ence population explosions. It seems that when the populations get large enough; dense enough that these grasshoppers will gather into swarms that move across the landscape eating everything in sight. My father-in-law tells stories of the 30’s when huge swarms of grasshoppers would descend upon the Platte Valley. He said grasshoppers would be so thick on fence post there would literally be layers of them. Dean and his father would take the mules and a wagon around the fields. In a barrel in the back of the wagon was a concoction of strychnine and molasses. Dean’s dad would scoop out globs of the stuff onto the ground to attract and kill the insects. To this day Dean cannot stand the smell of molasses. On the front of the hay sweeps would be a 1/2 tank full of old oil and a screen. As the sweep moved through the hay field the grasshoppers would jump up, hit the screen and then fall into the oil. When so many grasshoppers were in the oil there was no more room, they would burn the oil and grasshoppers. Dean said that is another smell he will never forget. When grasshoppers form the
A newly emerged dog-day cicada warms itself in the evening sun. Photograph by Mark M. Peyton.
swarms that Dean describes they are then rightfully called locust and it was these kinds of swarms of grasshoppers that are referred to in the Bible. Today, in an effort to prevent the formation of these huge swarms of ‘hoppers, control ( i.e. spraying with an insecticide) is practiced in most western states. This control is designed to keep the population of grasshoppers under the density threshold that apparently triggers the swarming activity. Here in Nebraska there is a law called the Nebraska Rangeland
Above: A common katydid rests on a tomato leaf. Opposite: A cicada killer wasp secures a newly stung cicada. Photographs by Mark M. Peyton
September 2013
Grasshopper Control Act, passed in 1938, that provides for some funding for grasshopper control so as to prevent the kind of population explosion that Dean remembers. A copy of the 2013 Nebraska Cooperative Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Suppression & Outreach Programs can be found at http://entomology.unl.edu/grasshoppers/ The katydids, or long horned grasshoppers, are more or less harmless and for the most part they don’t swarm. However, there is one variety, aptly known as the Mormon cricket, that will swarm and it is this katydid that is the “locust” referred to in the story of the sea gulls saving the early Mormons in Utah. According to the story, in 1848 the crops of the Mormon settlers in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah were being decimated by a plague of locust. Just as all the crops were about to be lost, large numbers of gulls flew in and started to eat the locust. The Mormons saw the arrival of the gulls as God’s answer to their prayers and the saved crops made it possible for the Mormons to survive the ensuing winter. In Salt Lake there is a monument to this episode in Mormon history and the role of the gulls in saving the colony. Crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids all make sounds through a process called stridulation. This is a process of rubbing one wing or leg against the other. The sounds, like the songs of birds, are distinguishable and each makes a unique sound. Crickets also change the rate of stridulation based upon the temperature so you can actually estimate temperature by how rapidity the cricket chirps. Cicadas are quite different from the grasshoppers and katydids. They belong to the insect group Homoptera, or the “same winged” insects. There are two basic kinds of cicadas. The most famous are the 17-year and 13-year periodical cicadas. These are forest insects that as nymphs live underground feeding on the fluids from tree roots. After their allotted 17 or 13 Please turn to page 8
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Singing the Sun Down From page 7 years they emerge as a group, molt into adults, sing, mate and lay eggs starting the process all over again. Periodical cicadas typically emerge in May and June and they are striking in appearance. They are black with red eyes and orange wings. When they emerge they do so in large numbers thus leading the early settlers to believe these were the locust plagues of the Bible. In the United States there are seven different species of periodical cicadas and all are found in the east and southeast. The species are then further broken into “broods”. Each brood emerges during specific years and they are identified using Roman Numerals. Brood Number I, for example, is found in Virginia and West Virginia and they emerged during 2012. This summer along the east coast it is Brood Number II. Nebraska’s only brood of periodical cicadas, Brood Number IV, is found in the far southeastern portion of the state. They last emerged in 1998 and are expected to emerge again in 2015. The other kind of cicada, the one common throughout Nebraska, is the annual cicada and that is what we were listening to in the backyard. The annual cicadas live as nymphs underground feeding on the sap from tree roots for two, three or even five years. They then crawl up the side of the tree, molt into the adult form, and then they begin to sing, mate, lay eggs, and die. Because the life cycles of the annual cicadas all overlap we have some emerging each and every year, hence the name. Another name for the annual cicadas, and probably a more descriptive name, is the Dog-Day Cicada, as they emerge during the “dog-days” of late summer. The Dog-Day cicadas tend to be larger than the periodical cicadas and are green and black in appearance. The male will try and attract the female with his “song”. Unlike the katydid which rubs its wings together to
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The empty shell of a dog-day cicada after the larva has emerge in the adult form hangs from the bark of a tree. Photograph by Mark M. Peyton make noise, the male cicada has a drum like structure called the timbale on the side of its abdomen. The timbale is a thin membrane stretched over solid, thickened strands of the exoskeleton. When the cicada contracts the membrane the thickened strands bend and click. When the timbale is relaxed the strands click again as they return to their normal shape. The rabid contraction and relaxation give us the familiar clicking song of late summer. There is a folk tale that the first frost of the year will be six weeks after the cicadas start to sing. This is moreor-less true. In Nebraska the cicadas emerge and begin singing in early August with the average first frost date ranging from around the 10th of September in the west and north to early October in the southeast...thus six to eight weeks later. This year I heard my first cicada on July 5th…six weeks from that is mid-August. Let’s hope the folk tale is wrong! Any number of things eat cicadas, and in fact they were common in the diet of Native Americans, however the worst nightmare for a cicada is a wasp called the cicada killer. Cicada killers are a form of parasitic wasp. Parasitic wasps feed on spiders, caterpillars, and other insects and their life cycles are pretty much the
same. The Cicada killer is a wasp that specializes in eating cicadas. This wasp is huge, and in fact it is Nebraska’s largest wasp. However, it is not aggressive and rarely stings unless bothered. The wasp will find a cicada in the trees and sting it. The sting carries a paralyzing agent. The now helpless and paralyzed cicada will be carried by the wasp to a burrow the wasp has dug. She will pull and push the live, paralyzed cicada down into a side chamber of the burrow and then lay an egg on its body. In some forms of parasitic wasps the egg is laid inside the body. The female cicada killer will then leave and hunt down another cicada, drag it back to the burrow and repeat the process. The burrow will contain a number of cicadas when she is done. When the eggs hatch the larva will emerge and start to eat the paralyzed cicada alive. Usually the larva feeds in such a way as to actually preserve the life of the cicada as long as possible so that the “meat” will not rot. Once the larva has devoured the entire cicada it will form a pupa and overwinter in the burrow to emerge again the next summer when the next round of cicadas, crickets, and katydids will once again emerge and sing to sleep the late summer sun.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
New ways to get into hot water
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ater heating represents about 25 percent of energy consumed in most homes. Buying a heat pump water heater, often called a hybrid water heater, and cut water heating costs in half. Stephen Downer, GE product general manager for water products, says, “With its innovative heat pump technology, our GeoSpring water heater uses less than half of the energy of a standard electric water heater. There are very few products that can save homeowners as much money as the GeoSpring on their annual utility bills.” Heat pump water heaters from manufacturers such as Rheem and AO Smith are available at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sears, and other local retailers and distributors. The price ranges from $840 to $1,700, but a heat pump water heater saves an average of $325 every year. The biggest
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factor in water heating costs and potential savings is the number of family members in a household. The more children, especially teenagers, the more hot water your family will use. Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. This means they can be two to three times more efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse. While a refrigerator pulls heat from inside a box and dumps it into the surrounding room, a stand-alone airsource heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air and dumps it at a higher temperature into a tank to heat water. Heat pump water heaters require installation in locations that remain
in the 40º–90ºF range year-round and provide at least 1,000 cubic feet (28.3 cubic meters) of air space around the water heater. Cool air can be exhausted to the room or outdoors. Heat pump water heaters will not operate efficiently in a cold space. You can also install an air-source heat pump system that combines heating, cooling, and water heating. These combination systems pull their heat indoors from the outdoor air in the winter and from the indoor air in the summer. Geothermal heat pumps also normally come with a desuperheater that provides hot water. Above: BuildingGreen named GE’s GeoSpring hybrid electric water heater to its Top-10 list of green building products for 2013. GeoSpring is an Energy Star-qualified water heater that was selected for its energy savings and its innovative technology. Photograph provided by GE
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Have you ever said to yourself “I’d love to get a computer, if only I could figure out how to use it.” Well, you’re not alone. Computers were supposed to make our lives simpler, but they’ve gotten so complicated that they are not worth the trouble. With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses, spam and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we have great news for you. There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you in mind. This computer is easy-to-use, worry-free and literally puts the world at your
fingertips. From the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll see the screen. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now the very people who could benefit most from E-mail, and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time
you took part? Call now, and a patient, knowledgeable product expert will tell you how you can try it in your home for 30 days. If you are not totally satisfied, simply return it within 30 days for a refund of the product purchase price. Call today. s Send & Receive Emails s Have video chats with family and Friends s Surf the internet: Get current weather and news s Play games on line: Hundreds to choose from!
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Attic ventilation creates an energy efficient home hy would you insulate your attic to keep heat out of your home in summer, keep heat in during winter, then turn around and purposely allow outside air to enter the attic through vents? Though it may sound strange, this is exactly what must be done to ensure a durable and energy-efficient home! When you think about it, it makes sense. In summer, the sun beats down on your roof making it hot up there. Natural air flow in a wellvented attic moves super-heated air out of the attic. While the insulation will resist heat transfer into the house, the inherent property of warm air to rise helps remove the heat buildup in your attic to reduce the work your air-conditioner must do if this heat finds its way into living areas. A well-designed attic ventilation system has a combination of intake vents at the lowest point in the attic, typically in the soffit or near the roof ’s edge, and exhaust vents at or near the ridge or peak of the attic. Since warm air tends to rise and cooler air tends to fall, this thermal effect creates a natural circulation of air through your attic.
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While it may be harder to imagine, this effect can have even greater value during the winter. At this time, heat does not travel from an attic into the living quarters. Instead, heated indoor air travels from the home into the attic – along with moisture. Keep in mind that the warmer air is, the greater its capacity to hold moisture. Problems start when warm, moist air hits cooler rafters, trusses and roof sheathing. The moisture condenses as water droplets or frost. Eventually, condensation drips on the insulation below. If the insulation gets too soaked , its volume can be compressed and its effectiveness reduced. This leads to greater heat loss, which leads to colder rooms. Colder rooms lead to a greater need for heat and greater use of the furnace leads to higher energy bills. But that is not the only problem. Not all the condensing moisture drips into insulation. Structural elements of the house absorb some, leading to wood rot and the deterioration of roofing materials. Other moisture is likely to soak into the attic floor and eventually into ceiling materials, causing water stains and
paint damage in the rooms below. To make matters worse, attics that become too warm have the potential for ice damming (snow that melts off a roof and re-freezes at the gutters). Ice dams can cause significant structural damage to your roof. Proper insulation and ventilation keeps attics cold in winter by reducing the entry of heat and moist air from below and expelling moisture that does make it through. Note that the most common mistake homeowners make when installing insulation is to block the flow of air at the eaves. Never cover soffit vents with insulation! Rather, check all attic vents periodically and remove any obstructions to insure proper airflow. It will keep you cooler this summer and warmer next winter! Your local utility and Nebraska Public Power District want to help you make the most of the energy they provide you. That includes heating and cooling your home efficiently and effectively. For assistance on making your home EnergyWise, contact your local utility or visit www.nppd.com. Source: Nebraska Public Power District
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Go with the low flow id you know that making hot water can consume up to 14 percent of your home energy dollars? One way to help save on water-heating energy is, of course, to use less hot water. Here’s a way to do that and still keep clean: Install a low-flow showerhead. These inexpensive, easily installed showerheads use about half as much water as the typical showerhead, but give you the same water pressure and the same great shower. If you’ve tried one of the older versions of the low-flow showerhead and didn't like it, it’s probably time to try again. The new models are vastly improved and can really help you save money on your electric bill. A variety of showerhead styles are available at your local hardware store or from retailers online. Prices range from less than $10 for simple, no-frills plastic ones to more than $100 for designer showerheads.
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SAFETY BRIEFS
Be safe with do-it-yourself electrical projects he current economic downturn has inspired more homeowners to tackle do-it-yourself projects than ever before. Faced with declining home values and aging properties, homeowners in some cases may choose not to pay for the services of a licensed electrician. However, most of us don’t have the training or experience needed to safely perform electrical work, which increases the risk of injury and electrocution and potentially introduces new dangers. Working with electricity requires thorough planning and extreme care— cutting corners can be a costly mistake. For example, electrical outlets cause nearly 4,000 injuries every year. And each year, more than 19,700 people are hurt by ceiling fans that are improperly mounted or incor-
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rectly sized. The Electrical Safety Foundation International strongly recommends hiring a qualified, licensed electrician to perform electrical work in your home. However, if you decide to do it yourself, consider the following important safety tips: • Make an effort to learn about your home electrical system so that you can safely navigate and maintain it. • Never attempt a project that is beyond your skill level. Knowing when to call a professional may help prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. • Always turn off the power to the circuit that you plan to work on by switching off the circuit breaker in the main service panel. • Be sure to unplug any lamp or appliance before working on it.
Unplug any appliance or lamp before working on it. Photograph provided by U.S. Fire Administration • Test the wires before you touch them to make sure that the power has been turned off. • Never touch plumbing or gas pipes when performing a do-it-yourself
electrical project. For more tips on treating electricity with care in the home and workplace, visit www.esfi.org. Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International
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FARM SSAFETY FARM AFETY IS AL ALWAYS LLW WAYS ASON IN SE SEASON KǀĞƌŚĞĂĚ ƉŽǁĞƌ ůŝŶĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨĂƌŵ Žƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĨĂŝůƵƌĞ ƚŽ ŶŽƟĐĞ ƚŚĞŵ ĐĂŶ ďĞ Ă ĚĞĂĚůLJ ŽǀĞƌƐŝŐŚƚ͘ >ŽŽŬ ƵƉ ĂŶĚ ůŽŽŬ ŽƵƚ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌŚĞĂĚ ƉŽǁĞƌ ůŝŶĞƐ ǁŚĞŶĞǀĞƌ LJŽƵ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞ ĂƵŐĞƌƐ͕ ŵŽǀĞ ŝƌƌŝŐĂƟŽŶ ƉŝƉĞ Žƌ ĂŶLJ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĨĂƌŵ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ͘
Scan to learn more about electrical safety ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂƌŵ͘ nppd.com
September 2013
877-275-6773 (ASK-NPPD)
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17
CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS
Landscape for Looks and Efficiency by James Dulley
We are landscaping our new Q :house. We like a wooded yard for shade and to enhance the energy efficiency of our home. Where should we plant trees, and which are best? What materials are good alternatives to grass for ground cover? : Wise landscaping can do more A than just create an attractive yard. It can also lower your utility bills, summer and winter, and improve your family's comfort yearround. Trees, being one of the key components of any residential landscaping design, can have the greatest affect on your utility bills. For one, the evaporation of moisture from the leaves on trees actually cools the air temperature around your home, akin to how perspiration cools your skin. By taking advantage of passive solar heating during winter, with the proper placement and selection of trees, you can use less electricity to heat your home. The primary goal of efficient landscaping with trees is to shade your home during summer, yet allow the sun to pass through during winter. Additional goals are, depending upon your climate, to allow cool evening breezes to flow around your house or to provide moisture for evaporative cooling of the air near your house. Before you start, check with a local landscaper to determine your temperature zone, which refers to the minimum winter temperature range. For warm climates in Zone 10, the range is 30 degrees to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. For cold climates in Zone 1, the range is -30 degrees to -40 degrees F. If you select species of trees that thrive in a climate more than one or two zones outside your range,
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they may not do well and may require excessive care. In an average temperate climate, a typical efficient tree landscaping plan has deciduous trees to the south, southeast, and southwest. The leaves block the sun during summer, but when the leaves fall during winter, the sun shines through to heat your home. Leave a small gap to the
Low-water-use ground cover plants and boulders are shaded by trees during the summer and help warm the home during winter.Use ground cover plants of various heights for attractive landscaping, but group ones with similar watering requirements. Photograph provided by James Dulley
southwest to allow cooler evening breezes to flow through. Plant dense evergreens along the north, northeast, and northwest sides, which block the cold winter winds. With shorter days and the sun lower in the sky during winter, not much solar heat comes from these directions. In hot, humid climates, shading during summer is most important. Taller trees should be planted closer to your home to block the sun, which is higher in the sky. Leaving a gap for
breezes is not as important. There are alternatives to grass, such as ground cover plants and gravel. Both have their advantages and disadvantages for landscaping a house. The benefits of either depend on your climate, house, and yard. Even in the same neighborhood, what is good for one house may not be efficient for another. Low-growing ground cover near your house can help to keep it cool during summer. The leaves block the sun’s heat from absorbing into the ground, and they give off moisture for natural cooling. Ground cover has a lesser impact on efficiency during winter. The cooling effect from ground cover is most effective in drier climates because there is more evaporation. In hot, humid climates, the additional moisture from plants near the house will further increase the relative humidity level. This is more of a problem if you rely on natural ventilation than when air-conditioning with the windows closed. Landscaping with gravel eliminates the need to water grass, but it can increase the air temperature around your house, particularly in the evening. The thermal mass of the gravel stores the afternoon sun’s heat, which helps in the winter. If you use gravel, make sure it’s shaded by deciduous trees during the summer. A good location for ground cover is between an asphalt or cement driveway or walkway and the sunny side of your house. Not only does the driveway get hot and hold the heat, but it re-radiates the heat up to your house. Planting taller ground cover between the driveway and your house walls can block some of this heat.
Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Invest in Efficiency
Open Open Window Window Blinds in Winter; Winter; Close Close in Summer Summer No No Cost; Cost; Save Save $35/yr Adjust Adjust Thermostat Thermostat 10 Down Down Winterr, 10 Up in SSummer ummer in Winter, NNoo CCost; ost; SSave ave $82/yr
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September 2013
19
DOWN HOME
RECIPES
Baked Zucchini Strips 4 medium sized zucchini 1 cup dry bread crumbs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 cup milk or 1 beaten egg 2 tablespoon shortening Wash zucchini, cut off ends. Slice lengthwise in strips. Combine crumbs and seasoning. Dip zucchini in milk or egg. Dredge in crumb mixture. Place breaded zucchini in baking pan with melted shortening. Bake in hot oven, 450 degrees for 15 minutes or until browned. Baste occasionally.
Anita Eller, Columbus, Nebraska
Zesty Mozzarella Chicken Breasts
Spicy Cajun “Boudin” Meatballs 1 pound Ground Beef 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped celery 1/4 cup chopped green or red bell pepper 1 clove garlic, minced 1-1/2 cups cooked white rice 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning Hot pepper sauce Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Cook 4 to 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender and begin to brown, stirring occasionally. Transfer vegetables to large bowl; let cool 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine Ground Beef, vegetables, rice, egg and Cajun seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 24 (1-1/2 inch) meatballs. Place meatballs on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400°F oven 16 to 19 minutes or until 160°F. Serve with hot sauce, as desired.
6-8 skinned boneless chicken breast halves 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese 1/4 teaspoon oregano flakes Dash pepper
Dash garlic powder Dash salt 1/4 cup margarine 1 cup cracker or bread crumbs Mozzarella cheese Box of pasta (Ziti) Jar of sauce (Marinara)
In bowl, beat egg and milk together. Set aside. Mix the Parmesan cheese, oregano flakes, pepper, garlic powder, salt and crumbs together in another bowl. Melt the margarine in an electric skillet (350). Dip the chicken breast in the egg mixture and then in the crumb mixture. Fry them in the skillet until golden brown on both sides. Put in 325 degree oven and bake 45 minutes or until done. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on the top and return to oven until cheese is slightly melted. Serve on top of your favorite pasta and cover with sauce.
Mary Kreikemeier, Scribner, Nebraska
Crazy Crackers 1 cup oil 2 tablespoons dry Ranch dressing mix
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Mix together and let stand for 15 minutes. 3 sleeves or stacks of crackers using a large bowl or large storage bag, toss 1 1/2 stack at a time in oil mixture. Put on cookie sheet to dry. Store in plastic container. Best to keep fresh in refrigerator.
Deanie Wagner, Culbertson, Nebraska
Recipe provided by the Nebraska Beef Council 20
Rural Electric Nebraskan
Look for Adult Pen Pals next month ue to a low number of submissions sent in by readers for use in the September issue of the Rural Electric Nebraskan, no Adult Pen Pals submissions will be printed this month. Submissions sent for use in the September issue will appear in the October 2013 issue of the magazine instead. It is the policy of the Rural Electric Nebraskan to run Adult Pen Pal submissions only when at least six letters have been received by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association office in a given month. The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. Adult Pen Pal submissions can be sent to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.
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To appear in print The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. To be considered for use, submissions must: (1) Identify rural electric system providing magazine; (2) Include $6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3) Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include full name and mailing address (will not be used in magazine); and (5) Be first person, submitted directly by person to receive responses. Acceptance, editing and issue scheduling is at editor’s discretion. Address all submissions to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. All responses received by the Adult Pen Pal Service are routed directly, postage paid, to the response number assigned to each submission.
Are you looking for some new treasures? Check out the classifieds in the
Rural Electric Nebraskan
To write To respond to one of the adult pen pal requests, write letter, place in envelope, seal and affix first class postage. Address to full, correct response #, c/o Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Your letter will be forwarded unopened. Do not send money or additional postage; forwarding is prepaid. Enclose your full mailing address for return correspondence. Once again . . . it is very important that all responses carry the full response number—both month and number—to be properly forwarded. Abbreviation Code C — Christian; C/W — Country-western; D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker; R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single; W — White; Wid — Widowed
September 2013
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Rural Electric Nebraskan
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