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Second Nature™ News: Fall 2007

In the Fall 2007 issue:

It's wise to weatherize

Are you doing all you can at home to minimize your energy use?

Don't overlook the impact of good weatherization! With an investment of about $50 (or less) and a little time, you can make your house more energy-efficient and more comfortable. You may even extend the life of your home and increase its property value. You'll save money in the short-term, too; according to Department of Energy statistics, the average family who weatherized saved $358 in 2006.

Think about it - you wouldn't leave a window open all day and night when the temperatures are dropping. Well, when you don't close up small openings and cracks around windows and doors, that's what you're doing - cool air comes in, forcing out warm air. As a matter of fact, the average house contains cracks and gaps that make up a hole over one foot square! Multiply that by an entire neighborhood, and you won't be surprised to learn that every year, American homes lose $13 billion worth of energy via this type of waste.* By using energy wisely and eliminating the need to generate more energy you can help your bottom line and protect the environment.

* Source: American Council for a Energy Efficient Economy

Here are some basic projects you'll want to complete:

Fill in holes, gaps, and cracks. You'll need caulking and weather stripping for this job. There are several types of products, so check the labels for suitability.

In general, caulk is used to permanently seal air leaks (up to 1/4 inch) between stationary surfaces, like door frames and the side of the house, while weather stripping is used to eliminate gaps between moving surfaces, like a door and the door frame and windows and sills. Caulk is available in silicone and latex. Silicone is more durable, will adhere to different materials at the same time (like wood and metal), and doesn't shrink too much. Latex is a bit less expensive, but it's not as flexible and won't adhere to metal. It can be painted, though. Rope caulk is another option, good for sealing around windows and doors you're not using but don't want permanently sealed.

A foam sealant is also available for spraying in large cracks and gaps - around pipes going into the basement, for example. (It expands, so don't overdo, and don't use it around electrical wires.)

Seal openings indoors and out, around windows, doors, water and fuel pipes, spigots, outlets for cables and electrical wires, air conditioning hoses, and dryer vents. Also check for cracks in drywall or plaster and for air leaks around exhaust fans and light fixtures.

And don't forget to install a sweep and/or use a door snake at the bottom of doors where you can feel the air flow.

Step up your insulation. Make sure your exterior walls have adequate insulation, but don't stop there. Adding insulation in the floors and ceilings (especially the attic floor and the basement ceiling) will keep your living areas more comfortable and save energy. In fact, upgrading your attic insulation from 3 inches to 12 inches may cut your heating bills by 20 percent (and your air conditioning bills by 10 percent). Don't forget to insulate the water heater, around any hot water pipes, and heating ducts in unheated areas. You can find insulation cut especially for these purposes at a hardware store.

Dress your windows for winter. Replace any broken glass, as well as dried or missing putty. Invest in storm windows where needed, and/or install plastic film on the inside of windows. (These easy-to-use kits come with plastic film and removable adhesive). Consider your window coverings, too: lined drapes or an insulated shade will provide more protection from the cold than sheers. Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed on winter nights and during cloudy days, and open them to warm the house when the sun is out.

Schedule a check up for your heating source. Have your furnace tuned up; stock up on filters to replace monthly throughout the heating season. (Put the replacement dates on your calendar now.) Make sure that heating ducts are all working properly. Have your chimney cleaned if you're burning wood. And remember to close the fireplace damper whenever a fireplace isn't in use.

Tend to odds and ends. Check to make sure that your home's heating and cooling vents aren't blocked by furniture. Make sure the thermostat isn't in a drafty location and/or purchase a plastic cover for it. (Consider putting it on a timer, or purchasing a programmable thermostat, so it doesn't keep your home unnecessarily warm while you're away at work or sleeping.)

While you're weatherizing, be sure to check out Alliant Energy's Web site. Rebates and incentives are available in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for energy-saving furnaces and central air conditioners, thermostats, lighting, appliances, new home construction supplies, replacement doors and windows. Start here: alliantenergy.com/energyefficiency .

Of Local Interest

Mount Vernon E-Community

The Mount Vernon Development Corporation of Mount Vernon, Iowa, has been awarded $85,000 in incentive awards for completing a number of goals set as part of the Interstate Power and Light Company, an Alliant Energy company, E-Community program.

The E-Community program promotes the wise use of energy on a community-wide basis. Community members are encouraged to make energy-efficient improvements to protect the environment, save money, and create jobs.

Between July 2006 and July 2007, Mount Vernon residents and business owners achieved the following milestones: 247 rebates for the installation of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, replacement windows, and insulation; 251 residents attended special energy efficiency events; 287 households received and used kits geared to improve the energy efficiency of their homes; 37 residents completed a home energy audit; 37 inefficient appliances were recycled; and 116 residents signed up for the Second Nature program!

New energy-efficient grain dryer in Clear Lake, Iowa

A new energy-efficient grain dryer has been installed at North Iowa Cooperative, which last year dried eight million bushels of corn. With elevators in Clear Lake, Portland, Plymouth, and Thornton, the cooperative serves about 400 customers in north central Iowa. The new, energy-efficient grain dryer will save the cooperative more than $23,000 each year and provide energy savings of 22,259 therms of natural gas and more than 21,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

“That's an annual environmental equivalent of removing 38,089 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from the air, taking four cars off the road, or planting five acres of trees,” explains Jim Collins, Alliant Energy strategic account manager. Alliant Energy provided the coop with technical and financial assistance and helped the coop to secure a $44,908 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will go toward the elevator's efficiency improvements.

Good news from around the country and the world

It's easy to find bad news in the world of energy and the environment. Instead, here we offer positive highlights!

  • According to Worldwatch Institute, global wind power capacity rose by almost 26 percent in 2006, enough to avoid the climate-warming emissions of over 179 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. Germany, Spain, and the United States generate almost 60 percent of the world's wind power, although India was the third largest wind turbine installer in 2006, and China was the fifth largest.
  • Organizers expect record attendance at the 2007 Solar Power Conference and Expo in Long Beach, Calif., with numbers to exceed 10,000 - up 600 percent since its inception in 2004. The conference is presented by The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “As more states implement progressive solar policy and long-term consumer demand becomes increasingly firm, the U.S. solar industry is seeing record levels of investment, expansion, and growth,” says Rhone Resch, president of SEIA. “Solar energy is positioned to be the next high-tech growth industry in the United States.”
  • The Osprey turbine could solve the commercial viability of tidal power, says a small team of engineers who have made a breakthrough with its development in Cornwall, England. It's a vertical axis-free-flow device that's environmentally friendly. Suspended on pontoons or mounted on the sea bed, the turbine is bi-directional, turning with the flood or ebbing tide, and it produces power independently or as part of a larger system. Environmentally friendly, the Osprey doesn't interfere with marine or river life.
  • The world's largest wind power project is being planned in the Texas Panhandle. The project would double the current wind generation in Texas, which last year surpassed California as the state that generates the most power from wind. It will also explore the use of combining wind with compressed air storage, in which excess power could be used to pump air underground for later use

In the Spotlight

Residential Customers:

Jennifer and John Czarnota, Bear Creek, WI

“We've always been interested in renewable energy,” says Lutheran minister Jennifer Czarnota, “so when we heard about the Second Nature program in July of 2006, we signed up right away.” Jennifer and her husband John, who is an insurance and investment salesman for the Lutheran Church, live on a 20-acre horse farm. John and Jennifer participate in Second Nature at the 100 percent level.

Both Jennifer and John drive hybrid vehicles (hers is a Prius, his an Insight) and are active in promoting the importance of using renewable energy and global warming awareness.

Their house is equipped with geothermal heating and cooling, which is working well. “It costs significantly less than propane, and we're not hurting the environment,” Jennifer says.

John & Jennifer Czarnota

The Czarnota's enjoy outdoor activities, like kayaking, canoeing, and backpacking, and Jennifer believes that this has contributed to their concern for the environment.

Business Customer:

The Stanton W. Mead Education and Visitor Center

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Mead Center serves as a headquarters and office for a small field staff that manages a 30,000-acre wildlife area in central Wisconsin. Thanks to state funding and a highly successful private fundraising effort, the facility has been expanded into an environmental education center.

The facility boasts state-of-the-art sustainable design and construction methods, including five different types of renewable energy systems: a 10kW wind energy system; eight ground-source closed-loop geothermal heating and cooling units; a three-panel solar domestic hot water collector system; a high-efficiency, wood-fired counterflow biomass central masonry heater; and a 2.3 kW tracking solar photovoltaic electricity array. The environmentally responsible construction includes a high-performance exterior envelope, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, low-toxin recycled and recyclable materials, and water-efficient plumbing fixtures.

The electricity generated onsite by the wind and photovoltaic systems provides approximately 25 percent of the building's needs, at times as much as 40 percent. The remainder of the center's energy is purchased through Second Nature, at the 100 percent renewable rate. The Mead joined the Second Nature program in June 2007, shortly after receiving green power certification through the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Building Rating System. (LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” and provides third-party verification of all of the sustainable design features of the facility.)

The Mead project has recently been recognized with four awards: Wisconsin Governor's Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design & Construction (2006); Wisconsin Sustainability and Energy Efficiency (SE2) Award of Excellence (2006); Award of Honor, by the National Association of Conservation Engineers (2006); and the Wisconsin Governor's Service Award to the Friends of Mead-McMillan Association (2005).

“This was a dream project to work on and I couldn't have asked for a better client and group of folks to work with,” says Tom Brown, the architect who designed the facility and documented the sustainable design features for LEED certification. “The community support was incredible, drawing from the nearby central Wisconsin communities of Wausau, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point and others. I believe the boldness of the Friends' vision to make this facility a true learning tool for school children and the general public had a lot to do with its success.”

The Friends of Mead-McMillan Association is currently undertaking another private fundraising effort to endow a permanent Educator position.

More than 4,000 visitors enjoyed the facility and its programs in 2006 - including students, daycare groups, garden clubs, and elderly groups - and the total is expected to easily exceed that number this year.

For more about the Mead project, visit: meadwildlife.org or tombrownarchitect.com .

Solar Energy a bright idea for Wisconsin couple

For some energy customers, Second Nature is their first experience with renewable energy. For Roger and Gayl Stewart of Dodgeville, Wis., it is simply their latest.

The Stewarts discovered energy efficiency and renewable energy in 1995 while researching information to build a new home. In 2005, the couple built a Wisconsin ENERGY STAR& Home designed from the ground up for efficiency and comfort. The home included renewable energy in the form of a solar hot water system, and in 2007, they installed a roof-mounted solar electric (also known as photovoltaic, or PV) system to offset their electricity needs.

The savings were attractive. As Alliant Energy customers, the Stewarts qualified for cash-back rewards from Focus on Energy totaling nearly 25 percent of the solar electricity system's installed costs, plus an additional $3,000 toward the costs of their solar water heating project. Now, the couple produces a portion of the energy required to meet their electric and hot water needs using power from the sun. In addition, the Stewarts can sell electricity back to Alliant Energy when their system produces more electricity than they need. According to the Stewarts, this has reduced their monthly electric bills significantly, from $60 - $100 to just $15 - 55 so far this year.

In addition, the couple is eligible for a 30 percent federal solar tax credit (up to $2,000 and available now through Dec. 31, 2008). And on top of it all, the Stewarts recently became Second Nature customers, opting for the “Earth Steward” level and purchasing 100 percent green power for their home.

Are you considering a renewable energy system for your Wisconsin home or business? Focus on Energy offers the technical and financial assistance to make it happen.

To learn more, visit focusonenergy.com or call 1-800-762-7077.

Kids' Page Experiment:

How clean is the air you breathe?

People, plants and animals need clean air to stay healthy. “Polluted” air is air that's been made dirty. Cars, trucks, and factories are some of the things that pollute the air outdoors, and heat sources, fresh paint, and cigarette smoke are some of the things that can make the air dirty indoors.

Do this experiment to take a look at some air pollutants.

Supplies:

  • 5 half-sheets of white construction paper or white index cards
  • petroleum jelly
  • tape
  • magnifying glass (optional)

    • Directions:

  • Smear the petroleum jelly on one side of four of the white papers.
  • Tape two of the papers to the inside of a window, jelly side away from the glass. (Keep the window closed for the experiment.)
  • Tape two of the papers to the outside of a window, jelly side away from the glass.
  • Leave the papers in place for one day. Then take down one of the indoor and one of the outdoor papers.
  • Examine them by comparing them to the plain sheet (without jelly) and to each other. Use a magnifying glass, if you like.
  • Leave the remaining two papers in place for a week.
  • Then take down the last two papers and compare them with each other and with your first papers.

    • How do the papers compare with each other? Is there a difference between the first and last papers? Are the outdoor or indoor papers dirtier?

    What happened: Pollutants in the air stuck to the petroleum jelly!

    More fun: Do this experiment in other areas of your home and/or yard. Try it in different weather, too. Try to determine what kinds of things might effect air pollution.

    What kinds of things do you think might cause air pollution in and around your home? What can you and your family do to help reduce air pollution?

The Survey Says…

Thanks to all the Second Nature participants who spent a few minutes responding to our newsletter survey. With plenty of competition for your time and attention, we know how important it is to provide valuable and relevant information about environmental and energy-related issues.

Here's a summary of the results:

How thoroughly do you usually read the Second Nature newsletter?

Read selected articles - 20%

Read most articles - 43%

Read every article - 29%

Please rate the overall length or content of the newsletter:

Adequate amount - 83%

Not enough - 9%

We also asked readers to rate the value of the articles in the Second Nature newsletter. It's not surprising that the survey showed the overwhelming popularity of articles about renewable energy and energy efficiency. More than 95 percent of readers found these articles very or somewhat valuable.

Articles about local renewable energy and environmental events are well-liked by readers - 85 percent find them very or somewhat valuable.

When it comes to adopting energy-efficient products and practices, Second Nature participants are ahead of the pack! Lowering thermostats, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, purchasing ENERGY STAR& appliances, and having furnaces and air conditioners serviced regularly are just some of the energy-saving steps our readers have taken to save money and responsibly use our natural resources.

Perhaps more importantly, Second Nature participants are changing their behavior and establishing new habits. Many are driving their cars less, riding their bikes and taking public transportation more often. Lowering their thermostats, turning off lights and unplugging computers and other electronics (to avoid power use in standby mode) are now a part of some readers' everyday life.

Second Nature participants have certainly heard the weatherizing message loud and clear, and this issue's tips on weatherization are great ideas. The survey showed that a few readers are considering the installation of renewable energy systems in their new or existing homes, while many others have replaced windows and doors, added insulation, replaced showerheads and faucets with low-flow models, and regularly open and close draperies to capture the sunshine and keep household temperatures comfortable.

E-mail or Snail Mail?

Currently, about 700 of our readers receive the Second Nature newsletter electronically. In the recent survey, a number of readers commented that they would like to receive the Second Nature newsletter electronically. If you do, you need to send an e-mail with your request to secondnature@alliantenergy.com . Be sure to include “Second Nature E-Newsletter” in the subject line and remember to add your Alliant Energy account name and service address. Because some of our readers do not have computers or wish to share the printed version of the newsletter with others, we will continue to produce the Second Nature newsletter in both a print and electronic version.

Because some of our readers do not have computers or wish to share the printed version of the newsletter with others, we will continue to produce the Second Nature newsletter in both a print and electronic version.