Second Nature™ News: April 2010
In this issue:
Earth Day turns the big 4-0
Forty easy tips to help you live life a little greener
Earth Day was "born" on April 22, 1970 – the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Nelson was concerned that the state of our environment was a non-issue in the politics of the country. He envisioned a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate.
On that first Earth Day, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment.
In 1990, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and bringing environmental issues to the world stage. It helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
By Earth Day 2000, linked via the Internet, 5,000 environmental groups around the world joined the celebration. They reached out to hundreds of millions of
people in a record 184 countries with an emphasis on global warming and a push for clean energy.
April 22, 2010 marks Earth Day’s 40th anniversary. As Second Nature participants, we congratulate you on your decision to celebrate Earth Day everyday with your support of renewable energy.
Looking for more ways to conserve and preserve our environment? In celebration of Earth Day, here are 40 suggestions to get you started!
- Perform a home energy audit to find out where your energy dollars go. Get details online at alliantenergy.com/mhcc.
- Bypass the disposable earphones on your next airplane flight and take your own instead.
- Add more insulation to your attic or walls and seal any air leaks.
- Apply weather stripping around doors to stop air infiltration.
- Use rechargeable batteries and dispose of them properly.
- Send an e-card. Save money, paper, stamps.
- Get a refillable water bottle. Thirty million single-serve nonreturnable containers end up in landfills or as litter every day.
- Replace the bulbs in your five most-used light fixtures with Energy Star® qualified compact fluorescent bulbs and save up to $60 a year on your electric bill.
- Buy food from local sources whenever possible. Local food systems can reduce “food miles” and transportation costs, offering significant energy savings.
- Plant a tree. One wellplaced shade tree can reduce your cooling costs by 25%.
- Get your kids involved: Children are more likely to comply with your requests to “Turn off that video game when you’re finished” if they are involved in choosing energy-efficient behavior. Start online at alliantenergykids.com or energy.gov/tink for ideas.
- Check your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency by up to 5 percent, and your tire tread life by 25%.
- Install a skylight. There are ENERGY STAR qualified models for most applications.
- Light up your landscape with solar outdoor lighting.
- Let the sunshine in. Before hitting the light switch, open blinds and curtains to let sunlight in. You may find you don’t need additional lighting.
- Ditch your garage fridge, it could be costing you up to $20 per month just to cool a few drinks.
- Turn it off. When you leave a room or finish a task, turn off the lights.
- Receive and pay your bills electronically. Nearly all bills, including your utility bill from Alliant Energy can be paid online. Check out our electronic billing option at alliantenergy.com/ebill.
- Take a shower instead of a bath. A 10-minute shower uses about 5 gallons less water than the average bath. While you’re at it install a low-flow showerhead.
- Put your computer to sleep. The sleep feature can save you up to $70 a year in electrical costs.
- Turn off your video game system when not in use. An idling game system adds up to $100 per year to your power bill.
- Use your microwave. In most cases, it’s a faster, more efficient and more economical way to get dinner on the table.
- Go native. Plant flowers and shrubs that are well suited to your climate. You’ll use less fertilizer and pesticides.
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Close up the fireplace. An open fireplace flue provides a direct pathway for heated or cooled air to escape into thin air!
- Use your ceiling fan. A properly used ceiling fan will allow you to raise/lower your thermostat setting about four degrees with no reduction in home comfort.
- Recycle, even when it’s inconvenient. If there are no recyclables containers where you play, shop or work, take your recyclables home to your own bin.
- Entertain green: Don’t use disposables, decorate with bowls of fruits and flowers, choose a reusable bag as wrapping paper and plan a menu of locally grown foods.
- Say no to ATM receipts – Every year enough ATM receipts are produced to circle the earth 15 times.
- Bring your own bag ... reusable bags are inexpensive, or can even be easily made from an old t-shirt.
- Stop junk mail. Visit donotmail.org online to find a handy form.
- Lighten up your vehicle. That extra junk in the trunk is cutting down on your gas mileage.
- Think before you print.
- Borrow instead of buying: Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while reducing the number of things cluttering
your closet or garage.
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Install a programmable thermostat to save energy and money. It automatically adjusts the temperature according to your specifications.
- Try Meatless Mondays. Going meatless once a week can help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and
fossil fuel. Eat by candlelight and cut your energy use as well.
- Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
- Don’t buy new when used will do. Before buying anything new, first check your local Craigslist.org or Freecycle.org Web sites for free or resale
items.
- One day a week, walk to work, take public transit, carpool or ride your bike.
- Get a rain barrel and capture rainwater from your house or garage roof to water your lawn and garden.Conduct an online search for instructions on how to make your own.
- Encourage a friend to light their home with energy from renewable sources by enrolling in Second Nature.
Reducing your dog's carbon paw print
All of us are concerned about lowering our carbon footprint. Have you ever thought about your dog’s carbon paw print? Here are five ways you and your four-legged friend can live a greener lifestyle.
Toys
Make toys out of things you already have around your home. Use a pair of socks you don’t wear or an old towel for a rope or tug toy. Use a cardboard box, cut out holes and hide a treat for your pup to find.
Biodegradable waste bags
When taking Lucy for a walk leave the plastic bag from the grocery behind and get a biodegradable bag to clean up after her. That way the park stays clean and the bag isn't harmful to the environment.
Bamboo collars and leashes
Bamboo is a great for Champ’s collar and leash. While playing and running,
this collar is breathable, odor-resistant and hypoallergenic. It's also biodegradable and available in all different colors and styles. Perfect for that diva dog that wants to wear pink.
Recyclable beds
Dogs spend a lot of time sleeping and their bed should be comfortable and environmentally friendly. Buy a dog bed that the cushion is made of recyclable materials and the cover is washable so you don’t have to buy a new one every time Coco has an accident.
Natural fertilizer for your lawn
Nothing is more fun for dogs than digging and running around in the backyard. That can be dangerous if the lawn they are playing on is chemically treated. If you treat your lawn, try an organic fertilizer or material from your compost pile.
It doesn’t take a lot to have your pup be environmentally friendly too. Remember: a greener dog – is a happier dog!
Customer Profile: Adams Super 8
Adams Super 8 delivers more than a room and a TV
For John Bower, owner and president of Adams Development Corporation in Adams, Wisconsin, participating in Second Nature was simply the right thing to do. He sees it as a convenient and logical means to facilitate renewable energy programs.
Adams Development operates the Super 8 Motel in Adams. "Second Nature fits what we want to do as a company, my beliefs as an individual and the expectations of our guests," John observes.
Many of the guests at the Adams Super 8 are fishermen and women, bicyclists and winter sports enthusiasts. "They expect more than a room and a TV," John remarks. "They expect us to conduct business in a way that preserves what they have come to our area to enjoy."
Participation in Second Nature is just one facet of Adams Development's environmental profile. Their Super 8 Motel is situated in the midst of the habitat for the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly. John is working with the Wisconsin DNR and US Fish and Wildlife Service to create a habitat for the Karner Blue on their 34-acre site.
The Motel's day-to-day operations reflect their environmental commitment in a number of ways:
- Placing recycling containers in lobby and guest rooms
- Reducing paper consumption
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- Guest receipts via e-mail
- Online vendor bill payment and banking
- Paperless payroll
- Clustering guest rooms near the lobby during off-season to maximize energy use
- Closing drapes at night and opening during the day
In addition to the everyday environmental awareness, John is pursuing some "big picture" projects. He is working with Alliant Energy's Shared Savings program to replace the motel's 15-year-old room air conditioning units with smarter, more energy-efficient models. The new units can be controlled wirelessly from the motel desk.
He is also exploring the installation of solar panels to offset 10 percent of the motel's electrical usage.
John recommends the Second Nature program to others as an easy, economical way to support renewable energy.
To find out more, visit them online at super8adams.com.
Save Money, Protect the Environment: Be a Power Thinker
Check out Alliant Energy's new Web site, powerthinkers.com, a one-stop-shop for information on energy-efficiency at home, at work, even on the road.
You'll find an entire section devoted to calculators that demonstrate how small changes add up to big savings. There are calculators for replacing appliances, efficient remodeling, even a carbon footprint calculator.
Discover easy-to-follow energy- and money-saving tips in every room of the Power Thinkers Interactive House. The pop-ups also contain links to related cash-back reward opportunities from Alliant Energy.
Explore powerthinkers.com to learn about trends in eco-friendly transportation, homes and gardening or find the nearest recycling center. There’s a special section for kids, the latest on renewable energy, even a way to connect with Alliant Energy's energy-efficiency experts.
Find inspiration for your own "green" projects and be a Power Thinker. Get started today at powerthinkers.com.
Green Information Services
WEB SITES:
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earthday.net. Earth Day information, merchandise, action plans and more.
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eere.energy.gov/tink. Games, tips and facts just for kids who want to save energy.
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ewg.org. Environmental Working Group – using the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.
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ourearth.org. A launch pad to outstanding environmental programs, activities, initiatives, ideas, and grassroots efforts across the country.
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powerthinkers.com. Your source for information on living smart and living green.
BOOKS
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Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a Cross-Country Search for a Greener Future by Greg Melville. A larky tale of a coast-to-coast road trip in a car running on french-fry oil
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Nature’s Second Chance: Restoring the Ecology of Stone Prairie Farm by Steven I. Apfelbaum. A chronicle of the complex challenges faced while restoring an 80-acre swath of woefully depleted southern Wisconsin farmland and turning it back into a thriving prairie.
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The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers. Small adjustments in the way we consume and dispose of resources add up to significant and positive environmental effects.
EVENTS
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Corridor Earth Day celebration
Saturday April 24, Teamsters Hall – J Street SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) Fair
June 18-20, Custer, Wis. Visit the-mrea.org for details.
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Your local Farmers’ Market
Locate and patronize Farmers’ Markets in your area to reduce food miles and support local agriculture and family farms.
Product Content Label
View the Product Content Label for the Alliant Energy Second Nature Program.
