A Shoe-In

While you are out shopping for your new energy tracking gizmos, keep an eye out for these!

These Air Jordan XX3 sneakers may not look green, but they are. Designed to be assembled like a jigsaw puzzle, the XX3s reduce the need for toxic adhesives. Recycled polyester from bottles and scrap material from the factory floor have also been incorporated into the design.

The first Jordan XX3 released was the White/Titanium-University Blue colorway, but the White/Varsity Red-Metallic Silver shown here will be released tomorrow. (The price tag is $185!)

New Bill Layout

The New Bill Enhancements I mentioned are in effect now. Here's a sneak peek at our residential bill's new look. (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Energy Savings Goes Techno

Seems like everyone has an iPod these days, but you could be the first one in your circle to get one of these new gadgets. Not only will you be cool, you will no doubt take your energy saving efforts to new heights!

The Kill a Watt

The Kill a Watt plugs into a wall and accepts plug-ins from appliances, showing exactly how much energy is being consumed. A large LCD display counts consumption by the Kilowatt-hour. You can figure out your electrical expenses by the hour, day, week, month, even an entire year.

The Wattson

If the Kill a Watt isn't exciting enough, then try the Wattson. It is a small console designed by a British company that wirelessly connects to your home's energy meter. If the console glows blue, less electricity than normal is being used. If it glows red, it's just the opposite. (The light in this photo looks purple to me--not sure what that means! For an in depth look at the Wattson, check out this review.)

The Orb

Still in testing, the Orb is a small frosted-glass ball that changes color based on how much demand is on the electricity grid. (Note: MLGW's rates are not tied to demand like they are in other states like California.) You can put it anywhere in the house, like a piece of modern art. When demand is high, consumption costs more, and the Orb turns red. When it's low, the cost falls, and the Orb turns green. Homeowners can then adjust their consumption accordingly, choosing the best times to use electrical devices.

There's More than Food at the Farmer's Market

International Paper is supplying ecotainer cups and Cup Buddies® to the Memphis Farmers Market for the 2008 season.

For the first time, the Memphis Farmers Market will sell coffee and it will be served in the 12-ounce ecotainer cups. IP’s Cup Buddies, which are made of 100 percent recycled material, will also be donated to protect consumers' hands from hot cups. Because the ecotainer cup is lined with a bio-plastic made from corn, it requires less energy to manufacture and after use under the proper conditions, it will break down into water, carbon dioxide and organic matter. The discarded ecotainer cups will be collected and locally composted to renew soil.

“Consumers will notice no difference as they enjoy coffee with this cup but the environment will,” said Austin Lance, vice president and general manager of IP’s Foodservice Business. "Our ecotainer hot cup is designed to maximize use of renewable materials, reduce energy and greenhouse gas emissions required to make the product and to reflect our concern for minimizing the environmental footprint we leave behind.”

At the MFM on May 31st, you’ll still find early-spring produce such as spring onions and lots of strawberries. But more mid-season goodies are rolling in now, many of which can fill a salad bowl with pleasure: radishes, fresh young lettuce, sorrel, mâche, minutina, mizuna, colorful chard, arugula, mesclun, spinach, carrots, and fresh sprouts. Find out more...

Memphis Water in the News

From today's Commercial Appeal.

Taste and talent: Beverage maker taps Memphis water, Hardy Bottling savvy
By Cassandra Kimberly

Taste is the difference at Cintron Beverage Group. It even says so on its line of energy drinks, teas and fruit juice drinks.

So when the company decided to move 95 percent of its production to Memphis, co-founder Rev. Joe Roberts knew he made the right choice.

"We pride our whole concept of marketing on 'taste is the difference'," he said. "So if we're going to coin that phrase and believe that we add a better-tasting product to the market, then Memphis water helps us even take it to another level."

Memphis-based Hardy Bottling Co. began bottling, packaging and distributing Cintron's beverage line Wednesday. MNG Wholesale, also based in Memphis, will launch Cintron products this week.

Cintron is distributed in 38 states in the United States, and in Canada, South America and the Caribbean.

Cintron, a new-age line of Kosher energy drinks, teas and fruit juices, was co-founded in 2006 by Roberts, pastor of Holy Spirit Cathedral in Camden, N.J., and partner Wes Wyatt.

The company has grown quickly, Roberts said. Packaging and distributing from seven different locations nationwide and in Canada didn't make a lot of financial sense. Cintron also needed help on the production end -- help Hardy Bottling could offer.

"We can sell," Roberts said, "but to bring it all together, we need help."

So the company decided to consolidate to two of its distribution centers in California and in Memphis, saving the beverage company "18 to 21 percent across the board" annually.

Hardy's contract with Cintron comes just in time for high season for beverages, which starts in April and ends in August.

Cintron expects to distribute 2.8 million cases of product in 2008, Roberts said.

Hardy Bottling Co., which bought the old Molson Coors Brewing Co. plant in 2006 for $9 million, can manufacture and package drinks in cans, glass bottles, aluminum bottles and plastic bottles.

The company also offers warehousing and distribution services for its customers, such as Crunk Energy Drink, Rockstar Energy Drink, and The Liquid Experience.

The multimillion-dollar Cintron deal is big lift for bottling company owner Carolyn Hardy, whose building on East Raines suffered $50 million worth of damage from the Feb. 5 tornado that ripped through the Mid-South.

The storm also forced Hardy to reduce employees from 120 to 85 and to lose contracts with Arizona Iced Tea and a major contract with Coors to package Coors Light.

After two months of waiting for its 1.3 million-square-foot facility to be repaired, Hardy Bottling Co. reopened April 7 with 85 employees.

"(This deal) starts replacing all of the pain and everything that I lost," said Hardy.

Energy Crunch in Juneau

What would Memphians do?


Students in Debbie Leamer's Valley Baptist Academy Preschool class look at Mount Juneau out the window of the darkened public library, Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in Juneau, Alaska. The library shut down one of it's elevators and kept lights and computers off to help cut back on electricity after an avalanche cut the city from it's main source of hydroelectric power. Associated Press © 2008

Juneau Power Crisis Brings Stark Savings Measures

One month after an avalanche knocked out its connection to a hydroelectric dam, much of Juneau, Alaska, is still relying on diesel back-up generators. Residential electricity rates have gone up about 400 percent.

As a result, residents and the city have embarked on an extraordinary conservation campaign. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are common; restaurants routinely dim the lights.

Click here to listen to NPR's Morning Edition Host Renee Montagne interview Kate Golden, a reporter at The Juneau Empire about what life is like in Juneau these days.

Report Card

On April 28th, the fifteenth annual Memphis Poll was released. It is a very detailed 135 page document! (Chapter 17 is devoted to MLGW and starts on page 102.)

The good news:
MLGW provides two of the City's elite services: quality drinking water and courteous field workers.

The not-so-good news:
Citizens have an exceptionally low satisfaction level with the cost of utilities in Memphis, despite our rates being among the lowest in the nation.

The report specifically points out that these results were influenced by socio-economic factors.

However, there is another issue.

Tennessee has the highest average electricity use per household of any state.

And that's not all...

MLGW's residential customers' average usage is 4,000 kWh higher than the average US customer.

MLGW customers are using substantially more electricity than the rest of the nation, which in turn causes their bills to be high regardless of our low rates.

That is why we think it is so important to stress conservation, provide energy tips, and create programs to help our customers reduce their usage. But ultimately, it is up to the customer.

If you'd like the "Cliff Notes" on the entire report, visit the Smart City Memphis blog.

Raleigh-Frayser Block Party for Peace

MLGW will be participating in the second annual Raleigh-Frayser Block Party for Peace. Come see us!



Click here for more information..

Green Restaurants Everywhere

The National Restaurant Association just launched a new website called Conserve. It provides restaurants with tips for going green. It also has some great information about what some restaurants are already doing.

Check out this video for a taste of what the website is all about:

Restaurants Go Green to Earn Green

I've profiled a green restaurant before here, but now it looks like there's going to be a nationwide effort to reduce restaurant waste, thanks in part to Ted Turner.

From USA Today:

The National Restaurant Association is unveiling a green restaurant initiative. The purpose is to convince restaurant owners that going green isn't just better for the environment - it's also better for business.

If the restaurant industry can dial down the enormous environmental damage it does daily even slightly, it would be huge. Restaurants are the retail world's largest energy user. They use almost five times more energy per square foot than any other type of commercial building, says Pacific Gas & Electric's Food Service Technology Center (FSTC).

Nearly 80% of the $10 billion dollars that the commercial food service sector spends annually for its energy use is lost in inefficient food cooking, holding and storage, says PG&E's tech division.

The average restaurant annually consumes roughly 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 20,000 therms of natural gas and 800,000 gallons of water. Using the latest EPA carbon equivalents, that amounts to 490 tons of carbon dioxide produced per year per restaurant, PG&E estimates.

Then there's all that trash. Restaurants produce far more garbage on a daily basis than most other retail businesses. A typical restaurant generates 100,000 pounds of garbage per location per year, the Green Restaurant Association estimates.

Making It Greener
Tips for Greening Your Restaurant

Entryway
* Make sure doors close correctly, to reduce heating/cooling operation.
* Replace traditional exit signs with LED1 exit lighting.

Dining room
* Open window blinds in winter to help warm and light interior.
* Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL1 or LED1 lights.

Kitchen
* Clean appliances regularly for more efficient operation.
* Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL1 or LED1 lights.
* Turn off unused cooking hoods.
* Install motion detectors in storerooms and offices. Set lights on timers.

Refrigerator/freezer
* Install energy curtains in freezer rooms.

Dishwashing
* Serve customers water upon request. Run dishwashers, washing machines only when full.

Restrooms
* Install low-flow toilets and waterless urinals. Repair leaky faucets, toilets.
* Install motion detectors for lighting.

Building materials
* Use low-VOC1 or no-VOC1 paints, recycled flooring and managed forest wood. Install a reflective roof, skylights and energy-efficient windows.

Waste area
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass and aluminum.

1 - LED: Light-emitting diode; VOC: Volatile organic compounds; CFL: Compact fluorescent lamp; Source: National Restaurant Association

Energy Kit Promotion Extended

I'd like to send a big THANK YOU to the 3,000+ MLGW customers who enrolled in MLGW's My Account services through TVA's free energy kit promotion!

For those of you who haven't had a chance to sign up yet, there is good news. TVA has extended its free energy kit promotion through December 30, 2009. So sign up for MLGW's My Account services today! Not only will you receive a free energy kit, you will learn all sorts of interesting facts about your utility usage! Be sure to complete both the "Home Profile" and "My Appliances" questions under the Home Energy Center tab.

The free energy kit includes two compact fluorescent light bulbs, outlet and light switch gaskets, filter whistle for your HVAC air filter (which sounds when your filter becomes 50% clogged letting you know it will soon need replacing), two faucet aerators, hot water temperature gauge, home thermometer, and a “How to Save” brochure.

Sierra Club Speaker

Housing's Contribution to Global Warming
Thursday, May 22, 6:30pm
Benjamin Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar

Jack Cowan will talk about the current problems in housing that are making a huge contribution to global warming and more recent housing changes that have made that contribution worse. He will then cover sensible solutions for both existing and new homes that will help to avoid wasted utilities, save money and reduce negative environmental impact.

For more information, contact Tom Lawrence at 901.237.4819 or email bus@thecave.com.

Bill Enhancements

The following bill enhancements will be implemented on May 29:

1) Residential Bills will have a new Consumption Summary, comparing the current month's Electric, Gas and Water consumption to the previous month and the same month of the previous year.

2) The "Meter Reader On Site" information has been moved to the top of the bill.

3) An "Energy Tip Of the Month" has been added above the Consumption Summary.

4) The "Next Reading Date" has been highlighted in the blue section.

5) The "Payments must be received by....." notice has moved to the blue section.

6) The bill stub has been changed to insert face-forward in the return envelope.

7) Auto-Pay customers will no longer receive a return envelope in their bill.

Find answers to FAQs about your MLGW bill here.

Downtown Lunchtime Activities This Week

Click for larger image

Bike Riding in Memphis

Memphis rated among nation's worst for bicycle enthusiasts
By Tom Charlier

Friday, May 16, 2008

The song by Grammy-winner Mark Cohn rhapsodized about walking in the Bluff City, but no one's singing a tune called "Biking in Memphis."

That would be one sad song.

Memphis, along with Dallas and Miami, has been named one of the nation's "worst cities for cycling" by Bicycling magazine.

Citing the absence of designated bike lanes and other facilities, the magazine criticized Memphis city government and its "layers of bureaucracy" for figuratively running cyclists off the road.

For many local riders, the city's new dubious distinction comes as no surprise.

"We believe it," said Hal Mabray, an avid rider and co-owner of the Peddler Bike Shop. "It's not very user-friendly for cyclists."

The best cities for cycling, according to the magazine, are Portland, Ore.; Boulder, Colo.; Seattle; Chicago; and San Francisco.

It's not as if Memphis doesn't have a lot of enthusiastic riders. The Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club counts 400 members with another 300 who participate in rides and other events, said club president Bill Abney.

"There's a strong cycling community here," Abney said.

City engineer Wain Gaskins said Memphis is working to better accommodate the cyclists.

"Historically, we've been behind the curve," he said.

A major reason Memphis has no bike lanes -- while suburbs such as Germantown and Lakeland do -- has to do with storm-drain grates, Gaskins said. The ones traditionally used have had slots running parallel to the curb, meaning bike wheels could fall into them.

"We were not going to put the city in that kind of liability situation," he said.

However, the city has begun replacing the older grates with "bicycle-friendly" ones. The new grates will help pave the way for new "bike facilities" -- possibly designated lanes -- in the Shady Grove-Brierview area, Gaskins said.

The city also is working on the design of the Wolf River Greenway, which will include paths for biking.

The lack of facilities might help explain why Memphis, along with four other cities, ranked next to last in the percentage of commuters using bicycles to get to work, according to Census Bureau estimates released last year. Of more than 279,000 workers in Memphis, only 214 -- less than 0.1 percent -- commute by bike.

Thursday was national "Bike to Work Day," and one commuter who pedaled to a job was Bobby Singley, repair manager at Peddler. He uses side streets for his almost mile-and-a-half commute each way and says that if care is taken, it's not too difficult to bicycle in Memphis.

With gas now topping $3.50 a gallon, Singley saves money by cycling. But there are other advantages.

"A lot of it is the personal freedom -- freedom from the gas pump, freedom from being inside," he said.

-- Tom Charlier: 529-2572

Today's Commercial Appeal has a story by Anthony Siracusa, the founder and Executive Director of Revolutions Bike Shop. He says things are improving for Memphis cyclists.


Click here for information about Memphis Hightailers weekly rides.

Click here for maps of Stanky Creek Mountain Bike Trail.

Click here for a listing of local bike shops and times for their daily rides.

Utility Fraud

Local newscasts will air a story tonight regarding a former MLGW employee and an alleged scheme to defraud MLGW and our customers. The Grand Jury indicted this former employee for two counts of computer fraud over $10,000, a class C felony, and theft of services over $10,000, also a class C felony.

According to the indictment, the former employee allegedly called the computerized payment system for MLGW, then authorized and made valid payments on various customers’ accounts using either nonexistent bank accounts or bank accounts in which the holders did not authorize the transactions. These payments were allegedly made for customers who paid a fee and willingly gave their account numbers to the former employee up front.

The third count of the indictment alleges that the former employee obtained more than $10,000 in MLGW services by fraud. The indictment indicates that the alleged crimes occurred between January 1 and April 1, 2008.

The criminal indictment is the result of an investigation by the MLGW Revenue Protection department and was coordinated with the D.A.’s White Collar Crime Prosecution Unit.

MLGW takes very seriously any effort to defraud our customers or the utility. MLGW is a public utility and legally cannot offer monetary assistance to our customers. Instead, employees direct customers in need of monetary assistance to agencies that offer utility payments.

If a customer feels they have been a victim of this scam, they should call Revenue Protection at 321-6969.

Bike-to-Work Day, Friday, May 16

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 16 as a part of National Bike Month.

Maria Brown, MLGW's very own bicycling enthusiast, encourages everyone to practice safety when riding their bikes...especially those who plan to bike to work on Friday.

Maria's Safety Tips

• Always wear a helmet, and protective eye wear.
• Wear the appropriate clothing.
• Be as visible as possible, which should include a reflective vest and/or LED lights (even in the daylight hours) .
• Do not ride against traffic.
• Avoid busy streets if at all possible.
• Obey all traffic laws.
• When approaching parked cars, be alert in the event someone is trying to exit out of the car.
• Make eye contact with drivers whenever possible.
• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Leave the ipod at home. It's important that you hear what's going on around you.
• Maintain your bike. Take it to a reputable bike shop for tune-ups and maintenance issues.
• Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Check before each ride.
• Carry a saddle bag which should include a tube, tire levers, a patch kit and a mini tool kit for emergencies.
• Take a maintenance class at your local bike shop. (You'll be glad you did the next time your in the middle of nowhere and have a flat or have other minor maintenance issues.)
• Carry your ID and a few dollars just in case.
• Have fun!

If you don't get to ride your bike to work on Friday, here are 50 other ways to celebrate Bike Month.

Recycle Your eRelics at the U of M

On May 17th, from 9am-3pm, the University of Memphis is sponsoring a major electronic equipment recycling effort that will allow the public to turn in old electronic equipment for recycling in the main parking lot on Southern Avenue.

The event provides an opportunity to dispose of unwanted computer, AV, handheld devices, and other electronic equipment in a convenient and environmentally-friendly manner.

There is no cost for the service and no limit to the number of items that can be dropped off. Professional movers will be onsite to handle unloading the equipment. All dropped off equipment, including computer hard drives, will be ground to confetti.

Recycling services courtesy of Apple Computer, Inc.

Click here for a full list of acceptable items.

Dunk Tank Results

Last week, MLGW employees participated in a Dunk One for Plus-1 fundraiser. President & CEO Jerry Collins and other executives got into a dunk tank and allowed their fellow employees to throw baseballs at them for $1 a toss. Nick Newman, John McCullough, Cliff DeBerry, Army Ward, and Byron Tate all took a turn in the tank and, from the pictures below, appeared to have a good time!

Not pictured, but most appreciated: John Laman, Rhonda Morgan, Marcia Mason, Dan Willoughby, David Staggs, Clemente Washington, and Michael Ray Russell.

MLGW employees raised a total of $1413.00 for Plus-1.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Greendex

You've read the news—everyone wants to be green now. But do you really know how your personal choices are adding up? What about the choices of your fellow citizens? How well are people around the globe adopting behaviors that can make the world a more environmentally sustainable place?

National Geographic and the international polling firm GlobeScan have just conducted a study measuring and monitoring consumer progress toward environmentally sustainable consumption in 14 countries around the world.

Americans ranked last and were least likely to choose the greener option in three out of four categories - housing, transportation, and consumer goods.

See the overall survey results and then calculate your personal Greendex.

There's also a six question quiz to test your overall knowledge of environmental issues.

TVA Turns 75

TVA will celebrate its 75th anniversary next Sunday.


photo by Alfred T. Palmer/Farm Security Administration/Library of Congress

A carpenter works on the Tennessee Valley Authority's Douglas Dam in June 1942. The dam was constructed for purposes of national defense.

The Knoxville News Sentinel has put together a really cool slide show to celebrate TVA's birthday. There is also an interesting article (Bill calls for federal oversight of TVA) from yesterday's paper.

Water Tapping Contest

MLGW's 19th annual Water Tapping Contest was held on Friday. The contest involves timed trials of tapping a ductile iron main and tying in a copper service.

This year there were four teams involved in the competition, including a management team. Each of the teams perform the tap twice within a 30 minute time frame. Four judges time their tap and add penalty time for violations of the AWWA contest rules.

The Brunswick Bombers and the North Center Tapping Tigers, who had the best times, will compete in the regional tapping contest in Knoxville this July.

Only Tap Water Delivers

From Drink Tap

Bottled Water

Bottled water has been in the news a lot lately, as people debate its costs, benefits and everything in between.

In our mobile world, many people turn to bottled water as a convenience. Others keep some on hand in case of emergencies or interruption in their water supplies. Some people say they prefer the taste of some types of bottled water.

However, many people mistakenly believe bottled water safer than the community water supply, just because it's in a bottle.

In the vast majority of cases, both bottled water and tap water are safe, healthy choices. If your tap water meets all the regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, you can have a high degree of confidence in its safety. Bottled water is regulated through the FDA, and is required to meet the same high standards as tap water.

It's important to remember, though, that only tap water delivers public health protection, fire protection, support for the economy and the overall quality of life we enjoy. So as the conversation about bottled water and tap water continues, it's a good time to think about the importance of investing in those critical systems that keep our tap water service strong and reliable.

Water Conservation Tips

Water consumers can play a key role in ensuring the sustainability of their water supplies, especially as the summer months approach. Daily indoor per capita water use in the typical single family home is 69.3 gallons. Households can reduce this water use by about 35% to 45.2 gallons per day by employing conservation and water efficiency measures.

As Drinking Water Week continues, the American Water Works Association has compiled Top 10 Conservation Tips:

1. Don’t leave the sink running while you brush your teeth.

2. Fully load the dishwasher and clothes washer before running them.

3. When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run.

4. Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste up to 2,000 gallons of water each year in the average home. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons per day.

5. Install water-efficient appliances in your home. Look for the EPA WaterSense labels.

6. Don't over-water your lawn, and water early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation.

7. When the driveway or sidewalk needs cleaning, consider a broom instead of a hose. It can save up to 80 gallons of water.

8. If you have a swimming pool, use a cover. You will cut the loss of water by evaporation by 90 percent.

9. Help preserve the quality of the available water supply by not overusing pesticides and fertilizers, avoiding flushing medications down the toilet or sink, and disposing of hazardous materials properly.

10. Place rain barrels beneath your downspouts. The rainwater can be used for outdoor plants and trees or to wash a car.

For personalized conservation tips, login to MLGW's My Account system and answer the questions related to water usage under the "Find Ways to Save" section in the home analyzer. You answer about 15 questions concerning your plumbing and outdoor water use, then receive recommendations in several categories: No Cost/Low Cost (i.e. fix leaks), Needs Investment (i.e. replace older toilets), Tips (i.e. water early in the day) and Not Cost Justified.

Senior Expo

MLGW will be participating in the Memphis and Shelby County Council on Aging's Senior Expo tomorrow at the Agricenter International from 9:00am to 3:00pm. The Senior Expo is a free informational vendor fair with interactive workshops for seniors and caregivers. Admission is free and box lunches are available for purchase for $5.00.

There will be over 85 vendors represented, live music, singing, dancing, woodcarving, antique cars and much more! Workshops include Safety for Seniors, Overcoming the Fear of Choices, Choosing How I Can Stay Home with Extra Care, Sex in Later Life, and many more.

Put Some Algae in Your Tank

Talk about going green!

Algae emerges as new fuel source
By ROSALIE WESTENSKOW

As climate change and rising oil prices intensify the search for alternative energy sources, researchers are on the brink of commercializing algae for fuel, experts say.

These small, plantlike organisms could be used as feedstocks for ethanol or other biofuels, replacing some of the traditional sources of ethanol, such as corn or soybeans.

Algae possess several characteristics that could propel them to the forefront of the renewable fuels industry. Top among these qualities is the ability to grow rapidly and with few inputs, such as fresh water or fertilizer, said Thomas Byrne of Byrne and Co. Ltd., a firm that provides advice on renewable energy projects.

"Algae grow pretty much everywhere in the world … (and) it doesn't draw from drinking water," Byrne said at discussion on algae at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing in Chicago this week. "One of the arguments against (traditional) ethanol is that grain-based fuels use a fair amount of groundwater."

Read the full article here

Memphis in May Makes the Switch

Memphis In May officials have agreed to sponsor 82,500 kWh of renewable energy from MLGW through TVA's Green Power Switch program. The green energy purchased is equivalent to what the organization uses to power events in Tom Lee Park during May.

According to TVA, Memphis in May is the first festival in the Tennessee Valley to offset 100% of its power use by sponsoring renewable generation. MIM is one of nearly 800 households, businesses and organizations participating in Green Power Switch in Shelby County, joining more than 12,000 across the Tennessee Valley. Locally, MLGW participants sponsor more than 6,450 MWh of green power annually--enough to meet the annual electric needs of 430 average Memphis households.

MIM's commitment, which will add $2,200 to their utility cost during the month of May, will have a significant environmental impact. Their green power support has the same environmental benefit as recycling 4.2 million aluminum cans, or planting 275 acres of trees, or recycling 243 tons of newspaper, or removing 92 cars from the roads for one year!

In scientific terms, MIM's commitment will result in avoided emissions equal to: 741 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), 4.95 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 1.93 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2)--all contributors to air quality problems and global warming.

TVA generates renewable energy for Green Power Switch at 18 locations, including a 26-kW solar generation facility on the roof of the BRIDGES building in Memphis and a unique collaboration with the City of Memphis Maxson Wastewater Treatment Plant, which captures and delivers methane--a byproduct of the treatment process--to TVA's adjacent Allen Fossil Plant, where it is co-burned with coal to generate electricity.

Customers interested in enrolling or learning more about green power, can click here.

Dunk Me!

The first day of our Dunk One for Plus-1, was a success! Mr. Collins was a really good sport about his fellow employees using their hard-earned cash to dunk him. He kept the crowd laughing as he heckled the ball throwers. "Plus-1! Plus-2! Plus-3! You're out!" (Since we were down in our Second Street parking lot near Beale Street and the Gibson Guitar Factory, we even had a few tourists from England and St. Louis participate!) No matter how many times he got dunked, he kept smiling and laughing as he resumed his seat in the tank.






Nick Newman, VP of Construction and Maintenance, took a turn in the booth today as well. Over the next week, various employees will be participating at different MLGW locations. All proceeds will go to Plus-1.

It's National Drinking Water Week

A safe, reliable water supply is critical to the success of any community. It creates jobs, attracts industry and investment, and provides for the health and welfare of citizens in ways ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression.

We often take our water supply for granted until it is threatened, either by drought, water main breaks, or some other event.

As part of National Drinking Water week, MLGW employees will be able to Dunk One for Plus-1 all week long. President and CEO Jerry Collins and other MLGW executives will get into a dunk tank and employees, for a $1 a throw, will have a chance to drop them in a tank full of Memphis water.

Mr. Collins will kick off the week at the MLGW Administration Building, 220 South Main Monday, May 5 from noon to 1:30 p.m. The dunk tank will move to various MLGW locations throughout the week.

“All Memphians know that our water is some of the best tasting in the world. We set aside this week to celebrate this resource while at the same time recognizing that there are some in our community who need assistance to pay their utility bill,” Collins said.

...and have a little fun, I might add! Stay tuned for pictures!

It's Easy To Be Green, Week 12

This the last installment of Lichterman Nature Center's twelve week It's Easy To Be Green program that MLGW employees are participating in. (We got a little behind as the grand finale of this program was Earthfest, which was held April 26th at Lichterman.)

Congratulations on a job well done! Remember what you learned during the past 12 weeks. Your daily behavior can make a difference on our environment. Just by completing this program you have made a difference already!

Action items:

• Your unwanted household items (e.g. small appliances, tableware, clothing, furniture, toys, and sports equipment) can have a life again if you donate them to charitable organizations. Many of these charitable organizations also provide employment opportunities. Your household clutter becomes a job opportunity for someone.

• Donate your used books to the library.

• Don’t just throw away things if they are broken. Repair them yourself or take them to a specialist repair shop. If an object is beyond repair, dismantle it and salvage parts to reuse, donate or sell.

• Keep your neighborhood clean. If you see trash on the ground, toss it into the trash can.

• Rent or borrow infrequently used tools such as ladders, chainsaws, rug cleaners and garden tillers.

• When shopping, ask yourself, “Is this purchase a want or a need? You will be amazed how much money you can save when you consciously exercise your purchasing impulse control.

• Use networks like Craig’s List and Freecycle to find things you need and to unload things you no longer want.

• Tell them what you think. If you are concerned about how air and water pollution are affecting your family, write a letter to your city council, mayor or local newspaper. Tell them what you are doing to help keep the earth clean and ask them for their help.

You make purchasing decisions every day. Whether you buy groceries, clothes, toys, furniture, electronics or appliances, your selections determine the type and volume of waste you will have to discard. Buying with the environment in mind minimizes the impact on our planet.

Weekend Activities

Wednesday, MLGW employees informed customers how to "Weather Nature's Fury" at Volunteer Memphis' Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Main Library.

Saturday, MLGW employees will once again be busy sharing information and volunteering in the community.

MLGW will be participating in the Frayser Community Association's 9th annual Unity in the Community Parade and Festival at the Ed Rice Community Center and Park from 10am to 3pm. This year's theme is Financial Literacy and it is Frayser's 50th anniversary.

MLGW will also have a booth at Hope Now's Homeownership Preservation Event at the Pipkin Building located inside the Mid-South Fairgrounds from 11am-5pm. Participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their lenders and discuss workout options to avoid foreclosure. There will also be information and assistance on homeownership preservation.

MLGW Volunteers will be assisting with the annual MLGW Special Olympics Sportsfest at St. George's Independent School on Wolf River Boulevard. Opening ceremonies are at 9am.

See you this weekend!

Wild Wings Rescue

As I mentioned, I had a chance to visit Brenda Bostick, our area's only trained bird rehabilitator with federal and state permits, last Friday to see what she does on a daily basis to nurse injured and orphaned birds back to health and release them back into the wild.


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Brenda has a small area in her kitchen where she can examine and treat birds. Once they are stabilized they are moved into her dining room where they are either put into makeshift nests or small cages. It is important that injured birds have a safe place to rest and heal. Nestlings must be kept warm and fed every twenty minutes!

Brenda and her husband use medicine droppers to feed the baby birds FONS, which is a "baby formula" made from special cat food, water, egg whites, vitamins, and yogurt cultures. They also gut worms to feed to hatchlings. (Older birds eat a variety of worms--trout, meal, earth, red--that Brenda orders off of the internet and from local vendors.)

Some of the birds like privacy; some prefer to be with other birds. Brenda puts a mirror in front of the nestlings so that they know they are birds and not little humans. When they are ready, Brenda allows them to roam in the dining room and/or go in the backyard for some fresh air. For instance, Brenda has a baby duck that she keeps inside, but he goes outside to play with two other, older ducks several times a day.

Brenda's backyard also has an aviary. When the birds have healed from their injuries or are old enough, they will be moved outdoors full-time. The aviary provides a predator free space in which to learn to forage, fly, and see the elements. After a week or two in the aviary, the birds are set free. Sometimes birds will hang around Brenda's backyard for awhile, getting their bearings, but none of them can resist the call of the wild.

"No animal wants to be in a cage," Brenda says.

Brenda uses her own time and money to care for the birds. It costs Brenda about $30 per bird for rehabilitation. Currently Brenda has 30 birds. (Typically she treats about 250 a year.) Brenda has a handful of volunteers who help her care for the birds, but she is still pretty much housebound between April and August. If you would like to help out, visit Wild Wings Rescue.