Freeloading

When I lived off of the grid as a youngster, I harnessed the sun's power to take a shower. This gadget makes my solar shower look pre-historic.

Freeloader Portable Solar Charger is an advanced portable charging system that can power any hand held device anywhere, anytime. The Freeloader gets power from its solar panels or via a supplied charging cable that plugs into your computer's USB port. Once charged, the internal Li-Ion battery can power an iPod for 18hours, a mobile phone for 44 hours, PSP for 2.5 hours a PDA for 22 hours and much more.

Pretty cool huh?

Ride Your Bike to the Grizzlies' Green Expo

On April 3, the Grizzlies are going GREEN! The evening's events include a green expo (MLGW will be in attendance) and a community bike ride to the game. The Tour de Grizz bike ride will start at First Congo in Cooper-Young. It's a 4.8 mile ride and all participants get discounted tickets, a police escort, and free "parking" in the lobby of the FedEx Forum. Fun!

RP3 Recognition

Not as good as a Tigers' win, but close...

For the second time in four years, MLGW has earned the American Public Power Association's (APPA) Reliable Public Power ProviderTM (RP3) recognition for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. Of the more than 2,000 public power utilities in the nation, only 60 received the 2009 RP3 designation.

RP3 recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, training and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

More information and a full list of designees recognized in three categories is available at APPAnet.org.

Money, Money, Money

Yesterday's Commercial Appeal had some good news:

Memphis, suburbs to receive energy efficiency grants

WASHINGTON -- Memphis will receive $6.7 million in block grants for energy efficiency initiatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, Vice President Joe Biden announced Thursday morning.

In addition, Bartlett will get $193,600; Collierville will get $164,400; Germantown will get $169,600, and Shelby County will get $421,800, according to the U.S. Energy Department.

Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald didn't know his city had received the money until contacted Thursday morning by The Commercial Appeal. He said the money would most likely be used for energy efficiency in the renovation of the old library on Stage Road which is being converted to office space.

The Energy Department money is part of $3.2 billion set aside nationwide for block grants for energy efficiency and conservation projects. It is part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus bill passed last month.

"These investments will save taxpayer dollars and create jobs in communities around the country," Biden said in a statement released by the White House Thursday. "Local leaders will have the flexibility in how they put these resources to work -- but we will hold them accountable for making the investments quickly and wisely to spur the local economy and cut energy use."

Various components of the stimulus spending plan are slowly dribbling out of Washington, including millions in funding for Memphis housing and transportation projects announced recently.

-- Bartholomew Sullivan: (202) 408-2726

Pay it Smart

We're all looking forward to our lovely (low) Spring bills. Spring and Fall are lovely in Memphis, often allowing us to get by without using heating or air conditioning--our two largest utility costs.

Did you know MLGW's Smart Pay program can average out your bill so that you pay the same amount every month? The amount you pay is based on your utility history for the past twelve months. (It is readjusted every year in March.)

At the end of twelve months, if you've done your best to conserve or if we've had better weather or if the rates are lowered, then you will have a lower monthly payment for the next year. (And vice versa. If you use more energy or if the weather is worse or if there is a rate increase, you may pay more the next year.)

Some people really like knowing ahead of time what their utility payment will be. It makes sense, especially if on a budget.

When you get your bill it looks pretty much the same. You still see what your actual usage is, and you can see whether you have a credit or a debit in your Smart Pay coffer. (You build it up in the Spring and Fall so that you have extra in the Summer and Winter when bills are higher.)

It's hard to think about paying more than you have to some months, so instead focus on paying less during those other months!

If you'd like to find out more or sign up for Smart Pay, click here.


Photo: Christine Glade/iStockPhoto

Inspector Gadget

The New York Times ran a great story on recycling electronic gadgets earlier this month.

Did you know that Americans discarded 2.25 million tons of computers, printers, cellphones and other electronics in 2007? About 82 percent ended up in landfills.


The article also stated that according to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American household has 24 electronic devices. Twenty four!

Ok, I'm going to count mine up:

TV (2)
DVR (1)
DVD (2)
Wii (1)
Computer (3)
Nintendo DS (2)
Digital camera (3)
Clock radio (3)
GPS device (1)
Cellphone (2)
Microwave (1)
Blender (1)
Toaster (1)
Coffee maker (1)
Coffee grinder (1)
Rice Cooker (1)
Juicer (1)

Total: 26

But the real question is--what do we do with our "stuff" when it breaks or we are no longer using it?

For instance, I only use one of my three cameras. One is broken and the other is a digital video camera that is in great shape, but old. (Ditto on 2 of our 3 TVs.) And we have a DVD that is in perfectly good working order that we don't use. The kids are ready to trade in their practically new DSes for the new, sparkly DSi.

Rather than selling or giving away our usable items, they are just rotting in our house/garage. Ditto on the broken items. I guess this is better than having them in the landfill, but it still seems wasteful.

What to do?

According to the article, most household electronics can be recycled because they have metal and other materials that are of value to recyclers. But the longer you hold on to your device, the less of a chance it has of being reused.

So when you start your Spring Cleaning, think about how to recycle or properly dispose of your electronics. Here are some options:

Donate working items to a non-profit, freecycle.com them, or sell them on Craigslist.com

Take them to the Shelby County Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility--They will accept all computers (PCs and laptops), monitors, ink cartridges, printers (small desktop & combo/fax), scanners, servers, audio/visual equipment, telephones/cell phones, typewriters, calculators, circuit boards, and misc. electrical equipment. (They cannot accept microwaves or TVs.)

Other places, like the U of M, also host e-waste drop off days from time to time.

Several big chain stores, including Best Buy, allow you to drop off most small electronics for recycling. Manufacturers are starting to offer recycling, too. Apple, Dell, Samsung, Sony and others now offer free recycling either through mail-in programs or at drop-off sites specified on their Web sites.

There is a national recycling program for rechargeable batteries; Sears, Staples, Target, RadioShack, Best Buy, the Home Depot and Lowe’s are participants.

Find more information here:

MyGreenElectronics.org, which is sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association and allows searches by ZIP code

Earth911.com, a public-private partnership that lets you search by type of electronic and address.

Save Money at Night--Turn off Your Computer!

According to USA Today, Leaving PCs on overnight costs companies $2.8B a year!


A few things to think about...

U.S. organizations squander $2.8 billion a year to power unused machines, emitting about 20 million tons of carbon dioxide — roughly the equivalent of 4 million cars — according to a report to be released Wednesday.

Wastefulness does not just affect a company's bottom line, it creates environmental concerns, the report says. If the world's 1 billion PCs were powered down just one night, it would save enough energy to light the Empire State Building — inside and out — for over 30 years, it says.

"Workers do not feel responsible for electricity bills at work, and some companies insist PCs remain on at night so they can be patched with software updates," says 1E CEO Sumir Karayi. He says 63% of employees surveyed said their companies should take more steps to save PC power.

Adapt A Door Design Challenge

Memphis Heritage & AIA Memphis are putting the "fun" in fundraiser with their new Adapt A Door Design Challenge...

Here's how it works:

You decide you want to let your creative mind go wild and enter the Adapt A Door Competition (by April 9th). Memphis Heritage lets you pick up the door of your choice at their first ever "Donut Door Dash" on April 25 at 10:00am at the historic Marine Hospital (located at 360 Metal Museum Drive).

Then you make a personal, creative masterpiece out of your door. Transform it into a chair, a table, another door, a rack, a headboard, any piece of furniture...anything you want.

For example, check out this Ping Pong Door, from designer Tobias Franzel. It's a door with a middle section that flips out to reveal a ping pong table.


The final works will be shown at Memphis Heritage's Howard Hall at a silent auction party on August 22nd at 7:30 pm. Be one of the first people to make your mark in this one of a kind event!

Other important info:

Cost to enter the competition is $25.00 per door. For the $25.00 commitment fee you will receive 2 tickets to the "Door Auction" event, be eligible for the grand "Best of Door" award that comes with great prizes.

All final "masterpieces" will be on the MHI and AIA websites and selected ones will be on public display on South Main before the auction.

The final project must contain at least 70 % of the door you started with.

For more information:

Contact MHI at 901.272.2727 or AIA at 901.525.3818 or email jwest@memphisheritage.org.

The Snackwell Effect & Your Utility Bill

Photo courtesy of chubbo129

From USA Today...

WASHINGTON — As President Obama and Congress pump billions into energy conservation, experts warn that the promised energy savings could be undermined by consumer behavior.

There is even a name for it: the Snackwell Effect.

Just as dieters might binge on Snackwell's low-calorie cookies, people who buy energy-efficient items for their homes sabotage their efforts to save power — often by using the appliances more heavily, studies have shown.

A marketing survey to be released today showed that one-third of respondents who made energy-efficiency efforts at home saw no decrease in their energy bills, and a 2008 study by University of Michigan economist Lucas Davis found that people given energy-efficient washing machines washed more clothes.

"It could be that by doing something virtuous, it gives you license to do something indulgent somewhere else," says Portland State University's Loren Lutzenhiser, who studies energy consumption.

Read the full story here...

One Dollar Makes a Difference

Today's Commercial Appeal has an editorial on the shrinking number of donations to MLGW's Plus-1 Program.

Plus-1 is a program administered by the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) to pay utility services for people in need. MLGW customers fund the program through one-time donations or by adding a dollar or more to their utility bill each month. Since its inception in 1982, Plus-1 has provided millions of dollars in assistance to families in crisis in Memphis and Shelby County.

MLGW employees give over $20,000 a year to Plus-1. In addition, MLGW donated $25,000 in excess revenue from our pole rentals to Plus-1 in 2008, and hopes to do the same this year.

Generosity dimming

With bankruptcies and joblessness on the rise, it's little wonder that at Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division accountants are writing off more and more bad debt.

Last year the figure leaped 31 percent to a total of $15.3 million, which was nearly triple the amount in 2003.

What's not quite as clear is the reason behind a steady decline in contributions to the utility's Plus One program since 2001.

That year MLGW customers contributed more than $295,000 to the program, which helps low-income customers pay their utility bills, by adding $1 or more to their monthly payments.

Every year since, the number has declined, falling to $196,351 in 2008, down $12,869 from the 2007 figure. With 420,000 customers, that works out to less than four bits apiece per year in a city that has a reputation in the philanthropic community for its generosity.

Last year MLGW disconnected utilities more than 100,000 times for nonpayment. No doubt that number will increase this year, unless collections from the Plus One program, administered by the Metropolitan Interfaith Association, increase dramatically.

It's important to remember that thousands of MLGW customers are suffering through the recession to the extent that they are barely able to pay their own utility bill, much less contribute to someone else's.

In January, 37,270 people were looking for work in Shelby County, which has the state's highest jobless rate. But for those of us who are not in that boat, it's time to sign up for Plus One.

Sign Up online!

Change in Net Assets

Today, the Commercial Appeal ran a story on the bad debt MLGW wrote off in 2008 (MLGW writes off $15.3 million in bad debt). There has been some discussion in the comments section about MLGW's "Change in Net Assets" which the reporter equated to a profit.

To be clear, any surplus at the end of the year is used to mitigate the size and timing of future rate increases. It also shows a prudence in controlling costs and judiciously utilizing any excess, so it should be looked upon as a good thing. All of our dollars are rate payer dollars and used for the operations of MLGW to provide cost effective utilities for our customers.

To make all things relative, our monthly power cost payments to TVA averaged $70 million during 2008, over twice that of our "Change in Net Assets" for the year. Said another way, our year-end Change in Net Assets would not pay for even half of one month's payment to TVA.

Utility Theft on the Rise

Channel 5 ran a story on rising nationwide utility theft last night. They mentioned that MLGW's utility theft is up 56 percent this year. Here are some facts about utility theft:

~If you suspect utility theft, call 321-6969 to report.
~Stealing service can be dangerous. You can get burned or killed trying to steal service.
~MLGW's Revenue Protection Department is one of the best in the country. Each year we recover about $2 million in stolen services.
~If you are caught stealing service, additional charges are added to your account and you could be charged with a felony..

Channel 5 based their story on an article in yesterday's USA Today: Electricity thefts surge in bad times.

Want to know more? Check out my post from my ride along with Revenue Protection.

Buddhists & Beer

Buddhists in Thailand have taken a liking to beer...bottles. Check out this recycling project reported in the UK Telegraph...

Buddhist temple built out of one million beer bottles
A temple has been built by monks in northeast Thailand who used over a million recycled beer bottles to make the walls and roof.


Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, also known as Wat Lan Kuad or 'the Temple of a Million Bottles', is in Sisaket province near the Cambodian border, 400 miles from the capital Bangkok.

The Buddhist monks began collecting bottles in 1984 and they collected so many that they decided to use them as a building material.

They encouraged the local authorities to send them more and they have now created a complex of around 20 buildings using the beer bottles, comprising the main temple over a lake, crematorium, prayer rooms, a hall, water tower, tourist bathrooms and several small bungalows raised off the ground which serve as monks quarters.

The bottles do not lose their colour, provide good lighting and are easy to clean, the men say.

A concrete core is used to strengthen the building and the green bottles are Heineken and the brown ones are the Thai beer Chang.

The monks are so eco-friendly that the mosaics of Buddha are created with recycled beer bottle caps.

Altogether there are about 1.5 million recycled bottles in the temple, and the monks at the temple are intending to reuse even more.

Abbot San Kataboonyo said: "The more bottles we get, the more buildings we make."

The beer bottle temple is now on an approved list of eco-friendly sight-seeing tours in southeast Asia.

Fixing Leaks Around the Home

Being handy around the house doesn't have to be difficult. Common types of leaks found in the home are leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are easily correctable, in most cases requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings.

Checking for Leaks
Drip... Drip...10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

To check for leaks in your home, first you have got to determine whether you're wasting water, then identify the source of the leak.

* Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.

* Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.

* Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl before you flush, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)

* Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

Fix a Leak: Toilets
A common reason why toilets will leak is an old or worn out toilet flapper (sometimes called a "valve seal"). Flappers are inexpensive rubber parts that can build up minerals or decay over time. Replacing them can be a quick and easy fix for your water woes. To fix this leak, consult your local hardware store, home improvement retailer, plumber, or one of the many online resources. Here's one example.

Tip: Bring the old flapper to the hardware store for comparison to make sure you buy a new flapper that fits your toilet model.

Fix a Leak: Faucets
A leaky faucet or showerhead that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.

Old and worn faucet washers and gaskets frequently cause leaks in faucets. Here's an example on how to repair a dripping tap. Don't forget to turn off the water line before you start.

Tip: There is a wide variety of faucets on the market. Many tutorials are available online on different types of faucets and how to repair them.

Fix a Leak: Showerheads
Nip that drip...A showerhead leaking 10 drips per minute wastes enough water in a year to run the dishwasher 60 times.

Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem and by using pipe tape to secure it. Pipe tape, also called Teflon tape, is available at most hardware stores, is easy to apply, and can help tame unruly leaks. Here's an example learn how.

Tip: It's also a good idea to check and, if needed, replace the washer or "o" ring inside the showerhead while making this repair.

Fix a Leak: Outdoors
Don't be nickle and dimed...An irrigation system at 60 psi with a leak the thickness of a dime can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.

If you have an in-ground irrigation system, check it each spring before use to make sure it wasn't damaged by frost or freezing.

Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench. Here's an example on how to make additional repairs.

Leaks Still Flowing Overboard?
Have you done all that you can to try to eliminate leaks from your home but still can't nip that drip in the bud?

If you've already determined you have leaks and you find these step-by-step solutions aren't enough to stop them, it might be time to replace your leaking fixtures. If you consult with a plumbing professional, and look for the WaterSense label if you are considering a new toilet or faucet, you could increase your home's water efficiency.

Retrofitting the house with WaterSense labeled fixtures could save a family of four approximately $2,000 in water bills over the lifespan of the products.

Take a Pledge to Fix a Leak!

How long have you been ignoring that pitter patter coming from the shower? How about the leaky spigot on the side of the house, or that running toilet? While leaks might sometimes seem like small problems, over time they can waste both valuable water resources and money. On average, a U.S. household can leak 11,000 gallons of water per year—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool!

Want to do something about it? Take the WaterSense pledge to fix a leak around your home. You'll save a precious resource, but that's not all. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

Common types of leaks found in the home are leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are easily correctable, in most cases requiring only a few tools and hardware that will easily pay for themselves in water savings.

So grab a wrench or contact your favorite handy person to address leaking toilets, faucets, and other plumbing fixtures around your home.

EcoBUILD Project Starts in Binghamton

This was in Saturday's Commercial Appeal...

Habitat for Humanity's Binghamton project seeks LEED approval
By Cassandra Kimberly

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis is going for "gold" with the construction of six "green" homes in the Binghamton neighborhood.

On Pershing Avenue at 7:30 a.m. Friday, the nonprofit group began its first home build project of the year -- and its first attempt at obtaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

"It's a huge undertaking," said Jeff Capps, director of community relations for Memphis Habitat. "In terms of us being an affordable housing provider, it makes sense for us to look at techniques to be better stewards of our environment and make more affordable homes for our homeowners."

The six homes, which will average between 1,200 and 1,400 square feet, will follow guidelines from the EcoBUILD initiative of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division.

With the help of The Habitat Design team, composed of 25 volunteer architects and sponsored by Memphis-based Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, the homes will also follow standards for a gold rating under the LEED regulations of the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council.

"A highly efficient, affordable home is needed by a low-income family more than an average person who gets a pretty decent paycheck," said Jon Dimayuga, Habitat Design team director and project coordinator for Askew Nixon Ferguson.

Memphis Habitat has been actively involved in "green building" since 2006 and has built nearly 30 that follow EcoBUILD guidelines with funding by MLGW and Trunkline Gas/Panhandle Energy.

If the first LEED project is successful, the sustainable guidelines will be incorporated into Memphis Habitat's first 38-home community, Trinity Park, which will begin construction near the airport area next spring.

"We try to be very intentional about creating a community for homeowners and having an impact on neighborhoods," Capps said. "We're really just trying to continue and enhance our green building technique."

Fix a Leak Week

Every Drop Counts

Did you know that an American home can waste, on average, 11,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks?

Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. That's why WaterSense is promoting Fix a Leak Week from March 16 to 20, 2009, to remind Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Here's how you can participate:

* Take the WaterSense pledge to fix a leak, or send this link to a friend.
* Learn step-by-step instructions on how to fix a leak today.
* Find more facts and figures about leaks.
* Place the Fix a Leak Week widget on your Web site or blog.

Parent Summit offers Utility Vouchers

Memphis City Schools is holding a series of Demand Parent Summits on four successive Saturdays - the last one is this Saturday, March 14 from 8 AM to 3 PM at Hamilton High School, 1363 Person St.

There will be drawings throughout the day at each of the summits for $25 vouchers which can be used toward MLGW payments. Up to 10 voucher cards will be given away to different parents at each location. Parents who come early and stay for all of the workshops will have more chances in the drawing.

Superintendent Kriner Cash has created a series of community outreach events for parents called -Demand Parent Summits- so that he may have open conversations with parents, guardians and caregivers about their child's education and future.

The district will provide transportation from designated locations within each region, breakfast and lunch, as well as interactive child-care. Each summit will feature sessions like Early Childhood Development, Basic Tenets of Strong Discipline: Parents Must Lead the Way, How to Support Your Child-s Education at Home and at School, Avoiding Surprises - Charting the Course Towards Graduation, Our
Children - Math & Literacy Development, and Gang Awareness and Intervention.

For more info about the summits, call MCS at 416-7264.

Stimulating News

Tennessee gets $162 million for energy
By BILL THEOBALD
Tennessean Washington Bureau
 
WASHINGTON -- Tennessee will receive $161.6 million for weatherization and energy efficiency as part of the economic stimulus legislation, the White House announced Thursday.

A total of $8 billion nationwide was included in the legislation. Tennessee's total includes $99.1 million for the weatherization assistance program and $62.5 million for the state's energy program.

The weatherization program allows low-income families to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more efficient. The energy bill provides rebates to consumers for energy audits; development of renewable energy projects; promotion of energy efficient products; and upgrades to state and local government buildings.

Community Conservation Day Tomorrow!

Stop by any Exxon on the Run tomorrow and receive a free energy conservation kit! MLGW employees will be on site to answer questions and provide kits & information.

More EnergySmart News...

This ran in today's Commercial Appeal While the story focuses on CFLs, keep in mind the number one way to reduce your utility bill is to follow our recommended thermostat settings of 68 (or lower) in the winter and 78 (or higher) in the summer....

MLGW employees show customers simple ways to cut their utility bills
By Daniel Connolly

When Charles Echols shares tips on saving energy, he's usually speaking to small groups.

But on Wednesday, the 52-year-old stood on stage at the Orpheum in front of hundreds at an event organized by Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division.

"Today was different," Echols said, adding that he was glad to have a chance to have an impact on so many people. "It was kind of a nervous situation."

That's because utility bills can be a monthly blow for Memphians living in older, drafty homes. Residents who use stoves to heat homes that lack working furnaces, for example, may incur hundreds of dollars in energy expenses.

Wednesday's event, which offered tips on how to save money and chances to score free goodies, was part of the EnergySmart Memphis Initiative.

Tennessee Valley Authority, which supplies electricity to MLGW, provided 1,250 free energy-saving kits, including caulk and compact fluorescent light bulbs. Several other prizes were also given away.

TVA spokesman Gil Francis said helping customers save money is the right thing to do, and that if they use less energy, the utility can build fewer power plants, which reduces everyone's costs.

Some audience members were specially invited to the program because of their high utility bills, said MLGW president Jerry Collins, who successfully campaigned for a city ordinance requiring landlords to maintain minimum energy-efficiency standards.

And while MLGW gets less money when people buy less energy, it's the best thing for customers, he said.

"As I've mentioned many times, the overall principle is to always do what's in the customers' interest," Collins said.

Along with other MLGW staffers, Collins wore a red shirt with the slogan "Helping you reduce your energy costs." He moderated the event, which resembled a combination of a school assembly and a game show.

As a camera projected his actions onto a big screen behind him, Echols showed how to replace broken panes of glass in windows and how to use plastic sealant to reduce heat leakage around windows.

Then he pulled out a power meter strip that showed the energy use of five light bulbs -- one conventional bulb and four compact fluorescent ones. Total energy used by the four fluorescent bulbs was less than the conventional 60-watt one.

"So change those bulbs out!" Echols said.

One consumer who walked away impressed was Susan Ferancy, 43, who lives in Bartlett with her husband, daughter and a friend. She said she already uses some energy-efficient light bulbs, but plans to use even more.

"I saw today the real importance of changing all of them in my home," she said.

-- Daniel Connolly: 529-5296

Energy Events

On Friday, MLGW employees will be giving away fluorescent light bulbs and other energy-saving tools at Exxon stations in the Memphis area.

You can schedule Charles Echols or another energy- savings specialist to speak to a local group or even inspect your home for personalized energy advice. Call 528-4188.

Workshop Recap

The Energy Smart workshop was a hit! I was worried that the weather would keep people away, but they showed up in droves. (No official headcount yet, but I'm guessing about 1000.) I'm anticipating lots of news coverage, that I will link here, but I can't resist posting a few highlights for those of you who couldn't make it today:

1. Merle Purvis, our emcee, told Jerry Collins, our CEO, that he was a hottie. (Well, sort of.)
2. Mayor Herenton talked about carbon footprints.
3. Charles Echols taught us lots of easy and inexpensive ways to reduce our energy usage and therefore our utility bills.
4. Some very lucky winners received $500, $1000, and $1000 in utilities and energy efficient upgrades to their homes (thanks to TVA, Hunter Fans, and our other generous sponsors).
5. The woman who came to the Orpheum at 5am this morning so that she would be the first person in line had her utility bill paid by an anonymous donor.

What's for Lunch?

How about some Lenny's, a free energy kit ($50 value), and a chance at winning $1000 in free utilities? Get on over to the Orpheum and join us for the free EnergySmart workshop! It's today from 11am-1pm.

Alexis Grace's MLGW Connection

It is common knowledge that popular “American Idol” finalist, Alexis Grace, has Memphis connections. The 21-year-old talent grew up in Midtown and attended Overton High School. Her father, Randy Middleton, is a local bass player and a talent in his own right.

However, Grace undoubtedly draws at least some of her musical inspiration from her grandfather, Wilson Mitchell, who is an MLGW employee in the Gas Engineering department and a longtime Memphis jazz drummer. Grace called her grandfather recently and asked him if he still played drums. “I am very proud of Alexis,” said Mitchell. “She will go far as a musical talent.”

Mitchell initially laughed at the suggestion that he play drums on a future Alexis Grace album, but on second thought he found the idea intriguing. “Who knows if that would be possible,” he said, “but it would be great.”

Energy Smart Workshop Tomorrow!

EnergySmart Memphis’ public kick-off tomorrow at the Orpheum from 11am-12:30pm will feature MLGW energy experts, TVA representatives and local city and county leaders – as well as some great giveaways, all coming together to give attendees useful and applicable money-saving home improvements that will show real savings on their utility bills.

Giveaways at the kick-off event include energy-saver kits for all attendees from TVA (valued at $50), as well as prize-drawing giveaways of $1,000 in free utilities (donated by private citizens), a free home energy audit with $500 for energy-saving improvements, and $25 gas and Kroger gift cards. The random drawings will be held at the Orpheum event. The first 50 customers to arrive will receive a free Hunter ceiling fan.

See you tomorrow! Tell your friends!

Utility Trivia

Just for fun...

* When MLGW was formed in 1939, starting pay for a lineman was 84 cents per hour.

* The first electric lights to be seen in Memphis were displayed in 1881 by a dealer in lamps and lamp fixtures. Four of these lights were displayed at the corner of Main and Madison. The first pole in the MLGW electric distribution system was placed at the corner of Person and Rozelle.

* In 1884, natural gas cost 30 cents/ccf. In 2009, a residential customer pays $1.28/ccf, only a 98-cent increase in 125 years.

* In 1887, when drillers first tapped into the artesian water supply underneath the city, water “enterprisers” sold the pure, fresh artesian water for a nickel a glass. Today, MLGW residential customers can buy a gallon of that same pure artesian water for less than a penny.

* Memphians pay the lowest combined water and wastewater rates of nearly 30 U.S. cities, according to the newly released 2009 report of water and wastewater bill comparisons compiled by Austin Water Utility in Austin, Texas. The survey compared water and wastewater costs for residential customers and showed that MLGW residential water customers pay, on average, $22.67 per month for water and wastewater service. Salt Lake City residents have the second lowest average bill at $27.40. Seattle residents have the highest combined average bill at $99.00 per month, according to the survey.

Happy Birthday to Us!

MLGW turns 70 today!

The slogan found on the first MLGW logo said it all in terms of why the company was in business and who ran the place: “Public Service—Publicly Owned.” Most people are surprised to learn that MLGW is not that old. It was only born in 1939, even though organized utility service had been available for 87 years before MLGW came onto the scene.

When the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was formed in 1933, many felt the opportunity had arrived for Memphis to obtain cheaper electric power. On November 6, 1934, Memphians voted 32,735 to 1,868 to authorize a bond issue to acquire or construct an electric distribution system. The unified Memphis Light and Water Division was formed in 1935 to oversee power and water systems, and a contract with TVA was signed in 1935.

Because the privately owned Memphis Power and Light already had an electric distribution system in place, the city requested MP&L to open formal negotiations to sell their properties to the city. After nearly three years of litigation and negotiations, a sale agreement for purchase of MP&L properties was finally reached on February 16, 1939. Under the provisions of the sale, the city received all electric distribution facilities, the MP&L administration building on Madison Avenue, a central shops facility, an electric service building, some other miscellaneous property, and all gas properties. A complete utility system for the price of $17,360,000, which included $2,110,000 paid by TVA.

Arguably, it was the best investment the city of Memphis ever made.

Photo by Jire Cakes

Daylight Savings

Don't forget to spring forward tonight! While you are busy changing your clocks, think about reprogramming your thermostat. Now that it is warming up, you don't need that heat on as much! The recommended setting for summer is 78 or higher. However, this is that awesome time of year when Memphians can almost go without air conditioning and heating.

Photo from Flickr

Blitzed Birds near Beale

This is from last Saturday's Commercial Appeal--not sure how i missed this! I don't think drunk birds are funny, but I think it is funny that they got drunk next to Beale Street.


Beale deals with latest drinking problems — blitzed birds
Cedar waxwings get drunk on fermented berries, crash into Peabody Place
By Tom Charlier

The mayhem just a block or two off Beale Street turned out to be another case of public drunkenness.

There was lots of odd behavior and thrashing about. Some paid the ultimate price for their intoxication.

But instead of barflies, these were birds -- cedar waxwings, to be exact -- and they got tipsy from eating fermented berries before crashing into buildings in the Peabody Place area.

The Health Department investigated the incident this week after receiving calls about dead and floundering birds. Callers feared an outbreak of bird flu.

Instead, department entomologist Dan Sprenger traced the problem to berries from holly trees along Peabody Place between Second and Third.

Recent freezes ruptured berry cells, allowing wild yeast to convert sugars into alcohol.

"Essentially what happens is, the birds get drunk and they get rather reckless, and they end up flying into buildings," Sprenger said.

He couldn't say how many birds died, but two were still on the ground and a flock of about 50 were in the air when department officials arrived.

Cedar waxwings, songbirds that travel in flocks, are among the "most frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds in North America," according to birds.cornell.edu, a Web site of Cornell University's ornithological laboratory, which also warns they are "vulnerable to alcohol intoxication and death."

Because of their itinerate ways, the birds "gorge themselves on berries," said Martha Waldron, former curator for the Tennessee Ornithological Society.

"In the winter, they're moving from one feeding frenzy to another," she said.

Often flying under the influence, no doubt.

Tennessee Arbor Day News

Arbor Day is an annual observance dedicated to the planting and conservation of trees. National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April. However, because the ideal time to plant trees varies with the climate, Tennessee celebrates Arbor Day on the first Friday of March. This day calls for educators, civic societies and government officials to create "a better understanding of nature and the importance of protecting wildlife, planting and cultivating flowers, and setting and protecting trees."

Did you know that LIving near trees makes people live longer and fee happier? It's true!

The Memphis Botanic Garden celebrated Tennessee Arbor Day with a tree planting by Memphis City School students and BRIDGES Ordinary 2 Extraordinary today at the site of My Big Backyard children's garden, a new project at Memphis Botanic Garden, scheduled to open late summer, 2009.

If you'd like to do some tree planting of your own, but need help, there's good news! A volunteer group has been organized and trained through the University of Tennessee Extension Service to educate residents of Shelby County about trees and tree care. The U.T Master Urban Forester volunteers have completed at least 20 hours of classroom training in tree biology, soils, wildlife and construction issues related to trees. Volunteers also learned how to select the best tree for a site and proper planting methods for trees. Master Urban Foresters are committed to providing citizens accurate and up to date information about trees in our community. These volunteers are available to work with school classes, garden clubs and other interested groups. For more information email tokarencf1@bellsouth.net.

Water Conservation + IMAX

I got a sneak preview of the new IMAX movie, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk, last night. It was really outstanding! The visuals were of course amazing and there was a great water conservation message to go along with it. Last night they had a representative from the Ground Water Institute to talk about our local water source, the Memphis Sands Aquifer, and how we can protect it.

The movie opens tomorrow, March 7, and runs through November 13, so you have plenty of time to go see it!


GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE: RIVER AT RISK combines exhilarating river-rafting action on America's most iconic river, family fun and the grandeur of the Grand Canyon to tell an engaging story of how ordinary people can make a difference for our parched planet - one that is running out of clean, fresh water so fast that the U.N. estimates that 40% of the world could face life-threatening shortages by the year 2050.

Taking audiences on this illuminating rafting trip are two environmental heroes: world-reknowned river advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and author/anthropologist/explorer Wade Davis, accompanied by their daughters - Kick Kennedy and Tara Davis. They are guided by Shana Watahomigie, a member of the Havasupai tribe and the first Native American to become a National Park Ranger and river guide. A stirring score featuring songs and music from the Grammy Award®-winning Dave Matthews Band sets the mood for this adventure that explores the spiritual, artistic and life-sustaining powers of water and makes crystal clear that each of us must do our part to better manage this crucial resource for the future.

Ash and You Shall Receive

We recently received an inquiry through our website about the Allen Steam Plant:

Q: Does the Allen Steam Plant not dispose of coal ash in a toxic slurry pit similar to the one which flooded many acres in the other end of the state? Hasn't this ash been deposited into this pit for many decades?

We passed this question on to TVA and received the following response:

A: The Allen Fossil Plant is a different type of plant from the Kingston Plant and thus produces a different type of coal waste by-product.

The wastes from the Allen Plant are 80% boiler slag and 20% fly ash. The boiler slag is wet sluiced to the main ash pond and then retrieved and 100% marketed offsite. The boiler slag is typically used for sand blasting grit and roofing shingles. The fly ash is being wet sluiced to the main ash pond, dewatered, and hauled offsite to be used as industrial fill at the Pidgeon Industrial Park.

One hundred percent of the fly ash is being utilized as structural fill.

The ash pond at Allen is used as a temporary storage facility prior to shipping coal waste by-products off site.

Looking for a cup of sugar?

In the olden days it was common for neighbors to borrow things (like a cup of sugar) from each other. These days it is common for people to not even know who their neighbors are. A new website is looking to build community while also saving the planet.

Why buy something you can borrow?

neighBORROW is a “green” web-based start-up that facilitates the borrowing and lending things among neighbors or other groups. neighBORROW combines the traditional notion of borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor with modern technology, using the Internet to facilitate borrowing and lending of nearly anything among people in local networks.

The website uses accountability metrics such as deposits, user reputations, borrowing history and customizable privacy settings to help ensure the safety of its members’ property. Users have the flexibility to decide what and with whom they are willing to share by participating in private and public networks.

These “neighBORROW-hoods,” have been created in apartment buildings, dormitories, offices, and other natural localities, and have been used to pool and catalog extensive online inventories of CDs, DVDs, video games, books, tools, sporting equipment, baby items and many other durable goods.

neighBORROW is in PRIVATE BETA (pBETA) which means that they have finished the public testing and now have over 5,000 people (neighBORROW-ers) in over 300 places (neighBORROW-hoods) saving money and the environment by borrowing from an inventory of over 10,000 things (neighBORROW-goods) listed and available. The site is now testing neighBORROW-hoods in communities, on campuses, and at companies all over the world. During the pBETA you can join neighBORROW three ways:

1. THROUGH AN EXISTING NEIGHBORROW-HOOD.
2. BY CREATING A NEW NEIGHBORROW-HOOD YOURSELF
3. EXPRESS REGISTERING (gives you an option to join the pBETA or wait until they launch.)

For more info on joining, click here.

One Week Until Energy Smart Event!

MLGW will take to the stage at the Orpheum Wednesday, March 11 to present a public energy-saving program to Memphis and Shelby County residents. The program, called EnergySmart Memphis, will help participants reduce their energy bills, as well as reduce the carbon footprint of Shelby County. The event will be held in conjunction with MLGW’s 70th anniversary celebration. (MLGW was originally chartered March 9, 1939.)

EnergySmart Memphis’ public kick-off at the historic theater will feature MLGW energy experts, TVA representatives and local city and county leaders – as well as some great giveaways, all coming together to give attendees useful and applicable money-saving home improvements that will show real savings on their utility bills.

Giveaways at the kick-off event include energy-saver kits for all attendees from TVA (valued at $50), as well as prize-drawing giveaways of $1,000 in free utilities (donated by private citizens), a free home energy audit with $500 for energy-saving improvements, and $25 gas and Kroger gift cards. The random drawings will be held at the Orpheum event. The first 50 customers to arrive will receive a free Hunter ceiling fan.

Following up on its wide scale efforts to help customers use energy more wisely, MLGW will hold another Community Conservation Day the following Friday, March 13. The county-wide event at participating Exxon On the Run stores will offer free conservation kits, energy use advice and energy saving materials to customers.

Feeling Square?

It's 3/3/09, also known as Square Root Day! (The day and the month are both the square root of the last two digits in the current year.)

According to Wikipedia, square root days fall upon the same nine dates each century. The next square root day will be April 4, 2016 (4/4/16). You can also mark your calendars for 5/5/25, 6/6/36, 7/7/49, 8/8/64 and 9/9/81.

"These days are like calendar comets, you wait and wait and wait for them, then they brighten up your day — and poof — they're gone," said Ron Gordon, a Redwood City teacher who's helping to promote this holiday.

Now the real question is, how to celebrate? One suggested way of celebrating the holiday is by eating square radishes, or other root vegetables cut into shapes with square cross sections. You can also get things squared away, eat root veggies, go square dancing or root for the underdog as suggested by the Oakland Tribune.

What's Gordon doing? Tying square knots and drinking root beer out of a square glass.

Don't worry, if this math holiday caught you by surprise, there's another one right around the corner! Pi Day is 3.14.

TERRA Pics

Here are a few shots from the opening of the TERRA house in Uptown. That's Jerry Collins on the far right of the ribbon cutting. Be sure and see the house for yourself! The house will be open for tours every weekend in March (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays). Tours are free and open to the public.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Mr. Collins Goes to Washington

Last week, MLGW President Jerry Collins, General Counsel Cheryl Patterson and Controller Dana Jeanes visited the offices of Congressmen Cohen and Tanner in Washington. Topics covered included full funding of the federal Liheap program to help low income families pay their utility bills, funding through the economic stimulus package for weatherization funding and funding for smart grid technology.

Also discussed was how to best mitigate the cost of the TVA ash pond cleanup effort so as to not materially impact the rates that TVA charges for electricity. The same topics were covered with Congressman Blackburn and the staffs of Senators Alexander and Corker.