Text Me

Did you know that Memphis has one of the highest text messaging rates in the country?

MLGW is thinking about using text messaging as a means of communicating with customers. The idea would be to offer an opt in text message notification service that interested customers would sign up for. (This means we would not text you unless you asked us to.)

What would we text you about? We might give notice of when bills are due, let you know of impending cut-offs and supply outage information.

Does this sound like something you'd be interested in? Please comment here or answer my little poll over there --->

More Tax Credit info...

Just in case the TERRA House opening inspires you to make some upgrades this year...

Federal Tax Credits Extended, Increased for Home Energy Improvements

There is no better time to make energy improvements to your home, given recent legislation that has expanded tax incentives for qualified residential energy efficiency upgrades. There are important changes between the earlier legislation and the regulations included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law on 2/17/2009.

Homeowners interested in making energy improvements in 2009 and 2010 should review these new guidelines and consult a tax advisor to see if projects qualify for Residential Energy Efficiency Property Credits on federal income tax filings. The new household maximum tax credit amount is $1,500 (unless otherwise noted)—so now is the time to improve your home, as you will reduce monthly energy costs and cut your taxes!

QUALIFIED BUILDING ENVELOPE COMPONENTS
Tax credit equal to 30% of cost for qualified building envelope materials added to existing homes. (Legislation is unclear on whether the 30% is calculated from the total installed cost, or only the material purchase price. Earlier regulations addressed only the material purchase price, excluding labor.)

Insulation:
Insulation added to walls, attic and other parts of the building envelope that meets requirements of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and supplements.

Windows, Skylights and Exterior Doors:
Replacement windows, skylights and exterior doors with a U-factor of 0.30 or below and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 or below.

Duct Sealing and Air Infiltration Reduction:
Sealing of cracks in building shell and heating/cooling system ductwork to reduce infiltration and heat loss, to comply with 2009 IECC.

Roofs:
A pigmented metal roof, or asphalt roof with cooling granules, that meets or exceeds Energy Star requirements.

QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL ENERGY PROPERTY
Tax credits equal to 30% of cost for qualified energy property, including heating and cooling equipment, water heating equipment, and photovoltaic systems for solar power generation. (Although legislation is unclear, it is assumed that calculations for qualified property are based on installed costs, as with earlier legislation.)

Heating and Cooling Equipment:
1. Central air conditioner that achieves the highest efficiency tier standards established by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency, effective as of 1/1/2009, http://www.cee1.org/resid/rs-ac/rs-ac-tax-credits.php3 This is typically 14 SEER or higher for single package systems and 16 SEER or higher for split package systems.

2.Electric air source heat pump achieves the highest efficiency tier standards established by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency, effective as of 1/1/2009, http://www.cee1.org/resid/rs-ac/rs-ac-tax-credits.php3 . This is typically a unit with a heating season performance factor (HSPF) of at least 9, a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of at least 16 and an energy efficiency rating (EER) of at least 12.5.

3. Natural gas or propane furnace that achieves annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 95 or higher.

4. Natural gas, propane or oil boiler that achieves 90 AFUE or higher.

5. Advanced main air circulating fan for heating and cooling system that uses no more than 2% of total heating energy use.

6. Geothermal heat pumps (ground or water source) unit that meets Energy Star requirements. (Note: Shelby County does not permit drilling for a vertical loop ground source heat pump, so available options include a horizontal loop system, which requires more land surface, or a water source system, which routes pipes to a pond on the property for heat exchange.)

7. Biomass stove that achieves a thermal efficiency of 75%, as measured using a lower heating value, and is used to heat a residence or heat water for use in the residence. Biomass fuel is anything from agricultural crops, trees, wood wastes and residues to pellets, plants, grasses and fibers.

Water Heating Equipment:
1. Natural gas, propane or oil water heater that has an energy factor (EF) of at least 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.

2. Electric heat pump water heater that yields an energy factor of at least 2.0 in the standard DOE test procedure.

3. Solar water heating system that is certified by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or equivalent and produces at least half the energy used by the system to heat water. (Excludes solar water heating for swimming pools and hot tubs.) Tax credit is equal to 30% of installed system cost and is separate from the $1,500 household tax credit for building envelope and qualified energy property.

Solar Power Generation:
Installation of photovoltaic (PV) property qualifies for a tax credit equal to 30% of installed system cost, with no maximum credit for installations in 2009 through 2016. This covers PV panels, also called solar panels, installed for generation of electricity used at the home. This tax credit is separate from the $1,500 household tax credit for building envelope and qualified energy property.

GENERAL TERMS and CONDITIONS
1. The component is installed in or on a dwelling located in the United States that, at the time of installation, is owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer’s principal residence.

2. Improvements and systems must be placed in service between 1/1/2009 and 12/31/2010. Equipment and materials must be new when installed at the taxpayer’s home.

3. Manufacturers will provide a certification statement on packaging, website or in another manner suitable for taxpayer recordkeeping. It is important to note that not all EnergyStar-certified products will qualify under these new regulations.

4. The maximum amount of the credit allowed to a taxpayer for all taxable years, for all Building Envelope Components and Qualified Energy Property, is $1,500 (increased from $500).

5. Solar water heating tax credits and solar generation credits are considered separate from the $1,500 household tax credit. The tax credit is equal to 30% of installed system cost, with no maximum amount beginning in 2009.

6. Other terms and conditions apply. Consult a tax professional or the IRS for eligibility information on your specific home energy improvements. To file, use IRS form 5695, Residential Energy Efficiency Property Credit, http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf

7. Additional information is available through www.irs.gov, www.energystar.gov, www.aceee.org, www.cee1.org and www.energytaxincentives.org. See an updated summary matrix at: http://www.energytaxincentives.org/uploaded_files/Tax_incentive09.pdf

8. These tax incentives were originally created as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, for improvements made in 2006-2007. Credits were not available in 2008, and then were re-introduced through the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, for improvements made in 2009. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is the most recent legislation affecting these tax incentives.

MLGW provides this summary as a service to customers interested in financial incentives for making energy efficiency improvements to their homes. MLGW makes no guarantee as to accuracy, completeness or applicability of information. Consult your tax professional for specific advice. Additional information on household energy improvements is available at www.mlgw.com under the My Account and Energy Saving Tools sections.

Newspapers Needed

The Memphis Animal Shelter is in DIRE need of newspapers for the puppy cages. If you have a stack piling up in your house that hasn't made it to the recycle bin, please consider dropping them off at MAS to be reused. (If you don't have any newspapers, but still want to help, try collecting some at your office, or heck, walk through the Memphis Airport and pick up the castoffs. Hey there's an idea--maybe the MAS should set up recycle bins in the airprort!)

The MAS is located at 3456 Tchulahoma Rd. For more information call (901) 362-5310.

TERRA House Ribbon Cutting

After more than three years of research, design, and planning, the TERRA (Technologically + Environmentally Responsive Residential Architecture) demonstration house is complete! The ribbon cutting ceremony and formal opening of the house, which is located at the northeast corner of North Main and Greenlaw, is on Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m.

Following the ceremony, the house will be open for tours February 27, 28, and March 1, as well as 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.

MLGW was pleased to work over the last three years with University of Memphis faculty, students and contractors in the design and construction of this innovative energy-efficient, environmentally-sustainable residence. Aside from the public awareness benefits of TERRA, we have been delighted to see how eagerly U of M students embraced the concept of sustainability in residential housing.

TERRA stands in the midst of one of the largest green neighborhoods in the nation, the Uptown neighborhood. Houses in Uptown built since 2003 have all been constructed through MLGW's green building program, EcoBUILD. These homes utilized MLGW standards designed to achieve a 30% energy savings--but, on average, have actually exceeded those savings targets. (34% electric savings and 56% natural gas savings, average household vs computer-modeled typical baseline home.)

TERRA includes many cutting-edge innovations to minimize the use of energy and natural resources and, as such, sought not just EcoBUILD certification but also the U. S. Green Building Council's LEED for Homes and the American Lung Association's Health House certifications.

TERRA is the first home in Shelby County to participate in TVA's Generation Partners solar power generation program. TERRA is creating solar power through 2.1 kW of PV panels on the roof and using that power in the home, then sending any momentary excess to the electric grid.

Go see the TERRA house for yourself!

MLGW Raises $781,808.33 for United Way

MLGW employees have shown the world that the 2008 United Way campaign theme—-The Power of Love is Giving—-is a way of life rather than a slogan at MLGW. Despite national economic upheaval throughout 2008, which unfortunately was reaching perfect-storm status during the 2008 United Way campaign of Nov. 3-14, 2008, the commitment of MLGW employees to the community with their tough-minded approach to solving problems once again proved the old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” There were rumors floating about that doubted whether MLGW employees would be able to reach the 2008 MLGW/IBEW United Goal of $775,000. MLGW employees have been underestimated before, but the reality of the nature of MLGW employees is that they shine when times are darkest.

MLGW ranks 6th among the top 10 largest companies in the Mid-South in terms of donations to United Way. President and CEO Jerry Collins Jr. is quick to point out that companies that rank higher often include corporate donations in their tally.

“The amount raised in the MLGW/IBEW Local 1288 campaign is solely from employee contributions,” said Collins. “Representatives from management and union run the campaign, but it’s only individual employee contributions that go toward our total.”

The 2008 MLGW/IBEW Local 1288 United Way campaign not only exceeded its fundraising goal, but also posted 513 leadership givers and 260 employees increased their giving levels. The MLGW campaign will likely serve as the model campaign in 2009. Hopefully the giving spirit of MLGW employees will serve as an inspiration to other regional companies during 2009, and this year’s Mid-South United Way campaign will be the most successful in its history. At least that is part of the strategy of the 2009 Mid-South Campaign Chair: MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins Jr.

Boxcycle

So, how many of you are actually cutting your cardboard boxes down to size so they can be recycled curbside? I cut my down, but sometimes I wish they could be reused instead.

For instance, when we moved into our house a couple of years ago, we saved all of our boxes. I broke them down and stored them in our garage. A few weeks ago, friends of mine moved and I gave them all of our boxes (with the request that they either save them or properly recycle them.)

Well now there's a website that hopes to find new uses for cardboard boxes all over the country. It's called Boxcycle.com and it works like eBay, Craig’s List and Freecycle, but with a very environmental, targeted offering. You can actually buy and sell boxes, so there is a cost involved, but you can buy them for much less than brand new, and you can sell them and earn a little money if you have some to get rid of. It keeps the boxes out of landfills and fulfills the "reuse" category of reduce, reuse, recycle.

Help spread the word! I looked for boxes in the Memphis area and didn't find any listings, so let's get this going. (In the meantime, boxes can be Freecycled or listed on Craig's List.)

Volunteer Expo

In the spirit of a volunteer fair, more than 90 Mid-South nonprofit organizations, including MLGW, will be on hand at the 2009 Volunteer Expo for community members to learn about the nonprofit's programs and volunteer opportunities.

Co-sponsored by Volunteer Mid-South and MPACT Memphis, the Volunteer Expo will be held Thursday, February 26th from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Oak Court Mall.

The Expo will be free to community members. Whether you're interested in volunteer opportunities, becoming a board member, researching which nonprofit you want to donate to, or just interested in what your community has to offer, make sure you come. No reservations are required, and come as you are! Children, teens, families, youth groups, community groups, and church groups are welcome!

For more information on this event, visit VolunteerMemphis.org or call Volunteer Mid-South at 523-2425 or MPACT at 528-8340.

Lamar Alexander on the TVA Spill

Tennessee Valley Authority and the public should rethink the use of coal to make electricity, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said Thursday after meeting with TVA officials according to Business Week...

Alexander says TVA, public should rethink coal use
By BETH RUCKER

A huge coal ash spill in Tennessee should make the Tennessee Valley Authority and the public rethink the use of coal to make electricity, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said Thursday after meeting with TVA officials.

"What we need to do, it seems to me, is to make sure that the coal that we burn is burned safely and is burned as cleanly as possible, and that may cost more money and it may mean some changes in procedure," Alexander said while touring the Kingston Fossil Plant spill site.

"It may mean we need to move more rapidly toward different ways of producing electricity, specifically, nuclear power, a lot more conservation and -- where we can -- renewable energy," said the Tennessee Republican, who also met with area residents.

Alexander, who is co-chairman of the TVA congressional caucus, said coal must still be a primary source for electricity for the foreseeable future because it is one of the most affordable energy sources and provides many jobs in Tennessee.

It's one reason why TVA, which produces about 60 percent of its power from coal, can offer relatively low electric rates to some 8.8 million consumers in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The average residential electric bill in the TVA region is $96 a month.

"It's important to be realistic about the cost of electricity," Alexander said. "TVA rates went up some this last winter, but our rates are still generally lower than most other parts of the country. One of the things we've got to keep in mind is that we not only need clean electricity but we need low rates to keep our jobs and be able to afford our bills."

TVA has said cleaning up the 5.4 million cubic yards of ash that surged into a river and neighborhood near the Kingston plant in December will take many months and cost up to $825 million, excluding fines and litigation.

Alexander said it was TVA's primary responsibility to shoulder the burden for the cost of cleanup.

TVA Chairman Bill Sansom has said TVA will not seek help from Washington.

"If there are options for federal funding I'll be glad to pursue them, but I don't want to just lead ratepayers into thinking there's some magic place in the sky where money comes to help clean up mistakes like this," Alexander said.

The senator said the families whose homes were destroyed were looking to move away from the site of the spill but have not come to an agreement with TVA on the value of their properties. TVA has bought about 20 properties so far and is negotiating to buy about 20 others.

Alexander met with several of the families when they traveled to Washington to attend a Jan. 7 Senate hearing regarding the spill and has kept in contact with them.

"TVA needs to make the families and Roane County whole, and I believe TVA is trying to do that," he said.

Stimulating Projects in the News

From today's Commercial Appeal...

Stimulus expected to boost Memphis-area energy projects; Incentives to aid turbine, solar efforts in Mid-South

Perched on one of the world's major rivers and home to one of the nation's largest solar-power manufacturers, Memphis is uniquely poised to benefit from renewable-energy incentives in the economic-stimulus bill, industry officials say.

The legislation, signed last week by President Barack Obama, contains an array of tax credits, loan guarantees and grants that should prove a boon both to the Sharp Manufacturing Co. of America plant on Mendenhall and proposed turbine projects designed to harness the Mississippi River's natural current.

"With the stimulus, we have everything we need to grow very quickly ...," said Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp's Solar Energy Solutions Group. "This is our takeoff period."

Proponents of initiatives to install networks of power-generating turbines in the Mississippi, including at a site along Memphis' riverfront, were equally elated with the stimulus package.

"It's a major victory for us and for hydro power in general," said Jon Guidroz, director of project development for Free Flow Power Corp., one of three companies that has received preliminary federal permits to pursue so-called hydrokinetic projects in the Mississippi.

Formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus bill is designed to boost renewable energy on both the supply and demand sides. It includes a 30 percent investment tax credit to help offset the costs of installing renewable projects, similar tax credits for equipment manufacturers and purchasers, $6 billion in loan guarantees and billions more in grants and research and development funding.

To underscore the vital role of renewable energy in his agenda, Obama toured solar facilities at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, selected as the site for last week's bill-signing. The symbolism wasn't lost on industry proponents.

"We're out of the basement and in the front-row seats," Kenedi said.

At Sharp's Memphis plant, 230 employees already are at work producing enough solar panels each year to generate 90 megawatts of electricity. That capacity places it among the top three manufacturing facilities in the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Although he declined to offer any specific pledges, Kenedi said that with the stimulus bill the plant is almost certain to expand significantly in the near future.

"As the market grows, we'll increase our capacity," he said.

That growth appears almost certain. The U.S. solar market has been expanding at rates of around 45 percent annually.

With help from the stimulus bill, the solar industry is projected to create 110,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, over the next two years, according to the SEIA.

"I think there are big opportunities for cities like Memphis," said Monique Hanis, spokeswoman for the industry group.

But because solar power still costs much more to generate than most conventional energy sources, additional federal policy initiatives might be needed to help the industry "scale up" and become more competitive, Hanis said.

In addition to Sharp, other beneficiaries of the solar boon include suppliers to the plant, such as AGC Flat Glass North America, the Kingsport, Tenn., maker of glass used in the solar panels. Its workforce now is likely to grow from 290 to close to 400, said Ed Wegener, a Bartlett native who manages the firm's North American strategic business unit.

"The stimulus bill is a huge policy shift in this country and will jump start renewables," Wegener said.

Most of the same stimulus bill components that benefit the solar industry also will help hydrokinetic energy projects.

Unlike traditional hydropower projects employing environmentally destructive dams or river diversions, the planned initiatives involve clusters of small turbines mounted on pilings, bridge piers or even barges where they spin like windmills in the natural current.

This week, the nation's first hydrokinetic project is expected to begin full operations in the Mississippi in Hastings, Minn.

Hydro Green Energy, the Houston-based firm that developed the Hastings project, also plans to build turbine clusters in the Lower Mississippi, including sites near Natchez and Vicksburg, Miss.

Hydro Green spokesman Mark Stover said the loan guarantees in the stimulus bill help provide financing for hydrokinetic projects in today's tight credit markets.

Massachusetts-based Free Flow Power plans the largest turbine array in the Mississippi between St. Louis and the Gulf of Mexico. Its 55 clusters would cost $3 billion and generate a total of 1,600 megawatts -- roughly twice the output of the Tennessee Valley Authority's local Allen Fossil Plant.

Memphis would be one of four "lead sites" for the company, Guidroz said.

Free Flow hopes to apply for its final license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2012 and break ground on the turbine project the following year. The network could create up to 4,000 jobs, including 1,200 just for operation and maintenance of the system, Guidroz said.

Survey Says...

One difference between MLGW and other utilities is that MLGW bills for all three services, plus City of Memphis Sewer Charges, Shelby County Mosquito/Rodent Control Fees and City of Memphis Storm Water Fees. Other utilities usually do not have these added fees, which are billed separately in their respective cities. Thus, the MLGW bill may sometimes be perceived as high because it includes so many services that are bill separately in other areas.

For example, the City of Austin recently conducted a survey of water rates for utilities in the U.S. MLGW had the lowest combined monthly water/wastewater residential bills of any of the 28 cities in the survey, which included Dallas, Atlanta, Louisville, Houston, Charlotte, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Seattle, Portland and San Diego. The average residential MLGW customer’s water and wastewater bill was $22.67, more than $75 per month cheaper than the average customer bill for Seattle!

In many cases, MLGW customers pay less than half what customers in other cities pay for water and wastewater.

Click to enlarge:


The Memphis Business Journal recently covered this: Memphians pay lowest water, wastewater rates.

EnergySmart Kickoff

Here's your chance to get a free TVA weatherization kit and maybe even $1000 in free utilities!

Community Leaders in Memphis and Shelby County are cordially invited to join MLGW in celebrating 70 years of service to the people of Shelby County with the expansion of the EnergySmart Memphis Initiative on Wednesday, March 11 at 11 a.m. at the Orpheum Theater. The day will feature the region’s largest energy conservation workshop and the opportunity for you to share your commitment to conservation and more importantly, learn how to save energy and money.

MLGW is asking you to join MLGW customers and staff, community leaders, power generators and suppliers, and other local and federal officials for this occasion which will provide a forum for all stakeholders to engage in a dialogue on how citizens of Memphis and Shelby County better manage energy consumption. The day will feature remarks from local leaders and an energy conservation workshop. Attendees of the workshop will receive a free energy conservation kit valued at $45 (courtesy of TVA.), and the first 50 customers will receive a free Hunter ceiling fan.


Drawings will also be held for the following prizes:

$1000 in free utilities (two drawings)
Free energy audit with $500 for energy efficiency improvements
$25 gas gift card
$25 Kroger gift card

EnergySmart Memphis is a partnership between MLGW and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) designed to educate customers and demonstrate ways to lower their energy usage through community-based workshops. TVA and MLGW also partnered with Shelby County and MIFA in a pilot project to make energy-related improvements to homes of MLGW customers who enrolled in the pilot and who met federal low-income guidelines.

Memphians consume more electricity per capita than any other city in the nation and Tennesseans rank second in electricity consumption in the United States. These statistics, coupled with the fact that 42.6% of customers in the MLGW service area have low to moderate incomes, make it critical for MLGW to communicate the message that customers can save energy while also saving money.

With the expansion of the program, MLGW and TVA hope to leverage additional resources to assist customers with minimizing their energy costs. The EnergySmart expansion will explore ways to meet growing energy demand, better manage increasing energy cost and reduce the impact of electricity generation on the environment. The goal is to reduce customers’ energy costs and therefore increase their disposable income, as well as reduce Shelby County’s carbon footprint.

The EnergySmart initiative is just one activity among many that the partners will undertake to assist customers with minimizing their energy consumption and costs. We look forwarding to seeing you on March 11th for this community forum. Call Viola Cage at 528-4887, or email vcage@mlgw.org, if you have questions or need additional information.

Solid Waste 411

Know when to put your trash on the curb, get recycling updates, be alerted to free mulch giveaways and more! Simply enter your email address here to begin receiving information.

Stimulus Package

Yesterday, President Obama signed the economic stimulus bill. The 1,000-plus page bill includes significant amounts for new energy efficiency programs. The Alliance to Save Energy has posted a summary of the energy conservation provisions on their website. Check it out here.

Photo by AP/Gerard Herbert

Here's How: Water Heater Blanket

Candice teams up with Chris to demonstrate how to put a water heater blanket on a water heater. The blanket insulates the heater, making it operate more efficiently. I helped my husband install ours, and I can attest to how easy it was. If you decide to do this, also consider lowering the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees or low.

TERRA House almost done!

From the Daily News...


State’s Greenest Home Set for Debut
ERIC SMITH | The Daily News

Ten days remain before TERRA house, the sustainable-design demonstration home in Uptown, is unveiled at a ribbon cutting, so Eric Criswell is making sure all the final touches are in place before the public gets a glimpse of what will be the “greenest” residence in Tennessee.

Criswell’s company, DPC Construction LLC, built the two-story, 1,842-square-foot home that was designed by students at the University of Memphis’ Center for Sustainable Design.

The TERRA home sits on an old park site at 586 N. Main St., at the northeast corner of Main and Greenlaw Avenue. It was designed to meet U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines, with hopes of garnering the organization’s highest level, platinum. It would be the first home in the state to accomplish that.

For Criswell, whose company incorporates numerous sustainable design concepts even when not aiming for LEED certification, getting the platinum designation would be an important milestone.

“As a company, we said if can take it to the platinum, let’s do it,” Criswell said. “If we achieve that, we’ll feel like we really achieved something.”

Greener than green

LEED certification can be bronze, silver, gold or platinum, with each level awarded based on a point system. Points are awarded on the sustainable products or techniques used for every phase of the home, from development and site selection to design and construction to how the consumer will use the home. That could include programmable thermostats, Energy Star appliances and gray-water reclamation systems.

TERRA house is green from A to Z.

First is site selection: TERRA’s Uptown address is a walkable location near public transportation and other amenities, reducing the need to drive everywhere; also, the home’s roof is angled so the sun will hit the solar panels.

Next is the use of sustainable materials: patio brick was reclaimed from a project in St. Louis; kitchen cabinets and floors are made of renewable bamboo; compact fluorescent lighting is used throughout the home; glass from recycled bottles is used in the concrete for the countertops and kitchen table; and the sheetrock is 99 percent post consumer recycled content.

As for energy consumption: insulating concrete form (ICF) walls make the building envelope more efficient; solar panels generate half of the home’s energy; a high-efficiency HVAC system and tankless hot water heater have been installed; and the bathrooms feature dual-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads.

Lastly, the home will feature green principles such as extensive shading on the property to cool the home, plus a gray-water reclamation system that takes drainage water from a sink or shower and sends it to a sump pump, which then feeds that water, now non-potable, back into the toilet tank.

Savings

The home is listed for $200,000 with Henry Turley Realtors. Criswell said prospective buyers should, when looking at the cost of the home, consider the savings they’ll see in their utility bills. Not only will the home have a smaller carbon footprint and be better for the earth, but because it is more efficient to operate, the water, electricity and gas charges will be much lower than a non-green home.

“You have to look at it over time or you’ll never come to the conclusion that it makes sense,” said Criswell, adding that the home also is being built to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division’s EcoBUILD standards.

Criswell said DPC – whose other principals are Marshall Davis and Gerry Patrkios – was thrilled to build this sustainable home. The company already considers itself a green builder, incorporating five sustainable components for all its projects, regardless of whether or not it aims for LEED certification.

Criswell said DPC always builds with insulated concrete form (ICF) walls; low emissivity (Low-E) glass windows (which have a coating that blocks ultraviolet light); spray foam insulation; a tankless water heater; and a high-efficiency HVAC system.

DPC has put its green savvy to work on plenty of other projects, including the sustainable La Quinta Inns and Suites being built near Wolfchase Galleria and Justin Timberlake’s Big Creek Golf Course in Millington.

“We’ve entrenched ourselves into green building and green projects,” Criswell said.

Follow the leader

Jim Lutz is the former U of M architecture professor who oversaw the design process of the TERRA home. He now lives and works in Minnesota, although he has been following the final months of construction via streaming webcam. He said he can’t wait to fly back to Memphis for the ribbon cutting.

“It’s been a long time in the making, and it’s very exciting to see the project come to fruition,” Lutz said.

More than anything, Lutz has been overjoyed with how word of the TERRA house has spread, helping others learn more about sustainable building. He constantly hears from people who read an article about the home and drove through Uptown to check it out. He knows that is one of the best ways to share the benefits of green building – and he hopes the home compels others to follow suit.

“That was one of its original purposes, to sort of inspire people to think about building sustainably, and I think it’s been pretty successful in doing that,” Lutz said. “Once we have the ribbon cutting and more people find out about it and have the chance to go through it, I expect that to pick up even more.”

Here's How: Caulking

Here, Candice shows us how easy it is to caulk windows to prevent air infiltration.

Insulation

Keep all that warm air inside! Candace Spicer shows you how easy it is to add insulation to your attic:



Stay tuned for more videos.

Goodbye Yellow Pages, Hello Green Pages?

How many phone books do you reckon you have in your house? When was the last time you used one? When you get a new one, what do you do with the old one? Recycle it? Ever wondered how many people just chunk theirs in the trash?

According to Cleveland.com business news, Ohio state legislators just gave AT&T permission to stop throwing white pages on everyone's doorstep. Now Ohioans will have to request one. AT&T, clearly looking to cut costs, cited high cell phone usage and online services as reasons to quit the free white pages service. However, they still plan to print the Yellow Pages, which is paid for by advertising. Various yellow and white pages organizations deliver over 540 million unsolicited books every year!

Groups like Yellow Pages Goes Green are fighting to eliminate all Yellow Pages. They offer an opt out form as well as some interesting FAQs.

Personally, I think the calling and requesting approach will lead to a lot less waste, but opting out is better than nothing. But just so you know, you can recycle your unused phone books curbside thanks to the City of Memphis' excellent program.


Community Clean Sweep, a nonprofit recycling company, is in charge of Kern County's annual phone book drive, a 17-year tradition in Bakersfield, California. In 2007, local students lined up 1066 phone books and knocked them down domino style to raise awareness of the recycling program.

I thought this was a pretty cute idea, but unfortunately, they used new rather than old phone books for the event. (I can only assume the phone books were later distributed to households, but this event would have been more impressive, although admittedly, more challenging, if the 1066 phone books were old ones being donated for recycling rather than news ones donated by AT&T for free press.)

Online Shopping Vs. Going to the Mall

Treehugger has a great featured called "This vs. That: Understanding the Grey Areas of Green." Today they take a look at online shopping versus going to the mall. It's a must read!


When it comes to the way we procure the goods we use in our lives, there are some mixed messages out there. Buying local is advertised as a green way to go -- and it can be -- but so is acquiring stuff with minimal shipping and transportation. Shopping online is fast, convenient, and your stuff comes right to your door -- no car trips required; shopping in local brick 'n mortar stores supports your community, and may not require much (or any) driving either. So, which is the greener way to shop?

Click here to read the full article!

TVA in the News

There's good news and bad news. Electric rates are going down and TVA executives are taking pay cuts, but the Kingston spill clean up will be subsidized by rate payers. Read all about it here.

Give Comfort

MLGW's Gift of Comfort program could be the perfect gift for your Valentine or a loved one who is having trouble keeping up with their utility costs. The Gift of Comfort is a program that provides a means for individuals in the community to make a payment towards a customer's utility bill as a gift.

Gift of Comfort brochures are available at all MLGW community offices and can be downloaded here. To give this gift, you only need to know the recipient's address. Gifts can be purchased in any amount and will appear as a credit on the recipient's bill. Donations can be made anonymously (a secret Valentine) or a portion of the certificate can be detached and presented to the recipient.

Photo by Romeo's Mom

Kiss Hunger Goodbye

Send something really sweet this Valentine's Day - a kiss from Heifer Project, International. Choose one of their animal gifts and send an animated Valentine's Day e-card for your honoree. What heart could resist a lovely llama, enchanting heifer or gorgeous goat?

When you kiss hunger goodbye, you're giving a gift that changes entire communities. In addition to livestock, Heifer provides training in animal care, environmental sustainability and other useful tools, making the gifts a holistic approach to lasting change. And because recipients "Pass on the Gift" of animals and training, Heifer gifts last far longer than chocolate candies, flowers and other traditional Valentine's tokens. In fact, for over 60 years, Heifer's sustainable model has enabled more than 10.5 million families to achieve lasting change.


Want to do something locally? Stop by the MIFA Store and pick out a present for your sweetie. Proceeds from your purchases benefit MIFA programs. A purchase of:

$1 helps provide a well-balanced meal for a homebound senior;

$5 helps provide transportation for a senior to pharmacies and doctors' appointments;

$7.50 helps provide a companion to help a senior with tasks and activities;

$10 helps restore utilities for a family in crisis;

$15 helps volunteers build a ramp for a disabled senior;

$20 helps provide an at-risk teen with job training, mentoring, and higher education; and

$25 helps shelter, counsel, and train a homeless family so they can live productively.

The MIFA Store has been recently renovated and today they are celebrating with popcorn, hot dogs and special gifts with purchase including coupons and gift certificates for free merchandise!

The Great Backyard Bird Count

While in Mexico last weekend, my co-worker spotted a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. Over the next few days, everyone should be looking for birds!

JOIN THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
Count for Fun, Count for the Future

Nature fans throughout North America are invited to join tens of thousands of everyday bird watchers for the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 13-16, 2009.

A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this free event is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation. Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

“The Great Backyard Bird Count benefits both birds and people. It’s a great example of citizen science: Anyone who can identify even a few species can contribute to the body of knowledge that is used to inform conservation efforts to protect birds and biodiversity,” said Audubon Education VP, Judy Braus. “Families, teachers, children and all those who take part in GBBC get a chance to improve their observation skills, enjoy nature, and have a great time counting for fun, counting for the future.”

Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards—whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away. Additional online resources include tips to help identify birds, a photo gallery, and special materials for educators.

The data these “citizen scientists” collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years. In 2008, participants submitted more than 85,000 checklists.

Each year, in addition to entering their tallies, participants submit thousands of digital images for the GBBC photo contest. Many are featured in the popular online gallery. Participants in the 2009 count are also invited to upload their bird videos to YouTube; some will also be featured on the GBBC web site. Visit www.birdcount.org to learn more.

Businesses, schools, nature clubs, Scout troops, and other community organizations interested in the GBBC can contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473 (outside the U.S., call (607) 254-2473), or Audubon at citizenscience@audubon.org or (202) 861-2242, Ext 3050.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by support from Wild Birds Unlimited.

Energy Smart Library

I was poking around our website and came across a great resource...


The ENERGYsmart Library is your online source for information about energy topics and technologies to learn more about the energy used in your home. This incredible resource has information on the different kinds of heating and cooling units you can buy as well as detailed information on lighting, weatherization, food storage, and water heating/laundry. Check it out!

Apples and Oranges

So, let's talk high bills. Some of the main reasons this winter are TVA's 9.1 rate increase, the more than 20 percent fuel cost adjustment, extra long billing cycles, and the extra cold weather.

For example, my last bill was for a 34 day billing period, compared to 30 for last month. Also looking at my bill, I can see that this time last year the average temperature was 45, rather than 43.

What I can't figure out is how I managed to use 885 more kW. Time to check my thermostat settings, cut down on the hot showers and baths, and change the filter!

Now, having said this, when I talk to other people about their bills, there's something else that seems to get lost in the mix. There's a lot more to your utility bill than just light, gas, and water.

Looking over my own bill, there are the following charges:

Gas
Electric
Water
Green Power Switch (this is optional)
City of Memphis Sewer Charge
Shelby County Mosquito/Rodent Control Fee
City of Memphis Storm Water Fee

I think a lot people forget just how many things they are paying for when they pay their MLGW bill.

Some people are also charged fees for fire service, depending on where they live. If you don't pay your bill in full, you may have carry over charges and/or late charges. If you bounce a check, there could be a charge for non-sufficient funds. If you've recently moved there could be a connection fee. Also, if you've been cut-off recently, there might be a reconnection fee plus an additional deposit charge.

So, my advice? Look closely at your individual charges, look at how long the billing period was, compare the temperature to last year's, and think about some changes that you could make that would translate into savings on your bill. See more tips here.

Also when talking to people who live outside of the MLGW service area, find out exactly what they are being billed for. There are a lot of cities that have separate providers for electricity, gas, and water.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Inside MLGW's Customer Care Center

Today's Commercial Appeal has a story on our call center. It's in response to the recent J.D. Power & Associates survey of business customers that ranked MLGW last for customer service. One point that seems to be getting lost is that the J.D. Power rating was for business customers, not residential. It was also the first year we had ever been included in this particular survey. There are a number of things that MLGW is doing to address this survey and customer service as a whole. This is a nice article that gives the reader a peek into the CCC and also gives an overview of what we're trying to accomplish customer service wise.


Quality push is on for customer satisfaction at MLGW
By Daniel Connolly

Wanda Jones is a 46-year-old grandmother with short gray hair who uses simple, direct questions to control her telephone conversations with customers of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division. Her supervisors say she handles more customers than most of her peers in the call center.

They ought to know: MLGW managers track telephone performance obsessively. Computers can spit out graphs of everything from call volume per year (1.6 million in 2008, mostly on billing and credit questions) to calls handled per person per hour (10 is about average.)

This attention to calls reflects the utility's efforts to improve its customer satisfaction scores.

Negative public perceptions about MLGW spiked in 2007, when the federal government accused then-CEO Joseph Lee III of trading illegal favors with then-City Council member Edmund Ford.

The government later dropped the charges, and today's MLGW president, Jerry Collins, says improving customer satisfaction is a high priority.

There's a lot of work to do. Just last week, a J.D. Power and Associates survey ranked MLGW 90th of 90 major utilities surveyed in terms of the satisfaction of business customers.

MLGW employees say despite the perception, they do well when it comes to the basics -- like keeping the lights on.

"It's a really interesting paradox," said Chris Bieber, who oversees the call center and other operations for MLGW. "Our reliability is extremely good relative to other utilities, but our customers don't think so."

Cliff DeBerry Jr., MLGW's director of performance, said the utility also has better prices than most competitors.

He said the utility is taking many steps to improve perceptions, including providing more information during power outages and helping people lower their utility bills through energy conservation.

MLGW has also cut down the amount of time people have to wait on the phone when they call to ask about billing inquiries or other matters.

"That was big, and we think those things will improve the J.D. Power score," DeBerry said.

To cut hold times, MLGW has hired phone operators to work during busy periods, by routing routine calls through an automatic system, and urging employees to enforce credit policies consistently so they won't call around to get the answer they want, Bieber said.

Operators are also encouraged to keep calls short, and Jones is good at this.

One caller said she needed someone to see if a light fixture damaged by a water leak was safe to use.

"I'll have somebody check it for you," Jones said. She finished the call in seconds and made a note in her computer.

A call involving a debt of $922.98 took longer, and ended with Jones telling the customer she had to pay $525 or face cutoff.

Another call came from a woman with a complex story of how her sister ran up charges in her name.

"Am I making sense?" she asked at one point. "Well, sort of," Jones answered.

"Now my bill is jacked up!" said the caller, who owed $1,787.49. She had forfeited a chance at mercy when a payment check bounced, and after a long, halting conversation, she hung up.

Jones said some of most difficult calls are from people who complain that MLGW misread their meter and overcharged them. One way to make the customer happy and make life easier for the utility is to convince the person that the reading was correct.

"I offer them meter-reading instructions," she said. "And lately when they do that, they'll settle for that."

--Daniel Connolly: 529-5296

Taking the calls

About 150 people work at MLGW's call center, at 1655 Whitten in eastern Shelby County. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The utility has six bilingual operators who can handle calls in Spanish.

About 70 percent of callers wish to make payment arrangements for their bills. Other callers wish to report emergencies such as gas leaks or other emergencies. They also make routine inquiries.

This year, the utility aims to answer 90 percent of calls within one minute or less.

CFLs, Bag Monsters, and Insulation...Oh My!

I've been trying to give our MLGW Facebook page as much attention as I'm giving our blog. If you haven't visited it lately, take a peek.

The big news though is that I learned how to create an application that allows Facebook users to send each other virtual energy saving tools. Tools you can send include a CFL, a Bag Monster, insulation, a TVA kit, an Energy Smart kit, a visit from the Energy Dr., storm windows, reusable water bottles, tankless water heaters, and more.

It's fun! If you are on Facebook, give it a try!

MLGW Energy Saving Tools Application

Now, I know some people are wary of applications because in order for them to work, you have allow the application to access your personal information. My understanding is that is because it needs to update your profile with your items, notify people when you send them something, etc. MLGW does not gain access to any of your personal information. This application is just for fun and will hopefully get people thinking about things they can do to make their homes more efficient and possibly inspire them to change some energy wasting habits. The application page has explanations of each item and information about it saves energy.

Art Contest

This year, MLGW created a poster contest for Memphis City School students. The theme was "Saving Energy." Every MCS art teacher received information on the contest. We received 44 entries from five different schools. Prizes were awarded in two categories: K-5 and 6-8. Unfortunately, we didn't receive any entries in the 9-12 category.

Emily Walls, who is the art teacher at Berclair Elementary, really got into the contest. She had Andrew Couch, formerly of the West Tennessee Clean Cities Coalition, come do his presentation on alternative and energy-efficiency. It really inspired the students when it came time to get to work.

Two of Emily's students won first prize in their age group, and three out of four of our honorable mentions came from Emily's class. Emily and her students attended the MLGW board meeting yesterday to accept their awards (and have their picture taken with CEO Jerry Collins and Board Chair V. Lynn Evans).

Cameron Doty won first prize in the K-5 category:


Emily Wells' students won 1st place in two categories:


Kelsey Moore won first prize in the 6-8 category:


Each student received an energy saving kit and a $125 VISA gift card. Emily received an energy saving kit and a $125 gift card to the Art Center for each winning entry. Emily plans to use some of her Art Center money to do a reusable shopping bag project with the students.

MLGW plans to hold the contest again next year, so stay tuned!

Keeping Up with the Joneses

When my kids get smiley face stickers at school, they are ecstatic. Can smiley faces work for adults, too? The New York Times has a story about SMUD's (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) successful energy-efficiency program that taps into Americans' natural competitiveness...and uses smiley faces as a reward.

Last April, [SMUD] began sending out statements to 35,000 randomly selected customers, rating them on their energy use compared with that of neighbors in 100 homes of similar size that used the same heating fuel. The customers were also compared with the 20 neighbors who were especially efficient in saving energy.

Customers who scored high earned two smiley faces on their statements. “Good” conservation got a single smiley face.

The approach has now been picked up by utilities in 10 major metropolitan areas eager to reap rewards through increased efficiencies, including Chicago and Seattle, according to Positive Energy, the software company that conceived of the reports and contracts to produce them.

It's a really fascinating concept. Read the full story: Utilities Turn Their Customers Green, With Envy.

When you're done reading, tell us what you think. Would this work in Memphis?

2000 Watt Society

Good Magazine has a great article about the 2,000 Watt Society. What is the 2,000 Watt Society you ask? In a nutshell, they propose that everyone use their fair share of energy--2,000 Watts. A lot of people in other parts of the world use a lot less than this, but the average American uses 12,000. TWELVE THOUSAND.

I've excerpted some of the article below, but you can read the full story here.


A particularly distressing factor in the ranking is the data about energy use by country. Bangladeshis, for example, use about about 380 watts per person; Africans are a blip above that; the Chinese: 1,500; Western Europeans: 6,000. Americans, meanwhile, use more than twice what even Europeans use: 12,000 watts per person. The biggest obstacle in curbing energy use, says Roland Stultz, the director of the 2,000 Watt Society since 2001, is human behavior. “It’s what we call trägheit—being stuck in the old way of thinking. The majority of people don’t want to change their way of life, even if the new way is no less comfortable. Until it starts hurting, like gasoline getting expensive, people don’t like change.”

A word about the comfort thing: According to the numbers, the people of Basel use less than half the amount of energy I—and other over-air-conditioned Americans—do. So it follows that they should be about half as comfortable. But walking around Basel, riding their trams, visiting their warm homes, drinking mocha lattes in their cafes, it was hard to imagine these people were suffering.For Stultz, this is the point: “No one is suggesting we go back to the Stone Age,” he says. “It’s about responsibility and fairness.” Stultz, who was trained as an architect, has spent most of career tracking sustainability in developing countries. “Climate change is only hurting the people who did not contribute to the problem—the floods, rising sea levels, droughts,” he says.

“We’ve become megalomaniacs,” says Hans Ruh, an environmental ethicist who works with the Society. “We’ve overstepped our borders, produced a disaster, and refuse to face the music. These are ethical questions: How much is one human being allowed to use? How do we distribute the benefits and the risks? How do we deal with nature?” Humans are the only species to ever produce garbage, and, says Ruh, it is our moral duty to work with the natural world."

Good News for Renters!

Yesterday the City Council unanimously passes MLGW rental ordinance. Today's CA has a nice write up, which I've pasted below. But first, here are a few details from the City Council meeting that the story didn't cover:

Landlords will be given five days notice when an inspection is done because a computer determined high energy usage in the apartment complex. MLGW will then meet with the landlord to go through any units to determine if there is an issue.

The owner would be notified in the computer generated high energy usage notification. (Multiple units, not just one, trigger the high energy usage notification.) The owner can contact the tenant in order to get into a particular unit. However, tenants can also call MLGW directly for an inspection.

After the landlords are notified, they are given a period of time to make repairs. They are only cited if the Environmental Court determines that they are in violation of the ordinance.

New Memphis law requires rental properties be more energy-efficient
By Daniel Connolly, Amos Maki

Landlords must now protect tenants against major energy-wasting defects such as leaky pipes and holes in walls, according to new ordinance passed unanimously by the Memphis City Council on Tuesday.

The ordinance, proposed by Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division president Jerry Collins won praise from council members and community activists.

"I see this ordinance as an extremely positive step," said Webb Brewer of Memphis Area Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm providing help to the poor.

Some landlords had criticized the ordinance at a meeting last year, but there was no opposition Tuesday. The two sides had reached agreement on the language of the ordinance.

"I think it shows the way government is supposed to work," said Dexter Muller, senior vice president for community development at the Greater Memphis Chamber, which represented some of the city's landlords.

He said he had been meeting with Collins on the issue since January 2008.

Collins, who pushed the ordinance as part of a broader effort to encourage Memphians to save energy, said MLGW had made several changes to the ordinance after talks with landlords and that the result was a better law.

"I'm very encouraged," he said. "It looks like hope is on the way for people that live in rental properties that have very high utility bills."

Some Memphians live in rented housing that lacks basic amenities such as a working furnace, Collins has said. The result is that they sometimes resort to methods such as using a gas stove to heat a building.

This wastes energy and leaves the tenant stuck with a big utility bill.

Emily Trenholm, executive director of the Community Development Council of Greater Memphis, said she had seen clients with rent as low as $200 with a utility bill as high as $700.

"I think it's great that MLGW met with community-based organizations as well as the landlords to reach a consensus on this," she said.

Collins said the new rules would focus on "the most egregious problems you would find in rental housing."

Here's how the new rules will be implemented starting later this month:

MLGW will start advertising the new rules through mailings to customers and other methods and tenants will start filing complaints.

Based on these complaints, three or more MLGW inspectors will check problem properties. The inspectors might check some properties for other reasons.

Collins said he believes the inspectors will carry out "thousands" of inspections per year.

In most cases, the inspectors will aim to tour the property when the landlord is there.

The landlord will have time to correct the problem. If he or she doesn't correct it, MLGW will take the matter to environmental court. The court can fine the landlord $50 per day until the matter is resolved.

MLGW would also charge a $25 inspection fee.

Following discussion with with landlords, MLGW agreed that it would only levee this fee if the property owner was found liable in environmental court.

Maintenance list

Here's a partial list of the energy-saving items required under the new city ordinance:

-- Windows must be properly glazed.

-- Pipes and wire entries into the building must be sealed properly from the outside.

-- Attics must be insulated.

-- Heating and cooling equipment (if the landlord provided it) must be working.

-- Plumbing must be free of leaks.

Nashvillians Blame Their Plasma TVs

Nashville Electric is still getting a lot of negative publicity for high utility bills, but here's an interesting twist. A review by an independent electrical engineer shows that, if anything, the meters are erring in the customer's favor.

There is no way for the utility companies to speed them up or for the customers to slow them down, said Ralph Parsons, an electrical engineer and adjunct Tennessee State University professor who reviewed several bills.

"Meters are fairly accurate," said Parsons, a project manager for Parsons Engineering Inc. in Nashville. "I tested meters, and they never speed up. They slow down when friction wears on the bearings."

There's also some speculation that plasma TVs (in combination with the Tennessee Valley Authority's 9.1 rate increase, the more than 20 percent fuel cost adjustment, and extra days tacked on to bills and the cold weather) could be part of the problem too.

Read the story: High electric bills match power used.

PHOTO CREDIT: LARRY MCCORMACK / THE TENNESSEAN

The Toxic Truth about CFLs!

Yesterday, Channel 3 ran a story called The Toxic Truth about CFLs. This catchy title is sure to get some people's hearts beating a bit faster.

Here are some calming facts:


1. CFLs contain about 5mg of mercury
2. If they break, you need to follow these guidelines
3. When they burn out, you need to either dispose of them at the Hazardous Waste facility near Shelby Farms on Saturday or Tuesday between 8:30am-1:00pm or at an area Home Depot.

Now, keep in mind CFLs last about two years, so you won't have the disposal issue coming up too often. What I do is keep my burned out bulbs in a box. When I get a good amount, I make one trip to Home Depot, or the waste facility. (I also take my other items that shouldn't go in the trash like batteries, miscellaneous electronics, etc.)

I have only had one CFL break, and it was actually already broken when I opened the box. I placed the box in a plastic bag and secured it, then added it to my used CFL collection box.

But I think the story raises a good point. Not everyone realizes that CFLs need to be disposed of at a waste or recycling facility. So please help spread the word!

Image courtesy of Puget Sound Energy

Community Conservation Day Today

Stop by an MLGW office today (except Millington!) and receive a free energy conservation kit!

A Strong Middle Class

Now's your chance to weigh in on the future of America's middle class. What sort of green jobs do you want to see? What infrastructure should be fixed? Joe Biden wants to know!

This is from MSNBC...

President Obama announced the creation of a task force to boost the economic fortunes of American's faltering middle class. Its first order of business will be to find ways to create more jobs in areas that pay well, reduce pollution and lessen America's reliance on foreign oil.

Have an idea? The administration wants to hear from you. Submit your ideas here.

The president appointed Vice President Joe Biden to lead the task force, which will hold monthly meetings, the first in Philadelphia on Feb. 27.

Obama said his economic stimulus plan now before Congress would double renewable energy to about 10 percent of the nation's total production, and would create 3 million jobs, many of those in green industries.


From energy grid to insulated homes
Some industries are primed for green jobs: Utilities could enlist workers to build a more powerful and efficient energy grid, and developers could build more energy efficient homes, offices and schools by weatherizing them or building new structures to green codes.

Traditional jobs also could be retooled to go green. For instance, the automotive industry could build vehicles less dependent on, or independent of, fossil fuels, which are tied to global warming, and oil from the Middle East.

While the Senate is still working on its stimulus bill, the House this week passed much of Obama's package, approving $80 billion in clean energy funding: $38 billion for energy efficiency, $28 billion for renewable energy and $15 billion for public transit and clean transportation.

Backers say $6 billion for weatherization, which falls under energy efficiency, would generate 465,000 jobs and insulate 2 million homes.

Biden defended Obama's approach, saying green jobs "pay well, can't be outsourced and will help us move to a cleaner, more self-sufficient energy future."

A White House statement touted other advantages, including lower energy bills, which would leave Americans with more disposable income.

From the Wires

Pun intended...har har...


Donnie Peete, a lineman with Memphis Light Gas and Water, works to restore power Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, in Mayfield, Ky. More than half a million homes and businesses, most of them in Kentucky, remained without electricity following a powerful winter storm, though temperatures creeping into the 40s helped a swarm of utility workers make headway in restoring power.
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Bird on a Limb

While researching the Kentucky outages, I came across a couple of pictures of our feathered friends that I wanted to share.

This robin almost looks frozen in air!


Photo: Associated Press

This cardinal looks a little confused.


Photo: Terry Prather Apbuyitnow