Don't Forget to Fall Back!

Daylight Saving Time is ending this Saturday night. I guess the good news is that you get an extra hour to enjoy your post Trick-or-Treating candy coma. The bad news is that it's going to be dark earlier and longer. Now is the perfect time to swap out those old incandescent bulbs for energy saving fluorescent ones!

FYI, the reason for the inception of Daylight Saving Time was to save energy!

It was originally believed that maximizing sunlight would minimize the electricity needed for artificial lighting. This notion is still up for debate, mainly due to the increased usage of air conditioning in the summer months. However, many (including myself) would argue that Daylight Saving Time has numerous other benefits.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. to start at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November beginning in 2007, though Congress retained the right to revert to the 1986 law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings are not significant.

So, if you are like me and you love Daylight Saving Time, you now have another reason to conserve energy! When you reset your clocks this weekend, be sure and reset your programmable thermostats as well! (WE recommend 68 or lower this winter. 60 while you are asleep or away for more than 4 hours.)

To know more than you ever dreamed possible about Daylight Saving Time, click here.

Watch out for the Bag Monster!

Watch out for the Bag Monster this Halloween! Yours could be hiding in a drawer, under the sink, or in the pantry! The best way to avoid it is to reduce, reuse, and recycle the plastic bags that come into your life.


Reducing
BYOB--Bring Your Own Bag! Say no to plastic. Chico Bags are especially awesome because they fit in your purse, can hold a lot of stuff, and are inexpensive. But these days there are a lot of options when it comes to sporting your own bag. Many stores sell their own bags, as do websites, and styles, colors, and sizes run the gamut.

Reusing
The reason most people have a bag monster of their own at home is because sometimes those little plastic bags come in handy. As much as I try to avoid getting plastic bags at stores, I still end up with some at home. I use them to line smaller trash cans, clean out the litter box, pick up dog poop, etc.

Recycle
You can recycle plastic bags at all area Schnuck's. This is a great way to get rid of not only grocery bags, but all of the other plastic bags that are used with other products, like bread, newspapers, etc. Kroger and other stores like Wal-Mart also offer recycling, but I believe it is only for their own brand of plastic bags. If you shop at these stores often, then just keep your bags sorted.

The best news of all though is that all #2 plastic bags can be recycled through the City of Memphis' curbside recycling program. BUT they must be stuffed inside of another hard plastic #2 container. (Think laundry detergent, cat food, coffee, etc.) Most grocery bags are #2 and are clearly labeled. So get a nice #2 container, stuff your bag monster in it, and recycle it at home!

Halloween Honey

I stole this idea from the latest issue of Edible Memphis. Instead of candy, we're giving out honey straws from Peace Bee Farm this year. My kids love them! It isn't too late to get yours at the Memphis Farmer's Market Saturday morning.

Pumpkin Face

Carved your pumpkin yet? Why not personalize it with your face? (Or someone else's!) Pumpkins are more environmentally friendly than plastic decorations. (If you have them try and use them over and over and over again!)

AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki

Directions, by way of Planet Green and Instructables...

1. Find your photo.
2. Adjust the brightness/contrast on your computer so make the edges very solid and clear.
3. Print out the picture. (Try to use recycled paper or scrap paper)
4. Start carving! Tape your pattern to the pumpkin. (And please, try to find organically grown pumpkins!)
5. Cut out all that is white.
6. Shave down all that is gray.
7. Leave all that is black.
8. Empty the inside.
9. Light it up by placing a candle inside.
10. Enjoy!

Smart Grid: Confused yet?

Yesterday afternoon, MLGW sent out a news release announcing that we had received a federal grant of over $5 million to bring some Smart Grid enhancements to the downtown and Medical Center areas. This grant was separate from the one that MLGW was seeking in order to install smart meters for a portion of its service territory, and the enhancements that will come from this grant do not include meters. The improvements resulting from this grant include increased monitoring and control of transformers and key circuits that feed downtown and the Medical Center.

Yesterday evening, MLGW was notified that the government had canceled the next phase of accepting applications for additional Smart Grid grants, meaning that MLGW must now reconsider the additional Smart Grid enhancements without federal funding.

Some key facts:

For the Downtown/Med Center Grant:
--MLGW is receiving $5 million in stimulus funds for this project
--This project will give MLGW monitoring and control capabilities for transformers and key circuits that feed the Downtown and Med Center area and help us improve reliability and response times for certain situations
--The improvements will give MLGW additional insight into potential electric grid problems before outages occur and allow significantly improved analysis to design and troubleshoot the system.
--No smart meter installation is included with this grant.
--No employees will be affected by this grant.
--The total cost of the upgrades is $10.5 million. The grant will cover about half of the cost, with MLGW paying the remaining costs.
--The project is built into the 2010 budget, which does not include any rate increases.

For the Smart Grid grant that we did not receive:
--The federal government has announced that it will no longer accept applications
--The government has awarded all of its stimulus funds for Smart Grid enhancements
--At this point, MLGW must analyze its Smart Grid possibilities without federal funding.

From today's Commercial Appeal:

MLGW's smart grid in doubt
Federal funding that utility was to use has been depleted, officials learn

The federal government has informed Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division that it has spent all the money in a key grant program, a disclosure that raises questions about the future of MLGW's "smart grid" plan, a utility spokesman said.

MLGW had planned to use federal grants and its own funds to purchase sophisticated in-home meters and other equipment in six Memphis ZIP codes: 38104, 38106, 38108, 38111, 38114 and 38122.

Some residents would receive digital displays that show them exactly how much energy they're using, or they could get the data through the Internet.

MLGW was in the process of collecting and reviewing plans submitted by interested contractors. But Tuesday's news may change those plans.

"At this point, we're going to have to sit down and look at what our next step is," MLGW spokesman Glen Thomas said.

The utility's 2010 budget included a total of $13.8 million for the project, with $6.8 million reimbursed through a federal grant.

The total cost of implementing the project throughout the area would be much greater. MLGW hasn't attempted to calculate the cost since 2006, when it concluded that $119 million would be needed just to replace all meters.

The smart-grid program has faced opposition from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers labor union, which complained of higher costs and potential job losses for meter-readers and others.

Union representative Bill Hawkins wasn't available Tuesday afternoon.

News that the federal grant program had ended came on the same day that MLGW announced it had won $5 million through a related grant program.

It plans to use the money for new equipment to monitor and control power distribution to Downtown and the Medical Center, Thomas said.

MLGW also plans to put more than $5 million of its own money into the project.

In a smart-grid system, utilities could automatically calculate how much power each customer has used, and perhaps even help the customer find out how much each appliance in the home uses.

The new meters would make it easier for utilities to charge customers different rates at different times, a step that would reduce the need for power plants that only switch on at peak demand.

In the far future, customers might even use batteries to store electricity at "cheap" night rates and resell the energy to suppliers at higher day rates.

At a meeting between City Council members and MLGW officials Tuesday, City Council chairman Harold Collins said he expects his colleagues will want to know more when the utility asks the council to approve its 2010 budget.

"I think there will be some serious questions about the smart-grid issue, how it will affect people in those ZIP codes," he said.

Sky Cottage

Local architect's home becomes first LEED Home in Shelby County

Sky Cottage, the residence of local architect Barry Yoakum, just received official certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making the 2,566-square-foot structure Shelby County's first home to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver designation.

MLGW provided EcoBUILD certification for Sky Cottage, as well as serving as the local green verifier for USGBC-required documentation. In addition to EcoBUILD requirements that helped meet energy efficiency criteria, Sky Cottage includes a wide variety of materials selected to achieve LEED points in areas such as site selection, use of local and regional building materials, indoor air quality and landscape irrigation.


The modern architecture of this three-story home, which features massive glass walls facing the Mississippi River, proves that green building can be achieved for any floorplan and architectural style. TERRA, the University of Memphis' demonstration house located in Uptown, also has submitted documentation and is awaiting LEED certification. TERRA was built to meet EcoBUILD, LEED and the American Lung Association's Health House standards.


EcoBUILD, MLGW's residential green building program, utilizes a prescriptive set of building standards, installation techniques, inspections and performance testing to yield a home that uses approximately 30% less energy than one built just to local code and typical practices. EcoBUILD has certified 523 homes in Shelby County since 2004, helping homeowners lower utility costs and reduce their carbon footprint through reduced emissions from power plants. Eight EcoBUILD-certifies homes are open for tours now through November 1 at the VESTA Home Show located in Arlington's Village of White Oak. Visit the Memphis Area Home Builders Association's website for details.

MLGW receives $5 million federal grant to begin Smart Grid upgrades

MLGW has received a federal grant to install a communication and control system in the electric grid serving the downtown and medical district areas. The system will enhance reliability in the area by giving MLGW additional insight into potential electric grid problems before outages occur and allow significantly improved analysis to design and troubleshoot the system.

The $5.063 million grant, announced today by President Obama, is part of the largest single power grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of projects designed to ease the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.

This grant only covers the communication infrastructure and reliability upgrades in the downtown and medical district areas, and does not include any installation of smart meters. In addition, no employees will be affected by this grant.

“We are ecstatic to receive this grant. It means that we will now have incredible insight into our electric grid. We will be able to see, measure and control the electric system like never before. This unique system is self healing, so it will significantly reduce most electric problems in the key downtown and medical center districts,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins, Jr.

The total cost of the upgrades is $10.5 million. The grant will cover about half of the cost, with MLGW paying the remaining costs. The project is built into the 2010 budget, which does not include any rate increases.

In addition to the MLGW grant, Knoxville Utilities Board received $3 million and The Electric Power Board of Chattanooga received $111 million for enhancements of their electric systems.

Recycle old tires and get $1 each

It doesn't sound like a lot of money, but hopefully this program will pay off. From today's Commercial Appeal...


Shelby County to combat illegal tire dumping with rewards, restrictions
By Daniel Connolly

To combat illegal tire dumping, the Shelby County Commission passed an ordinance Monday that puts new restrictions on tire businesses and pays people $1 for each discarded tire they turn in.

The commission's 9-0 vote sends the measure to acting Mayor Joyce Avery for her signature.

The Memphis City Council is considering a similar proposal.

The reward program will last one year, but the government could vote to renew it.

Citizens will likely jump at collecting the tires that litter vacant lots and other sites throughout Memphis, said Jeffrey T. Higgs, executive director of the Lemoyne-Owen College Community Development Corp., which aims to renew a blighted part of South Memphis.

"I think you're going to see some folks in pickup trucks who are going to go around picking up these tires," Higgs said.

The ordinance is meant to combat several problems. A major one is the illegal dumping of tires by truck drivers who are paid to take them to a recycling center.

Under the new rules, truck drivers will only be paid if they present proof that they disposed of tires properly. Businesses will be required to keep records of how they got rid of tires.

Another problem the ordinance is meant to address is the illegal resale of worn-out tires. Tire businesses will have to make waste tires unusable, probably by slashing them, said Commissioner Steve Mulroy, who sponsored the measure.

Among the ordinance's other requirements is that tire businesses must register with the city, pay a licensing fee, and be open to random inspections.

Those who break the rules -- for instance, by dumping tires -- could face fines of up to $50 per tire.

And most notably, the ordinance sets up the fund to reward people who recycle. Mulroy said both the city and the county are chipping in $50,000 each toward a reward fund, though that amount isn't included in the ordinance that passed Monday.

Mulroy anticipates that the number of tires lying around Memphis will diminish as people start hauling them in. Eventually, the dumping will level off.

"We'll still have illegally dumped tires, but it won't be a chronic problem," he said.

No tire industry representatives came to the meeting Monday to speak against the proposal. Mulroy said the tire business people he met with supported the rules.

"They said, 'We are the legitimate businesses. The problem is our fly-by-night competitors,' " Mulroy recalled.

Tire recycling

For now, Shelby County is working with just one recycling center: Mac's Tire Recyclers at 3000 Elvis Presley Blvd, 396-5448.

The business apparently isn't set up yet to pay rewards for tires. A voice mail recording on Monday says it neither buys nor sells tires.

Shelby County plans to work with Memphis to enforce the ordinance.

Smart Grid FAQs

Smart Grid FAQs

What is Smart Grid?
• Smart Grid is a combination of equipment, communications and processes that utilities use to provide enhanced operations.
• Smart Grid includes smart meters, distribution system automation, demand response and other features that provide information for customers to lower their energy use.
• Smart Grid builds on many of the technologies already used by electric utilities in the U.S. and around the world, but adds communication and control capabilities that will optimize the operation of MLGW’s electrical grid.

Are other utilities implementing Smart Grid?
• Yes, the seeds of Smart Grid were planted in summer 2003 in the aftermath of the massive blackout in the Northeast, as government and utilities analyzed how to fix the vulnerabilities of the nation’s aging electric grid.
• Many utilities began implementing Smart Grid in the years following, with the recent influx driven by a national initiative supported by President Obama.
• MLGW is applying for federal stimulus dollars to cover a portion of the project cost.
• The Department of Energy allocated more than $3.4 billion for Smart Grid projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with many utilities competing for funding.
• In addition, many utilities have moved forward with Smart Grid enhancements without government assistance.
• This link shows a map that displays where utilities are installing smart meters across the nation:

When will Smart Grid be installed?
• Grant recipients will be notified by March 2010; if selected, MLGW will complete the Smart Grid contracting phase and begin installation.

How long will it take to implement Smart Grid?
• Any part of the Smart Grid project that includes stimulus funds must be completed within three years, so the initial area targeted for full Smart Grid deployment would be completed by 2012.
• Smart Grid would then be expanded into other areas.
• Components that provide distribution system automation, however, will be installed across MLGW’s entire service territory to provide enhanced system monitoring and operations.

Will Smart Grid cause rates to go up?
• MLGW will only move forward with Smart Grid as it becomes feasible to do so.
• MLGW staff is doing extensive research to determine the costs and build a solid business case.
• While federal funds will reduce the cost, MLGW will still have to pay the remainder of the project cost.
• Most, if not all, of these costs can be offset over time by operational savings such as reduced meter reading and electric service connection costs.
• While MLGW is still in the early staging of analyzing Smart Grid implementation, the project would have to pay for itself for MLGW to pursue it.

Will this mean layoffs for MLGW employees?
• With full implementation of Smart Grid, there will no longer be a need for traditional meter readers to access your property and read your meter each month.
• Certain other field positions would likely be affected also.
• MLGW is developing a plan that will transition affected employees from their current roles into new roles in the event of Smart Grid deployment.
• Since the meter reader job is often used as an entry-level position for people wanting to be hired by MLGW, about 25 percent of meter readers leave the department each year. This high turnover rate will reduce the impact that Smart Grid has on MLGW employment.
• Full implementation would take at least six years, and the job transitions would take place gradually over time rather than all at once.
• Affected employees would have the opportunity to transition to other jobs within the company.
• Because of this, MLGW does not anticipate employee layoffs as a result of the Smart Grid implementation.

How does Smart Grid benefit the customer?
• The primary benefit is reduced costs.
• As the customer, you would have the opportunity to reduce your energy consumption because you’d have much more information about your energy usage.
• MLGW would have reduced operational costs, and TVA (MLGW’s electric supplier) would not need to build as many plants or generate as much energy during periods of high customer use—which controls electric rates.
• Have you ever had to wait for MLGW to arrive to connect your electric service? Smart Grid will solve that.
• Have you ever wondered how much energy you were using at that very second? Smart Grid can tell you that.
• Have you ever wondered how much your bill was going to be, days or weeks ahead of time? Smart Grid can answer that.
• Have you ever had to call to report a power outage? Smart Grid will eliminate that.
• Have you ever wanted to explore other rate options that reward customers for off-peak energy use? Smart Grid will enable that.

What other improvements will this system offer?
• Smart Grid includes many, many benefits for customers and MLGW.
• Future possibilities include pay-as-you-go metering, in-home energy displays to see up-to-date information, communications with home area networks that allow you to control your appliances and equipment remotely and other proven technologies that help customers better understand and control energy usage.

Will I still get a bill?
• Yes, but customers won’t have to wait for their bill to find out how much they have spent, as you can monitor usage with in-home energy displays and at www.mlgw.com.
• There are even features that can project how much your bill will be, based on what you have used so far during the billing period.
• Smart Grid also enables customers to change billing dates.

Will this help get my services restored faster?
• Yes, Smart Grid increases monitoring and automated functions for MLGW’s operations, which means customers will no longer need to call to report outages and MLGW will be able to identify the problems and respond automatically or send the appropriate crews more quickly.
• Smart Grid also enables quick remote connection of electric service, when customers move in and out.

Will this help me conserve energy and lower my bill?
• Smart Grid provides information to educate and motivate customers to make changes that save money.
• Smart meters and numerous communications devices--including website tools and in-home devices--show when your home or business uses energy.
• This allows you to better make decisions to reduce or delay usage. By reducing or shifting usage to other times of day, you are helping reduce TVA’s electric generation costs during times of maximum customer user, which helps control power costs. Of course, if you choose not to make changes to lower your energy usage, you won’t save any money.
• Therefore, with Smart Grid, saving money really is up to you.

Where will Smart Grid be installed first?
• Should MLGW receive the federal grant, Smart Grid initially will be deployed in these ZIP codes: 38104, 38106, 38108, 38111, 38114 and 38122.
• This interconnected area inside the I-240 loop has a good mix of business, industry and households, whose demographics reflect the City of Memphis’ population.

Why are Smart Meters being installed?
• For customers, smart meters provide time-based information so you are informed about energy usage and motivated to make changes that will save money.
• For MLGW, smart meters improve operations by providing enhanced system monitoring and new customer services.

How will Smart Meters work?
• These digital, secure, two-way communicating meters will measure electricity, natural gas and water usage up-to-the minute and, when fully implemented, will enable customers to more easily track how much they use, and to determine how much it costs before the bill is produced.

What do these new meters provide that the old ones can’t?
• For homes, existing meters are read once a month.
• Unless you read your meter yourself, you have little idea how much energy you have used and how much you owe until your bill arrives.
• Some large businesses have meters that are read nightly, but most are still read once a month.
• Existing meters do not have the communication capabilities to report outages, so customers must call.
• Much like the automobile changed our method of transportation, smart meters are transporting customers and utilities into the future with better ways to control operations and costs.

How will I know if I am getting a new meter?
• If MLGW receives the grant, customers within the six initial ZIP Codes—38104, 38106, 38108, 38111, 38114 and 38122—will receive smart meters.
• Customers will be notified in advance when installations are scheduled in their neighborhood.
• Several hundred households and small businesses will be selected to participate in a market research effort to determine the best communication methods for MLGW customers.

Do I have to be at home to have my smart meters installed?
• Customers do not need to be home, but they do need to provide clear access to their meters so it will be important to unlock gates, move outdoor pets and clear any obstacles to your meters.

Will it cost me anything to get the new meters?
• The cost of Smart Grid will be incorporated into MLGW’s operating budget, with the Department of Energy providing up to 50 percent of the cost for the electric portions of the system through its Smart Grid Investment Grant.

What benefits would Time-of-Use (TOU) rates provide the customer and MLGW?
• Smart Grid gives us the capability to provide time-based metering but it doesn’t necessarily mean we would implement time-of-use rates.
• TVA has discussed TOU rates as a possibility, but it would likely be several years in the future if they chose to do this.
• Smart Grid will give customers who wish to participate the tools and information to save on their utility bills in the event that TVA implements time-of-use rates.
• Other utilities have implemented this successfully, usually as an opt-in program.
• The incentive is the discounted rate customers pay for their off-peak energy use.

Would Smart Grid allow MLGW to cut-off my power if they think I’m using too much?
• No, MLGW would not have the right, or the desire, to cut-off your service because you used more electricity than “average.”
• Today, the average MLGW household uses nearly 16,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, but we have some households that use far less and some that use far more. (In fact, local households are using 42% more electricity than the national average!)
• The only penalty for using more electricity is a higher utility bill.

Will MLGW sell my information?
• No, MLGW will not sell or share any information about your home’s or business’ specific energy use.
• MLGW will combine the information on all customers, and subsets of customers, to perform analysis to help us develop new programs and services.
• This aggregated information may also be reported to the Department of Energy as evidence of Smart Grid benefits.

Will Smart Grid devices cause interference with my electronics?
• Smart meters transmit at a power level of less than one watt on special frequencies that will not interfere with the operation of televisions, radios, stereo equipment, garage door openers, wireless Internet connections, or other electronic devices commonly found in a home or a business.

Where can I get Smart Grid information?
• MLGW: www.mlgw.com/smartgrid
• Smart Grid Today: www.smartgridtoday.com

Come out of the dark

Have you swapped out all of your bulbs? Have you disposed of them properly?


By replacing your four most used bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, you can save almost $110 over the lifetime of the bulbs.

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.

Habitat Goes Green

Each year, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis builds about 13 houses, all constructed with the help of volunteer labor. Next year, however, they hope to build the first phase on an entire neighborhood.

Last spring, Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its largest project ever, a 38-home "green" neighborhood in Oakhaven called Trinity Park. The project should be fully completed in about two years.

Read the full article here

TVA to Purchase More Green Energy

TVA, looking outside the region to boost its renewable energy portfolio, said Thursday it will buy 450 megawatts of wind power capacity from the Great Plains.

The nation's largest public utility has signed 20-year power-purchase agreements with Maryland-based CPV Renewable Energy Co. and Chicago-based Invenergy Wind LLC for electricity generated by wind farms being built in McIntosh County, N.D., and Roberts County, S.D., respectively.

The added wind power should reach TVA's seven-state system in 2012, said Belinda Thornton, TVA's general manager of power and origination. It will be enough to supply 140,000 homes.

Read the full article here

Tennessee Among Most Improved in Energy Efficiency

This is great news! Tennessee has the highest energy usage in the country so we had lots of room for improvement! From yesterday's Memphis Business Journal...

Tennessee among most improved states in energy efficiency

Tennessee may have some work to do on energy efficiency, but the Volunteer state ranks as one of the most improved on a 50-state scorecard on energy efficiency policies, programs, and practices from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

In the survey published Wednesday, Tennessee was one of a few states to make a significant move up the ranks. It was ranked 38 this year compared to 46 in 2008.

“The most improved states are stepping up their efforts in several ways, such as adopting new building energy codes and setting aggressive new energy savings targets,” said Eldridge. “By highlighting these most improved states, we hope to encourage others to step up their efforts to implement energy efficiency as their first-priority resource.”

Other 'most improved states' include: Maine (up from 19 to 10); Colorado (up from 24 to 16); Delaware (up from 32 to 20); District of Columbia (up from 30 to a tie for 20); South Dakota (up from 47 to 36).

States that most need to improve, according to the survey, are Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Georgia, Alaska, West Virginia, Nebraska, Alabama, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

The 10 states doing the most to implement energy efficiency are California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, New York, Vermont, Washington, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Maine.

The 2009 report is ACEEE’s third edition of its annual state-by-state ranking on the adoption and implementation of energy efficiency policies. The scorecard examines six state energy efficiency policy areas: utility-sector and public benefits programs and policies; transportation polices; building energy codes; combined heat and power; state government initiatives; and appliance efficiency standards.

“The states continue to be leaders in advancing energy efficiency policies and programs,” ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel said in a news release. “In fact, this growing and deepening commitment to energy efficiency is so strong that the current recession has not put a dent in the vast majority of state programs. And that is for good reason -- Energy efficiency is the only resource that can actually reduce energy consumption while growing the economy, making efficiency the ‘first fuel’ states can use to balance their energy portfolios.”

High Five

Thanks to Mary Cashiola for posting this on her blog...

High Five
Posted by Mary Cashiola on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 11:19 AM

Like many cities, Memphis recycles some plastic products. Like many cities, Memphis does not accept recycled material that are coded as a 5.

And lots of things are 5's. Seriously, if you recycle plastic products, but you're not very observant about the numbers, you've probably been throwing 5's into your recycling bin without even knowing it.

I personally put 5's in my recycle bin to show that city of Memphis that there is a market for them to recycle them. I mean, if they're going to get pitched anyway, might as well try to do some good with them before they end up in a landfill somewhere.

But now there is a better way.

Preserve's Gimme 5 program puts recycling bins for 5's in area Whole Foods Markets, including in Memphis.

The Boston-based company makes personal care items such as toothbrushes and razors, as well as kitchen and tableware, out of recycled #5 polypropylene plastic. The recycled plastic uses 54 percent less water, 75 percent less oil, and 48 percent less coal than "new" polypropylene.

If you don't want to take your number 5's to Whole Foods, you can also mail your 5's directly to them. Scroll down for instructions.

TVA Fuel Costs Drop--Electricity Bills Slated to Decline

The CA covered this, too, but the Tennessean went into more depth.

Electricity bills will decline, thanks to drop in TVA fuel costs
By Nicole Young

The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Tuesday that its electric rates will drop 1.5 percent on Nov. 1 because of lower costs for fuel, saving customers 50 cents to $2 on their monthly residential bills.

The base rate charged for electricity in Nashville went up about 11 percent this month but because of reductions in what TVA calls fuel adjustment charges, customers are still paying less than last year, TVA officials say.

For the time being, the fuel adjustment is dropping by the same amount as the rate hikes and the two are canceling each other out.

The adjustment reflects a decline in the price of natural gas, coal and other related expenses that TVA must pay. Recent rains have allowed the authority to use more, cheaper water-generated power, officials said.

The fuel adjustment, which had gone up as much as 16.9 percent, is set to make its largest drop — about 11 percent — this month. On average, customers in Nashville could see a savings of $7 to $10 on their October bills, said NES spokeswoman Laurie Parker.

"The weather plays a huge factor in what people's bills are from month to month," Parker said. "There are a lot of things that can affect what bill is each month, but the kilowatt charge is lower.

"Last year, TVA raised the fuel adjustment significantly, so it had room to come down."

TVA will adjust monthly

Next month TVA will change from adjusting the fee quarterly to doing so monthly, but Parker said TVA estimates its fuel costs will continue to drop over the next several months.

The base rate for electricity, which changes only occasionally and has not been increased by NES since April 2006, went up this month. TVA increased wholesale rates 8 percent while NES rates went up 3 percent, Parker said.

The NES rate hike will cover capital projects, such as new transmission lines needed for growth, she said. Most of the local power distributors' revenues — about 82 percent — go to TVA, which produces the electricity sold. All of the fuel-cost fees go to TVA.

Nearly 9 million people receive TVA power in Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.

"mlgwglen" Comments

For those of you keeping up, there have been quite a few comments over at the CA site in regard to the Smart Grid article. Our very own “mlgwglen” has been answering questions in the comment section. I am sharing his responses with you below:

This is a nationwide effort
One thing I want to emphasize is that this is part of a national initiative to improve the electrical grid and bring it up to speed in terms of its technological capabilities. Moreover, the overall goal is to help people use less energy. Smart meters are being installed nationwide.

This will improve reliability
Smart meters are but one component of Smart Grid. There's also automation distribution, which essentially means improving reliability. Aside from the meters, Smart Grid enhancements would allow MLGW to detect outages faster and isolate them so that they affect fewer customers.

Time of Use (TOU) Metering typically is Opt-In
Smart Grid gives us the capability to provide time of use (TOU) metering, but it doesn’t necessarily mean we would implement it. TVA has discussed TOU metering as a possibility, but it would likely be several years in the future if they chose to do this. Smart grid will give customers the tools and information to save substantially on their utility bills in the event that TVA implements time-of-use rates. TOU has typically been an opt-in program for other utilities, and hence must have an incentive for customers to opt in. That incentive would be discounts customers get for using off-peak time energy.

Security is Key
We will not be selling any customer data. Also, security is a big part of our request for proposals (RFPs). Once the RFPs are complete, we'll have greater knowledge of the security measures that the potential vendors will bring to the table. As with any type of technology in today's business world, data security is a top concern.

This will help with saving energy
The key to lowering utility bills with smart meters is that customers have a wealth of real-time information about their utility usage that they've never had before. Our goal is to transform customers into informed consumers. The information will let you know when you are using the most energy and give feedback on how small changes that you make affect that usage. This is the type of positive reinforcement that a monthly bill simply does not provide. The primary goal is to get people to use less energy, and if they do that, the bills will be lower.

The goal of Smart Grid is not for MLGW to monitor individual customers -- it's more about automation of processes and increasing the amount of information that is available to the customers, with the ultimate goal of reducing energy usage. We want our customers to use wisely for lower bills and less impact on the environment. MLGW has nothing to gain by asking our customers to use less other than helping our customers manage their bills.

With Smart Grid, the information is there for customers to use as they see fit. Energy usage in the home would remain a consumer decision -- you'd just have more information to help you make that decision. The issues you describe for our senior and/or low income customers are issues with or without Smart Grid, and both MLGW and other local agencies have programs to try to address them. I will take advantage of the subject matter to mention one such program, our Winter Moratorium for Seniors, for which we are accepting applications now through Nov. 15.

More Smart Grid News

Today's Commercial Appeal has a story on MLGW's Smart Grid efforts. It's pasted below. Don't forget the info I posted last week which may answer some questions.

6 Memphis ZIPs may get zap of utility information
By Daniel Connolly

Residents of six city ZIP codes may soon experience Memphis Light, Gas and Water's "smart grid" project, which could lead to profound changes in how people in the Mid-South buy energy.

Some customers would have digital displays in their homes that would tell them exactly how much energy they're using each day, rather than waiting for a monthly bill. Other customers could get the same information from the Internet.

The utility's board voted last week to include $13.8 million in its 2010 budget for the first phase of the project, which will pay for new meters, software and better intelligence of power outages. Utility leaders hope to recover $6.9 million through a federal grant.

This week, the utility expects to receive proposals from interested contractors.

The contractors would install meters and other equipment for the 70,000 business and residential customers in the six ZIP codes affected: 38104, 38106, 38108, 38111, 38114 and 38122.

MLGW expects to begin implementation in the first half of 2010.

The smart-grid project might prompt customers to think twice about decisions like leaving a big-screen TV plugged in, since it uses power even when it's off, said Laura Campbell, an MLGW engineer in charge of the project.

And meter readers would no longer contend with vicious dogs and locked gates, since bills could be calculated remotely, she said. Utility workers could look at a screen to identify houses affected by power outages, then make changes to isolate the outages, she said.

But smart grid faces opposition from a labor union concerned about costs and job losses.

The project also faces serious technical challenges: The concept is so new that there's no standard way for different companies' systems to work with one another.

MLGW is one of many utilities around the country pursuing the smart grid, which the Obama administration has embraced as a way to save energy. Campbell said the utility selected ZIP codes where customers use the most energy per square foot, and have an existing wireless communications infrastructure.

MLGW hopes to expand the system once equipment prices drop, Campbell said. The utility hasn't calculated a total price tag yet.

One key concept in the smart grid system is "time-of-use metering." That means power might cost different amounts at different times, to discourage use at peak hours.

To meet peak demand, power companies operate some plants that run as little as 300 hours per year. Avoiding the construction of new plants could save costs and cut pollution, Campbell said.

In the future, customers might be able to store up energy in batteries at low-cost night rates and sell it back to the company at high-cost day rates, said Sam Spencer, the editor of a Maryland-based newsletter called Smart Grid Today.

That would be impossible on today's electrical grids, which are more or less the same as they've been for decades.

"The electric industry has come only a tiny step into the computer age," he said.

Spencer says the smart-grid concept brings a lot of benefits, but a downside is that the cost of the infrastructure can be passed to the consumer. That's already led to complaints in places like Bakersfield, Calif.

There are other problems. Companies are developing products that use different electronic languages to talk with one another. It's a bit like the videocassette format war between Beta and VHS, Spencer said.

Bill Hawkins of the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers, a labor union representing some MLGW workers, says he's been attending national conferences to learn about the smart grid, and that he's not impressed.

"It doesn't work," he said. "It's a concept on a piece of paper."

He also says it would lead to layoffs and could lead to higher costs for consumers, since the new meters allow the utility to charge different rates at different times.

The utility says it would find new jobs for the displaced workers. It also said customers could likely choose whether or not to participate in the time-of-use metering.

--Daniel Connolly: 529-5296

Smart Grid

The six ZIP codes that would be getting new meters are 38104, 38106, 38108, 38111, 38114 and 38122.

Implementation expected to begin in first half of 2010.

In 2006, MLGW concluded it would cost about $119 million to replace all of its meters. The utility hasn't recalculated the price since then.

"The electric industry has come only a tiny step into the computer age."

Sam Spencer

editor of Smart Grid Today

Memphis Area Rideshare

I picked up a brochure on Memphis Area Rideshare at the University of Memphis Sustainable Technologies event.

Did you know that the typical worker who switches from driving alone to carpooling saves more than $1000 a year and avoids driving an average of 5000 miles per year?

Did you know that the average American family uses almsot 3 gallons of fuel per day--enough to fill 21 standard bathtubs a year.

Driving a car is one of the most polluting acts an individual can do.

The Rideshare program maintains a database of people interested in carpooling. You sign up, enter your commuting needs, and then receive a list of people who share your travel pattern.

Once you are a registered commuter, you receive several free taxi rides per year in case of an emergency.

Pretty cool, huh? Has anyone ever participated in this program? Know someone who has? Tell me about it...

More info can be found here!

WalkBike Memphis

Want to be involved in a campaign to create a more walkable/bikable city? Then join WalkBike Memphis, a new initiative led by the Coalition for Livable Cities!

There is a working meeting on the first Monday of every month. The next meeting is Nov 2, 5:30-6:30pm at Otherlands, 641 S Cooper Street.

To learn more about this initiative, read this week's Flyer article by Mary Cashiola, Along for the ride.

Photo by Max Knight

The Fun Theory

What would it take to get you to use the stairs? Our visitor parking lot at the admin building could definitely use some of these!

MLGW Hosting Green Tours

Visitors to this year's VESTA Home Show will have an opportunity to learn more about green building when they take a free, personally guided tour of the homes, courtesy of MLGW.

MLGW representatives will be leading tours every Thursday and Friday during the event (Oct. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30) at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. Tour guides will be highlighting the different green featires that all add to the home's Green Certification. Each tour should last approximately 90 minutes.

Smart Grid

Both Channel 5 and Channel 24 did stories last night about MLGW’s efforts to obtain grants for Smart Grid enhancements. MLGW’s Laura Campbell spoke with reporters from each station, and emphasized the following highlights:

· The federal government has made $3.4 billion of grants available for Smart Grid enhancements, as well as Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) formula funding through the Department of Energy.

· In other words, the federal government is willing to help utilities pay for huge upgrades to their systems.

· The basic concept of Smart Grid is to add monitoring, analysis, control, and communication capabilities to the national electrical delivery system to maximize its capabilities while reducing energy consumption.

· MLGW is applying for some of these stimulus funds, which could lead to greatly enhanced services for MLGW customers.

· There is no guarantee that MLGW will receive the grant, but we are making a strong effort to secure this funding.

· One grant will allow engineers to more closely monitor the downtown and medical center electrical grid.

· The other grant, which is broader in scope, would allow system-wide enhancements that:

o Provide outage notification for each home or business
o Isolate and redirect power during an outage
o Eliminate misreads
o Eliminate estimates
o Eliminate skipped meters
o Improve power quality
o Enable customer choice for payment due date
o Allow for prepaid metering
o Provide real-time information on energy use to control waste and lower costs

· Smart Grid could mean changes at MLGW, including changes in jobs.

· MLGW will have a comprehensive plan to address the impact on employees and ensure that those affected are redeployed to other areas of the company.

· TVA has stated that it will be moving toward Time of Use rates for residential and commercial customers. Time-of-use metering will provide the customer with information to help:

o Lower their costs
o Minimize their carbon footprint
o Minimize the number of power plants needed in the future

· MLGW is determined to have its proposals considered and has asked Sen. Lamar Alexander to encourage the DOE to have all proposals heard before any specific funding is determined. Other legislators will be asked to support the Division in its application efforts.

VOX

This little blog just took home the VOX award!

Our newest covergirl

Close readers may have noticed I've done a little sprucing up around here. Part of the sprucing involved replacing our old gal, Clara, with our new gal, Cinnamon Girl. CG is unusual because she displays a unusually pronounced auburn mantel. (Compare here.) She is easily identified and unmistakably a red-shouldered hawk.

CG has been a poster child for the local birders - a local icon for her species. She patrols a circuit (no pun intended) just north of the Allen steam plant and west of T.O. Fuller state park. She is also unusually curious and not really shy about human activities. Red Tailed Hawks have a tendency to become somewhat tame if not persecuted. Most other hawks are more indifferent to humans. CG likes the wet land area and her favorite foods are frogs and snakes.

STADUM

Last week I represented MLGW at the Sustainable Technologies Awareness Day at the University of Memphis. It was a really great event with lots of participation from the community.

Highlights (for me) included being a part of an event that had recycling built in. Although they decided to use bottled water rather than bulk water dipensers, they did have plenty of bins nearby for the empties. They also supplies cardboard recycling for the vendors' empty boxes.

I also enjoyed talking to the TigUrs Garden volunteers. They were onsite making seedballs and demonstrating how easy it is to grow food in small containers. Campus wide they have several raised beds with vegetables free for the taking. They also do outreach with the kids at Campus School.

Sharp was also on hand to show the latest in solar technology. Project Green Fork was promoting the 14 local restaurants that have been certified. A woman from Temple Israel, I believe, was showing off sustainable products like insulation made from old jeans. The Ground Water Institute had a lot of good info on protecting our aquifers. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

All in all, it was a great event!

New! Online Payment Arrangements!!

Customers can now make payment arrangements online. Go here and complete an online form in order to request a payment extension. You will need to have received a cut-off notice in the past 10 days, and will need yoir MLGW account number, last four digits of your social security number, and a working e-mail address in order to make payment arrangements online. With a payment arrangement, the payment date will be extended beyond the current due date.

If the cutoff has already occurred, you are required to pay the cut-off amount in full and are not eligible for a payment arrangement.

For MLGW's online payment arrangements, the same stipulations apply for customers requesting payment arrangements via MLGW's automated phone system:

• Customers requesting extensions must pay 25 percent of the balance within four days after the due date of the disconnect notice.

• The balance of the bill is extended up to eight days past the due date of disconnect notice.

• Exceptions to the payment arrangement guidelines are available to customers who have proof of a temporary financial hardship caused by situations such as loss of employment, hospitalization, loss of loved one, etc.

In an effort to be as flexible as possible with its customers, MLGW offers a variety of ways for them to request payment arrangements. This can be done through www.mlgw.com, through MLGW's automated phone system, or in person at an MLGW community office. All MLGW payment arrangements conform to MLGW's Customer Care Policy.

Commercial Resource Center Observes 10th Anniversary

In 1999, MLGW took a unique position among utilities and created the Commercial Resource Center (CRC), a dedicated staff of specially trained employees to handle inquiries from businesses and organizations. By routing calls to a separate number, the plan was to provide more comprehensive service for these complex accounts while also helping to lessen wait times in the larger, residential call center.

The CRC is staffed by 17 employees, with an average 24 years’ experience at MLGW. Most employees have been with the CRC since it opened a decade ago. Each month, the CRC handles about 7,000 calls answered in real time, plus an additional 2,000 voice mails, 130 faxed requests, 300 emails and 14 web requests. If you’ve ever called the CRC, you know there is no interactive voice response (IVR) menu and, if your call is not answered immediately, you have a short hold before being given the option to leave a message.

MLGW’s Commercial Resource Center has become a benchmark for other utilities across the United States that seek to enhance customer service to business customers. Businesses and organizations can contact these dedicated employees by calling 901-528-4720 or emailing CRC@mlgw.org.

Winter Moratorium approaches

We've felt our first nip of cold air, so it's time to start thinking ahead!

MLGW's Winter Moratorium program ensures uninterrupted service to senior citizens at least 60 years of age and to disabled customers during the winter months. The program is set up to assist these customers—most of whom are on fixed incomes—during the coldest time of the year, when utility costs and usage are typically higher than usual.

The Winter Moratorium delays any pending cutoff of residential services for qualified customers during the months of December, January and February. MLGW will not disconnect any services due to non-payment during these months. However, participants will not be relieved of their obligation to pay their utility bill.

There are no income restrictions for the Winter Moratorium program; however, applicants cannot have an outstanding balance on their utility bill on November 30 when the program begins. All applicants who meet the program requirements will be approved to participate. Deadline for application is November 15. Applications are available online, at the Aging Commission, at MIFA offices, at any MLGW Community Office, or by calling 544-MLGW.

Memphis Energized

Get up to date on the latest Division new and information communicated to the public by tuning in to MLGW’s Memphis Energized, a half-hour public information television show for our customers.

Here are the October air times for the current edition of the program. (You can also watch online.)

WKNO
Fri., Oct. 2 at 9:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
Sun., Oct 4 at noon
Sun., Oct. 11 at 9:30 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 15 at 8:30 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 16 at 1:30 a.m.

WKNO-2
Mon. Oct. 12 at 9:30 p.m.

The Library Channel
Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
Mondays at 6 p.m.
Tuesdays at 1 a.m.
Wednesdays at 8 a.m.
Thursdays at midnight and 7:30 a.m.
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 5 p.m.

My 50 TV
Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.

Summer Location Closing

Just a reminder that the North Community Office at 2424 Summer Ave. will close for renovations starting October 15th. Renovations include a new HVAC system, roofing repairs, and office renovations that will improve efficiency and convenience in serving customers. The North Office is scheduled to re-open in January 2010.

Customers will be asked to conduct business at one of our other Community Offices (245 S. Main, 2935 Lamar Ave., 1111 E. Shelby Dr. or 5131 Navy Road) in the interim.

Shelby Farms Documentary Tonight!

Here's the trailer:

Green Classes for Realtors

Nice story from yesterday's Commercial Appeal. Looking forward to touring the homes at VESTA!

Realtors take ''green'' classes to help buyers save cash, planet too
By Tom Bailey Jr.

Memphis' first class of "green" real estate agents has hit the streets.

The 32 agents are talking with confidence to buyers and sellers about the direction houses face, insulation ratings, energy tax credits and other issues that may save both the pocketbook and planet.

Early in the summer, they took two days of core classes and a six-hour elective to receive the "Green Designation" from the National Association of Realtors.

"It's just something I foresee coming," agent Molly Phillips said of the interest in reducing energy demand and costs.

The Re/Max On Track agent and her classmates took the courses at Memphis Area Association of Realtors.

"I think the younger generation will be more into these green features," Phillips said. "When it catches on, everyone will be focused on trying to save more money, have more energy-efficient features, things that make houses look better without a whole lot of maintenance."

She will use what she's learned next week at the VESTA Home Show at the Villages of White Oak in Arlington.

Showing an energy- efficient home built by Jon Ruch, Phillips will expound on "green" features like the tankless water heater, the radiant roof barrier, the natural wood cabinets and paint that has low or no levels of volatile organic compounds.

The National Association of Realtors created the Green Designation last year.

The course includes two days of core classes and electives in either residential, commercial or property management. The only elective offered in Memphis this summer was the residential.

"The plan is to offer these classes again next spring," said Scott Sherrin, spokesman for the Memphis Area Association of Realtors.

Retired carpenter Delbert Metcalf and his wife, Peggy, have benefited from their "green" agent's expertise.

They recently bought a house in rural Alcorn County in Mississippi.

"It needs some updating," Metcalf said.

He credited "green" agent Ron Burger for helping him make the 41-year-old house more energy efficient. For example, Burger suggested that when Metcalf drills holes to run wire up to the attic, he seal them.

"I kind of lucked out when we hooked up with Ron," Metcalf said.

Burger is with ERA Crunk in Savannah, Tenn., but works out of his house in Michie.

He made the 90-minute trip (one way) each day for three days to get his certification.

"I didn't know what all was going on until I got that education," Burger said. "And that's the tip of the iceberg, the starting point."

Burger always had an interest in well-built houses and hated high utility bills, but still had to warm up to the "green thing."

"Part of it was ignorance. When you hear 'green,' you think about (actor) Ed Begley and the people in California, you think of environmental concerns.

"One thing I'm trying to tell people is that green is also green as in the money you save."

Burger doesn't see any one energy-saving "home run," but all the little things add up.

Like helping Metcalf get the paperwork in order to claim tax credits on energy saving products he's buying.

"You can have an existing home and turn it into a house that's got a lot of green features," Burger said.

When the old furnace breaks, replace it with an energy efficient one, he said. Replace the light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs. And when the opportunity arises, install energy efficient insulation, he said.

"You may not want to be one of these California tree huggers, but I don't know anybody who's not interested in saving money," Burger said.

Another "green" agent is Steve Heathman of Hometown Realty in Atoka.

He's been helping a client build a new, 2,400-square-foot house that has many of the green upgrades.

The energy-efficient features add about $12,000 to a new home's costs "to do it right," Heathman said.

But he expects the client's energy bills will be 33 to 40 percent lower than most in the area.

"Also, they were looking for resale value in the future," he said. "As people become smarter with the way all this works, I think there will be a lot more people looking for this when they purchase a house."

-- Tom Bailey Jr.: 529 2388

Green Message from Local Teens

Students participating in a summer program located at BTW in Memphis put together a going green message. Love it!

Tiger Blue Goes Green

MLGW will be participating in this exciting event:

The University of Memphis will celebrate Sustainable Technologies Awareness Day (STAD) on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The free event will be held on the Student Plaza, directly adjacent to the Administration Building, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The campus-wide event will encourage environmental awareness, inquiry, and activism among students, faculty, and staff. It will feature the numerous eco-friendly initiatives that have been developed by the University and its community partners.

STAD is sponsored by the Center for Biofuel Energy & Sustainable Technologies (BEST) and U of M faculty who want to improve the quality of life for future generations through sustainable energy systems and practices. Key among the University partners are the Herff College of Engineering, the School of Public Health, Marketing and Supply Chain Management, and the Environmental Research Center. The event is co-sponsored by three campus student organizations – the Public Health Student Association, the Environmental Action Club, and the Student Government Association.

U of M President Shirley Raines will kick off the event at 10 a.m. by highlighting numerous campus sustainability initiatives, including BEST’s Biodiesel Production Unit. Built with financial support from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, this unit converts recycled cooking oil from campus dining facilities into biodiesel fuel for use in University vehicles and stationary engines. Although “micro” in size, the hardware and software provide continuous flow production using the same principle as a large commercial refinery. The biodiesel production unit provides unique capabilities that will be used to support the research, educational, and outreach efforts required to bring a bio-based green economy to the Mid-South.

Residence Life will showcase plans for the new West Hall, the first and most sustainable public building to be constructed in the state of Tennessee. The Ecologic Research Center will focus on recycling and other actions that reduce health risks while improving our environment and our economy.

The TigUrs Urban Garden Project will showcase fresh produce grown on campus. The Department of Physics will feature research in solar electricity, and the Department of Architecture will show faculty and student work in sustainable design. Tiger Dining (Aramark) will also display its “green” initiatives.

Student athletes will demonstrate their support for sustainability initiatives by giving away door prizes, which will include basketballs signed by Tiger basketball head coach Josh Pastner.

Participating organizations from off campus include Biodimensions, BRIDGES, West Tennessee Clean Cities Coalition, the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, Hillel of Memphis, Memphis Light Gas & Water, Memphis Area Transit Authority, Sharp Solar, INC, Project Green Fork, University Neighborhoods Development Corporation and Highland Area Renewal Corporation.

The event supports Dr. Raines’ signing of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which officially lent our University’s support to develop a plan to achieve carbon neutrality through efforts such as reduced energy use, green building practices, and recycling. A campus-wide Sustainability Committee, led by Dr. David Cox, is working in support of that goal.

For more information on Sustainable Technologies Awareness Day, contact Dr. Marian Levy at 901-678-4514 or mlevy@memphis.edu, or Dr. John I. Hochstein at 901-678-2173 or jhochste@memphis.edu

Composting made easy!

The Memphis Farmers Market is coordinating with International Paper to bring an affordable Earth Machine Compost Bin to you. They will bring in a truckload of the bins, which normally sell for $100, and have them available for $45 on a first come/ first serve basis on October 24th.

The bins are only available one day, but you can visit the market every Saturday through October, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Central Station Pavilion, G.E. Patterson and Front Street. There's plenty of free parking, shopping and entertainment under a shaded canopy with benches for relaxing and listening to live music.

Report Streetlight Outages Online

With daylight decreasing every day, non-working streetlights are even more of a security threat. If a street light near your house, on your block, or on your running route is out or malfunctioning, assume no one else will report it, and take the initiative. Get the number off the metal tag and the nearest address and report it. (You can also call 820-7878.)

Speaking of Water Rates

The Commercial Appeal is running an article based on yesterday's 2010 budget meeting with the MLGW Board of Commissioners. The article mainly focuses on the possibility of water rate increases after 2010, but it's important to note that the current MLGW budget for 2010 contains NO rate increases. The budget also includes no layoffs.

And by the way, don't forget that we've got the lowest rates for water/wastewater according to the February 2009 report of water and wastewater bill comparisons compiled by Austin Water Utility in Austin, Texas.

VESTA Showcasing Energy-Efficiency

The 2009 VESTA Home Show - the 26th year for this prestigious event – will be a historic event, marking one of the first times in America that every home being presented will be built to the exacting NAHB/ANSI National Green Building Standards!

The VESTA Home Show is open to the public Oct. 10 – Nov. 1, 2009
º Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
º Saturday – Sunday from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
º The show will be closed on Mondays.
º Ticket sales end each day 1 hour prior to closing. (Tickets are $12.)

MLGW employees will be on hand to discuss EcoBUILD and other energy saving initiatives. Come say hi!

Ultimate Blanket-You-Can-Wear Battle

Now that there's a chill in the air, people are discussing how to keep warm this winter. The Snuggie is not the answer, energy conservation is. However, a wearable blanket certainly can't hurt. But which one should you buy?


The Slanket, the Snuggie, the Freedom Blanket or the supremely expensive and extravagant Blankoat? This is the most important question of the millennium. You're about to know the answer thanks to the folks over at Gizmodo.

"Those who haven't seen the Snuggie ad or one of its many parodies and aren't aware of the blanket-with-sleeves phenomenon get no sympathy from us. Unless, you've just awoken from an eight-month coma, in which case: Welcome back! To recap, the Snuggie is the most famous and widely marketed of the many blanket-with-sleeves. The Freedom Blanket originated the idea, the Slanket followed up, and recently, the Blankoat decided to take it into a ridiculous dimension.

But which is the best for you? We tried each of them the way they were meant to be worn: on the sofa, lying down, with one fist buried in a bag of Doritos and the other cradling a bottle of beer. We gained thirty-five pounds, but it was so worth it.

And for those of you who think that the whole blanket-with-sleeves product could just as easily be accomplished with a robe worn backwards? We tested that too."

See the results here.