Annual Green Initiatives Report

To view the entire report, click here.

MLGW’s third annual report on green initiatives outlines customer programs and internal activities designed to increase energy efficiency and environmental awareness, reduce energy waste, lower peak electric demand and improve air quality through fewer power generation emissions.

One of the driving forces behind MLGW’s green initiatives is the fact that households in Tennessee consistently lead the nation in terms of average annual electricity use. MLGW customers are just slightly lower than the Tennessee average (32% vs 38% above U.S. average), despite the fact that 80% of local homes use natural gas for heating and 60% use natural gas for water heating. This excessive electricity use results in higher utility bills, wasted resources and unnecessary emissions that impact regional air quality. If every household cut its electricity use by just 2.5%, it would result in more than $10 million in utility bill savings and the creation of 152 local jobs, as that money could be spent at area restaurants, stores, entertainment venues, education, charities and more.

Green Initiatives in this report are categorized as:

* Community: Outreach activities that enable MLGW to promote messages, services and programs briefly to visitors at public sites and events.

*Conservation, Energy Efficiency and Demand Response: Programs and services that encourage changes in behavior, equipment, appliances, and building materials to reduce consumption of electricity, natural gas and water.

-Conservation: Behavior or action that results in less energy being consumed, often through no-cost or low-cost methods. Examples: adjusting thermostat setting; turning off electronics after use; closing exterior doors tightly.

-Energy Efficiency: Purchase decision where the new item uses less energy than the item replaced. Examples: replacing your air conditioner; buying a new refrigerator (but only if the old one is removed from the home); adding insulation.

-Demand Response, also known as Load Shifting: Action that results in changing the time during which energy is consumed, often without changing the total amount of energy consumed. Examples: doing laundry on weekends instead of weekday afternoons; postponing dishwasher run time until after 8:00pm; participating in TVA demand response events triggered by periods of high electric use or high electric cost.

*Education: Activities that enable MLGW to educate current and future customers about the efficient use of energy and water.

*Electric Vehicles: Activities that promote the use of electricity as a vehicle fuel, while also enabling analysis of electric system impact among early adopters.

*New Construction: Activities that promote the adoption of green building practices so newly constructed homes and businesses use less energy and water, yielding a smaller environmental footprint.

*Renewable Energy: Electric generation from renewable resources—including solar, wind and biogas—which have little or no adverse environmental impact.

*Self-Service: Applications available at www.mlgw.com that enable customers to conduct business with MLGW at their convenience, 24/7.

*MLGW Green Workplace: Internal initiatives that help MLGW manage energy needs at its facilities, reduce waste and utilize alternative fuel vehicles to control operating costs, which helps delay the need for rate increases.

Many of these activities positively impact the local economy through increased household discretionary income, increased business profitability and increased business opportunities for companies that install energy-efficient equipment, perform building envelope upgrades and install renewable generation systems. Actions also will slow local peak electric demand, helping TVA control operating expenses and thereby controlling retail electric rates.

MLGW is delighted that this report addresses an ever-expanding scope of customer programs and initiatives as the utility, the energy industry, customers and the community increase their focus on green issues. Whether your definition of “green” is saving money, protecting the environment or improving operational performance of your home or business, MLGW has at least one program or service that can assist! We invite you to join us, your neighbors and local businesses and organizations to “go green.”

To view the entire report, click here.