Wishing Everyone in the

Robbinsdale Area School District

a very Happy, Safe and

Efficient Halloween!

Make it a GREEN Halloween!

Please remember to re-use and/or recycle your costumes and decorations. And don't forget to compost those Jack'o lanterns.  Thank you for doing your part this year to make it a GREEN Halloween!

Have a fun, safe and efficient

Halloween, Everyone!

Today's Energy Insight

The average lifespan for a LED light bulb is up to how many hours???

A) 1,200 hours

B) 20,000 hours

C) 150,000 hours

D) 500,000 hours


Scroll down to check your answer...

According to Xcel Energy, the correct answer is D, a whopping 500,000 hours!
And remember, LED bulbs use even less energy than CFL bulbs.

Today's Energy Insight

Currently, which renewable energy source provides
the United States with the most energy?

A) wind 

B) solar 

C) geothermal 

D) hydropower

Scroll down to check your answer...

And the correct answer is: D) hydropower

BONUS QUESTION:

Solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, and hydropower energy

are all considered renewable sources of energy because they

A) can be converted directly into heat and electricity 
B) can be replenished by nature in a short period of time 
C) do not produce air pollution

And the correct answer is B.

The Forgotten Door

The title of today's post sounds a little like a mystery novel. There is a door that often gets overlooked when weather-proofing because the doors leading directly outside are what first come to mind when checking for gaps and air leaks.

The forgotten door is the one between the house and the garage.  This is especially important when the garage is not insulated. Besides replacing the weather stripping around the door frame, installing a door sweep helps seal the gap between the bottom of the door and the threshold to prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping, or the reverse in summer months.

So there is no mystery here, just remember when checking for unwanted airflow between your house and outside, don't forget the door to the garage.

Seal the Leaks!

If you have a leaky window, you might as well leave it open three inches during the cold weather months. A crack as small as 1/16th of an inch around a window frame can let in as much cold air as leaving the window open three inches!

Here are a couple of ways to detect air leaks: 

At night, shine a flashlight over the suspected gaps while someone else observes from outside. It also needs to be dark inside and large cracks will then show up as beams of light. This method is not the best option for finding small cracks.  Shut a door or window on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out without tearing it, you are losing energy.

Besides windows and doors, here are a few other places to check for air leaks:

·                     Mail chutes

·                     Electrical and gas service entrances

·                     Cable or satellite TV and phone lines

·                     Dryer vents

·                     Air conditioners

·                     Exhaust fans

MEA Break

Next week is the MEA Break, Yay! 

Before you head out the door for the long weekend, check to make sure you have shut down, turned off or unplugged any plug loads in your area, office or classroom. This includes but is not limited to:

·                     Computer monitors and speakers

·                     Smart-boards and overhead projectors

·                     Clock radios and boom boxes

·                     Copiers and printers

·                     TVs, DVD players and VCRs

·                     Audio and video recording equipment

·                     Appliances in FACS rooms and staff lounges

·                     Electronic equipment in Science labs and Art rooms

·                     Electronic equipment in Industrial Tech and Auto Shops

·                     Camera battery chargers

·                     Microphone and two-way radio chargers

Thanks for doing your part to keep us operating as efficiently as possible during a time when our buildings and schools are a lot quieter than normal.

Today's Energy Insight

Today's Energy Insight

According to Energy Star, if all of the households in Minnesota changed just one incandescent light bulb to an Energy Star qualified bulb, the combined individual efforts could save up to 106 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. This is enough energy to light all the households in St. Paul for nearly 180 days. Based on the average electrical rate in Minnesota, the amount of energy saved would reduce household electrical bills by a combined total of $9 million a year. AND, this simple change would prevent nearly 163 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year which is the equivalent to removing the annual emissions of 14 thousand cars from Minnesota roadways.

Today's Energy Insight

Which of the following will help you save the most energy?

A)  Install a low-flow shower head.
B)  Use only CFL bulbs.
C)  Regulate your thermostat.
D)  Buy an Energy Star certified refrigerator.

Scroll down to check your answer...

All of the options listed are good for conserving energy however, heating and cooling your house uses the most energy. When you regulate your temperature settings or install a programmable thermostat, you will see the most savings.

Energy Awareness Month

Did you know October is Energy Awareness Month?

Here's a question for you... What are YOU personally doing in your classroom, your area or your office to save energy? The first five people to email their answer to: sheri_brunner@rdale.org will receive a fun prize, be sure to include your school or building name. Answers and prize winners will be posted later this month. Thanks for doing your part and being energy smart!

Today's Energy Insight

Hope you are enjoying the gorgeous fall weather right now but if there is one thing we know about the changing seasons in Minnesota, we know it is not going to last and winter is coming. Which brings me to the point of today's post...

More than 50 percent of the energy used in a typical American home is for space heating and cooling. Much of that conditioned air escapes through poorly sealed, underinsulated attics. Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated.

So today's energy insight is make sure you are ready for the coming cold weather months by keeping your home properly insulated and you will SEE energy savings this winter.