Green Easter and Passover Ideas

This week I came across a great article entitled Hoppy, Healthy and Green Easter and Passover Tips and Gifts from a website called the Healthy Voyager. Here's a link to the article so you can check it out.

Wishing Everyone in the

Robbinsdale Area and beyond

a Happy and Efficient

Easter or Passover!

 

 

Today's Energy Insight

Ever wonder how electric rates in Minnesota compare to other states around the country? How about which state has the lowest rates and which state has the highest? Or maybe which state uses the most kWh on average and which state uses the least?

According to the website Compare Electricity Rates, the average usage in Minnesota is 832 kWh and the average retail price in our state is 9.18 cents per kWh.

Hawaii is listed as having the most expensive rates with 24.12 cents per kWh and in the lower 48 states, Connecticut's rates are the highest at 19.11 cents. The lowest rates in the country are found in Idaho at 6.36 cents.

Our neighboring Wisconsin is among the lowest at 6.73 cents per kWh. However, Wisconsin's average use is 1,138 kWh so their average electric bill sits at $76.63 which is almost identical to Minnesota with $76.40.

Looking at the average amounts of kWh used by state, Tennessee tops out with 1,344 and Maine is on the bottom of the list with 530 kwh. Hawaii is also on the bottom end with an average of 655 kWh used but with the highest rates, their average electric bill is $158.02.

For the complete listing of all the states and the three statistics (average kWh used, average retail price and average electricity bill) click here. It is interesting to see how the states stack up and how some states are actually higher or lower than you may think they are when it comes to electricity rates and usage.

Earth Hour!

Uniting People to Protect the Planet

 

Did you know on Saturday March 23rd the world will be celebrating Earth Hour??? So what exactly is it? Well, I'm glad you asked! According to earthhour.org it is the single, largest, symbolic mass participation event in the world. Born out of a hope that we could mobilize people to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires a global community of millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries and territories to switch lights off for an hour as a massive show of concern for the environment.

 

It's pretty simple... for only one hour, just 60 minutes, tomorrow night from 8:30 - 9:30PM, switch off your lights. That's it! Who's with me???

 

Click here for a link to a fun kids' game at earthhour.org or click here for a more information from the official Earth Hour website.

 

image courtesy earthhourus.org

Today's Energy Insight

How much energy does recycling just one aluminum can save?

a. Enough to power a microwave for 30 minutes

b. Enough to power the average American home for 4 days

c. Enough to power a computer for 15 minutes

d. Enough to power a TV for 3 hours



Scroll down to check your answer...

Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours, this is the equivalent of a half gallon of gasoline. Wow, who knew? 

Spring Break!

It's just around the corner! Before you head out the door for an extended break, please 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 the buildings are getting a break from the students and most of the staff.

Today's Energy Insight

Unleash your inner Irish and really show your green this St. Patrick’s Day with these 10 tips from greenopolis. Click here for a link to the website and get your GREEN on!

Energy with a Canadian Twist

Click here for a couple of ENERGY QUIZZES from an Eco Kids website in Canada. These may be a little more challenging because you need to be familiar with the metric system or how to convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

Click here for some fun ECO GAMES at the site. Even though these links are from our neighbor to the north, the issues and information are still applicable to us in the United States. The quizzes are fun, especially the one that takes you from room-to-room in a house. Also check out the games and other cool stuff at the Eco Kids site. The HOME PAGE has options for students or teachers. Check it out, eh?