Today's Energy Insight

Last year more than 100 million Americans gathered around big-screen televisions to watch the Super Bowl. What do you think happened to home electricity usage during the Big Game?

Home electricity usage went up.

OR

Home electricity usage went down.

GE estimated the electricity used by TVs showing the Super Bowl was enough to power all the homes in Dallas, Green Bay and Pittsburgh for 10 hours. That’s a lot of electricity! However, subsequent analysis showed that home electricity usage actually decreased during the game, three times more than the amount of energy consumed by all the TVs of people watching it. That’s because many households don't use other appliances during the game and because many people gather together to watch at other people’s homes or sports bars.

Today's Energy Insight

Add a Layer!

If you're feeling chilly, before you reach to turn up the thermostat a degree or two or five, try adding a sweater or sweatshirt first. Even a degree or two does make a difference so try bumping your thermostat down and dress for the temperature.

Today's Energy Insight

Using recycled aluminum scrap to make aluminum cans uses how much less energy than making new aluminum cans from scratch?

25%

48%

79%

95%

Scroll down to check your answer...

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, using recycled aluminum to make cans uses 95 percent less energy than making new ones from bauxite ore, the raw material used to make aluminum.  Recycling can make a difference with regard to inputs for other manufacturing processes, as well. Making a ton of paper from recycled paper, for instance, saves up to 17 trees and uses 50 percent less water.

Today's Energy Insight

Geothermal energy is used to heat 85% of the homes in which country?

A) Japan                          B) Iceland


C) Turkey                        D) Denmark

Scroll down to check your answer...





























The correct answer is Iceland.

Today's Energy Insight

Visualizing Electricity

The following is an excerpt from a recent article on cnn.com entitled

Power Cord Lights Up as Electricity Flows

<<<  Here's one of electricity's dirty little secrets: You can't see it moving, so it's hard to know when you're wasting a bunch of it. Think about the "vampire electronics" in your kitchen -- all of those blenders, coffee pots, toasters and toaster ovens that are sucking down power simply because they're plugged into an outlet. These electronics gobble an estimated 5% to 10% of all the electricity used in U.S. homes, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

But what if you could see your money going down the drain? Would visualizing power use help you save energy? That's one possible effect of a new smartphone charger from Dexim. When electricity is flowing down the charger's cord, blue lights travel down the cord, too, letting users see the energy that's needed to charge their smartphones. The lights zip down the cord more quickly when the phone is almost out of juice, since more electricity is needed. Patrick Tarpey, a spokesman for the company, said this "electro-luminescent wire" is intended as a visual reminder for phone users so that they can see from across the room whether their phone is almost charged. >>>

Happy New Year!

As we welcome in 2017, how about making a resolution to save some energy this year? It's easy if you try; just flip a switch, adjust the thermostat by a few degrees, change some light bulbs, make a conscious effort to be more efficient with your energy use this year. Thanks, everyone, for doing your part. It all adds up both at home and in our schools.

Together we are making a huge difference!
Thank YOU!!!

Wishing you a groovy and efficient New Year!