September 25, 2008
Power Smart Pricing on TV
CNT Energy Communications Director Stephanie Folk will be making television interviews in the Champaign-Urbana area. She will be discussing the benefits of Power Smart Pricing and some of the energy saving tips that a homeowner can use at little or no cost to lower their utility bills. The interviews are set to air on WICD, most likely Thursday evening, and live on WCIA at 6am Friday morning.
September 23, 2008
Lighting for the Future
Move over Thomas Edison there are some improvements coming to the future of household lighting that will give the industry a much needed switch. Rising electricity prices and a demand for energy efficiency has invigorated innovation in bulb technology. Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL), halogen, and Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are emerging as cost effective alternatives to Edison’s incandescent bulb. In the past these lighting options did not have the necessary market or price tag to be successful, but advancements in technology and market demand has set the course for light bulbs to be changed world wide.
The transition to the new technology will be most noticeable in the hardware store. The new bulbs are all manufactured to fit into the existing sockets that were designed for Edison’s incandescents. As the advancements in design continue to improve, the bulbs will effectively match all of the existing functions that are found in a traditional bulb. For example dimming, light output, and light color are functions that are becoming cheaper to design and manufacture. The coming generations of lights are still a work in progress, but the existing options are well worth the small investment.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs use only a third as much electricity as a standard incandescent bulb and are very affordable. CFL’s contain a gas that gets excited and produces invisible ultraviolet light when it gets in contact with electricity. The white coating of the bulb then interacts with the UV light, which is emitted at non-hazardous levels, and makes it visible. The bulb is formed into coils, or tubes, to maximize the surface area, and therefore increase the amount of light that is produced. CFL advancement is coming rapidly as it has received government endorsements worldwide. The improvements will include: faster light up times, dimmable lighting options, and brighter light in smaller bulbs. This innovative process is not only more energy efficient, but it will produce light up to ten times as long as a regular bulb which means it will easily pay for itself.
Halogen light bulbs work in much the same way as a traditional bulb, but with more efficient materials. The proper combinations of gases is put into a small filament that when heated produces light. In this case, halogen can emit more light at the same temperature as an incandescent bulb. This means it requires less electricity to be just as bright. It also means that many of the functions that are available with traditional bulbs can be easily reproduced with Halogen bulbs. As the technology advances, companies will begin to sell halogen lights that do not produce as much heat and they will limit the emission of UV light. Like the CFL, halogen bulbs last much longer than the standard incandescent bulb.
There is considerable amount of advancement that is required before LED’s become a feasible household option. Currently, bulbs that match the output of a traditional 25 watt incandescent bulb cost around 40 dollars. Prices have continually been falling and eventually the technology will give the LED a place in the energy efficient household lighting market. They last ten times longer than CFL’s, are much cooler than Halogen, and operate with 80% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs. It will be an interesting journey for the LED as it transitions away from smaller lighting applications to larger scale features.
The environmental implications and savings are the key to the story. According to the Energy Star website, “If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.” It is recommended to find the four or five most used light bulbs in your home and replace them with an energy efficient one. All this just adds to the age old question, “How many people does it take to change a light bulb?”
The transition to the new technology will be most noticeable in the hardware store. The new bulbs are all manufactured to fit into the existing sockets that were designed for Edison’s incandescents. As the advancements in design continue to improve, the bulbs will effectively match all of the existing functions that are found in a traditional bulb. For example dimming, light output, and light color are functions that are becoming cheaper to design and manufacture. The coming generations of lights are still a work in progress, but the existing options are well worth the small investment.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs use only a third as much electricity as a standard incandescent bulb and are very affordable. CFL’s contain a gas that gets excited and produces invisible ultraviolet light when it gets in contact with electricity. The white coating of the bulb then interacts with the UV light, which is emitted at non-hazardous levels, and makes it visible. The bulb is formed into coils, or tubes, to maximize the surface area, and therefore increase the amount of light that is produced. CFL advancement is coming rapidly as it has received government endorsements worldwide. The improvements will include: faster light up times, dimmable lighting options, and brighter light in smaller bulbs. This innovative process is not only more energy efficient, but it will produce light up to ten times as long as a regular bulb which means it will easily pay for itself.
Halogen light bulbs work in much the same way as a traditional bulb, but with more efficient materials. The proper combinations of gases is put into a small filament that when heated produces light. In this case, halogen can emit more light at the same temperature as an incandescent bulb. This means it requires less electricity to be just as bright. It also means that many of the functions that are available with traditional bulbs can be easily reproduced with Halogen bulbs. As the technology advances, companies will begin to sell halogen lights that do not produce as much heat and they will limit the emission of UV light. Like the CFL, halogen bulbs last much longer than the standard incandescent bulb.
There is considerable amount of advancement that is required before LED’s become a feasible household option. Currently, bulbs that match the output of a traditional 25 watt incandescent bulb cost around 40 dollars. Prices have continually been falling and eventually the technology will give the LED a place in the energy efficient household lighting market. They last ten times longer than CFL’s, are much cooler than Halogen, and operate with 80% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs. It will be an interesting journey for the LED as it transitions away from smaller lighting applications to larger scale features.
The environmental implications and savings are the key to the story. According to the Energy Star website, “If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.” It is recommended to find the four or five most used light bulbs in your home and replace them with an energy efficient one. All this just adds to the age old question, “How many people does it take to change a light bulb?”
September 18, 2008
Your Interval Meter
An interval meter is a digital meter that is capable of recording your energy use on an hourly basis. This hourly interval data is necessary to calculate your electricity costs, as the electricity prices change hourly. Your new meter might also be an AMR (automatic meter reading) meter, which means it can be read remotely. It is not necessary to have an AMR meter for the PSP program.
The most useful display on your meter is the “02” display. To estimate whether your bill is reflecting what the meter is displaying, you will need to note and record the “02” readings (total kWh) close to the dates that your meter is read. Then by subtracting the previous reading (near the time of the previous meter reading) from the current reading (near the time of the current meter reading), you get the total number of kWh used between the dates you read the meter. You can then compare that to the total number of kWh you see on your bill. These should be close.
This data, called instantaneous data, is not one of the displays on your meter. The type of communicating meter (a Smart Meter) required to do this is significantly more expensive than the interval meter. It is possible that in the future, these types of meters and/or additional equipment may become available that would allow this and other features. We will be keeping an eye out for any developments on this front, and will keep you informed.
The most useful display on your meter is the “02” display. To estimate whether your bill is reflecting what the meter is displaying, you will need to note and record the “02” readings (total kWh) close to the dates that your meter is read. Then by subtracting the previous reading (near the time of the previous meter reading) from the current reading (near the time of the current meter reading), you get the total number of kWh used between the dates you read the meter. You can then compare that to the total number of kWh you see on your bill. These should be close.
This data, called instantaneous data, is not one of the displays on your meter. The type of communicating meter (a Smart Meter) required to do this is significantly more expensive than the interval meter. It is possible that in the future, these types of meters and/or additional equipment may become available that would allow this and other features. We will be keeping an eye out for any developments on this front, and will keep you informed.
September 16, 2008
Fall Energy Saving Tips
Here are a few Energy Saving Tips for the fall. Sadly, winter is around the corner, and it is time to consider some home improvement projects to get your house ready for the cold air. If you have your own tips you would like to share leave a comment!
Enjoy the Fresh Air
Fall is a beautiful time of year. Try letting the outside in. On nice days, opening a window can do wonders for your indoor environment. Not only will you be comfortable; it’s free.
Change Furnace Filters
If you have a forced-air heating system, replace or clean your furnace filters once a month. This is an easy and affordable way to clean the air in your home while reducing your energy costs. When filters are clogged with dirt, the furnace must work harder to emit warm air. A new clean filter will have your furnace buzzing with efficiency.
Stop Sneaky Cold Air
A common pathway for cold air to get in from the outside is through electrical wall outlets. Electrical outlet sealers found in your hardware store provide a quick fix. Installation of these couldn't be easier. First, make sure power is turned off. Then unscrew your electrical outlet cover, pop out the holes in the perforated foam insulators, place the insulator around the fixture, screw your outlet cover back on, and turn your electricity back on.
Air Leaks Waste Energy Dollars
Caulking and weather stripping will keep your cool air in the house during the summer and keep wanted warm air in your home in the winter. Adding insulation around air conditioning ducts in your attics, crawl spaces and garages will make the biggest difference.
Enjoy the Fresh Air
Fall is a beautiful time of year. Try letting the outside in. On nice days, opening a window can do wonders for your indoor environment. Not only will you be comfortable; it’s free.
Change Furnace Filters
If you have a forced-air heating system, replace or clean your furnace filters once a month. This is an easy and affordable way to clean the air in your home while reducing your energy costs. When filters are clogged with dirt, the furnace must work harder to emit warm air. A new clean filter will have your furnace buzzing with efficiency.
Stop Sneaky Cold Air
A common pathway for cold air to get in from the outside is through electrical wall outlets. Electrical outlet sealers found in your hardware store provide a quick fix. Installation of these couldn't be easier. First, make sure power is turned off. Then unscrew your electrical outlet cover, pop out the holes in the perforated foam insulators, place the insulator around the fixture, screw your outlet cover back on, and turn your electricity back on.
Air Leaks Waste Energy Dollars
Caulking and weather stripping will keep your cool air in the house during the summer and keep wanted warm air in your home in the winter. Adding insulation around air conditioning ducts in your attics, crawl spaces and garages will make the biggest difference.
September 10, 2008
CNT's 30th Anniversary
CNT Energy is proud to be part of the wider organization the Center for Neighborhood Technology that is celebrating its 30th Anniversary on September 17, 2008, at the Garfield Park Conservatory.
CNT was founded in 1978 as a center of innovation for the redevelopment of Chicago’s low and moderate income communities. Run out of a small storefront with tomatoes growing in the windows, our goal was to invent strategies that could turn community problems into assets. We’ve since grown to a national “think-and-do” tank that is leading the movement toward urban sustainability, with programs focusing on resource efficiency, transportation, job creation, and environmental quality.
Over the years, CNT’s work, especially in the areas of climate, energy, natural resources, transportation and community development, has paid off by fueling a generation of community development and learning institutions, earning CNT a reputation as an economic innovator and leader in the field of creative sustainable development.
A key portion of the success of Power Smart Pricing is the dedication that our parent organization has had to the importance of creative and effective solutions. As such Illinois has become a place for new thinking towards a more sustainable future. The real-time pricing option to residential customers is very limited nationwide, and we are proud to be able to offer this choice to customers who have learned a great deal, and more importantly, saved a significant amount of money. So for our past and future successes, we would like to thank all those supporters of the Center for Neighborhood Technology for their 30 years of dedication and tremendous accomplishments.
To learn more or donate go to:
http://www.cnt.org/donate
CNT was founded in 1978 as a center of innovation for the redevelopment of Chicago’s low and moderate income communities. Run out of a small storefront with tomatoes growing in the windows, our goal was to invent strategies that could turn community problems into assets. We’ve since grown to a national “think-and-do” tank that is leading the movement toward urban sustainability, with programs focusing on resource efficiency, transportation, job creation, and environmental quality.
Over the years, CNT’s work, especially in the areas of climate, energy, natural resources, transportation and community development, has paid off by fueling a generation of community development and learning institutions, earning CNT a reputation as an economic innovator and leader in the field of creative sustainable development.
A key portion of the success of Power Smart Pricing is the dedication that our parent organization has had to the importance of creative and effective solutions. As such Illinois has become a place for new thinking towards a more sustainable future. The real-time pricing option to residential customers is very limited nationwide, and we are proud to be able to offer this choice to customers who have learned a great deal, and more importantly, saved a significant amount of money. So for our past and future successes, we would like to thank all those supporters of the Center for Neighborhood Technology for their 30 years of dedication and tremendous accomplishments.
To learn more or donate go to:
http://www.cnt.org/donate
September 8, 2008
Tell us about events in your area!
Have you attended a recent lecture, workshop, or community event focused on energy? Do you know of any such events happening in the next few months? If yes, we’d love to hear about it. Although CNT Energy staff members are not able to attend all relevant events across the state, we’re always looking for opportunities to get out of the office and talk to about energy issues. If you belong to a club, neighborhood association, or another community group that holds events and is looking for speakers to discuss strategies for saving energy and money, please get in touch.
To tell us about events in your community, please add a comment below, e-mail us at info@powersmartpricing.org, or call 1 (877) 655-6028.
To get things started, here are two upcoming events that might interest Power Smart Pricing participants.
A Town Hall Meeting on Climate Change
Tuesday, September 9, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Forest Park Nature Center, Peoria Heights, IL
Admission is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by Illinois Environmental Council and Environment Illinois and co-hosted by the Forest Park Nature Center, Heart of Illinois (HOI) Sierra Club, and the Central Illinois Global Warming Solutions Group. This event is part of a series that already visited Decatur, Alton, and Belleville. These events convene local residents, elected officials and community groups to discuss issues related to global warming, specifically soaring gas prices and asthma rates, plus shifting gardening zones. Presentations will focus on possible solutions, specifically energy efficiency initiatives, the Global Warming Response Act (SB2220/HB5254) and the Illinois Clean Cars Act (HB 3424/SB 2238).
Find out more at www.ilenviro.org/news/?item=115
The Cascading Effects of Global Warming – What Can I do Now?
Tuesday, September 16, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Admission is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Jackson County; Shawnee Group Sierra Club; United Nations Association-USA of Southern Illinois; SIU Student Environmental Center, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, OxFam International and the League of Women Voters-U.S.
To tell us about events in your community, please add a comment below, e-mail us at info@powersmartpricing.org, or call 1 (877) 655-6028.
To get things started, here are two upcoming events that might interest Power Smart Pricing participants.
A Town Hall Meeting on Climate Change
Tuesday, September 9, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Forest Park Nature Center, Peoria Heights, IL
Admission is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by Illinois Environmental Council and Environment Illinois and co-hosted by the Forest Park Nature Center, Heart of Illinois (HOI) Sierra Club, and the Central Illinois Global Warming Solutions Group. This event is part of a series that already visited Decatur, Alton, and Belleville. These events convene local residents, elected officials and community groups to discuss issues related to global warming, specifically soaring gas prices and asthma rates, plus shifting gardening zones. Presentations will focus on possible solutions, specifically energy efficiency initiatives, the Global Warming Response Act (SB2220/HB5254) and the Illinois Clean Cars Act (HB 3424/SB 2238).
Find out more at www.ilenviro.org/news/?item=115
The Cascading Effects of Global Warming – What Can I do Now?
Tuesday, September 16, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Admission is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Jackson County; Shawnee Group Sierra Club; United Nations Association-USA of Southern Illinois; SIU Student Environmental Center, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, OxFam International and the League of Women Voters-U.S.
September 4, 2008
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Article
Read about Power Smart Pricing in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Illinois Ameren Customers Find Savings in Fluctuating Rate Program
Write a comment and email it to friends and family interested in joining the program!
UPDATE: This article can also be found in the Bloomington Pantagraph!
Illinois Ameren Customers Find Savings in Fluctuating Rate Program
Write a comment and email it to friends and family interested in joining the program!
UPDATE: This article can also be found in the Bloomington Pantagraph!
September 3, 2008
CNT Energy Impresses at ACEEE
Last week Marjie Isaacson of CNT Energy had the privilege of attending the premier energy-efficiency event in the country, the bi-annual conference of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE www.aceee.org). This meeting, known as “energy camp,” is five days jam-packed from the morning until late at night with the latest in both research and actual practice on how to reduce the amount of energy that is used. These are, as stated by the organizers, “lofty goals related to costs, comfort, and stewardship”. Not coincidentally, these are the goals we’re pursuing with Power Smart Pricing!
The conference is organized in eleven panels, called concentrations on a specific topic. These subjects ranged from analyses of energy use in residential and commercial buildings, to the social dimensions of energy use, to planning for the future. Sessions consist of presentations of peer-reviewed papers. CNT Energy staff had two papers accepted for publication, one describing our energy auditing work, and the other discussing real-time pricing in Illinois. There was considerable interest in the relatively new and unusual concept of RTP for residential consumers, and of course Marjie was happy to be able to provide a good report on how successful PSP participants have been on the program.
The conference is organized in eleven panels, called concentrations on a specific topic. These subjects ranged from analyses of energy use in residential and commercial buildings, to the social dimensions of energy use, to planning for the future. Sessions consist of presentations of peer-reviewed papers. CNT Energy staff had two papers accepted for publication, one describing our energy auditing work, and the other discussing real-time pricing in Illinois. There was considerable interest in the relatively new and unusual concept of RTP for residential consumers, and of course Marjie was happy to be able to provide a good report on how successful PSP participants have been on the program.
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