PSP Article in Galesburg Register Mail

http://www.galesburg.com/business/x946494075/Buying-electricity-hourly-can-cut-costs

The next time I see you it will be 2009! Happy new year!

The Smith House of Urbana, IL

As we saw during the past week, our furnaces are sometimes put to the test and we see it on our energy bills. It’s just like that old saying, “Furnaces, can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.” What if that wasn’t entirely true? It seems improbable that you could live through a bitter Illinois winter without a furnace or electric space heater and maintain any level of comfort. However, a developing trend in Germany is to build residences without a furnace that meet the German Passive House Standard.

The Smith House (pictured above), located in Urbana, IL is an all electric house designed without the need of a furnace. Architect and owner, Katrin Klingenberg describes the house as a “simple shed-roofed house insulated on all six sides to at least R-56.” An R-value is an insulation rating. The higher the value, the better the seal. In Illinois, Energy Star suggests an R-value of 38.

In the 1970’s, many US homes were built with an ultra-tight seal, but they failed because of an increase in stagnant air and mold. The new Passive home uses a Heat Recovery System (HRV or ERV). The warm air going out passes side by side with clean, cold air coming in, exchanging heat with 90 percent efficiency.

Building costs are slightly higher (like 10%), but the construction design of the home is a traditional ballon frame. Prices in the United States will come down as more contractors and designers become accustomed to the Passive House building standards. Klingenberg believes that the premium would be covered in 10 years with lower energy costs. She says that in January 2007, “the electric bill totaled only $35 despite the fact that the month included two weeks of -10 degree cloudy weather.”

Via Greenline Blog

The Smart Home and In Home Displays

This past week a group of CNT Energy staff took a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry on Chicago’s South Side to look at the Smart Home exhibit. In this highly energy efficient model house designed to spur the imagination about what the future of homes in the 21st century could be, we noticed that there were building monitoring display systems in almost every room. We are constantly keeping an eye on the emerging products in this sphere since they have the potential to be a breakthrough for helping people become more energy efficient.

Some Power Smart Pricing Participants have been members of our PriceLight in home display test program. The PriceLight brings information about the current price of electricity into the home. The next generation of in home displays brings in more information such as real-time electricity consumption information and the ability to control appliances. Studies have observed proven results showing that people with these devices in their homes have decreased energy consumption simply because they have a better grasp of their daily electricity usage. A recent article in The Christian Science Monitor provides some good examples of this trend in action. It goes on to mention the added influence of more advanced electric meters combined with real-time pricing.

Power Smart Pricing is a growing program that has reached national acclaim because of the shift in energy usage participants are making away from high priced hours. Your efforts have shown the energy efficiency industry that real-time pricing combined with emerging smart grid technology is an important part of the solution for lowering energy costs, improving reliability and cutting emissions.

Christian Science Monitor – December 18, 2008 edition
Power meters help homeowners track and cut their energy use

Top 6 Stories of the Year

The Power Smart Pricing Blog has been a tremendous amount of fun in 2008, and I hope that you have enjoyed it as well. As many readers have recently found their way to our site, I wanted to highlight some of the great articles that are now buried in our archives. This was originally going to be the top 5 articles, but in the spirit of the season I included a sixth. In no particular order (except publish date)....

1) New online tools to help you keep track of hourly prices
We hadn't yet worked out the kinks of long entry titles.... You can find the link for the google gadget as seen in the sidebar in the article along with a couple others.

2) Fighting Phantom Load
Here at the PSP Blog we aren't fighters, but if you must... fight phantom load.

3) The Fifth Fuel and Negawatts
In the most profound statement of the year: The cheapest kilowatt is the one you don't use.

4) Monticello School District Recognized as Top Energy Saver
Energy efficient schools have a near and dear place in my heart. Way to go!

5) GE's Smart Appliances
Here's to hoping our appliances don't get too smart. I like the pecking order as it is....

6) Green Gingerbread House
This one is fun for all ages.

No need to panic! The blog will be humming along for the rest of the year looking to top this list in the process.

In Other News…

Lighting of the future... made into a Christmas tree today!

GE has been conducting a lot of research and development into Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). It seems that holiday cheer overtook the Global Research Center, and they wanted to show off their latest technology in a festive way.

OLEDs are highly energy efficient. In the lighting world that means they use less watts (electricity) to produce more lumens (light). The other part that designers are so excited about with OLEDs is that they are very thin and incredibly flexible. Be on the look out for this technology to make its way to cell phones in the next couple years. I mean they already made a Christmas tree!

Costs are still high, but GE is working hard and they are making advancements. As you can see in the picture, these lights can be made in one long roll. The production is similar to a newspaper press which was a breakthrough in lowering manufacturing costs. The prediction is that OLEDs will make a jump in usage by 2015 (that sounds a lot farther away then it actually is… wow).

In the meantime we can follow its progress dreaming up some interesting uses, or we can just watch GE make it into a Christmas tree.

Our New Website

The Power Smart Pricing team has updated the Power Smart Pricing website (www.powersmartpricing.org)!

We are excited about the new features that the website now offers our current participants. Check out the new way to get daily prices by clicking on the “Hourly Prices” menu option. Now you can view (and print) the prices in a graph or table format where the day’s prices are color coded. A green bar indicates a low priced hour (less than 8 cents), a yellow bar is in the middle (8 to 13 cents), and a red bar is a high priced hour (above 13 cents).

In the new “Participant Tools” menu option, you can check out our web gadgets, learn about seasonal energy saving tips, and link to the Ameren login page to view your personalized online tools.

There is also a link to the PowerSmart Pricing blog www.powersmartpricing.blogspot.com). As many of you have already seen, it’s a frequently updated source of program news and interesting energy related stories.

As the number of Power Smart Pricing participants grows everyday, we’ve found that the participants themselves are great sources of information about how to succeed on the program. We work to provide the best possible information, and participants can be a great source of advice as well. That is why are we are beginning to build the foundation for new online social networking groups. Check out our new Facebook group called Power Smart Pricing!

Thank you for your participation in Power Smart Pricing. If you have any ideas about how to get the best possible value from the program, try using some of the online tools so other participants can hear your great ideas! And of course, if you want to talk, our staff is always more than happy to take your call.

The Story of Bureau Valley High's Wind Turbine

I have already written about Monticello High School and its strive to be energy efficient, but there is another Illinois school that needs to be heard as well. Bureau Valley High School in Manlius, IL has a 660 kW Vestas wind turbine. The catalyst for the project was the dedication of a hog farmer from Northern Illinois named Keith Bolin. Most folks tend to be racing along through life a little too fast to consider the energy of the natural elements around them, but Bolin could not help but sense the wind energy in the area. The thoughts of his children and grandchildren led him to one conclusion, installing a wind turbine at the local high school.

The school district applied for their first grant in July of 2002 and received $20,000 from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to hire a consultant to review their site. After careful review and study from local Monmouth College, the site was accepted and they received an additional $480,000 in grant money. That accounted for about half of the needed resources, and the rest was acquired through a bank loan and some money from the school’s operation and maintenance fund.

Altogether Bolin expects total revenue for the project to be about $1.6 million. Superintendent Rick Stoeker said that after the first two months it looked as if the project would save the school district approximately $100,000 each year, or as Bolin puts it “two teachers a year.”

"I'm just a dirt hog farmer. I'm not the smartest guy on the block," Bolin said, but "somebody had to take the bull by the horns."

His great volunteer effort is an example of community organizing driven by a meaningful purpose to pursue a concrete tangible result. Bolin’s success came from including the community, the local governments, and business professionals to find a common solution. Many rural schools across America already have access to renewable energy with either wind or solar power. The rest is dedication.

Three other school wind projects are in development in Illinois at:
- Erie Community Unit School District No.1 , Whiteside, Rock Island and Henry counties , IL, 1.2 MW
- Keeneyville School District , Keeneyville , IL, 66 MW
- UPDATE: University of Illinois , Urbana-Champagne , IL, three 1.5 MW turbines - Cancelled

For more information on wind power in Illinois go to http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/astate_template.asp?stateab=il

Holiday Wishes from PSP Participant

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the Northern hemisphere’s winter solstice holiday, practised within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practises of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or the choice to not practise secular or religious traditions at all…and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contribution to society have helped made our country great (not to imply that our country is necessarily greater than any other), and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, veteran status, choice of computer platform or sexual orientation of the wishee.

Use of the term "Holiday" herein is not intended to, nor shall it be considered to be, limited to Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances, nor to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community group, individual or belief (or lack thereof). In particular, the word "holiday" is used herein without reference to its etymology.

Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable ab initio at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason.

This greeting is freely transferable provided that there is no alteration to the original greeting text. Any transfer is to be at the risk of the transferor who, by making such transfer, thereby agrees to hold the wishee harmless from any and all adverse consequences resulting from such transfer.

This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually take any action or fail to take any action to implement any of the wishes for the wishee her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of same.

This wish is expected to perform as expected within the customary and usual application of good tiding for a period of approximately one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

This greeting is void where prohibited by law, custom or policy and is offered irrespective on any card, hard copy or embarrassingly self-indulgent letter summarizing achievements in 2008, however mendacious, which may or may not have been purveyed by myself or any member of my extended family.

In Other News…

The Vatican Goes Solar!

Vatican City has just installed 2,400 photovoltaic solar panels on the 5,000 square meter roof of Nervi Hall where popes hold general audiences when the weather is poor. Since he was elected in 2005, Pope Benedict has drawn attention of the faithful to “the unbalanced use of energy” in the world and has remarked that environmental damage is making “the lives of poor people on earth especially unbearable.”

The solar panels were a donation by the German companies SolarWorld and SMA Solar Technology that will power the Nevri Hall when it is use and feed the Vatican City main power grid on off hours. So when I asked you all to consider donations to your church in the form of weatherization and energy efficiency, I wasn’t exactly thinking about a $1.6 million dollar solar array. But, if you have the means then I’m sure you will find someone willing to accept it….

As much as this is a symbol of environmental change, it also highlights what I find to be the most important part of the new green movement and that it is an investment in lowering our energy costs. Beyond just being good stewards of the earth for those who come after us, it is essential to rebuild our country into a more efficient, cheaper place for all of us to live.

Help Keep your Neighbors Warm this Season

Ameren’s Warm Neighbors program has provided bill payment assistance and home weatherization for qualifying customers since 1982. As part of the Energy Assistance Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, founded by Illinois Power (now Ameren IP), has helped weatherize more than 5,500 homes and provided heating assistance to over 76,000 households.

During this holiday season, Ameren Illinois Utilities is making it even easier to help those in need with the Dollar More program. Beyond just donations, you can purchase gift certificates that can be used toward electricity or natural gas service bills for any Ameren customer.

The winter can be a costly time for organizations that have been struggling with rising costs for a long time. It is easy to think of the public places that open their doors to you and your loved ones like a church, a senior center, a food bank, or a veterans’ organization. Making a donation contributing to their utility costs can help them maintain the quality services they offer to your community.

As a nonprofit that hopes to upgrade our homes and buildings to become energy efficient, we strongly encourage giving to those organizations that help weatherize like Warm Neighbors as it is an investment that will go beyond its initial dollar amount.

To learn more visit the Ameren Web site (www.ameren.com), selecting "My Home," then "Special Programs & Services," then your Ameren Illinois Utility.

Welcome Mumby the Chumby!

Welcome Mumby!

We have an addition to our Power Smart Pricing office. It’s Mumby the Chumby. As described by the makers, Chumby is a “compact consumer Internet device that enables people to receive a constant personalized broadcast of their favorite parts of the Web.” It has partnerships with CBS, MTV Networks, MySpace, The Weather Channel Interactive, AOL’s SHOUTCast, and Scripps Networks to provide a base set of widgets that can be displayed on its screen.

We are excited by the visit because each Chumby can be highly personalized to have the channels, or widgets, of your choice. This even includes ones that can be created by outside developers. Here at CNT Energy we are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to display hourly prices. A widget could be designed a lot like Jay Nick’s google gadget (as seen on the sidebar) that would show the current price and match it with an easily recognizable color scheme (green, yellow, or red).

If you currently own a Chumby, let us know what you think! Also if there are any developers out there who want to take a shot at programming a widget keep us informed with your progress!

To learn more go to http://www.chumby.com/.

What Exactly are "Green Collar" Jobs?

If we want home insulation programmes and green energy schemes to create lots of new jobs for plumbers, roofers and electricians then let's say that, rather than making vague pronouncements about "green collar jobs" and expecting people to know or care what we mean. Jobs that don't sound real, don't look real and don't seem like they will ever pay real money to real people are unlikely to ever capture the public's imagination.
- Darren Johnson, Green Party (UK)

In the past, environmentalists were often considered to be on the opposite side of economists on various issues. This conflict came over the protection of natural areas versus the capacity to build on those parcels to spur business development. As the world has evolved and changed, the connection between these two fields has been altered. At CNT Energy we support stronger energy efficiency standards because of their influence on lowering energy bills for households, businesses, and governments. Such improvements can help create and save jobs while lowering the operating costs for all sectors both public and private.

It costs a certain amount of money to run a home, and with lower monthly energy bills costs can be diverted to more necessary household expenditures like education and health care. As the need for these improvements has been more understood by the public, it is important to now find the proper message to be an advocate for these investments. America is facing a dwindling work force, but it is still filled with the expertise and skill to accomplish the tasks at hand and the men and women who have lost their jobs are eager to get back to work.

Wind farms and solar panels are on the horizon as examples of technology that we will one day be able to harness with a large scale capacity, but today there is a lot of work that can be done on a much smaller scope. Installing higher grade insulation to our homes and schools to lower heating and cooling costs, replacing inefficient windows with ones that are better suited to keep wanted air in and undesired air out, and revamping a building’s water system to lower the amount needed for daily tasks which require a great deal of energy to heat the water are all improvements that can be made today.

So when you have the ear of your local representative, make sure you’re pushing for energy efficiency improvements! Wind farms are popping up across Illinois, and they get a lot of attention (for good reason), but don’t forget about all the small jobs that need to be done. They can lower energy bills for your home, your school district, or local municipality and most importantly get America back to work!

In Other News...

Wal-Mart reached an agreement to purchase 100% of the power generated by a new wind farm in Texas. A collection of 360 Texas stores and distribution centers will use the electricity, providing about 15% of the power for those locations. The current economic environment and the lowering of energy costs in recent months have somewhat slowed the expansion of similar projects throughout the country, but Wal-Mart says they remain 100 % committed to its renewable energy goal.

No matter what your previous feelings are towards one the world's largest retail company, Wal-Mart's decision to go after renewable energy has implications on your household monthly bill. As a participant in an hourly pricing electricity supply program, you are already relative experts as compared to your neighbors (although you should get them to sign up!). Following the prices, shows you that they tend to be substantially lower during holidays and on weekends. This is because many businesses, including commercial retail companies on holidays, are closed. The demand for power throughout the region drops, and the prices reflect that change.

Obviously 360 stores in Texas won't do much to the prices in Illinois, but if other companies begin to find the financial incentive to go after renewable energy then the prices in your home could see a noticeable change.

To read more check out Hank Green's article at EcoGeek.

New feature! In Other News...

Under this header we will post interesting ecofriendly and other energy related articles from around the web. A link will guide you to the original article so you can explore more of the story. You can find these articles in the new label called "In Other News...."

This first post highlights HOK's green gingerbread house. HOK is an international architecture firm and their Toronto office designed this house to promote a fundraiser called the 2008 Green Gingerbread Build.

Don't miss the "chocovoltaics" on the roof!


For more information check out their blog Life at HOK.

UK to Test 3,000 Smart Refrigerators

The UK and a company called RLtec have initiated a pilot program to test 3,000 smart refrigerators that will have adjustable power to match the needs of the grid. The utility could adjust each refrigerator very slightly (like one degree). If everyone's appliance had this capability there would be a significant demand reduction system wide without a noticeable change in your home. The pilot program will be able to test what kind of impact this could have on a larger scale.

The program is very similar to efficiency programs that some utilities have began to use on household air conditioners. In these cases, the utility would install a switch onto your central air conditioner that would allow the utility to cycle your unit on and off over a period of high demand.

The goal of these programs is to reduce the peak demand that puts strain onto the system grid. Lowering usage during these periods has a significant impact on the price of electricity throughout the region over the course of an entire year.

In the case of Power Smart Pricing those times correlate to the highest summer prices. As participants, your actions during high price times have the same effect. While it is easier to turn off or manage your air conditioner and other electrical appliances, it does not make much sense to turn your refrigerator off. Having a system that could control everyone's refrigerator to adjust its demand by small amounts would reduce the system peak load without spoiling your dinner.

In the US, GE is developing a model with this capability to be out sometime in 2009.

Power Smart Pricing on Facebook!

CNT Energy recently created a Power Smart Pricing group on Facebook. Join the group to get in touch with other Power Smart Pricing participants and to share information about the program with your friends!

Act On Energy

If you are looking for more ways to save on your bills, then the first place to look might be the source. Ameren has developed an energy efficiency program called Act On Energy. The website is outlined with solutions for your home or business, and a guide to energy efficient shopping.

They have a place to order compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s) at a discount, which can help you save even more on lighting. Compared to a traditional incandescent bulb, these energy efficient bulbs use less electricity to produce the same amount of light. This will lower your bills while without leaving you in the dark.

The website also outlines the many other programs that will begin in the spring, summer, and fall of 2009. A popular program is a refrigerator recycling initiative that gives you a chance to have Ameren come to your home and haul away a second refrigerator that you might have in your garage. Often times these refrigerators are old and inefficient. For an incentive, Ameren will even pay you $35 for participating.

Act On Energy is a very extensive energy saving initiative. Utilities across the country have begun to put more and more programs in place to help their customers save on their bills and reduce system-wide demand. Ameren has done a great job of looking at what other utilities have done and determined which programs would be the most successful for their customers. Some of the options will be quite popular so it will be important to do the research now before they begin. We will surely give you an update on everything you will need to do as each program gets underway.

For the time being go to www.actonenergy.net and take advantage of their discounted CFL’s and search through the site to check out the new money saving opportunities that will soon be coming your way.

A New Power Smart Pricing Website is Coming!!

Here at CNT Energy we have been working hard on updating the Power Smart Pricing website. We are fine tuning the finishing touches on what will be an exciting new "face lift" for our participants. There will be better access to hourly pricing, and well organized background information you can show your friends and neighbors as you tell them why they should sign up. The blog is still up and running, but yours truly has been a little preoccupied with the upgrade. Look for the new site to go live in the next couple of weeks!

GE's Smart Appliances

As plans are being drawn up to overhaul the electric grid with smart meters, some private companies are making their plans to keep up. General Electric announced that in the first quarter of next year the company will introduce a new line of appliances that can be controlled remotely. The company is developing smart refrigerators, ranges, washers and dryers, dishwashers and microwave ovens, and will start a pilot program in Louisville KY with Louisville Gas and Electric Company.

Utility companies across the nation have been looking for ways to lower peak demand, and some began that process by implementing real-time pricing programs like Power Smart Pricing (but not as great!!!). The high demand periods throughout the year have a great influence over electricity prices.

The improved appliances would be able to be controlled by utility companies to shift into an energy saving mode that would not have much affect on the consumer. For example, a freezer could be able to delay its automatic defrost function during peak hours. The change in wattage would be small, but overall the utility would be able to make similar changes throughout the service area on a wide range of appliances.

This integration will invite new innovation that will have the ability to fundamentally change the way we use electricity. New enterprises will spring up emulating the chances GE is beginning to take. For now, innovation comes in the form of Power Smart Pricing. Our participants constantly tell us that because of the way they are billed, the way they now think about their usage, they are using less. There is a lot of money for our households to save, and we must continue to support these endeavors alongside Ameren, and other utilities raising money for smart meters, and private companies looking to improve the appliances we use.

Monticello School District Recognized as Top Energy Saver

Monticello, IL is home to one of the top 25 energy efficient high schools in the nation. The school district partnered with Johnson Controls to help guide them through energy efficiency improvements to its buildings. The schools were suffering from various problems including aging equipment, poor indoor air quality, varying temperature levels, and out-of-date lighting systems.

Johnson Controls guaranteed $3.86 million in energy and operational savings over the following 10 years. This agreement allowed the school district to pay for some of the facility improvements with savings it gained from the energy-efficient upgrades. According to Superintendent Mike Reeves, “Natural gas prices wrecked some school districts, but it didn’t wreck us. Ten years ago… it would have been devastating.”

The amount of savings achieved through smart investments is incredible. Many school systems throughout the country are suffering from strained budgets that have forced cutting teachers, extra-curricular activities, and afterschool programs. The Monticello School District has found away to ease the need to cut jobs by cutting their energy costs.

Via EnergyStar.gov

Google: Don't be tricked, treat yourself to savings

Google has long been at the forefront of the movement for energy efficiency and affordable renewable energy sources. During this Halloween holiday season, they have developed an energy savings calculator that warns households of the ghosts, vampires, monsters, zombies, and demons that are tricking their way into your electric bill. The calculator advises people to take a few simple steps like turning off your game console or closing the chimney flute and it adds up your potential cost savings as well as your reduced pounds of carbon emissions. Follow the link below for the calculator:

http://www.google.com/hauntedhouse08/index.html
Official Google Blog: Is your house haunted by high energy prices?

The Fifth Fuel and Negawatts

When it comes to energy costs, energy efficiency is the less glamorous, more cost effective, easiest solution to implement. Sometimes referred to as the fifth fuel alongside oil, natural gas, nuclear power, and renewables, it is often overlooked. Its importance has risen about as fast as energy costs. Environmentalists, economists, and homeowners can all support this push as the only byproduct is wealth. A successful push for energy efficiency would drive down consumption which would theoretically lower prices. Experts coined a term for the lower consumption as “negawatts.” Fancy definitions, titles, and technology breakthroughs are important, but the homeowner must be equipped with the finest resources to make educated decisions on how to use this exploding field of energy efficiency to actually lower their bills. CNT Energy hopes to bridge this gap. Real-time pricing programs help maintain system energy efficiency. When residences lower their consumption during high peak, high demand times, it reduces the necessity for electricity generators to turn on more power plants. On occasion the additional plants are forced to produce far more electricity than they will use so they can respond to the need of the consumer. It is amazing that by simply changing the way your home is charged for electricity you can have a positive impact on the energy efficiency system wide.

Net Metering

Earlier this year, Net Metering for small (2,000 kW and below) renewable (solar PV, wind etc.) electricity generating sources was legislated and put in place by the utilities.

In Ameren, the rules are generally as follows:

A flat rate customer with an electricity generator will get billed for the amount of electricity their household used minus the amount it produced. If they generated more power than they used then they will receive a credit in their account for future bills. Your account will keep the credits from month to month until they are used up, or if you reach the end of the year (defined as April-April or October-October).

Customers with hourly prices (such as Power Smart Pricing customers) are billed under a similar standard. The difference is that each hour is used as either a credit or a charge based on the rate for electricity that particular hour. These hourly energy charges and credits get added up over the month and result in either a net dollar amount energy charge or dollar energy credit for that month. Any leftover credit will be used on other parts of that bill (taxes, monthly customer charge, etc). If there is still a dollar amount credit left, it rolls over to the next month's bill. By the end of the year any leftover credit is forfeited.

Here is a handy device that will help your household keep track of the performance of your solar PV system:

Beware Green Washing

As energy prices are rising and families are paying more attention to the environment, many companies are looking to capitalize on this new market of consumer interest. Many businesses claim to be “green,” or claim that their products are the simple fix to a complicated issue. There are simple ways to lower your energy bills, and there are great products out there that can help. However buyers beware—some products are not as effective as they claim.

Consumer fears are rising over “green washing.” It is a marketing term that claims that many companies are selling their products as eco-friendly when in fact it does not provide the types of environmental benefits they claim. Furthermore, environmentalists interested in the economic development of “green” products fear that cluttering the message hurts the products that are effective environmental solutions.

However, this rational consumer apprehension has forced companies to be more transparent and descriptive with their efforts to be “green.” Any savvy company has seen the trend in recent years that has proven a direct market advantage of a green company as compared to its non green counterpart. The pressure for businesses to close the “green gap” has led to “green washing.”

Many people who are looking for the way around this issue are looking for advice.

Via Unsuitablog:

• Be suspicious of all environmental claims. Don’t trust any claims unless you have verified them yourself.

• If a company, in particular, takes out a large advertisement in a newspaper, or runs a TV advertisement saying how great their green credentials are — then they are hiding something, guaranteed. If someone is trying sell their “green” credentials then ask yourself, “why?”

• If a company has a bad history it is highly unlikely to have changed overnight. Use web sites like SourceWatch and Corporate Watch, as well as this site, to find out the truth behind the mask.

• Look out for poor use of scientific facts, especially when listening to politicians: “Reducing carbon emissions will protect the ozone layer”, “this technology is sustainable”, “emissions can be offset”, “the greenhouse effect is not certain” etc. All examples of rubbish that has no basis in fact, even the last one (think about it).

• Look out for buzzwords that put a gloss on reality: ”carbon intensity”, “sustainable development”, “carbon offsets”, “clean technology” etc. Another clear sign that something is being covered up.

• Use your common sense and your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t.

Illinois Wind

Across Illinois, people are interested in the prospect of wind power becoming a great source of renewable energy that would one day help reduce household electricity costs. The upfront costs, zoning requirements, and adequate wind for each site makes the expansion of this technology a cautious endeavor. Opportunities for advancement in wind farm construction have increased significantly, but developers are appropriately thorough.

Future wind farm sites will be built in Illinois, but wind provides only one part of a solution to provide cheaper, more sustainable electricity generation. The excitement and enthusiasm for alternative sources of energy is the foundation for coming years of responsible development and exploration.

Wind farm near Mendota, IL - Jennifer Zimmerman

Illinois wind facts, figures, and advice for homeowners looking to get their own small wind turbine:

http://www.illinoiswind.org/
http://www.awea.org/smallwind/illinois.html#Wind%20Resource%20Information
http://www.illinoiscleanenergy.org/
http://www.windustry.com/

Newspaper Editor Shares His Power Smart Pricing Story

A recent editorial in the Decatur Herald & Review points out the benefits of Power Smart Pricing. Managing Editor Dave Dawson signed up for the program in June, and in his editorial he says, "if you are like my family, and you look at the program and think you are doing a lot of the things CNT Energy advises you to do to be successful, then it’s definitely worth checking out." You can read the full article on the Herald & Review website!

A smart way to save a bit on your electricity bill
By Dave Dawson
October 5, 2008

Advice on Saving Energy and Money

The changes that people can make to save on energy related costs are nothing new. Use less. Insulate. The key is learning the strategies for using less energy, because the cheapest kilowatt hour is the one you don’t use. For people enrolled in real-time pricing programs like Power Smart Pricing, it also involves learning the strategies for being smart about when you use power.

When travelling across Illinois for Power Smart Pricing, our staff members talk to many people who tell us that their bills are rising and they are out of ideas for lowering their costs. Some are interested in installing solar panels or wind turbines, but the initial installation price for large renewable energy devices can make them impractical for many families. The first step in saving energy is awareness. Then, do a little research into the kinds of no-cost and low-cost solutions that lower energy costs. Next, take positive steps towards that goal, while understanding that both large and small investments can make a difference when used appropriately.

Your bills won’t ever turn to zero, but if you can cut your energy use down by 20 percent that might give you an extra 40 dollars to spend on your family’s other needs. Combining a lot of little things will make a real difference but only you can take the first step.

Here are some helpful links:

http://www.keepwarm.illinois.gov/default.cfm
http://www.ilenergyraters.org/
www.energystar.gov
http://www.powersmartpricing.org/energy-saving-tips.php
www.energysavers.gov

Low Fall Prices!! Electricity Sale!!

Now that historically lower fall prices are here with the quickly emerging fall temperatures, it is the perfect time to sign up for Power Smart Pricing. With days, like today, that have prices lower than the flat rate for every hour are great for new participants to get used to the new pricing structure. Looking at the price pattern and conserving prices are the highest will continue to maximize your savings. However, the savings will be even greater. If you are already signed up, get the word out! If not, look through www.powersmartpricing.org for the information or call us toll free at 1-877-655-6028.

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.

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?”

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

Cooling Systems

About half of a household’s energy use, about $1,900 a year, goes toward heating or cooling the house. In the summer most of the cost can be attributed to a hard working air conditioning unit. Cutting costs are important, but the value of comfort cannot be overlooked. While using a central air conditioner, keep exterior doors and windows tightly shut. Many older buildings do not have as tight a seal to keep cooled air from slipping through the cracks. Therefore, if you are thinking about remodeling consider upgrading windows and insulation with products featuring the Energy Star rating energy efficiency. For smaller projects, go to your local hardware store and ask about weatherization for hot summer months. Many of these same strategies will also keep your heating costs down in the winter.

Other methods can be as effective as air conditioning to cool your home. According to the United States Department of Energy, good ventilation, evaporative and radiant cooling ventilation systems are the least expensive and most energy-efficient way to cool a building. A properly ventilated attic is about 30˚F cooler than an unventilated attic. Evaporative and radiant cooling systems evaporate water from the air and naturally cool the air while pushing hotter air outside. The air entering the home is 15-40˚F cooler than the warm air leaving the house. Installing an evaporative system costs half as much as installing a central air conditioning system and uses about a quarter of the energy as a central air conditioner. So if your central air conditioner is running on hard times, consider an evaporative system, but remember when in doubt always look for the Energy Star.

For more information on strategies to save energy in heating and cooling, visit:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12300

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac

Powering Your Home With Solar

If you’re thinking of installing a solar system on your house, you may be surprised to learn that there are multiple tax incentives available to you. For photovoltaic or solar water heat projects, the federal government will give a personal tax credit worth 30% of the initial cost of the project with a maximum of $2,000. Commercial systems can receive a 30% tax credit with no limit from the federal government. The State of Illinois provides a rebate worth 30% of the initial cost of the project with a maximum of $10,000. Since the initial costs of installing a photovoltaic system are usually above $33,000, residential customers can generally receive the full $10,000 rebate.

The federal incentive is the minimum amount of money that one can expect to receive when planning the production of a solar array. To see if you qualify for either or both incentives, visit the database of state and federal incentives for renewables & energy efficiency at: http://www.dsireusa.org. Solar water heating systems are almost always less expensive to install than photovoltaic systems. After all of the incentives, the cost of installing a solar water heating system can cost as little as $1,600!

To determine how long it takes to earn money on a solar investment, check out the following websites:

• The American Solar Energy Society, http://www.ases.org/, has a link to a solar estimator (and a list of solar professionals in your area) on its website.
• The Sharp Corporation, http://www.sharpusa.com, has a solar estimator listed under its solar power products.

As a Power Smart Pricing participant, excess electric energy produced by a solar array can be sold back to your utility company at the hourly rate during the particular hour that your home was a net producer of electricity. At the end of the billing cycle, your energy cost/credit is the sum of each hour’s energy cost or credit based on whether you were a net producer or user for each hour. At the end of each billing cycle if your electricity use is more than the amount you produced, you will have delivery charges based on your net use. However, if your system produces more than the amount you used, a credit for delivery charges based on your net production is created. Net metering customers have these credits applied toward other customer charges on the current bill. Any excess credits are also applied on subsequent bills for up to a 12 month period. After which, any existing credits will be nullified.

CNT Energy at the State Fair!

Come one, come all! It's time to test the mightiest of minds in a match to decide once and for all if you are Power Smart! Do you have the brains, the brawn, or the brilliance? Join CNT Energy staff on August 15, 16 and 17 at the Power Smart Pricing table in Conservation World to test your mettle.

We've developed some fun activities to engage fairgoers of all ages. A head start will guide you through the tumbling twists of fate toward the title of Power Smart. Clues to your success are all around you - perhaps, on this very blog. Do you have the Power Smarts to find the Phantom Energy hiding in your appliances?

State Fair website:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/

Fighting Phantom Load

Some may think that when a television or microwave is turned off that there is no power being used. However, many of our home electronics are haunted by the problem of phantom load. Phantom load, also known as standby power or leaking electricity, refers to the power consumed by electronics while turned off or in standby mode. It is estimated that phantom load costs the average household around $100 per year. That’s money you could save by hunting out the silent energy users in your home.

To identify electronics and appliances that contribute to phantom load, look for items that have a clock or digital display, a remote control, a soft touch keypad, a rechargeable battery, or an external power supply. (An external power supply is a brick or cube-shaped box located somewhere along the power chord.) Items that have some of the largest phantom loads include televisions, VCRs, DVD players, and video game consoles. These appliances have a large phantom load because they are usually in standby mode. Some of the newest video game consoles have been found to have particularly large phantom load levels.

In addition, laptops and cell phone chargers continually have current flowing through the power cord waiting to charge the electronic device (even when the phone or laptop is not attached), and a small amount of energy is lost in the process. And computers in standby or hibernate mode still consume significant amounts of energy, with laptop computers being slightly more efficient than desktops.

Controlling phantom load can add up to savings on your electricity bill. The first step is to identify the major culprits and get in the habit of unplugging them when they are not in use. To make this more convenient, you can plug electronics that consume standby power into a power strip. This will allow you to cut the electricity flowing to multiple appliances simply by flipping the switch on the power strip.

Phantom Facts:

• According to the US Department of Energy, standby power accounts for approximately 75 percent of the electricity consumed by household electronics such as televisions, stereos and computers.

• The Energy Star program estimates that the average American household spends approximately $100 per year to power electronics that are turned off or in “standby” mode.

August 2008 Power Smart Pricing Update

Your August 2008 Power Smart Pricing Update has arrived! We take a look back at what has been a really exciting summer for real-time pricing. You'll also learn about some excellent new online gadgets and tools to make checking hourly prices easier than ever! Simply click on the link below to download the newsletter and read about these topics and more!

Power Smart Pricing Update, August 2008

New online tools to help you keep track of hourly prices

As you know, there are currently two ways to check prices. You can go to Ameren’s website or call and listen to a recording of the prices. Would you like to have an easier way to keep an eye on prices – like a widget that could be displayed on your internet home page?

CNT Energy is testing three web-based tools that provide information about hourly prices. One tool is a Google gadget that displays the current hourly energy prices with a virtual stoplight. Another is a toolbar for Firefox that shows the current hourly energy price, with an optional graph of prices for the entire day. The third tool is a Vista gadget.

If you’d like to try any of these tools, see below for the links to download them. We’d like to know what you think of them, so call or e-mail us with your comments. Please let us know whether you find these tools helpful for managing your energy use. Also, we would be interested in your ideas about other helpful ways to make price information available. Finally, if you are a web programmer or developer who would like to help us develop these or other tools, we’d love to hear from you.

In addition, we continue to offer more detailed web-based information about your individual electricity usage and costs through our website. Those tools will continue to be enhanced over the coming year by our technology partner Aclara Software. To view these tools, log in to your Ameren account at www.Ameren.com, and then click on the Power Smart Pricing link.

Test the New Tools!

Please note that you will need a Google homepage and account, Firefox browser or Windows Vista operating system in order to use these tools.

Google gadget
If you have a Google account, you can place this virtual stoplight on your iGoogle homepage. It changes hourly to show the current price of electricity. You will need to log in to your Google account for the gadget to appear. Click here to download.

Firefox Toolbar
This toolbar is for users of the Firefox web browser. (If you don’t have Firefox, you can download it for free at www.Mozilla.com/Firefox.) The toolbar shows the current price of electricity and has a button to display a graph of the day’s prices. Click here to download.
(Note: You may have to log in to Firefox to have access to this program.)

Vista Gadget
This gadget will only work if you have the Windows Vista operating system. Click here to download. UPDATE: If you are having trouble getting the Vista gadget, here is a link to the Windows Vista Help website for gadgets.

These tools were developed by Jay Nick, a retired utility engineer with a long-time interest in real-time pricing. The tools are still under development, so your comments are appreciated.

Welcome!

Welcome to CNT Energy's blog about Power Smart Pricing.

We'll use this blog to answer questions from Power Smart Pricing participants, update you on what's new in the world of energy, and share energy saving tips.

We invite you to send us your ideas for topics you'd like to see covered in this blog by posting a comment (but remember we can't reply if you use the "anonymous" option). Or you can always contact us by email at info@powersmartpricing.org or by phone: 877-655-6028.

Check back regularly to see what's new!