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!