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United we can all help

The terrorist acts against the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers in New York City have shaken all Americans. We are all seeking ways in which we can provide comfort to the families of the victims of these tragic events.

With this in mind, we suggest that you consider the following broadly focused organizations to funnel your contributions or to obtain more information:

The American Red Cross: To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call America's Blood Centers at (888) BLOOD-88 or the general donation line at (800) GIVE-LIFE. To find your local American Red Cross, go to http://www.redcross.org

The United Way: For financial and other contributions go to: http://september11fund.org/epledge/sept11.cfm

Information from the Federal Government: http://www.firstgov.gov/featured/usgrcsponse.html

Illinois leads the way with ethanol research

Governor George H. Ryan today joined with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Congressmen John Shimkus, and Southern Illinois University President Dr. James Walker in breaking ground for the state-of-the-art National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Pilot Plant (NCERPP) at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

"This is a tremendous step forward in our efforts to broaden the use of ethanol in this country and across the globe," said Ryan. "A large number of individuals and organizations banded together to ensure that Illinois remains the leader in developing ethanol technology, and I want to thank and congratulate everyone involved in making this project become a reality."

As part of the groundbreaking ceremonies, Governor Ryan presented a $6 million check to SIU President Dr. Walker. The money is being issued by the State of Illinois through the Coal and Energy Development Bond Fund. The fund is administered through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA).

"It has taken a united effort from my Illinois colleagues in Congress to make this day possible," Congressman John Shimkus (R-20, Collinsville) said. "Through visits by Speaker Hastert and Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest, I was able to show the viability of the ethanol plant project to our national colleagues and am proud to have participated in making this ethanol plant a reality.

"Without the initial support of Governor George Ryan and the Illinois General Assembly, it would have been a bigger struggle for funding in Washington."

The concept of the NCERPP was developed by the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the State of Illinois as they worked together with universities, researchers and industry to develop, test and commercialize new technologies and processes to reduce the costs of producing ethanol and add to the value of a bushel of corn.

The NCERPP will be a state-of-the-art, 23,000 square foot facility that includes a corn wet and dry mill ethanol pilot plant. The goal of the facility is to accelerate the commercialization of new technologies for producing ethanol from corn and to develop new value added byproducts.

"Through construction of this facility, and continuing assistance to farm families and the ethanol industry, we will do whatever we can to expand the use of ethanol and provide Illinois corn growers and ethanol technology companies the opportunity to further market their products," added Ryan.

Warm up to portable heaters

There are lots of good reasons for using a portable heater to either supplement or replace your whole-house furnace. Perhaps you spend most of your time in just one or two rooms in winter. Maybe you have a room that isn't linked to your whole-house system. Whatever your reasons, portable heaters can be inexpensive and efficient ways to warm you up this winter, when they are used wisely.

First, consider the type of heater you want. A radiant heater warms solid objects, including walls, floors and people, while a convective heater warms the air in the room and may include a fan to move the warm air around. The radiant heater warms you rather than the air around you; the passive convective heater provides fan-forced heat that will warm up a room fast.

Using portable electric heaters gives you room-by-room control of temperature, without heating unused spaces.

Older heaters may be much less efficient and much less safe than newer models. Look for heaters that automatically shut off if the unit is tipped over. Also, look for those heaters that include timers.

Source: Energy Outlet www.energyoutlet.com

Coal bottom ash used in building hospital

Part of a new hospital complex being built in Marion will use concrete mixed with coal bottom ash. Bottom ash is leftover residue from coal combustion and can replace sand in concrete.

Normally discarded, the bottom ash can reduce concrete costs by 10 to 15 percent. The project was made possible through an Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affair's Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund grant.

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How geothermal heat pumps save money

Geothermal heat pumps use the earth's thermal energy to heat or cool buildings. Temperatures near the earth's surface range from about 45 F to 70 F, depending on latitude. Because these temperatures are moderate and relatively constant, the ground makes an ideal heat source or "sink" for heating and cooling residential and commercial buildings.

Geothermal heat pump systems absorb heat from the ground in winter and transfer it to the building interior, then pump heat from the building interior to the ground in summer. The systems use a simple, reversible refrigeration cycle to move the thermal energy. They burn no fossil fuels, and generate no carbon monoxide under any circumstances. By using renewable energy, they remain environmentally friendly, while offering superior performance.

Geothermal heat pumps, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), typically saves 30 to 70 percent in heating costs and 20 to 50 percent in cooling bills, compared with standard systems providing the same level of heating and cooling. For military facilities, with their enormous heating and cooling needs, such savings translate to millions of dollars.

In fact, the efficiency of geothermal heat pump technology has led to strong endorsements from both EPA and the US Department of Energy (DOE).

Source: Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc., www.ghpc.org

Ensure your family's safety

Electric receptacles are involved in 5,300 fires annually, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Some of these fires are caused by deterioration of outlets. Plugging in and unplugging appliances frequently, common in kitchens and bathrooms, contributes to this damage. When the outlet becomes loose, appliance plugs won't fit tightly into the outlet; creating a risk of overheating, fire and/or shock.

When replacing outlets, you should consider installing three-wire, or grounded, outlets in the place of the old two-prong outlets. Have any loose, sparking or hot outlets replaced immediately by a licensed, qualified electrician. If you have small children, be sure to keep plastic safety caps in all outlets. The simplest and most effective method to protect against electrocution is by installing ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), especially in the kitchen, baths, garage and outside outlets.

Source: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov

Ethanol co-op being formed

Illinois farmers are organizing an ethanol cooperative and plan to build a plant near Elkhart. If completed the plant could produce 65 million gallons of ethanol and use 23 million bushels of local corn a year. The co-op could create 45 new jobs and help raise the price of corn.

Corn Belt Energy Corp., Turris Coal Co. and Williams Bio-Energy are also involved in the discussions to form the new ethanol co-op. Corn Belt Energy, an electric cooperative in Bloomington is also working with Turris Coal on a mine-fired generating plant. The 91-megawatt plant would be the first to be built in 14 years in Illinois and will demonstrate new clean coal technology.

Ethanol got a boost when legislation banning methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a fuel additive in Illinois was passed and signed this summer. MTBE is a petroleum-based product designed to reduce emissions, but has been linked to ground-water contamination. Ethanol is the best alternative.

6,000 respond to survey; five members to receive $100 bill credit

Many thanks to the nearly 6,000 Illinois electric co-op member-owners who responded to a comprehensive mail survey in August. More than 15,000 surveys were sent to randomly-selected electric cooperative members across the state.

The survey project, which is coordinated by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives every three years, provides co-op leaders with vital information. The survey gathers information about co-op member demographics, attitudes, energy usage and other topics. The data from the survey is often used by electric cooperative management and board members when making a variety of decisions.

Enclosed with each survey document was a card seeking survey participants' name, address and phone number. These cards were completed and returned with the surveys, but were used only for a special incentive drawing for five $100 bill credits. Five lucky electric cooperative members will receive $100 bill credit on their billing.

The winners include:

• Gerald Schaefer of Marion, a member of SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative;

• Edith Lederman of West Union, a member of Norris Electric Cooperative;

• Kent Stuart of Chadwick, a member of Jo-Carroll Electric Cooperative;

• David Geisler of Mt. Sterling, a member of Adams Electric Cooperative;

• Robert Yoder of Danvers, a member of Corn Belt Energy.

If you're interested in the overall results of the survey, watch for an article in Illinois Country Living in the very near future. And thanks again to each of you who participated in the survey.

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Chicago energy co-op spreading its wings

Bungalows and storefront businesses lining the asphalt and concrete streets of one of Chicago's oldest neighborhoods would seem unlikely ground for nurturing the precepts of an electric cooperative.

A brainchild of the non-profit Center for Neighborhood Technology, the Community Energy Cooperative was launched last June with a unique three-year contract from Commonwealth Edison and a mandate to help consumers cut electricity costs. The contract reduces the investor-owned utility's (IOU) need to boost capacity to meet increasing demand, as well.

With help from National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC), the center set the wheels in motion to create an urban energy co-op to benefit consumers.

In a pilot project the Community Energy Cooperative enabled residents of the Pilsen neighborhood to exchange old, inefficient air conditioners for new high efficiency units at cut-rate prices. With discounts ranging from 78 to 85 percent, "it was a win-win for everyone," said Kathryn Tholin, Community Energy's general manager. Both consumers' electric bills and the IOU's load in that area were trimmed, she added.

"NRECA has been very valuable in helping us to think through some of the initial organizing issues, and the Illinois statewide association has been extremely supportive," Tholin said. AIEC helped draft Community Energy's bylaws and negotiate the complexities of electric utility law, according to Michael Hastings, general counsel at the statewide.

Source: Electric Co-op Today, Jerry Lipson

Consumers concerned about energy costs

Early this summer, a poll of Americans showed that nearly 60 percent believe that the availability and high cost of energy is a major problem for the country. Higher prices for gasoline, electricity, natural gas and home heating oil as well as electricity shortages in some parts of the country, primarily the West, have fueled these concerns.

Those polled viewed gasoline prices as the biggest problem, with nearly 20 percent calling it a crisis and 60 percent saying it is a major problem. A shortage of electricity was the next highest concern with nearly 70 percent rating it as either a crisis or a major problem. The price of natural gas or home heating oil was also a highly rated concern. The price of electricity was rated as the least problem.

Two-thirds of those polled believe that Americans must make real life-style changes such as buying more fuel-efficient vehicles, using less electricity, and purchasing more energy efficient appliances. Some of the public's concern may have diminished when $3 a gallon gasoline didn't materialize this summer, but co-op leaders and other energy experts warn many of the basic energy problems remain. These problems could surface again this winter as demand for heating kicks in.

Source: The Gallup Organization.

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