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Illinois antique car show and swap meet Vehicle enthusiasts statewide are invited to participate in the Secretary of State's Antique Vehicle Show on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Celebrating its 53rd show, the Antique Vehicle Show and Swap Meet has become a premier venue for some of the finest antique, classic and sport vehicles in the state. This year, the show offers nearly 50 classes of vehicles, including three antique motorcycle classes. The cost to enter is just $10 per vehicle through July 31. The swap meet costs $20 to reserve a space. Forms are available at www.cyberdriveillinois.com or by calling (217) 557-7629. Federal Government unveils redesigned Web site Hoping to encourage more citizens to make use of its services on the Internet, the U.S. government launched a redesigned Web site that links more than 35 million federal, state and local Web pages. The site, www.firstgov.gov, provides users with a range of options, from contacting their congressmen to buying stamps online. The original site, launched in September 2000, primarily relied on a search engine to guide users. The new version, however, is designed to drastically cut down on the amount of options given to users, allowing them to find what they are looking for with fewer clicks of the mouse. The site is part of an effort by the Bush administration to improve online services, http:// www.firstgov.gov/ Senate Energy Bill boosts biodiesel prospects The Senate approved Comprehensive Energy Bill includes multiple provisions that will help level the playing field for biodiesel in the highly competitive energy marketplace. "The Illinois Soybean Association considers this passage a win for all producers of soybeans and biodiesel," said Brad Glenn, President of the Illinois Soybean Association and soybean farmer from Stanford. The bill includes an excise tax incentive for biodiesel, a blenders tax credit and a renewable fuels standard for which biodiesel is an eligible fuel. S. 517 also includes provisions to increase use of biodiesel in federal, state and public utility vehicle fleets. For more information go to: www.biodiesel.org.
Local geothermal heat pump dealers win top honors Geothermal heat pumps are the most energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems made, but it takes experience and training to install a system that will live up to its potential. Two Illinois companies have been honored by WaterFurnace International as the top dealers in the nation. Peters Heating and Air Conditioning of Quincy was named the top distributor and Toennies Service Company of Damiansville was also honored. Last year was an outstanding year for geothermal heat pump sales because of rising energy prices. Sales for WaterFurnace increased 39 percent in 2001. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes geothermal systems as the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly heating and cooling systems. Geothermal systems use the natural energy found just below the earth's surface. Geothermal owners can save 60 percent on monthly energy bills. "Our contractor and our parents highly recommended the geothermal system," said John and Dee Hibbert of Camp Point. "We like the idea of the constant, even heat and the safety of an all electric system." Peters Heating and Air Conditioning installed their system in November, 2001. Energy conservation Web sites In the May issue of Illinois Country Living we made a mistake in listing the USDA Rural Housing Service Web site. It is www.rurdev.usda.gov. The Rural Housing Service provides a number of home ownership opportunities to rural Americans, as well as programs for home renovation and repair. RHS also makes financing available to elderly, disabled, or low-income rural residents of multi-unit housing buildings to ensure they are able to make rent payments.
Here are some other sites that have helpful information on how to conserve energy: ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.org Waste management that's full of energy Green power options include wind and solar energy. Methane gas could also provide new sources of energy. Sources of methane (biogas) can come from municipal wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and food processing plants, but most often the source is dairy and swine farms. Larger farms with huge animal populations have created a need to manage massive volumes of waste. The idea of turning this manure into electricity is appealing. It could help farmers gain value from manure, protect groundwater and local streams, reduce odors, and recycle fertilizer nutrients, while generating a renewable source of electricity. With all these benefits, it's easy to lose sight of the technical factors, economic barriers, and manpower/management requirements associated with a successful biogas installation. For example, methane has 600 to 900 BTUs per cubic foot compared to 2,300 BTUs for propane. Methane is corrosive. The larger the farm (number of animals) the more likely it will adapt to biogas production. Minimum dairy herd sizes begin around 300 animals, with 1,000 cows or more being better. For swine, numbers begin at 500 sows farrow to finish, 1,000 farrow to wean, and 3,000 finished. For more information go to: www.nfec.org (National Food and Energy Council) and look under the menu item "Green Power" for online biogas resources. Dump the junk mail, e-mail and telemarketing calls Every day you will probably find at least one piece of junk mail in your mailbox or receive at least one telemarketing call as you sit down for dinner. Americans receive almost 2 million tons of junk mail every year. Unsolicited commercial e-mail messages are also time consuming and irritating. You can eliminate your name from these large advertising lists by contacting the Direct Marketing Association via mail. Your name will usually stay on the removal list for approximately five years. Send your request, along with your name and address, to: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. If you have received unwanted mail that is sexually oriented, fill out Form 2201 and Form 2105 at your local post office. The person to whom the mail is addressed must complete these forms. You must include the envelope and entire contents of the sexually oriented mail. For other types of mail, write directly to the companies sending the mail. In recent years, unwanted e-mail messages have become as prevalent as junk mail. To reduce it go to the Direct Marketing Association's online form at www.e-mps.org. This request should remain effective for approximately one year. Telemarketers must adhere to certain restrictions regarding when they contact consumers and what they disclose about themselves. For example, federal and Illinois law prohibits telephone solicitations before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Telemarketers are also required to identify themselves with their name, the company they represent, and a phone number at which their company may be contacted. You may ask any telemarketer to put you on a do-not-call list. You can also reduce the number of telemarketing calls by sending your name and telephone number (including area code) to: Telephone Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014. For more information log on to www.atg.state.il.us and click the "Consumer" button. To file a consumer complaint, call one of the following numbers: Springfield (800) 243-0618, (877) 844-5461 or Carbondale (800) 243-0607, (877) 785-9339. Source: Illinois Office of the Attorney General, Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.org.
U.S. air quality improves even as energy use climbs A new report based on Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy data collected since 1970 shows that US. air quality has improved dramatically even as the nation has experienced a significant rise in energy consumption. "The American public has the perception that air quality is getting worse, yet the numbers show that energy consumption has climbed, while air emissions, including those from utility power plants, have decreased," said Mac McLennan, senior legislative representative at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The analysis tracks air quality gains and energy consumption during the 30-year period from 1970 to 1999. Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. produced the report for the Foundation for Clean Air Progress, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization providing information about air quality progress. The nationwide data show that since 1970: • Carbon monoxide levels have dropped 28 percent; • Sulfur dioxide levels have decreased 39 percent; • Particulate matter levels have fallen 7 5 percent; • Airborne lead levels have declined 98 percent; and • Overall energy consumption has increased 41 percent. The only pollutant that increased during the 30-year period was nitrogen oxide (NOx), which rose by 22 percent, about one-half the rate of energy consumption. NOx emissions have been targeted for substantial future reductions and are expected to decline.
"Despite all of the successes with improving air quality, the job of reducing emissions continues. Both Congress and the Bush Administration are continuing to pursue additional reductions of emissions, including those from electric utilities," said McLennan. JULY 2002 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 7 Tornado disaster brings out the best in co-op community by Tamara Ruhl
Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative's Operation Roundup Kare & Share (WORKS) program got off to a running start this spring. By rounding to the nearest dollar on their bill, the co-op members' generosity had already raised $4,150 in March, the first month of the program. Then on April 21, a tornado struck the cooperative's service area in Wayne and Jefferson counties. The day after the tornado hit, WORKS board member Sharon White immediately went to work giving out applications for grants from the co-op members' charitable program. The local radio station also advertised that assistance might be available to victims of the tornado through the WORKS program. Many people wanted to know how they could help. For example, when Lance Miller, former Fairfield country-western singer/songwriter, now living in Nashville, Tenn., heard about the disaster, he wanted to give a benefit concert. He called Fairfield Marketplace (local Main Street Program) Director Sheila Zurliene. She was more than willing to help set up the concert, but didn't want to be responsible for disbursing the donations. Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative attorney, Jay Fyie, just happened to be walking by Zurliene's office when she was wondering what agency could handle those donations. She stopped him and asked for suggestions. Jay helped establish the WORKS program and suggested she contact the co-op. Co-op President/ CEO Jack Young and Chairman Don lie encouraged the WORKS board to help administer the donations. The WORKS board agreed to accept and disburse the funds. The concert was held on the courthouse lawn on Sunday, May 6 and raised $3,864. Press releases were also mailed announcing that the WORKS program would accept donations and disburse funds, plus give a tax-deductible receipt, and not charge administrative fees. Then donations began pouring in from individuals and organizations. The WORKS board quickly set up accounts at both banks in Fairfield to receive donations. Individuals and organizations from as far away as South Carolina sent donations. Even local students joined the Fairfield Rotary Club to start "Pennies for Relief." Fairfield Rotarian and Frontier Community College President Mike Dreith worked with students in the schools of Wayne County to save their pennies in milk jugs. They hoped for $5,000 but were astounded that the students raised $9,600. Fairfield National Bank President Larry Rost (also a Rotarian) donated an additional $400 to make it an even $10,000. In all, more than $35,000 was disbursed to victims of the tornado. Co-ops across the country have followed this simple formula to create similar programs. Wayne-White Counties Electric Board Chairman Don Ile first heard about the program from another co-op board member during a training school. Little did Ile know that the program would be put to such intensive use so soon. Ile says this is just another example of the cooperative principle of "commitment to community." For more information go to www.wwcec.com.
ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.org Repairing flood damaged homes
A flooded basement or home is an expensive tragedy. However, cleaning up after a flood can give homeowners an opportunity to make improvements in their home's energy efficiency. Insulation and most appliances will need to be replaced anyway. So this is a perfect time to upgrade with increased insulation and appliances with higher energy efficiencies. The small increase in cost for more energy efficient materials and appliances will be paid back in energy savings and increased comfort. Wet material is a perfect place for mold growth, and allergic reactions are not uncommon. A flooded home must be cleaned, dried and decontaminated before any repairs can begin. A solution of 5 percent to 10 percent chlorine bleach and water is recommended for decontamination. It's a good idea to repeat the treatment. Be sure to ventilate the area and wear a mask and latex gloves. Most floors will not survive a flood. Remove floor coverings to speed drying of the sub-floor. Older sub-flooring may need to be replaced. In a crawl space or basement remove and replace all wet insulation and plastic sheeting. In most cases ductwork and duct insulation will need to be replaced. In basements don't remove standing water immediately. Ground water outside the basement is pushing against basement walls. At the same time water in the basement is pushing out. Keep the sides balanced until water subsides, otherwise the basement floor and walls may crack. Most experts recommend replacing fiberglass insulation to avoid mold and mildew and speed the drying process. Before reinsulating walls, floors or attics, seal any air-leakage paths with caulking or expanding foam. If possible, it is almost always best to replace most appliances rather than repair them. You will avoid a long list of problems and will also benefit from the increased energy efficiency of new appliances. Most manufacturers recommend that motors, electrical components, safety controls and gas valves be replaced. In most homes, insulated wiring is fairly waterproof. However, if the walls are open and connections, receptacles and switches are being repaired or replaced anyway, now may be a good time to upgrade the wiring system if needed. In most cases, water heaters, either gas or electric, are better replaced than repaired. Valves, thermostats and controls can corrode, and insulation will take a long time to dry and probably cause corrosion of the tank. In most cases, heating and air conditioning equipment should also be replaced. Even if gas valves, pressure regulators, controls and motors are replaced, parts may corrode later, causing malfunctions, loss of efficiency or safety problems. Refrigerators with bottom-mounted condensers and fan motors should be checked and may need replacing. Refrigeration alone can account for 15 percent of your energy use. A new refrigerator/freezer could pay for itself in energy savings. Washing machines and dryers may also need to be replaced. But other small appliances like microwaves and TVs may just need to be cleaned, dried and disinfected inside and out. With careful attention to electrical parts, you may not have to replace these items, but be sure to allow plenty of drying time before testing. Work with your insurance adjuster to decide on repair versus replacement decisions. You may also qualify for relief assistance programs. Contact the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to find out more. FEMA has a free publication called "Repairing Your Flooded Home," available from the American Red Cross or your state or local emergency manager. Visit www.fema.gov/library to download the Acrobat file "After a Flood: The First Steps." JULY 2002 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 9 |
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