ILLINOIS CURRENTS NEWS | LEGISLATION | TRENDS | RESEARCH

Co-op bringing light half a world away

Providing reliable electricity to light homes is nothing new for co-ops. They've been doing it for more than a half-century. And, offering innovative products such as efficient water heaters, electric fireplaces and electric grills to their members and others is commonplace. Now Oahe Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy® cooperative in Blunt, S.D. is providing "lights" to U.S. troops stationed in Pakistan.

The cooperative has sold the durable NightStar Magnetic Force flashlights (www.nightstar1.com) for a few years and the flashlights always attract attention at fairs and expos. A few quick shakes allows the flashlight to create enough energy to power a white LED light. The waterproof, lightweight flashlight operates in extreme temperatures and is virtually unbreakable. Best of all, you never need to worry about the batteries dying — there are none. When the light - which can be seen a mile away - begins to wane, simply shake the flashlight.

While searching the Internet, a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant stationed in Pakistan serving with Operation Enduring Freedom found the Web site and e-mailed the co-op to find out about the flashlights.

"Batteries are a little hard to come by at times and your flashlights would be a great remedy to that problem," wrote SSgt. Kevin M. Feaver. Feaver and his team work nights in Pakistan.

"The electricity here is sketchy at times and my team works nights so we go through batteries pretty quick," wrote Feaver.

"Everyone likes the lights. They are working out great - thanks again," wrote Feaver in an e-mail after the flashlights made their journey from Blunt, S.D., to Pakistan. "They draw a lot of interest when people find out they don't need any batteries."

Microturbines energize Illinois school using landfill gas

A 12-unit Capstone MicroTurbine array at the Antioch Community High School is converting gas piped from an adjacent landfill into extremely low-emission power and heat used on the campus. During school hours, the 360 kW of electricity produced by the array offsets about one third of the campus needs. On weekends and after hours, excess power is exported to the Commonwealth Edison utility grid. Exhaust from the systems heats water used on campus for building heating and domestic hot water needs.

About 30 acres of the cleaned-up and grass-covered H.O.D. Landfill, named a Superfund National Priorities List site in 1990, is being converted to a multi-use athletic field adjacent to Antioch Community High School. Methane gas extracted from the landfill is now being used to produce heat and electricity for the school. A wetland along one side of the site will be used for school science projects.

Numerous partner agencies and organizations played roles in the cleanup and reuse of the landfill. These include: Illinois EPA, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Village of Antioch, Antioch Township, Antioch Community High School District 117, United States Soccer Federation, Waste Management and Commonwealth Edison.

The 121-acre H.O.D. Landfill Superfund site contains a 51-acre municipal and industrial landfill, which operated from about 1963 to 1984. The EPA selected a final cleanup plan for the site in September 1998. A series of cleanup activities were completed between August 2000 and August 2002. The area surrounding the site is a mix of agricultural, industrial and residential land uses.

More information on renewable biogas-fueled Capstone MicroTurbine applications is at: www.microturbine.com/biogas/.

6 | ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING | www.icl.coop

Web site provides rural community resources

A new Web site from the University of Illinois Extension called Local Community Resources provides rural community leaders with easy access to resources and fact sheets covering water quality, land use planning, government finance, meeting management and other resources. Go to www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/lcr.

Illinois one-stop road condition information

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a Web site offering one-stop travel information for truck and car drivers.

The new site, www.illinoisroads.info, includes information on trucking permits, road construction, winter road conditions, traveler safety, maps and other travel tidbits, such as rest area locations.

The site also includes links for truckers to access designated truck routes, oversize/ overweight permit forms and applications, routes restricted to no permits, vertical clearances for marked and unmarked routes, a weekly restriction list and weigh station locations.

These sites are some of the most visited on the department's Web site. Instead of the public having to navigate through the entire Web site for travel information, the department felt it could better serve travelers by having all of that information in one location, and at an Internet address that is easier to remember.

IDOT's main Web site, www.dot.state.il.us, will continue to offer the same information as www.illinoisroads.info. For pre-recorded road condition information, please call (800) 452-IDOT(4368).

Illinois ENERGY STAR Lighting Program provides rebates

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is working with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) to implement the Illinois ENERGY STAR Lighting Program. The Program continues to work toward increasing the awareness of energy efficient lighting products among consumers and retailers.

For example, did you know that a typical household spends 10-15 percent of its annual electric bill on lighting? This is mostly due to inefficient fixtures and bulbs. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting uses over two-thirds less energy to operate. Saving energy means you save money on your utility bill.

Right now, many Illinois residents can take advantage of the opportunity to purchase ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) from participating retailers and receive a $3 rebate on their purchase. Be sure to look for the purple and yellow rebate forms that feature the ENERGY STAR logo.

For more information go to www.illinoisbiz.biz and click on Energy/Recycling.

Space saving all-in-one washer/dryers

One of the latest trends in appliances is the front-loading washer and dryer combo. With these compact little units, consumers wash and dry their clothes all in the same drum so there's no need to transfer the clothes.

They take up a lot less space than a typical washer and dryer. Also the installation is easy: the only hook up necessary is the drain and the water supply (the washer and dryer share the drain instead of the dryer needing a vent).

Many major manufacturers including Whirlpool and a number of European appliance manufacturers make the washer/dryer combos and many are energy-star rated.

Manufacturers of washer/dryer combos boast that they have greater capacity and also conserve water and electricity more than typical washers and dryers. Its wash and rinse cycles are shorter and the high-speed spinning of the drum means less drying time. In addition, manufacturers claim the internal heater in the unit means cleaner clothes because the higher temperatures of the washing water (a constant 140 degrees) activate the enzymes in detergents. But they cost three times more upfront.

Source: The Family Handyman

How to start a cooperative

For a step-by-step plan for starting a new co-op, go to www.cooplife.com/startcoop.htm. Why start a co-op? The site says - cooperatives are owned and controlled by their members. They help keep resources in the members' community and are guided by the members' values. Decisions are made democratically by the membership. Profits are returned to members so members benefit from the business they do with the cooperative.

8 | ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING | www.icl.coop