Large areas of mud flats in the summer months are a real possibility for Hunter Lake if it is built.

IEPA Public Hearing Regarding  the Proposed Hunter Lake & Dam, December 4, 2008

Comments & Questions from Jim Johnston, President

Sustainable Springfield Inc.

Comments:

Sustainable springfield Inc. is a grass roots not for profit corporation that acts as an information sharing network for sustainable environmental practices including water conservation. We advocate, for example, the use of rain barrels that store roof run off rain water for lawn and garden watering.

Given this time of economic uncertainty, and by CWLP’s own account the least costly and least environmental damaging solutiion for the future water needs for the city is piping of water from the Buckhart gravel pits combined with wells drilled as needed within the Sangamon River Valley. Indeed this option was cited by the Army Corps of Engineers as a feasable alternative in lieu of constructing Hunter Lake.

It is strongly suggested that CWLP and the IEPA investigagte this option thoroughly prior to proceeding further with submitting the construction of Hunter Lake before the Springfield City Council for approval.

Questions:

1. To what extent has CWLP and IEPA considered the actual population growtyh rate od Springfield and the surrounding areas in computing its future water demands? has CWLP and IEPA taken into account that in 2000 the actual service population was 167,500 requiring 22.3 MGD and not the 196,000 demanding 43.8 MGD as projected in a study conducted in 1972?
2. How thoroughly has CWLP and IEPA considered alternative options to building Hunter Lake especially the water supply potential from Buckhart gravel pits and the Sangamon River Valley wells?
3. To what extent has CWLP and IEPA considered that future water needs that are being phased out or eliminated including a ethanol plant in Waverly, and the fact that the City of Chatham is in the process of securing its water from aquifers and wells, and no longer Lake Springfield?
4. To what extent has CWLP and IEPA considered the fact that dry dumping fly ash from the current electrical generating facilities is to be phased out when the new power station comes on line thus saving a much as 9.2 MGD of Lake Springfield Water.
5. Has CWLP and IEPA considered the impact of a new lake on the sewer systems of the cities of Pawnee, Divernon and Virden, and has it factored in a cost to compensate these municipalities for  new waste water treatment facilities accordingly?
6. has CWLP and IEPA considered the cost involved of relocating the newly installed segment of the Rockiies Express natural Gas Pipeline that cuts across the proposed Hunter Lake site?
7. To what extent has CWLP and IEPA established that waster taken form a new Hunter Lake be free of contaminants?
8. has CWLP and IEPA investigated thoroughly the annual creation of mud flats due to evaporation especially during the summer months of Hunter lake?
9. To what does CWLP and IEPA intend to enforce water conservation in times of drought such as banning lawn watering, golf course watering and car washing among other means. Has CWLP and IEPA come up with an estimate taht such conservation measures will have on water demands?
10. Has CWLP and IEPA taken into account the fact that the gravel pits offers expansion capabilities via increased mining thus creating larger reservoiers in the future?
11. Has CWLP and IEPA taken into account that supplemental wells can be drilled along the Sangamon River Valley on a “case needs” basis and not all at one time?
12. Has CWLP and IEPA considered the destruction of of the natural habitat and the historic cultural resources on the land including the Brunk farm that building Hunter Lake would destroy? Has an archaeological survey of the land been conducted?
13. Has CWLP and IEPA considered that other land uses such as a nature preserve and an out door activities center for the current property that is intended for Hunter Lake?

Conclusion:

At this time we urge that IEPA deny the permit for the construction of Hunter Lake and Dam.

Recently I began reading Doug Farr’s book Sustainable Urbanism, Urban Design with Nature (Pub. John Wiley & Sons, © 2008 Farr Associates). I first met Doug in while working for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and having been introduced by my boss at the time, Mike Jackson, when we visited his office in the historic Monadnock Building in Chicago in December 2000. Over the years we met again at various conferences and seminars, most recently at the Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects annual conference in Moline a few weeks ago when he gave the keynote address about Sustainable Urbanism.

Farr & Associates (www.farrside.com) have been responsible for the design and construction of numerous LEED certified buildings including three that have earned platinum ratings, the highest designation possible. One of these structures, the Chicago Center for Green Technology was only the third so designated in the USA in 2002, when the building, a converted concrete pulverizing plant and a brownfield site, was completed as offices and an educational center for the Chicago Office of the Environment. This project was one of the first green renovation under the City of Chicago and Mayor Daley’s program for all municipal construction projects to be LEED designated. 

Additionally Farr and Associates were retained by the Town of Normal Illinois to plan their town center in 2001. This effort lead to the Town Council adoption of its Stewardship Policy. Also the Town has  a provision that all downtown buildings over a 7,500 sq ft area  footprint be a LEED certified building.

Doug Farr also chaired the US Green Building Council’s Neighborhood Development LEED guidelines committee which is becoming implemented as another LEED category. Much of his book pertains to the concept of planning eco-friendly walkable communities require a change in mindset to the widely accepted practices of urban sprawl. Certainly this is the case with Springfield Illinois.

I found the following selection from the book very pertinent:

            “Sustainable Urbanism: The Grand Unification”

            “Our times offer an historic opportunity to rethink where and how we live, work, play, and shop. The path to a sustainable lifestyle builds on the principles of smart growth, new urbanism, and green buildings. If successful, it will not only reduce environmental harm, but also offer stunning enhancements to the current quality of life. The setting for this is sustainable urbanism, the creation and support of communities that are so well designed for a high quality of life that people will eagerly opt to meet their daily needs on foot and transit. Compared to the  American lifestyle as we know it, the quality of a life lived in sustainable urbanism is healthier, happier, more independent and not least longer. What’s not to like?

            Our choice of lifestyle, that stubborn adherence to the wrong course, remains a significant barrier to the improved health and prosperity of individuals and families as to the viable future of our communities and country. Beyond that is the truly frightening prospect of planetary climactic change.” (Sustainable Urbanism,  pg 41)

I’ll have more postings about Doug Farr’s work, including examples of his firm’s work in the City of Chicago and its sustainable buildings as mandated by far reaching vision of the current administration of Mayor Richard Daley.

Sustainable Urbanism, Urban Design with Nature is available for purchase at the Farr & Associates website www.farrside.com.

Posted by Jim Johnston

Amber Sabin, 217.789.2116 ext.2629                                         November 25, 2008                                               

amber.sabin@cwlp.com                                                                                               

CWLP REFRIGERATOR ROUND UP GOING STRONG

Over 500 energy-hogging units off the street in less than six weeks, representing annual customer savings and kilowatt savings to utility.

 City Water, Light and Power’s Great Refrigerator Round Up has hit the 500 mark in collecting energy-hogging refrigerators and freezers since its October inception. This pilot program, which was targeted to collect 1,200 inefficient refrigerators or freezers in its first year has collected 503 units or 42% of that goal in just six weeks.

CWLP’s appliance retirement program provides customers with a $50 rebate check for each working unit made before 1993. Typical appliances in this category use two to four times the energy of newer, ENERGY STAR® models. The utility’s vendor, Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA), is picking up the refrigerators or freezers and recycling 95% of each unit, including all of the ozone-depleting CFC refrigerants.

 “Besides eliminating major energy wasters, there are now 500 happy families that are going to reap a great savings on their utility bill each month due to this program,” said Mayor Tim Davlin. “Another benefit of the program is that the recycling of these units meets environmental standards and that valuable landfill space is saved.”

 The CWLP Energy Experts estimate that the potential count of inefficient refrigerators and freezers among its customers could be as high as 40,000. Each dated unit represents an extra 700 to 1,600 kWh to operate and adds between $100 to $175 per year to each household’s utility bill. 

 “We couldn’t be more pleased with the response of this appliance retirement program,” said CWLP General Manager Todd Renfrow. “Every kilowatt saved represents customer savings and a great efficiency benefit for our generating operations.”

CWLP’s refrigerator retirement program is being offered for a 3-year term, allowing for 1,200 total units to be collected each year, with a limit of two per customer. The units must be made in 1992 or earlier, owned by a CWLP customer, in working condition and be between 10 and 27 cubic feet.

ARCA is one of the nation’s largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities. The company currently provides appliance recycling and replacement services for more than twenty electric utility companies and public power authorities in the United States and Canada.

To participate in this program, contact a customer service representative with ARCA at 1-866-899-9862. For questions on other CWLP energy efficiency programs call the CWLP Energy Experts at 789-2070 or visit their website at www.cwlp.com.

 City Water, Light and Power Public Information Office • www.cwlp.com

                     800 East Monroe, Municipal Center East, Springfield, IL 62701

Up-Date: November’s Environmental Events

Complied by Sustainable Springfield Inc.

Check our website for more information: www.sustainablespringfield.org (click on calendar for more links to events.

Environmental Blog: www.sustainablespringfield.org/ssblog  

November 18, Sustainable Springfield’s Monthly Public meeting: What Shades of Green Are Your Home and Work Place? What shade of green is your home? Mint? Forest? How about your work place? Olive? Chartreuse? These shades of green refer to the “greenness” or sustainability of building materials used in interior and exterior construction of commercial and residential structures. What about furnishings for homes and offices? New green office and home decorating products are appearing in the marketplace everyday.

 Cindy Davis, CEO of Resource One Interiors and a US Green Building Council Accredited Professional for LEED (Leadership Energy and Environmental Design) will be speaking at the monthly Sustainable Springfield, Inc., public presentation series, On the Public Green, Tuesday November 18th, 7:00 PM at the Dove Conference Center. Ms. Davis will discuss the products available for creating environmentally friendly work spaces and home interiors and exteriors. She will also review LEED certification requirements.

 The Dove Conference Center of the Prairie Heart Institute in Springfield is located at 6th and Mason in Springfield. Visit Sustainable Springfield Inc, at www.sustainablespringfield.org  for more information about the organization and sustainability.

November 20th CWLP Community Energy Forum To Cover Cool Cities & Energy Study Results: City Water, Light and Power’s November 20th Community Energy Forum will include an update of the City’s Cool Cities activities, as well as the results of a city-wide energy consumption and conservation study of its business and residential customers.

The forum will be held at 6 p.m. at Illinois National Bank’s DowntowConference Center at Fourth and Jackson Streets. CWLP Community Energy Forums are designed to provide updates to the public on progress made regarding environmental and energy saving activities and to solicit suggestions and ideas from the community regarding energy programs and related issues. CWLP is using the input received from these meetings to enhance existing programs and develop new energy efficiency and conservation programs.

Public participation is encouraged to help CWLP develop the most effective and practical programs for its customers. CWLP customers wanting more information on this forum may call 789-2070.

November 20, Planning Meeting for Hunter Dam Hearing Dec 3rd: On November 20 (Thursday) at 7:00 p.m., Citizens for Sensible Water Use will host a meeting to plan for the upcoming public hearing on Hunter Dam.  The meeting will take place in the Club Room at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. 6th, Springfield.  We encourage those who wish to speak at the public hearing, and those who wish to submit written comments, to attend this important meeting.  Many materials and much information can be provided.  We must have a presence at the public hearing, which is scheduled for December 3 at Brookens Auditorium on the UIS campus, beginning at 3 p.m., going until 5 p.m., then resuming again at 6 p.m.

Mark the Date:

Green Teams Seminar, January 16, 2009: Sustainable Springfield and the Green Center at Lincoln Land Community College are co-sponsoring a half day seminar at the LLCC’s Trutter Center featuring presentations and a panel discussion regarding how “Green Teams” work in the work place setting. Watch for details as they become available.

Please check SSI’s Calendar page at http://www.sustainablespringfield.org/Calendar.htm for November’s Environmental Events

November 5, 2008

On this historic day, I thought it appropriate that a portion of the President Elect’s Energy Plan ought to be posted. While I personally have difficulty in believing that coal can be burned for the sake of our planet, or that forcing oil companies to drill on the leases they already own is a good idea, I like many others sincerely hope that our new President will make good on most of these initiatives. Also, who knows, if a “Future Gen” plant is built, it might show that carbon dioxide can be safely sequestered deep in the earth.

But now, like many others I’m feeling that change is about to occur.

Jim

The Obama-Biden comprehensive New Energy for America, (Excerpted)

Eliminate Our Current Imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 Years

·    Increase Fuel Economy Standards.

Obama and Biden will increase fuel economy standards 4 percent per year while providing $4 billion for domestic automakers to retool their manufacturing facilities in America to produce these vehicles.

·    Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.

These vehicles can get up to 150 miles per gallon. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe we should work to ensure these cars are built here in America, instead of factories overseas.

·    Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.

·    Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

Obama and Biden will establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to reduce the carbon in our fuels 10 percent by 2020. Obama and Biden will also require 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels to be phased into our fuel supply by 2030.

·    A “Use it or Lose It” Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.

Obama and Biden will require oil companies to develop the 68 million acres of land (over 40 million of which are offshore) which they have already leased and are not drilling on.

·    Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.

An Obama-Biden administration will establish a process for early identification of any infrastructure obstacles/shortages or possible federal permitting process delays to drilling in the Bakken Shale formation, the Barnett shale formation, and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Create Millions of New Green Jobs

·    Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.

·    Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source — Energy Efficiency.

Obama and Biden will set an aggressive energy efficiency goal — to reduce electricity demand 15 percent from projected levels by 2020.

·    Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.

Obama and Biden will make a national commitment to weatherize at least one million low-income homes each year for the next decade, which can reduce energy usage across the economy and help moderate energy prices for all.

·    Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.

Obama’s Department of Energy will enter into public private partnerships to develop five “first-of-a-kind” commercial scale coal-fired plants with clean carbon capture and sequestration technology.

·    Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.

As president, Obama will work with stakeholders to facilitate construction of the pipeline. Not only is this pipeline critical to our energy security, it will create thousands of new jobs.

Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050

·    Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

The Obama-Biden cap-and-trade policy will require all pollution credits to be auctioned, and proceeds will go to investments in a clean energy future, habitat protections, and rebates and other transition relief for families.

·    Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.

Obama and Biden will re-engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) — the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem. They will also create a Global Energy Forum of the world’s largest emitters to focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.

 http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy_more#jobs

Read the New Energy for America plan at http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech_080308.pdf

If you’re like me, you too enjoy spending some time at Barnes & Noble on a regular basis. After a few years of going buying off the shelf magazines I finally decided that subscriptions were in order & yesterday ordered on line three that are pertinent to sustainability and energy conservation, and I’m saving a few bucks in the process.

I look at thes publications as really good sources of information, especially for those those who that want to make sustainability and energy conservation an integral part of their environment. For this reason I’ve decided to share with you my thoughts on these publications.

Ive also included in this list one book, David Bach’s Go Green and Live Rich and one magazine Wired , that isn’t like the others. Its more geared to computer techies, but does publish some very good articles about green technology. More about these later.

Also in a future posting I’m going to talk about William McDonough & Micheal Braungart’s book Cradle to Cradle as one of the first books that really was at the forefront of the green movement.

The first publication I’d like to recommend is Natural Home,which I’ve read religiously for the past two years. (subscription 6 issues for $15, $4.99 single issue, e-version available). It’s the architect in me that attracted me to this publication because it deals with the design of the built environment.

But I also like this magazine because it expands your awareness about possibles, as the magazine is geared to those who want to think “outside the box.”  It features articles that takes a look about how some average people have either remodeled or built sustainable homes economically with some outstanding results. For example the latest issue has an article about renovating a 1960’s home to “Embrace 21st Century Eco-Sensibilities.” There are also articles about bedroom  and home office remodelings.

Probably one of the most informative issues this year was the July/August which included a “Special Resorce Guide of the 500+ Great Green Products.”  We should note that Sustainable Springfield is in the planning stages of of a buyers guide for our area which lists the availability of green products locally, and this guide will provide a valuable resource. 

The next magazine I recommend is the Green Guide which publishes 6 times a year, and is $15 for a subscription, $6.99 single isse, e-version available. It is a national Geographic publication.

The Fall 2008 issue includes articles on the following:”Safest School Supplies”; a good section consumer buying guides including water filters, carpets, cars that rates the top 18 high-mileage models by size; health report about how global warming is causing an increase in allergies; and the most effecient home appliances. There is  a good article about energy audits and how a possible savings of $400 per year can result by implementing some simple recommendations that the audit technician can recommend. (Suggest you check out Bob Croteau’s program at CWLP Low-Cost/No-Cost Efficiency Workshops )

The article on School Supplies is part of a section titled “Changing Schools”  and besides recommending the use of recycled paper and soy based crayons, it suggests using greener cleaning materials, creating a  drop off- pick up lane for carpoolers, and the careful selection of pesticides.

As I mentioned previously, Wired is more geared to the high tech information aspect of things, especially subjects that feature the advances in IT hardware, software and Internet intricacies. But, in the November 2008 issue the is a good article titled “The Future of Food, How Science will Solve the next Global Crisis. The mast head of the article says in part…”Its Time for a new Green Revolution.” This article is highly graphic, which for  me makes it all the more interesting. The article is broken up into sections, the first being Global Crop Yield, and shows how within the past 5 years it is not meeting demand. Other sections feature: foods that are shipped vast distances; “who’s eating what” by country; corn and its source of both food and energy and the ramifications; global atlas of export & import; cattle, both dairy and beef; the future of farming; catfish and fish farming; “what’s next,” which talks about genetically altered food.  

The October 08 issue was especially comprehensive to our interests. although this issue is not on the news stands any longer, it featured articles about home offices and energy savings that result, prefab apartments in New York, the all electric Venturi Autos, an interesting article titled ”Redesign Cities from Scratch” by Mitchel Joachim, and a letter to the next President by Steve Rrayner “Get Serious about Climate Change.” this issue was so informative that it deserves a blog posting of its own. Hopefully I’ll find the time to do it.

BTW, this magazine is the best bargain of all, 12 issues for only a10.00 subscription. Its $5.00 off the rack.

Finally, I’d like to suggest David Bach’s Go Green, Live Rich, subtitled 50 simple Ways to Save the Eearth. This book is a synopsis about sustainable practices that we can all practice, and that can increase our wealth. It runs the gamit from calculating your carbon foot print to how to green your holidays. It includes a section how to get a green mortgage, and how to invest in green companies. While each of the 50 sections areshort, only 2 to 3 pages each, there are many links to websits about each item.

There is one thing that the critics have said about this book, which I agree with.  Mr. Bach is a little too optimistic about his calculations in so far as as the dollar savings by category. But generally speaking, I found this book to be a good asset which shows the possible steps we can take to “Go Green.”  It is reasonably priced at $14.95, 172 pages.

PBS Frontline “Heat” - a 2 Hour Documentary

This past Tuesday PBS aired an excellent program titled “Heat, A Global Investigation into one of the greatest crisis that mankind has ever faced-can we roll back global warming.” I found it to be one of the best programs I’ve seen about the the paradigm shift that is occurring. There is a good segment on fossil fuels and how the oil producing giants are still resisting change, although they are beginning to spend a very small portion of their gigantic profits in developing alternatives. Also thereis a good segment about coal, its dangers and how it is hoped that CO2 sequestration will work.

The program may be viewed in its entirety at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/heat/ , So my recommendation is to take it in, its worth viewing.

Posting by Jim Johnston

jimjohnston9@ comcast.net

October 6, 2008

Springfield, IL

Mayor Timothy Davlin

City of Springfield

Mayor Davlin:

We congratulate you for ratifying the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, making Springfield a “Cool City” and raising awareness of our local government efforts to fight global climate change. We are very pleased that it is your goal to make Springfield one of the top ten greenest cities in America.

Due to the landmark power plant agreement, facilitated with the Sierra Club, the City of Springfield has put itself in a strong position to develop a climate change action plan that will improve the quality of life for Springfield residents. Not only will the city be taking proactive steps to manage the risks of climate change by reducing greenhouse gases, it will improve the local economy by helping businesses, institutions and consumers save money and achieve energy security.  By making itself a model for environmental stewardship, Springfield will become an even more attractive location for business investment. 

We have been encouraged by your statements regarding projects utilizing the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership Energy Environmental Leadership) rating system. As you know, two major projects, the IEMA Building on Old Jacksonville Road, and Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park now under construction have utilized this rating system.  Also, the State of Illinois Capital Development Board’s Green Building Guidelines will include green state building projects in Springfield.  Assuredly, there will be many more sustainable building projects in the future, and we are sure that you too feel that the trend is just beginning.

We look forward to working with the city and community partners as we take the next steps, including:

• Conducting a city wide emissions inventory to help set goals and priorities for the public and private sector.
• Forming green teams within each city department, to help the City improve its own buildings and operations, by continuing to conduct energy audits of municipal facilities; by switching to hybrid vehicles for the city’s fleet, as replacements are needed; performing retro-commissioning on HVAC systems and other equipment to make sure they are in good working order; and by looking for other ways to reduce energy consumption within city operations.
• Ensuring involvement by the community and all city departments by establishing a Cool Cities Committee to work with the city on developing a climate action plan. The Cool Cities Committee would include representatives from the public and private sector that have expertise and knowledge of energy efficient and clean energy technologies.

As always, your leadership on environmental issues is important. It will signal to city employees and residents that taking action on climate change is an important goal for the city. And it will signal to businesses that we are preparing for the future. It sends the strong message that sustainability is a multi-faceted approach that will make the city a more livable place to live, work and visit.

Sincerely,

Kevin Greene,

Catherine O’Connor,

Will Reynolds - Sangamon Valley Group of the Sierra Club

Diane Lopez Hughes – Pax Christi

Ann Logue – Faith Based Business Network

Jim Johnston,

Marc Klingshirn - Sustainable Springfield, Inc.

Doug Nicodemus- Community Energy Systems

cc:    Paul O’Shea, Planning & Design Coordinator

        William H. Mills, Manager Energy Services Office, CWLP

This story came from a friend in Prince Edward Island Canada via a writer’s list serve that we belong to. The story illustrates how one person can practice sustainability by doing simple things that if we all did, would help to greatly mitigate the effects of climate change.

Jim

Wire, Wheels and Canvas

I use public transit to get around in my city. I also bicycle and walk and sometimes I carpool with those who have a car. Sometimes, Christine, Loretta and I will do our grocery-shopping together on the same day. These are two ladies whom I work with. Christine has a compact car with a roomy trunk. We have a system where Christine takes green canvas bags, Loretta takes black canvas bags and I take unbleached natural-colored canvas bags. This way, when our groceries go into the trunk, we can tell our groceries apart. Loretta and I offer Christine $2.00 each towards her gas. It costs Christine $40.00 to fill up her gas tank. She comes out ahead every grocery trip because she consumes less than $4.00 worth of gas for the three of us to go to the upermarkets and return. We all live within a few blocks
of each other.
 
We use reusable canvas grocery bags instead of plastic grocery bags. Each canvas bag costs 49 cents. They are washable and made of 100% cotton.Unlike plastic grocery bags, they have long handles which fit like a shoulder bag. When they are worn out, we toss them into the black waste bin and all waste is sorted in my province. Some of it goes to a landfill and some of it goes to the local Energy From Waste Plant where it is incinerated and the energy produced heats our largest provincial hospital. All cellulose material, like cotton, goes to the Energy From Waste Plant. 

It is less costly to buy in volume. For example, most varieties of potatoes grown locally, are sold by the pound individually at 99 cents per pound, that’s roughly four medium-sized potatoes. A five-pound bag of potatoes costs $1.97. A ten-pound bag of potatoes costs $3.59 but a twenty-pound bag of potatoes costs $4.29.We buy the twenty-pound bag and divide it among the three of us. Thus we get almost seven pounds of potatoes each for $1.43. Why buy one pound of potatoes for 99 cents when I can buy almost seven pounds for 44 cents more? That’s enough potatoes to do me one month or more. We do the same with carrots, onions, tomato baskets, and other produce. These potatoes were grown less than 60 miles away. I am helping to sustain my local farming community, supporting local jobs, reducing my food bill,  and saving energy. I will use these potatoes in soups, stews, casseroles, and other one-cooking pot or dish multi-vegetable meals. I will make a six-to-eight serving meal, divide it into six-to-eight one-serving containers and freeze them for lunches for work or when I come home from work too tired to cook a meal. I’ll pop the meal in my microwave oven, defrost, and heat it up.
 
When Christine is not available to carpool, I will take a collapsible wire basket on wheels to the same three supermarkets solo and on foot and just get a smaller bag or basket of local produce. After I shop, I wheel my six canvas grocery bags home. I save taxi and bus fare and have accomplished all the same things. Plus, walking is an excellent form of aerobic exercise. Reuse, recycle, reduce, buy locally-produced fresh foods. Good health. Healthy economy. Sustainability.
 
We writers who do these kinds of things could write a book of the things we do to help build a strong and sustainable local economy, generate less waste and save on energy.
 
Cheryl Cudmore
Prince Edward Island,
Canada

CWLP OFFERING $50 REBATE FOR ENERGY-HOGGING

REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS

Customers eligible to yield $100 and $175 in annual reduced energy costs

in utility’s new appliance retirement and recycling program.

In its pilot appliance retirement and recycling program, City Water, Light and Power is calling on customers with energy-hogging refrigerators and freezers to turn them in for cash. The “CWLP Great Refrigerator Round Up” provides customers with a $50 rebate check for each energy-hogging unit turned in. This would apply to working units made before 1993, which use two to four times the energy of newer, ENERGY STAR® models. CWLP’s vendor, Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA), will pick up the refrigerator or freezer units and recycle 95% of the unit, including all of the ozone-depleting CFC refrigerants.

“This refrigerator-freezer collection program is a great way to save CWLP customers money and eliminate a number one energy waster,” said Mayor Tim Davlin. “Offering such an incentive is also in line with green initiatives as the recycling of these units is going to be a great benefit to the environment.”

The CWLP Energy Experts estimate that the potential count of inefficient refrigerators and freezers among its customers could be as high as 40,000. Each dated unit represents an extra 700 to 1,600 kWh to operate and adds between $100 to $175 per year to each household’s utility bill. 

“Not only is the rebate an unexpected return on investment to our customers for an old appliance, it’s a great accomplishment to make our customers smarter energy users and help put more money back in their pockets for using less,” said CWLP General Manager Todd Renfrow.

CWLP’s refrigerator retirement program allows for 1,200 total units to be collected with a limit of two rebates per customer. The units must be owned by a CWLP customer, in working condition and be between 10 and 27 cubic feet. More than 95 percent of each unit collected will be recycled by ARCA.

“When you consider the annual savings from not operating an inefficient refrigerator or freezer, we hope that even those that aren’t able to take advantage of the program will at least look at unplugging those appliances and making plans for recycling and permanent retirement,” Renfrow added.

ARCA is one of the nation’s largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities. The company currently provides appliance recycling and replacement services for more than twenty electric utility companies and public power authorities in the United States and Canada.

To participate in this program, contact a customer service representative with ARCA at 1-866-899-9862. For questions on other CWLP energy efficiency programs call the CWLP Energy Experts at 789-2070 or visit their website at www.cwlp.com/energyservices.

October 7, 2008 Amber Sabin, 217.789.2116 ext.2629  amber.sabin@cwlp.com    

City Water, Light and Power Public Information Office • www.cwlp.com