[Home Building & Remodeling]
Register for Building Trades Conference
Monday, December 28, 2009
If you are in the building trades, learn the latest techniques from the experts.
Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative, along with the Iowa Energy Center, is a sponsor of Momentum Is Building, an energy-efficient home-building conference that will be held in Des Moines on February 11-12.
Sessions include:
Building science
Electric c...
[Appliances]
Appliance Rebates from the State of Iowa
Monday, February 15, 2010
Thinking of replacing an appliance? Now might be the time.
The state of Iowa has a rebate program for the purchase of energy-efficient appliances that begins 8 a.m. March 1.
There is a very limited number of rebates available, so if you are thinking or replacing an old, inefficient appliance, be prepared to act quickly!
Customers cannot pre-register or re...
[Co-op EnergyCast]
Don't Get Scammed by Energy-Saving Claims!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
In this EnergyCast, expert speaker Jeff Springer separates fact from fiction ... to save you money.
Jeff Springer, manager, technical services group, GEN~SYS Energy, La Crosse, Wisconsin, joined us for a presentation on bogus energy-efficiency claims.
Have comments or questions about this EnergyCast? Share your thoughts here!
A summary of Jeff's presentation:
Surge suppressors tha...
[Co-op EnergyCast]
EnergyCast: Insulating Basements
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Expert Bill McAnally shares techniques for new and existing basements.
According to Bill McAnally, a house is only as good as its foundation. In addition, he says, when making a home energy efficient, it's wise to start with the foundaion. If your foundation isn't good, it may not be worth putting money into the rest of the home.
Listen to Bill's EnergyCast to...
[Ask Mr. Tight-Watt]
Ask Mr. Tight Watt: Photocells and CFLs
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
What are photocells? Can they be used with CFL lights?
Question: I found some $10-$15 photocells that claim to be CFL compatible. Do you have any knowledge of how effective these might be and what kind of CFL life can be obtained?—Jack, a Smart Choices reader
Mr. Tight Watt called on Rob Kirkpatrick, Service Concepts, to provide a response....
[Food & Nutrition]
Beef Up Valentine’s Day
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The beef industry says: Love me tender(loin), as Americans reveal their passion for beef.
February is a month devoted to love and affection, and Americans have spoken: Nothing says amoré like a great steak dinner.
In a recent survey conducted on behalf of the Beef Checkoff Program, 61% of Americans said they favor a nice meal on Valentine’s Day, rather than flowers or other...
[Technology]
Energy-Efficiency Technology Trends for 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A writer for Electronic House makes six predictions and shares details about a few tech toys from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show.
At times, it may seem that achieving energy efficiency in the electronics arena may be out of reach: Remembering to shut down equipment and unplug cords is a drag, and it has been unrealistic to purchase expensive measurement tools and energy savers such as LED lights.
However, 2010 may be the year...
[Your Efficient, Comfortable, Safe Home]
Winter Air Quality
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ways to decrease exposure to chemicals and other toxins when your home is closed up.
When our homes are closed up in the winter, toxins, pollen, and chemicals can build up and affect air quality … and potentially our health. Both the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) say that indoor air is generally more polluted than the air out...
[Energy Efficiency]
Stay Warm this Winter
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Handy hints for staying warm in our record cold.
With temperatures reaching record lows early this winter, it’s hard to feel warm, even in the house. If you can relate, read on. We’ve got some easy tips to warm you up a bit:
Count on Curtains
To keep air flowing freely throughout your home, keep drapes and curtains away from fu...
[Cleaning]
Vim and Vinegar
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Use this common household liquid in hundreds of ways, including a few to help you make it through the winter.
By Kathy Roth Eastman, Smart Choices editor
Recently, I pulled an old book, Vim and Vinegar, off my shelf and discovered a wealth of information. The author, Melodie Moore, calls vinegar “a modern day miracle product.”
We often think of vinegar as only a pickling ingredient, bu...
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