Rural Electric Nebraskan by Nebraska Rural Electric Association

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Volume 67, Number 11, November 2013

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier

Published by the Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp President Gary Dill, Roosevelt Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District

Contents Features

Extreme Efficiency Makeover Magen Howard, a writer on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, explains how extreme home makeovers can update your living space, but an energy efficiency makeover will ensure your home performs at its peak. Everything from swapping out light bulbs to replacing appliances with newer, energy-saving models is fair game.

Spotting Energy Myths

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan does not imply endorsement for products by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price, Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Quad Graphics, 660 Mayhew Lake Rd. NE, St. Cloud, MN 56304. Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

Brian Sloboda, a program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, shares the story of avoiding energy scams and myths. There are many ways to save energy around your home—and a lot of them are too good to be true.

Treasurer Ron Jensen, Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley

RECIPES

ADULT PEN PALS

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

On the cover

Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN 0193-4937.

A sandhills cowboy rescues a stranded calf in “The Winter Orphan”. Illustration by Wayne Stroot.

Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

November 2013

EDITOR’S PAGE

Placing a sign on a utility pole could endanger a life hat do yard sale signs, basketball deer stands, lights, and carports. Not only do hoops, deer stands, satellite dishes, these attachments put line crews at risk, anyand birdhouses have in common? one illegally placing these items on poles Believe it or not, they’re often found illegally comes dangerously close to energized power attached to utility poles. lines with thousands of volts of energy pulsRecently I noticed someone had put a Haling overhead. It’s always wise to keep any loween decoration on a pole near their drivestructure at least 10 feet away from utility way. It looked like a witch had crashed her poles. broomstick into the pole. Whoever put it up Unauthorized pole attachments violate the there probably thought National Electrical nothing about it. UnforSafety Code, the actunately, safety issues cepted manual containcaused by unapproved ing guidelines for safe pole attachments place electrical engineering the lives of lineworkers standards. Utilities and the public in danstrictly follow this code ger. that includes a section It may seem innocent, that reads, “Signs, but a small nail parposters, notices, and tially driven into a pole other attachments shall can have deadly results not be placed on supportaround high-voltage ing structures without electricity. concurrence of the owner Power poles are the (the utility is the owner backbone of the electric of the pole). Supporting distribution system. structures should be Your local electric utilkept free from other ity line crews climb climbing hazards such as these poles at all hours tacks, nails, vines, and of the day and night, in through bolts not propthe worst of conditions. erly trimmed.” Anything attached to Everyone should also utility poles can create refrain from landscaping serious hazards for our around the bottom of line personnel. Sharp Please help keep our linemen and our poles with flower boxes, objects like nails, tacks, communities safe. Do not attach any paving stones or any staples, or barbed wire unauthorized and dangerous items to other lawn ornaments. If can puncture rubber utility poles. a line worker should gloves and other safety happen to fall on these, equipment, making linemen vulnerable to he could be injured more seriously. electrocution. Fixtures not belonging to the public power Linemen wear rubber gloves for protection district or electric cooperative or another utilwhile working on power lines. A rip or tear, ity will be removed by utility line personnel; even a small one, in the glove can result in a the utility is not responsible for any losses if serious risk of electrocution. Also boots or an item is damaged or destroyed during reclimbing spikes may get caught or slip, causmoval. ing a fall. Your utility’s line workers assure you reliLinemen with Nebraska’s public power disable, efficient, dependable electric service. Please show them you care and want them to tricts and electric cooperatives have reported stay safe. Don't use power poles for signs and poles used as community bulletin boards, posters. satellite mounts, and even support legs for

by Wayne Price

Rural Electric Nebraskan

GUEST EDITORIAL

Education is everything ducation is important, but factual education is crucial. Having an opinion is good, but it is far more effective if facts support that opinion. We live in a fast paced world that gives little time for processing and validating claims. Therefore, investing time in seeking facts to form our opinions is time well spent. By doing this we can be assured that our perspective is based on fact, not emotion. A trademark saying in the real estate industry is “location, location, location.” Perhaps education, education, education would be an appropriate saying for the electric utility industry. Today it seems popular vote, and emotion drive opinion rather than facts. These opinions are flooded to us instantaneously on a daily basis through email, texting, twitter, Facebook, or whatever social media communication we choose to follow. Recently I have heard radio advertisements urging Nebraska’s Public Power Utilities to “get in the game,” by shutting down NPPD’s coal plants and stop importing “dirty coal from Illinois.” An educated response to this claim is that NPPD does not import coal from Illinois, it all comes from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming where the cleanest coal in the nation comes from. Another fact about coal fired generation that is widely misunderstood is that coal itself does not generate electricity. The coal is burned to heat water and create steam, the steam is forced over a turbine that turns a generator. After the steam passes over the turbine it is condensed back into water and recycled. The white “smoke” often observed at a stack during colder temperatures is water vapor in the form of steam that is lost in the cooling process, not smoke as popular vote would indicate.

November 2013

Curtis Kayton General Manager Southwest Public Power District So what about all the claims that wind energy is the least expensive option? Here is a factual side of the story about wind energy that is never told. Believe it or not generating electricity with wind turbines is not a new concept. Long before the days of REA, rural houses and barns had small wind turbines affixed to them. So why did it not make sense to develop the national grid based on wind energy then? Largely for the same reasons today, pure and simple economics. Wind energy can only be used in conjunction with a conventional power plant running at the same time. Serving Nebraska’s customers with a wind farm, requires that a fossil fueled power plant must also be running because obviously wind doesn’t blow 100 percent of the time. Therefore, serving one customer with the burden of two power plants instead of one. Nebraska’s energy industry is fully aware of the apparent wind resource we have in the state. We also know

that if we replace conventional plants with wind or solar, the low rates we enjoy in Nebraska will not just go up a little they will become unaffordable. Natural gas is at record low prices today. Why can’t we replace the nation’s coal plants with natural gas? That is the very problem…today prices are low but not long ago, prices were high. Electricity prices follow the markets and natural gas is much more volatile than coal. Another way to relate is; low fuel cost, low electricity cost, high fuel cost, and high electricity cost. Recently a formal study of coal contracts was presented to NPPD’s board and revealed that Gentlemen Station enjoys the lowest delivered fuel cost of any coal plant in the world. Is the need for education limited to the subject of coal vs. wind? Absolutely not. Public Power sponsors many educational efforts to reinforce what we are about. Education isn’t only about gathering informed facts, education is also aimed as safety and telling our story. The Nebraska Rural Electric Association hosts a Youth Energy Camp annually, so the coming generations can experience how Nebraska’s generation plants work, see a real-live high voltage safety demonstration, and many other lessons about public power. This is done in a summer camp setting at the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey in a fun, but educational environment. Individual public power districts also conduct safety demonstrations across the state in an effort to educate our ratepayers on what to do in an emergency such as a downed line or other hazards. Public power districts also inform ratepayers how to save money by communicating energy efficient tips and practices. I would encourage you to invest time to gather facts on which to base your conclusions. Your local public power district would be a great place to ask for information. They have very knowledgeable people who will be glad to answer your questions.

Extreme Efficiency

Makeover

by Magen Howard

Extreme home makeovers can update your living space, but an energy efficiency makeover will ensure your home performs at its peak. Everything from “low-hanging fruit” like swapping out light bulbs to “bigger ticket” items such as replacing appliances with newer, energy-saving models is fair game. Finding ‘energy hogs’ If you’re ready to take on a home efficiency makeover, the first step is to call your local public power district or electric cooperative about an energy audit. Your electric utility or a qualified, licensed contractor can conduct blower-door tests or even imaging tests with an infrared camera. Blower-door tests find out how much air your home loses every hour, while infrared cameras can more accurately pinpoint where your home loses air. Common culprits include windows, doors, and roofs, but air loss can occur in small and innocuous places like recessed canister lights and outlets, too. Next, evaluate your appliances, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling) system, and even landscaping for more opportunities.

Seal air leaks A tube of caulk and a roll of weather stripping can go a long way toward saving money on your electricity bill. Caulk around windows, dryer vents, and fans, and weather strip around doors. There are also some not-so obvious places for air to flow in and out of your home, notably outlets and behind

Lighting An Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lamp uses about 75 percent less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb, lasts up to 10 times longer, and can save about $40 in energy costs over its lifetime. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can last even longer, but costs are still high although they keep dropping as the technology becomes less expensive to produce. A word of warning when purchasing new types of bulbs: You generally get what you pay for. “Some manufacturers exaggerate claims of energy savings and lifespans, and cheaper models probably won’t last as long as higher-quality bulbs,” says Brian Sloboda, senior program manager for the Cooperative Research Network, an arm of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “If you look for the ENERGY STAR label, that means the bulb exceeds minimum efficiency standards as tested by the federal government.” He adds: “The best way to benefit is to purchase a more energy-efficient light bulb the next time you need one.” To learn about lighting options, visit energysavers.gov/lighting.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

job. But if an infrared scan reveals heat loss through the roof, additional or a different type of attic insulation might be necessary.

Sealing up cracks and joists in your attic will help your insulation do its job. But if an infrared scan reveals heat loss through the roof, additional or a different type of attic insulation might be necessary. switch plates. To see if you have air flowing through your outlets or switch plates, light a stick of incense, hold it in front, and watch for the smoke to be disrupted. You can find special sealing kits for outlets and switch plates at home improvement stores.

November 2013

And don’t forget about applying weather stripping around your attic hatch or pull-down stairs. You may also want to install an insulator box to place over the opening. A kit costs around $40. Sealing up cracks and joists in your attic will help your insulation do its

Programmable thermostats A programmable model could help you save big bucks if it fits your lifestyle. This device will turn your temperature up automatically during times of the day you specify. But if you purchase one, it’s important to take the next step and program it— a step many people fail to take. “A programmable thermostat is an excellent tool to improve your home’s energy efficiency, but you have to actually program it, and then you have to leave it alone,” Sloboda explains. “Fiddling with the settings won’t help—but getting the settings to where you’re comfortable when you’re home and then forgetting about it will really help with energy savings.” Programmable thermostats are best for people who regularly leave their homes (without pets inside) for at least eight hours at a time. Please turn to page 8

Extreme Efficiency From page 7 Sealing ductwork Ductwork could be the most important piece of equipment to seal. If it’s exposed, you can do this yourself with a paintbrush and mastic, which you can purchase at any home improvement store. If not, hire a professional HVAC contractor. Leaky ductwork will make your air-conditioning system work a lot harder than it should have to, which drives up your electric bills and wears out HVAC equipment more quickly. “Ductwork is one of the first places you should look if you’re trying to lower your energy costs,” stresses [statewide energy efficiency expert]. “Sometimes, ducts aren’t even properly joined at all. That wastes a huge amount of energy. Sealing them up goes a long way to improving your home’s energy efficiency.” Appliances Appliances more than 10 years old don’t work as efficiently as newer Energy Star-rated models. For example, Energy Star-qualified refrigerators are 15 percent more efficient than non-qualified models and are 20 percent more efficient than models that simply meet the federal minimum standard for energy efficiency, according to ENERGYSTAR.gov. Clothes washers manufactured before 1998 are significantly less efficient than newer models; Energy Star-certified washers use about 20 percent less energy and 35 percent less water than regular washers. ENERGYSTAR.gov lists dozens of appliances and electronics that exceed efficiency standards; check there for more information. Landscaping Planting a tree or climbing vine not only adds a little flavor to your home’s landscape; it also can cool down your house when the sun beats down. Trees in the right spot can decrease your home’s energy use by up

Trees in the right spot can decrease your home’s energy use by as much as 25 percent. Illustration provided by Arbor Day Foundation to 25 percent, according DOE. Plant deciduous trees—those that lose their leaves every year—to the south and west of your home, and you’ll gain shade in the summer and sunshine in the winter. According to DOE, a 6-foot, 8-inch deciduous tree will begin providing shade the first year. And it only gets cooler after that, reaching your roof line in five to 10 years. If you want shade all the time or need to block wind, choose ever-

greens. But when you’re preparing to choose your greenery, keep in mind that trees should never be planted underneath a power line. Call your public power district or electric cooperative to find out how far from lines you should plant, and then check out ArborDay.org to learn about the types of trees that are best for your home’s landscape. Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (EnergySavers.gov), ENERGY STAR.com, TogetherWeSave.com

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Purchase and use space heaters carefully ortable electric heaters can be the right answer in certain situations when it comes to providing economical, comfortable heat to a small area. However, while comfort and economics may be the reason for considering a portable space heater, there are potential issues one should be aware of. Dubious claims of capability and cost, as well as fire risks, ring a cautionary note to homeowners if they buy and/or operate space heaters.

A leading cause of home fires If you plan to use space heaters to help heat your home this winter, use extreme caution, advises safety professionals at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL). According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) supplemental heating equipment, such as electrical and kerosene heaters, is the leading cause of home fires during December, January and February and trails only cooking equipment as the leading cause of home fires year-round.

Commission estimates more than 25,000 residential fires each year related to space heaters. • More than 300 persons die in these fires. • An estimated 6,000 persons receive hospital emergency room care for burns each year. If you will be using a space heater, here are some tips to think about: • When selecting a space heater, look for one that has been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. • Keep children and pets away. • Keep doors open to the rest of the house if you are using an unvented fuel-burning space heater. Even vented heaters require ventilation for proper combustion. • Never leave a space heater on

when you go to sleep or leave the area. • Never use or store flammable liquids (such as gasoline) around a space heater. • Place heaters at least three feet away from objects such as bedding, furniture and drapes. Never use heaters to dry clothes or shoes. • Electric models designed so they cannot cause burns or start fires are preferred. • Select electric models of space which are designed so they cannot cause fires even if tipped over. Your public power electric utility wants you to get the most energy value for your money. It costs far less to save energy than it does to build a new power plant to generate additional power. Source: NPPD.com

A lot of hot air Here’s something else to be on the look out for. Some advertisers promote the sale of space heaters with, well, a lot of hot air. You may have heard radio ads or seen print ads that claim you can lower your heating bill by up to 50 percent by just buying their electric space heater. Not true. Consumer Reports read dozens of reviews at Amazon.com and InformercialRatings.com from owners who say space heaters did not perform as advertised. The advice offered by your local utility on how to best heat your home is to invest in weatherization and insulation along with a quality electric heating system and adequate automated backup heating system. Some of the safety-related information about space heaters includes: • U.S. Consumer Product Safety

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We're all trying to save money on energy bills these days. You won't save any money or energy if you buy products from people who make false claims.

quick Internet search reveals many ways to save energy around your home—and a lot of them are too good to be true. Scams generally center around misstatements of science or confusion over utility programs. That’s why it’s always a good idea to call your public power district or electric co-op to verify or ask questions about any energy-saving program you see advertised. The most popular scam right now involves a device that promises to save energy without requiring you to make any changes in behavior, turn anything off, or adjust the thermostat. People who sell these “little boxes” often claim outrageous energy savings—sometimes as much as 30 percent or more—couched around legitimate utility terms like power conditioning, capacitors, and power factor. The bogus marketing spiel usually goes something like this: The model being sold will control alternating current power factor and reduce electric bills. It will condition your power and make appliances last longer. It uses no power and has no moving parts. It will make motors in your home run better. Accompanying materials often caution “your utility doesn’t want you to know about this device.” That last part is true—because these boxes are a ripoff. What’s the reality? While public power districts and electric co-ops use various components to correct power factor for commercial and industrial consumers, power factor correction is not a concern with homes. Engineers at the University of Texas-Austin concluded that one of the units could produce no more than a 0.06 percent reduction in electric use in an average house. The Electric Power Research Institute, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based non-profit research consortium made up of electric utilities, including public power districts and electric cooperatives, recently tested one of the most popular residential power factor correction products and found that it generated average power savings of just 0.23 percent—far from the 30 percent claimed by its manufac-

Rural Electric Nebraskan

turer. At that rate, it would take a typical homeowner more than 70 years to recoup his or her investment. In short, these devices are nothing more than ordinary capacitors employed in electronic circuits to store energy or differentiate between highand low-frequency signals. Companies selling these products change names quickly and often, and move from town to town looking for new victims. There are several questions you should ask a sales representative when reading an ad for the next magical cure-all: Does the product violate the laws of science? For example, does it claim to be capable of “changing of the molecular structure … to release never-before tapped power.” If true, the invention would quickly be sold in every store across nation, not marketed through fliers or a poorly designed website. Was the product tested by an independent group? If the performance of the product was not tested and certified by a lab or entity not connected to the company selling it, be very skeptical. Don’t allow a salesman to verify claims. One popular trick is to hook up the little box to a motor and a power meter. When turned on, the meter records a drop in what appears to be power consumption. This is a trick—the meter is actually recording reactive power. This is not the same type of meter hanging on the side of your home. Is it too good to be true? If so, it probably is. A video getting play on the Internet shows a consumer reporter for a television station testing one of these little boxes. By looking at electric bills before and after installation, he concludes the device is a good buy. However, an excessively hot or unusually cool day can cause one month’s electric bill to run significantly higher or lower than the previous month. Wise consumers always ask to see electric use for the same month from the previous year(s), not previous month, and factor in weather anomalies for any savings claims.

November 2013

How to make the best choice among space heaters nce you’ve decided that space heaters are right for you, it is helpful to answer a few questions to help determine the proper type of space heater that will suit your needs. For example: • Do you have a preference on whether it uses electricity or natural gas? Are both available where the heat is needed? • Where do you plan to use the space heater? In what areas or rooms, specifically? What tasks will be performed there? • In general, how often and for how long will the heater be in use—periodically or constantly? • What features are important for your application? Sporadic usage, spot heating. If you need help “filling the gap” or simply adding some extra warmth while performing a task at home or at work, a radiant heater will be the best match. They provide heat almost instantaneously but must be located fairly close to warm an occupant effectively. The main caveat with these types of heaters is that they can be a fire hazard, so safety precautions must be taken in order to prevent fires, burns, or other damage. Examples of where these heaters might be used are for a person working at a desk or sitting on a couch; these perform well when the object to be warmed is relatively stationary. In some instances, it makes sense to use a radiant heating panel: These are varying-sized electric panels that are mounted to a surface (wall, ceiling, or floor) and radiate heat to an object directly in front of them. They operate completely silently, are cool to the touch, and typically consume less power than a traditional radiant

heater; they also produce less heat, but can work well to provide some heat for a person sitting at a desk or other small enclosed area with a nearby mounting surface. Constant operation, whole-room heating. If you plan to use the space heater for extended periods of time or to heat an entire room and a conventional central heating system is impractical, a convection heater will most likely be your best choice. Either an oil- or water-filled radiator heater or a portable baseboard-style heater will work. Unlike radiant heaters, convection heaters cannot provide instantaneous spot heating, but instead gradually warm the air in the room. They provide an even, comfortable heat through natural convection of the room air. Most of these heaters are silent and cool to the touch. Varied operation, versatile tasks. If the space heater will be used for a variety of tasks, a combination heater—employing both radiant and convection techniques—is best. These are currently the most commonly used space heaters. Any space heater with a heating element and an internal fan can be classified as a combination heater. These heaters can be used to warm up an entire room (although not as evenly as a true convection heater) and to heat a stationary person (again, not as efficiently as a true radiant heater). Many people enjoy the versatility of these portable types. These heaters can also be a fire hazard, so it is important to operate them in areas where they’re unlikely to come into contact with flammable materials such as paper.

Homeowners should watch for mice in their homes ith the weather getting colder, now is the time homeowners start to see more mice in their homes, said Stephen Vantassel, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln program coordinator for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. The main reason that mice come into homes this time of year is to get warm, Vantassel said. “Small animals spend a lot of energy trying to keep themselves warm,” he said. “They are desperately looking for a warmer place to reduce their caloric needs.” All mice need to enter a home is a hole that measures three-eighths of an inch or larger. It is important to inspect the house for these openings and seal them, Vantassel said. Mice

Scan the QR code to read more information from the UNL Extension on how to control mice. can climb, so be sure to inspect the entire house, not just the foundation. “Establish weed-free zones around the foundation,” he said. Bird feeders should be monitored

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Rural Electric Nebraskan

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Cell phone savings calculation based on industry leaders’ lowest monthly published fees (minutes may vary). Medical alert savings calculation based on PERS providers’ average monthly fees. All rate plans, services and applications require the purchase of a GreatCall phone and a one-time set-up fee of $35. Coverage and service are not available everywhere. Rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges and are subject to change. No roaming or long distance charges for domestic calls within the U.S. There are no additional fees to call GreatCall’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. 5Star service may not be available in remote or enclosed areas. You will not be able to make 5Star or 9-1-1 calls when cellular service is not available. 5Star service will be able to track an approximate location when your device is turned on, but we cannot guarantee an exact location. Jitterbug, 5Star, 5Star Urgent Response and GreatCall are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ©2013 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. ©2013 GreatCall, Inc. ©2013 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

SAFETY BRIEFS

Seasonal safety reminders help make a joyful holiday he change of seasons is an ideal time to use your cool weather electrical safety checklist to avoid potentially lethal electrical hazards, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. They suggest sharing the following safety reminders with your family:

Outdoor tools and appliances • Safely store warm weather tools like lawn mowers and trimmers. Check cold weather tools, such as leaf and snow blowers, along with their power cords, for unusual wear and tear. Repair or replace worn tools or parts right away. • Unplug and safely store battery chargers that won't be in use again until spring. • Use only weatherproof electrical devices for outside activities. Protect outdoor electrical devices from moisture. Make sure electrical equipment that has been wet is inspected and reconditioned by a certified repair dealer. • Keep dry leaves swept away from outdoor lighting, outlets and power cords.

Holiday decorations and costumes • Ensure all holiday lighting and extension cords are in good repair, with no fraying, cracking or cuts, and are certified by an independent testing lab such as Underwriters’ Laboratories. Follow the rating for indoor or outdoor use.

• Never connect more than three strands of decorative lights together. Make sure all connections are tight and protected from inclement weather, including the outlet. Unplug the lights when not in use.

• Make sure spotlights used to highlight decorations are well-ventilated, protected from weather and are a safe distance from anything flammable, such as shrubs and bushes, dry leaves or fabric decorations. • Keep power and extension cords out of pathways. • Do not coil power cords or extension cords while in use. Do not tuck them under rugs, carpets or curtains. They may overheat, causing a fire hazard. Electric blankets • Make sure electric blankets are in good repair and certified by an independent testing lab. Power cords should not be frayed, cracked or cut. • Do not tuck your electric blanket into mattresses or under children, and don’t put anything on top of the blanket while in use, such as comforters or bedspreads. • Replace old blankets. Around 5,000 fires per year are caused by electric heating blankets older than ten years. For these and other related safety tips, visit the ESFI website at www.esfi.org.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Sizing up storm door efficiency by James Dulley

air leaks around my doors, Q :soI feel I thought about adding storm doors. I want ones that also have screens, but my budget is limited. Is it worthwhile adding storm doors, and what should I look for? Even though a door is a relaA :tively small area as compared to the entire wall area of a house, just one door can lose a significant amount of energy. Even insulated doors typically have some glass, which have lower insulation value, and inadequate weather stripping will allow air to leak through. Before buying anything new, make sure your primary doors are as airtight as possible. Adding storm doors can improve the energy efficiency of almost any house, but they are not designed to correct efficiency problems of an old, warped primary door. If possible, purchase replacement weather stripping for your existing doors from the original manufacturer. If you can’t find it, most home improvement stores sell many styles of generic weather stripping that should fit. Pry off the old door molding, fill any gaps around the framing with non-expanding foam insulation, and caulk around the door frame. The quality of the storm door construction is important for a nice appearance, long life, and security. It must withstand a lot of abuse, so don’t just pick the cheapest one. From strictly an energy efficiency standpoint, though, the most important factors are the dead air space between the storm and primary doors and how well wind is blocked. Buying an aluminum storm door and installing it yourself is the typical low-cost option. They’re very lightweight and made to fit standard-sized

openings, so installing one is a simple do-it-yourself project. When you see the door on display attached to a wooden frame at the store, the aluminum frame will feel very strong. When you open the box at home, you may find the unattached aluminum frame strips are somewhat flexible. Be careful not to kink them during handling. Apply a generous

It is easy to install a storm door. With pre-assembled parts, no cutting is required, and pre-drilled installation and assembly holes eliminate any guesswork. Photograph provided by Pella bead of caulk on the back of the aluminum frame when screwing it to the door frame. If you plan to use natural ventilation during the summer, a self-storing triple-track storm/screen door is your most convenient option. I use this type at my own home. The screen panel has its own vertical track in the door, so it never has to be removed. At the end of winter, just slide one of the glass panels down and slide the screen panel up for ventilation.

A fairly new design of storm/screen door uses a spring-mounted roll-up retractable screen built into the door. When you are ready for ventilation, just lower the glass and pull the screen down as far as you wish. This design is attractive because the screen is hidden away during winter without having to remove and store the screen panels. When your budget does open up someday, some very attractive allwood frame (made with mortise and tenon joints) storm/screen doors are available. These are strong and secure but do require some regular maintenance similar to any wood door. For added security, ornate wrought iron storm doors are available with actual deadbolts and very tough, break-in resistant stainless steel screens. If your budget is really tight, consider making your own storm door. It is easy to mount hinges in the existing door opening for the storm door. Make a simple wooden frame with only the top half open and a plywood lower panel. This panel improves rigidity for a more airtight seal and better durability. Most home improvement stores carry sheets of clear acrylic plastic to mount in the frame. Make another narrow wooden frame slightly larger than the open half and mount the acrylic sheet in it. Screw it over the storm door opening. Make a similar frame with screening in it for summer use. Nail spring steel weather stripping in the door opening on the latch side and top and bottom. This type of weather stripping is very durable where there is sliding friction. Adhesive-backed foam weather stripping is effective in compression on the hinge side.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Thomas Kinkade Mountain Retreat Illuminating Canvas Print

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First ever! Thomas Kinkade Gallery Editions Illuminating Canvas Print

Shown much smaller than actual al size of appr. 15¾" tall by 20" wide by 1½" deep Arrives fully assembled and rea ready to display

Mr. Kinkade’s idyllic vision comes to life on a handstretched canvas print in this Gallery Editions marketfirst presentation. It boasts all the vibrancy and detail of the original artwork at a fraction of the price. Best of all, at the flip of the switch 10 LED lights built into the custom-crafted wooden frame cast a soft glow on the beloved imagery.

RESERVATION APPLICATION ON

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YES. Please reserve the Thomas Kinkade Mountain Retreat Illuminated Canvas Print for me as described in this announcement. Please Respond Promptly Limit: one per order.

An exceptional value— and a money-back guarantee Given that availability on Mr. Kinkade’s own highly valuable Mountain Retreat canvas images is limited, you are urged to take advantage of this unique opportunity today! Act now to acquire yours in four interest-free installments of $37.50, for a total of $149.99*, backed by our 365-day money-back guarantee. You need send no money now. Just complete and mail the Reservation Application today. Don’t miss out—act now!

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01-14674-001-E66291 *Plus $17.99 shipping and service. Limited-edition presentation restricted to 295 crafting days. Please allow 4-8 weeks after initial payment for shipment. Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance.

DOWNâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;HOME

RECIPES

Cherry Pecan Crisp 2 large cans cherry pie filling 1/ 2 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 cup warm water 1 box white cake mix

1/2 cup melted butter or margarine 1 cup pecan pieces or walnuts 1/8 cup warm water

Mix pie filling, almond extract and 1/4 cup warm water. Spread in 9 x 13 inch cake pan. In a separate bowl, add cake mix, butter, nuts and 1/8 cup warm water. Drop mixture (it will be sticky) by spoonfuls on top of cherry mixture until it is completely covered. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Top with either cool whip or ice cream. You can substitute cherry pie filling with apple or blueberry.

Connie Schulz, Norfolk, Nebraska

Tossed Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Chilly Day Beef Chili 2-1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck or round, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) black beans, rinsed, drained 1 can (15-1/2 ounces) chili-style tomato sauce with diced tomatoes 1 medium onion, chopped 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 cup prepared thick-and-chunky salsa Toppings: Shredded Cheddar cheese, diced red onion, diced green onion, diced avocado and dairy sour cream Combine all ingredients except salsa and toppings in 4-1/2 to 5-1/2quart slow cooker; mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH 5-1/2 to 6 hours, or on LOW 8 to 9 hours, or until beef is tender. (No stirring is necessary during cooking.) Just before serving, stir in salsa; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Serve with toppings, as desired.

Recipe provided by the Nebraska Beef Council

Dressing: 1 cup salad oil 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup wine vinegar Pinch salt 1 teaspoon prepared mustard 1 teaspoon grated onion or sliced green onion

2 Tablespoons poppy seed Assorted greens (spinach, bibb or red tip lettuce, etc.) 1 cup cashews 1 cup Swiss cheese 2 red apples, unpeeled & chopped Toss together with dressing.

Elizabeth Shipman, Fairfield, Nebraska

Easy Caramel Pecan Rolls 1 cup pecan halves 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup Karo light or dark corn syrup 1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted 4 cups Bisquick baking mix

1 cup milk 2 Tablespoon margarine or butter, softened 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix pecans, 2/3 cup brown sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup margarine in a 13x9x2 inch pan, spread to cover bottom of pan. Set aside. Stir baking mix and milk until dough forms; beat 20 strokes. Turn onto surface dusted with baking mix; gently roll in baking mix to coat. Shape into ball; knead 10 times. Roll dough into rectangle, 15x9 inch; spread with 2 tablespoons margarine. Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over rectangle. Roll up tightly, beginning at 15 inch side. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal well. Cut into twelve 1 1/4 inch slices. Arrange cut sides down in pan. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Immediately invert on heatproof serving plate. Let stand 10 minutes; carefully separate rolls. Serve warm. 12 rolls.

Rosa Lee Stara, Bruno, Nebraska Rural Electric Nebraskan

To appear in print The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. To be considered for use, submissions must: (1) Identify rural electric system providing magazine; (2) Include $6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3) Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include full name and mailing address (will not be used in magazine); and (5) Be first person, submitted directly by person to receive responses. Acceptance, editing and issue scheduling is at editor’s discretion. Address all submissions to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. All responses received by the Adult Pen Pal Service are routed directly, postage paid, to the response number assigned to each submission.

NOV - 1: SWM, 44, NS/ND, farmer from central Nebraska who enjoy the Huskers, camping, slow dancing, playing cards, and deer hunting. I have a dog and enjoy family and friends. Looking for a lady to share life.

NOV - 6: 5’8”, 150 lbs, long brown hair, NS cowgirl looking for a NS cowboy/farmer in the Midwest. I love country fairs, rodeos, trail rides, camping, dancing, animals, kids, and my country lifestyle. Please send me picture with letter.

NOV - 2: DWF, 66, 5’2”, looking for kind hearted, funny, family man, for fun & friendship. Likes are short trips, rodeos, NASCAR, movies, flower gardening, country music, dancing.

NOV - 7: WidWCM, 71, NS/ND from central Nebraska and in very good health. Looking for a nice Christian lady 60s or 70s who likes to enjoy life. I would very much like to hear from you.

NOV - 3: DWCF, NS, 55, C/W, from central Nebraska looking to correspond with a man. Likes to watch football, fish, dance, works a full time job, has manners & morals.

NOV - 8: DWCM, 41, NS, enjoy movies, family, friends, dining out. Looking for warm loving woman to get to know. Would love to hear from you.

NOV - 4: SWCM, NS, honest, hardworking central Nebraska countryman looking for a 19-28-year-old country gal. I enjoy dancing, rodeos, concerts, C/W music, horseback riding and having a good time. Will reply to all inquiries, photo and phone number appreciated.

NOV - 9: WidF, NS, CW, 60, looking for someone to share my day. Must enjoy country living, hard work together, quiet evenings at home watching baby calves run, fairs, cattle shows.

NOV - 5: DWF, NS, 40, hardworking country gal from central Nebraska that enjoys the outdoors, horses, rodeos, gardening, cooking, C/W music, traveling, 4-wheeling, family and quiet evenings at home. Looking for hardworking countryman that knows how to treat a lady.

To write To respond to one of the adult pen pal requests, write letter, place in envelope, seal and affix first class postage. Address to full, correct response #, c/o Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Your letter will be forwarded unopened. Do not send money or additional postage; forwarding is prepaid. Enclose your full mailing address for return correspondence. Once again . . . it is very important that all responses carry the full response number—both month and number—to be properly forwarded. Abbreviation Code C — Christian; C/W — Country-western; D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker; R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single; W — White; Wid — Widowed

November 2013

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS ll Ca ree F l l To

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See what a difference it makes...

Advertise in Rural Electric Nebraskan Classifieds

Rural Electric Nebraskan

TECHNOLOGY HAS E VOLVED OVER THE YE ARS. And we’re evolving with it.

While our not-for-profit mission to provide reliable, affordable and responsible electricity to our member electric cooperatives has stayed the course for more than 60 years, the way we deliver on it is advancing ever y day. We are diversif ying our generation resource por tfolio while making investments to increase the efficiency of our power deliver y network – all to provide the best possible value to rural electric consumers. Learn more about where we’re headed at tristate.coop.

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