Electronic billing is the green way to go

I’ve read about ways to cut my electric bills in the summer. But, I have air conditioning, and I like to use it!  What does the BWL advise?

 -- P.L., East Lansing

 

The easiest way to save energy – but not necessarily the most convenient – is to turn off the air conditioning or set the AC’s thermostat higher when you’re not at home. To achieve the greatest energy savings, turn the air conditioner off when you’re not at home. Make sure the doors are shut tight and the window draperies are closed during the hottest part of the day.

For a window-mounted air conditioner, consider buying a programmable wall outlet timer.  Make sure that the voltage and amperage ratings of the wall outlet timer are appropriate for the electrical demands of the room air conditioner.

If you have central air conditioning, consider a “set-back” or programmable thermostat. This can save money without sacrificing comfort, because the temperature is adjusted automatically when you are sleeping or away from home.

The recommended settings for the air conditioning season are 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees when you are away. Be sure to look for the Energy StarŪ label when purchasing a programmable thermostat.

Do you have a question about some aspect of Lansing Board of Water & Light operations? Include your name, city of residence and phone number, and send it to Q Corner:

 

  E-MAIL: mdn@lbwl.com

    FAX:  (517) 702-6855

   MAIL:  Lansing Board of Water & Light

          Communications Department

          1232 Haco Dr., P.O. Box 13007

          Lansing MI 48901.

     The Lansing Board of Water & Light encourages its customers to make the switch to electronic billing if they have not already done so.

     Electronic billing saves money for you, the customer, and for the BWL.  Importantly, electronic billing is also one path to a greener future.

     Just how green? Consider: If the average household switches entirely to electronic billing, it will reduce greenhouse gases by 171 pounds a year.  Looked at a different way, making the switch is the same as:

■  Not driving 169 miles a year and not using nearly 9 gallons of gasoline.

■  Planting two trees and allowing them to grow for 10 years.

■  Preserving 24 square feet of forestland.

     According to PayItGreen ™, paper checks use more than 674 million gallons of fuel annually, and add more than 3.6 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

     To learn how to switch to electronic billing with companies you currently send payments to using “snail mail”, visit this Website: www.payitgreen.org.

     To switch to electronic billing with the BWL, click here.

     Finally, if you are looking other ways to “green up” your home and lifestyle, visit www.GoGreenGoLansing.com.

Welcome to our bird’s eye view of Lansing

       More than 150 feet above the ground, Lansing’s only pair of peregrine falcons are nesting at the BWL’s Eckert Power Station. Until recently, the only way people could observe this endangered species was with a pair of binoculars.

      Not any longer. The BWL, in partnership with the students at Moores Park Elementary School in Lansing, recently unveiled the FalconCam. Two remote cameras installed by the nest allow anyone with Internet access to watch the peregrines.

      Moores Park schoolchildren raised “Pennies for Peregrines” to help buy the camera. BWL employees contributed as well. Those contributions, along with a donation from the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, were enough to buy the remotely operated cameras for the FalconCam.

      This past winter and early spring, BWL employees installed the cameras, software and other equipment need to bring the FalconCam online.

      “The FalconCam will be a great learning tool for all of Lansing’s schoolchildren,” said BWL General Manager J. Peter Lark. “Peregrines are an endangered species of bird. Our FalconCam literally provides a window on their world, which hopefully will give children a greater appreciation of this bird and its place in the environment.”

      In late May,  the five falcon eggs all successfully hatched. Check out the FalconCam to see what’s happened lately!

      To visit the BWL FalconCam, click here.

UPDATE:

Lead Lines Being
Replaced Faster Than Ever

Beginning in June, the Lansing Board of Water & Light picked up the pace of replacing lead service lines in our municipal water system.

An additional, four-person crew has been added, and new equipment was acquired to outfit the crew.

General Manager J. Peter Lark recently announced that the BWL’s schedule to replace all lead service lines is well ahead of schedule.

“When the 10-year replacement program began in 2005, we had approximately 13,000 lead service lines. Today, we are already approaching the halfway mark in lead line replacements.

“I am proud we have surpassed our already aggressive timetable to replace all lead service lines. This additional crew strengthens our goal of replacing all lead lines before the original target year, 2015.”

The BWL is working closely with the City of Lansing so that ongoing sewer work and road repairs can be timed with lead line replacements. This should decrease disruption on streets and in neigbhorhoods. Recently, the BWL set a company record by replacing 41 lead service lines in a week!

Another Grand day on the river!

      Nearly 700 volunteers descended on Lansing’s riverfront for the 14th annual spring Adopt A River Day.

      And what a “Grand” difference they made! The River Trail along the Grand and Red Cedar rivers were virtually litter-free when the event was over, and dozens of native Michigan species were planted.

      There were other, special events.
■    The BWL gave away hundreds of flowering trees, as part of a program we call “Adopt A Tree.” We plan to give away more trees during future Adopt A River events.

■    Winners of our first Earth-Friendly poster contest were announced. Lansing Board of Water & Light General Manager J. Peter Lark and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero announced the eight winners, chosen from more than 200 Lansing-area schoolchildren who entered the contest. The children won gift certificates and their schools will have a tree planted on school grounds, compliments of the Board of Water & Light.

      “Adopt A River has grown and evolved since the BWL created the program in 1994,” Lark said. “Lansing was recently named one of the top 10 capital cities in the United States, and the reason given for that honor was our splendid River Trail.

      “It’s our faithful Adopt A River volunteers who keep the River Trail looking so great, year after year.”

      Mark your calendars. The fall Adopt A River Day will be September 20.  For more information, contact Impression 5 Science Center, (517) 485-8116.