Second Nature™ News: Winter 2007

In the Winter 2007 issue: Renewable Energy Resource: Biomass Alliant Energy’s Environmental Progress Report Efficient ways to stay toasty this winter Grinnell meets E-Community challenges Second Nature Customer Spotlight Welcome to the Second Nature family! Product Content Label Kids’ Project Download the printer-friendly PDF version

Renewable Energy Resource: Biomass

Biomass is the fourth largest energy resource in the world – after coal, oil, and natural gas. Simply stated, biomass is comprised of living matter and products that come from living matter. Biopower is the use of biomass to generate energy by harnessing the energy in plants and animals. As plants grow, they absorb energy from the sun during the natural process of photosynthesis. This stored energy can be extracted from any kind of plant materials, wild or cultivated – including forestry waste, municipal solid waste, food processing waste, and grasses and agricultural residues (corn husks, stalks, and leaves). The energy is also passed on to animals that eat the crops, which is why manure is an energy source. Biomass can be used for heating, cooking, transportation fuels, and electric power generation.

Biomass fuels provide about 3 percent of the energy in the United States. The gas produced in the process, biogas, is composed mainly of methane and carbon dioxide. These are more environmentally friendly than the emissions produced by other fuels, and, of course, plants are renewable and remove carbon monoxide from the atmosphere as they grow. Eight biomass facilities currently provide alternative energy for Alliant Energy customers. They generate about 20 megawatts of energy. The Chariton Valley Biomass Project – a cooperative effort between Alliant Energy, Chariton Valley Resource Conservation and Development and the U.S. Department of Energy – is currently developing grasses as a supplemental fuel source for coal-fired power plants.

Alliant Energy’s Environmental Progress Report
On an annual basis, our company produces a document that reports and measures our environmental progress. Here are some highlights from the renewable energy portion of that report: Wind and hydroelectric sources provide 90 percent of Alliant Energy’s renewable energy mix in the company’s RPS, with the remainder largely biomass. The total renewable generation capacity is now just over 600 megawatts. Alliant Energy continues to research and develop switch grass and anaerobic manure digesters.
In 2005, 12,500 customers in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota participated in the Second Nature program, supporting more than 40 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy. Plans for the near future include the addition of approximately 400 megawatts of wind in Iowa and Wisconsin. By 2015, Alliant Energy plans to receive nearly 2 million megawatt-hours of energy from wind generation sources. “As we make decisions on how to meet the increasing demand for energy, our renewable energy projects will take on even greater importance,” says Kim K. Zuhlke, vice president-New Energy Resources. If you’d like to take a look at Alliant Energy’s annual Environmental Progress Report in full, visit our website at www.allliantenergy.com.

Efficient Ways to Stay Toasty This Winter

It’s easy to turn to the thermostat for relief when the cold winds blow. This winter, save on energy consumption and heating costs by doing all you can to stay warm and cozy without turning up the thermostat. Here are some tips:

• Dress in layers. A coat over several thin layers of clothing is better than one thick jacket. Natural fibers like cotton, wool and light fleecy clothes are good choices. Waffle-weave long underwear (or even just a pair of tights and a long-sleeved tee) under your outfit will work wonders!
• Drink for warmth. Cradling a hot cup of tea, coffee or cocoa will warm both your hands and your tummy as you sip. A warm toddy (milk with a little vanilla and honey) at bedtime is soothing and warming.
• Eat for warmth. A hot meal will warm you better than a cold one. Spicy dishes like chili can help increase your body temperature, even if they’re not fiery. Put a shaker of cayenne on the table along with your salt and pepper so everyone can add heat to his and her dishes.
• Add cozy ambiance. Throw rugs on your floors will add both warmth and an inviting atmosphere. The same goes for blankets on chairs and couches.
• Reverse the flow. If you have a ceiling fan, flip the switch so that it blows the air upward, forcing the warm air (which rises naturally) back down into the room.
• Settle in your cap. If you get cold at night (your body cools as you sleep, and hopefully you’ve turned down the thermostat for the evening), wear socks to bed and thermal underwear under your nightgown or pajamas.
• Pamper your tootsies. Line your footwear with fleecy insoles. Lambswool socks work well, but don’t tuck your feet into layers of socks that feel tight – good circulation is important for warmth.
• Bundle up your home, too. Take steps to insulate your home. Use weather stripping around any leaky windows or doors. Invest in insulation for your attic and walls, if your budget allows. Have your furnace checked and change your furnace filters often.
• Let the sunshine in. Open curtains during sunny days to let sun in, then close them at night to keep cold air out. Insulating your curtains with an extra layer of fabric adds efficiency, too.
• Get a move on. Sitting still for long periods will make you cold. Get plenty of exercise. Take a walk outdoors when you can and move around indoors, too.
• Use a hot water bottle or heating pad in bed, or while sitting in a chair or couch. You can make your own non-electric pad by sewing long-grain rice, corn, or birdseed into a little case (or simply stuffing it into a tube sock). Heat the pad in the microwave for a minute or so, shake and place it under your feet, on your lap, or on your shoulders. (You can find detailed instructions for making these on many websites. You may want to make more than one!)

By the way, if you have an elderly friend or neighbor, make sure you check on them during the winter months to make sure that he or she is staying warm. Older people suffer strokes, heart attacks, respiratory problems and hyperthermia in the cold weather. Often times, one thoughtful, practical measure can make a big difference.

Grinnell Meets E-Community Challenges

Alliant Energy recently awarded Grinnell, Iowa, more than $270,000 for meeting community-wide energy conservation and efficiency challenges. Here are just a handful of the town’s exciting accomplishments: 582 rebates for installing energy-efficient equipment; over 300 residents attended special energy education events; over 130 inefficient, older appliances were recycled; a small wind turbine was obtained; and 36 residents signed up for Second Nature. Grinnell plans to use the money for bike trail expansion, park improvements, and the continuation of energy-efficient programs.

Second Nature Customer Spotlight

When one household participates in Second Nature at the 100 percent level, the annual carbon dioxide emission reduction is environmentally equivalent to planting more than two acres of trees or not driving a car over 21,400 miles. You can see why we like to recognize and celebrate participants. Let us know if you’d like to be in the spotlight in a future issue by contacting the editor via e-mail, phone, fax or mail.

Residential Customer: Dan Knickmeier, McFarland, Wis.

Dan Knickmeier has been a Second Nature customer since 2001 and just recently increased his participation to the 100 percent level. “I joined because I don’t have many energy choices and when they come along, it’s critical to support them because consumers drive what happens by their purchases,” Dan says. “Change is needed, and while it takes federal and state government involvement, nothing is going to happen without commitment at the consumer level.”

A customer service director for a schoolbook manufacturer and an avid water-skier, Dan lives in McFarland, Wis., with his wife, Tamara, where many of his lifestyle choices reflect his commitment. He composts, uses a solar lawn mower, and is a long-time member of numerous organizations that support the environment, such as The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, and Greenpeace. Dan also happily reports that his hybrid, a Toyota Prius, is now getting over 50 mpg!

Business Customer: TecMarket Works, Oregon, Wis.

TecMarket Works is a small firm located in Oregon, Wis., (shown at right) that specializes in energy efficiency and renewable energy program evaluation. Its owner, Nick Hall, has been in business for 28 years and has authored over 240 energy-related publications, including several for Wisconsin’s low-income energy programs, Focus on Energy and Wisconsin’s renewable energy and environmental research programs. His firm is currently leading the energy impact evaluations for California’s $2.5 billion energy efficiency portfolio.

Nick says he joined Second Nature because he understands the influence of electric energy generation on the environment, on the economy and on the operations of our political and social structure. He believes that the way we now use energy, particularly electric energy and transportation fuels, is changing our political, economic and environmental conditions on a global basis in unprecedented ways. TecMarket Works joined Second Nature because Nick wants to support Alliant Energy’s efforts and to send a signal that the utility is headed down the right path. Nick also wants to minimize the impact that the firm’s operation has on the environment and help boost Wisconsin’s renewable energy economy. He notes that his firm owns a super-efficient commercial building that houses his company and a retail store. His offices are constructed to standards that exceed those of Energy Star, with super-efficient windows, insulation, sidewalls, lighting, air conditioning and heating systems.

Welcome to the Second Nature Family

Here are some of the businesses in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin that recently joined the Second Nature family. Watch for names of new Second Nature businesses throughout our service territory in future issues!

Iowa

Adcraft Printing, Cedar Rapids

Adcraft Printwear, Clinton

Bill’s Foodland, Rolfe

Branding Iron, Thompson

Brockman Grocery, Ossian

Casa de Oro, Creston

Country Kitchen, Clinton

Dave’s Bar & Grill, Thornton

Dinsdale Elevator, Reinbeck

Donna’s Lounge, Meservey

Dooda’s Diner, Marshalltown

Everybit Computers, Creston

First State Bank, Thornton

First Trust & Savings Bank, Oxford

Front Street Market, Humeston

Glenn Restaurant, Manchester

Grand Mills, Inc., Dyersville

Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, Chariton

Hacienda Las Glorias, Cedar Rapids

Haman’s Collision Center, Williamsburg

Hawk Stop, Manchester

Headliner Salon and Boutique, Marshalltown

House of China, Dubuque

Kid’s Campus, Cedar Rapids

Lebeda Mattress Co., Cedar Rapids

Lightning Lanes, Manchester

Lindy’s Steak House & Lounge, Dickens

Mom’s Meals Ltd., Nevada

MSM Pizza Ranch, Peosta

Munyon Mini Mart, Kellerton

Musicians Pro Shop, Burlington

Robert W. Niedermayer, Mt. Vernon

Karen Lowman & Robin R. Paulson, Boone

Peterson Pharmacy, Marengo

Red Frog, Cedar Rapids

Sam Schmitt Enterprises, Alpha

Spirit of Dubuque, Inc., Dubuque

St. Benedict’s Church, Decorah

Station Street Gas & More, Chelsea

Stone’s Café, Marshalltown

Sundown Lounge, Williamsburg

Teet & Tobes, Keswick

The Whistle Stop Academy, Huxley

United Bank & Trust, Marshalltown

Vernon Inn, Cedar Rapids

Welsh & Welsh Mfg., Marion

West Dubuque Tap, Dubuque

Westside Radiator, Dubuque

Williams Manufacturing, Inc., Tama

Witte Ready Mix, De Witt

Minnesota

Amboy Cottage Café, Amboy

Cravings on Main, Winnebago

Jeffers Liquor Inc., Jeffers

Mapleview Estates, Fulda

P. J.’s Bar and Grill, Adams

Wisconsin

Haverland’s Bar, Potosi

Herring’s Lake Ripley Inn, Fort Atkinson

Hillcrest Manor, Beaver Dam

Hillcrest on Lake Wisconsin, Merrimac

Hillstop, Keshena

Hogs and Kisses, Lake Geneva

Horse in Around Saloon, Pittsville

Huckleberry’s Restaurant, Prairie du Chien

Hustle Stop, Hustler

International Bank, Amherst

J. Roger Miller & Associates, Inc., Sheboygan

Janesville Property Management, Janesville

Jen’s Alpine Café & Soup Kitchen, Baraboo

Kangaroo K’s LLC, Marion

KD’s Shortstop, Cottage Grove

Keg & Kettle, Lone Rock

Kieler Store, Inc., Dickeyville

Kiku of Tokyo, Sheboygan

Klinker’s Bar & Grill, Wittenberg

L&M Ice Cream & Bake Shop, Darlington

Larson Chevrolet Cadillac, Baraboo

Liberty Commons LLC, Deerfield

Liberty Laundromat, Beloit

Litehouse Café, Adams

Lube Pro’s, Janesville

Marion Recreation, Marion

Markesan State Bank, Markesan

Market Square Cheese & Gift, Lake Delton

Marty Joe Village Inn, South Wayne

McFarland’s Boar’s Nest Inn, Darien

Midstate Amusements LLC, Fond du Lac

Miles’ Fore & More, Lancaster

Monticello House, Inc., Monticello

Moore’s Resort, Packwaukee

National Exchange Bank, Howard’s Grove

Nauta Enterprises, Inc., Almond

New Christian Church of Full Endeavor Academy, Wisconsin Dells

Oak Side, Hazel Green

Oasis Family Restaurant, Fond du Lac

Parkview Terrace Apartments, Milton

Pedro’s Mexican Restaurant, Madison

Peg and Doc’s Sports Bar, Dane

Pete’s Market & Locker, Rudolph

Portage Family Restaurant, Portage

The Pub, Baraboo

Racing Collectibles, Janesville

Rogers Gifts & Gallery, Portage

Rosman Uehling Kinzer, Beloit

Scenic Bluff Equipment, Inc., Union Center

Sheboygan County Humane Society, Sheboygan

Product Content Label

View the Product Content Label for the Alliant Energy Second Nature Program.

Kids’ Project

Biogas in a Bag

Biomass is a way of using the energy in plants and animals. One way to harness this energy is by letting the plants (or manure or some garbage) rot and produce something called biogas. This energy can be used to heat homes, cook food, even run cars.
Make your own biogas: Supplies 4 zip-lock plastic bags (quart size) fruit, vegetables, plant leaves active dry yeast (the kind used for making bread) water
Directions: Have an adult help you cut up the fruits, vegetables, and leaves into big chunks. Put some fruit in one bag, vegetables in another, leaves in one, and a mixture of all three in another. Fill the bags full, but don’t pack them tightly. Add a pinch of yeast and a little water (about two tablespoons) to each bag. Push all of the air out of the bags and seal them shut. Store the bags in a warm place for a week or two and watch as they produce gas! Examine the bags each day for progress. Watch how the materials in the bags decompose. Do they break down at the same speed? Which decayed the most at the end of the two weeks? Which made the most biogas? (Hint: Look for the bag that is puffed up the most.)
True or False? – Energy Quiz Washing dishes by hand is more efficient than washing them in an automatic dishwasher. A crack as small as 1/16 inch around a window frame can let in as much air as a window that’s left open 3 inches. Dust on a light bulb can block the light. Three-quarters of the cost of an air conditioner is for the energy it takes to run it. The average car contributes more air pollution than the average home. If 10,000 schools turned off their lights for one minute, they would save almost $82,000. Electronics use an insignificant amount of energy when turned off but still plugged into the electrical outlet. If 25 percent of U.S. families used 10 fewer plastic bags per month, we would save over 2.5 billion bags each year. Answers: False. An automatic dishwasher uses an average of 6 gallons less water per cycle than washing by hand, for a total of over 2,000 gallons less per year per household. (Of course, the dishwasher should be full for maximum efficiency.) True. Get out the weather stripping! True. Heavy dust on a light bulb can block up to half of the light. True. Over the life of the air conditioner, only 1/4 of the total cost is for the purchase of the unit. False. The average home pollutes the air more than the average car does. True. Imagine if they turned classroom lights off during lunch and recess! False. These energy “vampires” use 5 percent of our domestic energy when turned off and left plugged in – to the tune of $8 billion in U.S. dollars annually. True. Consider toting your own canvas bag to the store when you head out for a shopping trip.