By Sydney Ashby

Just like the character Two-Face in Batman, Josh Somes’ fate was decided by the toss of a coin. When he returned to Memphis after living in Kansas City, he and his wife, Deidre, had to decide which one of them was going to work on their rental properties and which one was going to get a “9-to-5” job. Josh lost – or many would say won – the toss, and as a result he began improving their rentals and scouting out new properties to purchase. That next purchase was 2053 Oliver, and along with it, they decided to not just restore the property but to pursue third party verification through Energy Star to ensure that the house would be as energy-efficient as possible.

Surprisingly, what led Josh to the CY neighborhood was an article about the Smallest User competition. “I’d read the online version of the Lamplighter while in Kansas City and was impressed by Cooper-Young’s desire to lower their energy consumption,” Josh said. “I knew this was the neighborhood to attempt this project.” So, he and Deidre began sustainSTUDIO and have labeled their first attempt “Project Ginkgo” after the ginkgo tree in the front yard. Josh hopes to have Project Ginkgo completed by 2012, the centennial of 2053 Oliver.

Challenges
Josh and Deidre have faced many challenges in the process to restore 2053 Oliver. But in order to stay focused and make decisions easier, they are always asking themselves, “How sustainable can we make it?” Specifically, they want to ensure that the house is as energy efficient as possible, and as a result, are seeking third party verification to make the house Energy Star qualified.

But Josh and Deidre are also intent on making sure the house retains as much of its original character as possible. For example, deciding whether or not to replace the windows or simply add on storm windows was extensively discussed. While replacement windows would be energy efficient, the trade off of getting rid of the originals was not worth it. Storm windows will still ensure proper insulation and energy conservation without compromising the uniqueness of the house. And although none of the four fireplaces will be functional as that would not allow the house to be Energy Star certified, Josh still decided to keep them for the sake of their aesthetic.

Converting the house from a duplex to a single-family design was another challenge. The question of energy efficiency had to be coupled with a design that reflected a 21^st century lifestyle. They decided on the 2-bedroom plan that mirrored the original plan of the house but made a big change with the design of the kitchen. Josh and Deidre decided to open it up quite a bit to reflect the tendency now for the kitchen to be more of a gathering place than it was when the house was originally built.

Perhaps the biggest challenge and the starting point for most major energy-conservation home projects came with the ‘envelope.’ The envelope includes the walls, crawl space, roof, and attic – anything that separates the interior of the house from the exterior environment. Josh had the plaster removed off the walls and sprayed in a layer of foam, then insulation covered by new drywall. This is a technique known as ‘flash and batt.’ The roof was completely stripped and re-laid, with roof vents and reflective sheathing added (you can learn more about this at their website: sustainstudio.com). According to Josh, “Once the envelope is determined, you have to look at all the different components that you will put back into the house, and you have to make sure you right size according to the improvements to the envelope including the addition of central heating and air.”

Reclaimed/Recycled
In an effort to use as much reclaimed and/or recycled material as possible, Josh has traveled as far as Holly Springs, MS an as close as across the street. Almost 40% of the hardwood floors are reclaimed from wood used in a home in Holly Springs. The guest bathroom sink was reclaimed from another homeowner in Cooper-Young who didn’t want scrappers to get it. The back eave tongue and groove on the newly re-build back wall of the house is repurposed paneling from inside the home. They have also taken several metal cabinets and doors from the home and dispersed them to neighbors in the Midtown area. In addition, all the woodwork, stains, and paint are chemical-free.

Josh has no idea if he’ll recoup the investment he has put into the house, especially considering the state of the current housing market. However, that hasn’t been his main concern. He says, “How can we really improve the house to a point where it is an asset to the neighborhood as opposed to just leaving it as is?” Josh considers this a litmus test to determine if he will continue restoring houses in this manner. He continues, “At what point do you say, I’m not going to tear down the exterior wall or I’m not going to use an Energy Star hot water heater that might come at a premium? So it comes down to what you are going to do to separate yourself to make your house appealing beyond just the aesthetic.”

Utility Mortgage
Utility mortgage is a phrase Josh coined to describe the state of many non-energy-efficient homes. He explains that someone could be paying a $500 utility bill, which could be almost as much as the mortgage. The Energy Star certification should have a positive impact in lowering the utility bill and is typically part of Josh and Deidre’s decision-making process in determining what features to install in the house. This is how they decide which components to install and which ones, while they might be appealing, will truly have an impact. Josh and Deidre have tried to help out future tenants making a conscience effort to bundle the hard decisions into the whole project, so that they’re not just selling one component, but instead an entire system.

Project History and Future
Josh loves to talk to anyone about what he’s doing. He is very open and has gotten to know his neighbors well as many will now come up to the house and ask him questions about what he is doing. While he and his wife are happy to speak informally to anyone with questions, they are planning on holding a showcase for people who are interested in learning more about updating their homes to be more energy efficient. Check their website in the coming weeks for the day and time (sustainstudio.com).

When asked how Josh got started doing this, he said, “I was in my mid-twenties and got tired of going through the motions, so I bought a fixer upper, along with a hammer and a Home Depot ‘How To’ book.” Josh and Deidre, who has a degree in interior design from UM, had just started dating, and Josh told her it would take him three months and $3,000 to restore the house and they could move in. “It didn’t quite work out that way,” he said, laughing. “It took quite a bit longer and quite a bit more money.” Adding to that, their neighbor was pressuring them to buy his house, which had failed inspection. Just to get him to quit asking, Josh offered a very low number. The neighbor cussed him and told him no. But then a week later, the neighbor called and said he’d take it. So, Josh and Deidre started work on a second house. Their third house was also a bit of an accident, but the trend led to Josh pursuing and obtaining a degree in architecture from the University of Kansas. After Josh’s father passed away, he and Deidre moved back to Memphis and as you already know, flipped a coin.

They feel good about what they’re doing now, as the houses they restore become true assets to neighborhoods they are in, and in the process, they are also able to employ people in an industry that has taken a sustained hard hit. They sincerely want to fix up houses to a point where they are truly desirable. They see it as a way to not only improve the neighborhood, but also to improve the city.

By Lillian Johnson

Memphis Light Gas & Water, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Memphis Public Library have teamed-up to offer two new programs to help Shelby County residents reduce energy consumption: Get EnergySmart @ Your Library and Kill-A-Watt Checkout.

Get EnergySmart @ Your Library is a two-hour workshop that imparts practical tips and offers hands-on instruction. Attendees leave Get EnergySmart sessions with a tote valued at $50 that includes gadgets and tools to complete simple do-it-yourself projects that will save money and energy.

For those wondering just how much it costs to run their home appliances, Kill-A-Watt Checkout will help identify electricity-gorging culprits. The Kill-A-Watt devices can be checked-out from area libraries with a valid library card. Determining consumption using Kill-A-Watt is easy. The electricity usage monitors plug into wall sockets. Plug an appliance into the monitor to assess energy usage. Each Kill-A-Watt is pre-programmed with MLGW rates. Knowing how much electricity it takes to operate an appliance can help residents manage electricity usage, potentially saving hundreds of dollars.

Both programs are free. However, registration is required for the Get EnergySmart workshops; call the presenting branch to reserve a space. For general information about Get EnergySmart or the Kill-A-Watt Checkout program, call 901-415-2700.

Get EnergySmart Workshop Dates
Tuesday, July 12, 10:30am – South Branch, 1929 S. Third – 901-946-8518
Tuesday, July 12, 3pm – Frayser Branch, 3712 Argonne – 901-357-4115
Tuesday, July 19, 10:30am – Hollywood Branch, 1530 N. Hollywood – 901-323-6201
Tuesday, August 9, 10:30am – Cordova Branch, 8457 Trinity Rd. – 901-754-8443
Tuesday, August 9, 3pm – Poplar White-Station Branch, 5094 Poplar Ave. – 901-682-1616
Tuesday, August 16, 3pm – Cornelia Crenshaw, 531 Vance – 901-525-1643

By Debbie Sowell
Cooper Young is still working hard for a win in the Smallest User Contest. This sculpture, located at the CYCA office at 2298 Young, is a prototype of the larger sculpture that will go to the winning community. We are still wanting to hear what you are doing to conserve energy for an array of prizes. Look to smallestuser.com for all the details.

By Bill Bullock
Most of us don’t give a lot of thought to what fuels power the energy using devices in our homes. It may not seem like it, but we actually have some energy fuel choices. Some options, such as lighting your house with natural gas, heating your home with electric resistance heat, or cooling your home with natural gas absorption cooling, have gone by the way side because of inefficiency and cost. There are some options, however, where the wise choice is not so clear cut. In these cases, to determine the best choice, it is important to understand what energy source is optimal for the desired outcome.
Except for a small percentage derived from solar, wind, or hydro power, the first step in generating electricity is generating heat. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) generates most of its heat by burning coal or developing a nuclear reaction. Steam is then created to drive a turbine that turns a generator. Generated electricity travels through the grid, across wires, to get to you.
Creating Heat
If you use an electric water heater in your home, this heat was originally created at a generating plant, converted to mechanical energy, then into electrical energy, transmitted over power lines, and then transformed to a lower voltage. In each stage there are losses, so that the amount of heat you get from a kilowatt-hour is a fraction of what is originally burned at the power plant.  If you have a natural gas water heater, you are generating heat and heating the water in one step. At current pricing it is more than twice as expensive in Memphis to operate a traditional electric water heater than a traditional gas water heater.
Therefore, if you are creating heat it makes more sense to burn a fuel (natural gas) at home than to use electricity generated far away to do the same thing. That is why most homes are heated by burning natural gas.
Moving Heat
An air conditioner moves heat. In the summertime we want to move heat from indoors to outdoors. Through the process of a hot, high-pressure refrigerant, we can actually move heat from a 70 degree house to the outside on a 90 degree day.
The same process in reverse can take heat from 40 degree outside air and move it to a 70 degree house. The device that does this is merely an air conditioner with a reversing valve or a heat pump. Heat pumps have been around for decades but did not gain a lot of traction in cold climates or where natural gas is readily available. Heat pumps put out colder air than a traditional gas furnace, and they do not deliver enough heat to a house when temperatures are colder than freezing. Heat pumps need an auxiliary heat source, and that source has traditionally been a very expensive electric resistance heat. This design did not lend itself well for energy conservation strategies involving thermostat set-backs.
In recent years heat pumps have become more efficient. Now you can get a hybrid variety that uses electricity to move heat when temperatures allow, and when auxiliary heat is needed, an efficient natural gas furnace kicks in. While capital costs are higher, operating costs are lower. You can also achieve a reasonable payback in many circumstances, especially if you already need to replace an air conditioner.
Wise Choices
If you have an electric water heater and you have natural gas available to your home, strongly consider switching to natural gas. You will need to hire a plumber to do piping and venting, but in virtually all cases where chimney work is not needed, there is a very reasonable return on investment. If you have an air conditioning system, you have the backbone for a heat pump installation. You’ve already got a ducted system and a gas furnace/blower unit. When it is time to replace your unit, go with high efficiency and strongly consider a heat pump. In whatever decision you are making, do your homework on what is available. Talk with neighbors to find reputable contractors and get several quotes for similar work. There is no better time to make these decisions, because they are harder to make after the water heater or air conditioner has stopped working.
Bill Bullock has been working in the energy field for over 25 years and is a long-time resident of Midtown. If you have questions regarding this information or energy use in general, contact him at bbullock@mlgw.org.

By Bill Bullock

The electricity network, all the way from generation to a customer’s meter, is similar to a highway system. If roads are built to handle all traffic smoothly during the few hours per week of rush hour then they are significantly over-built for the rest of the time. Often, there is a compromise in road building where there are bottlenecks and delays at times, but vehicles eventually get where they are going.

In distributing electricity, such compromise is not a good option. A bottle neck at any point in the process, whether a lack of generation or too small of a wire or transformer on a pole, can result in an outage. For this reason, infrastructure is built to handle peak load conditions.

Peak load conditions on an electric grid in the southeast US typically occur on hot summer weekday afternoons, between about 4 and 8 pm. During this time many businesses are still open, many residents are returning to their homes, and energy intensive air conditioning load is the most significant contributor to setting the peak. Power demand during those few hours per week can be significantly higher than demand for the rest of the week. There must be enough generation plants on line to handle that load, and even the least efficient and most costly plants must be operated to meet electricity demand at the peak.

Most electric consumers in Memphis are not aware of this because there is no residential time differentiated electric metering. The electric meters currently used act like odometers. They accurately measure usage over time and a meter reader reads them once per month. Monthly bills merely take the kilowatt-hours used during the month and multiply that number by an average rate. During peak periods, this average rate does not cover the actual cost of generation. During off peak periods, the average rate exceeds the actual cost of generation.

The industry is quickly moving towards giving customers information and price signals to encourage moving load off the peak. If you know you are paying a lot for electricity during a few hours of operation during system peaks, you may change your habits. Perhaps you would delay starting a dishwasher or electric clothes dryer. You may switch your pool pump off during that time. Perhaps you would even pre-cool your house so your air conditioner compressor would not come on very long during that period.

Activities like that, done by many people, will lower the cost of electricity. Fewer generation plants would need to be built, reducing capital expenditures. Additionally, the most inefficient plants would be used less, lowering operating costs.

However, turning things on and off, delaying start times, and other strategies for moving load off peak can be tough to accomplish. What if you forget? What if you are not home? When are the peak times?

This is where the Smart Grid comes into play. Smart Grid is a combination of equipment, communications, and processes that utilities use to provide enhanced operations. Under the umbrella of Smart Grid are smart meters, switches, monitors, analysis software, distribution system automation, demand response and communications equipment between the utility and customers. The basic concept of Smart Grid is to add monitoring, analysis, and communication capabilities to the national electrical delivery system to maximize its capabilities while simultaneously helping consumers to reduce their energy consumption.

A traffic engineer could lower road building costs if he could get commuters on a staggered schedule so they are not all on the road at the same time. Likewise, a utility system operator could lower electrical costs by mandating when you can turn on appliances. Neither will occur, but on the electric side, the Smart Grid will be able to give customers knowledge and tools to shape their load and save energy and money if they choose. Many people making small adjustments can have significant impact.

For example, if every household in the Tennessee Valley was able to shed the equivalent of two 100 watt light bulbs at system peak, this would eliminate the need for a generation facility the size of the Allen Generating Plant in Memphis. That is significant!

In addition to reducing the costs associated with generating electricity, the Smart Grid would allow MLGW to reduce its operating expenses. Meter readers will become a thing of the past, reducing staff. Additionally, misread or estimated meters would be virtually eliminated, reducing the need to staff for issues caused by those circumstances. MLGW would immediately know when a house or business has suffered a power outage, reducing the need for troubleshooting. Utility theft, an issue larger than most realize, would be much easier to prevent and catch because when meters are removed, MLGW would know it immediately.

It will be a while before all of Memphis is on the Smart Grid. In the mean time, however, know that your personal choices have an impact not only on how much electricity you consume, but on the cost to generate and distribute that electricity as well.

Log on to mlgw.com and click on “Smart Grid” for answers to frequently asked questions and MLGW’s progress on this topic. Go to “In Home Evaluation Program” to learn of MLGW/TVA incentives for making energy improvements and investments. Look at “Energy Tax Incentives” to see how some of these improvements qualify for Federal Tax Credits. Use “My Account” to track your energy use, get energy conservation tips, view and pay your bill, or sign up for paperless billing.

Bill Bullock has been working in the energy field for over 25 years, and is a long-time resident of Midtown Memphis. If you have questions regarding this information or energy use in general, contact him at bbullock@mlgw.org.

By Bill Bullock

This is the third in a series of articles on energy use and practical information to help a resident of Memphis make wise decisions regarding ways to lower energy consumption and overall utility costs.

In midtown, most of our homes were built before modern air conditioning was available. Many homes incorporated design features such as tall ceilings, large double-hung windows, opening transoms, sleeping porches, ceiling fans, and whole house fans. Many also had shading features such as porches and awnings, especially on the east and west sides of the house.

With the advent of air conditioning, many of those features are no longer utilized. However, home designers in the first half of the last century knew a lot about trying to keep cool. They knew that hot air rises, that moving air feels a lot cooler than still air, and that heat gain through windows is a significant contributor to the inside temperature. We can benefit from that knowledge as we attempt to reduce the amount of energy we use to stay comfortable.

Most of us tend to associate comfort solely with temperature. But in the summer, another key factor to comfort is humidity. Our air conditioners not only remove heat, but they also remove moisture from the air, as well. They are cooling and dehumidifying.

Have you ever awakened at 3 am with your thermostat still at the temperature that was comfortable when you went to bed, but now you are warm and clammy? If you’ve ruled out menopause, this is a result of the humidity rising through the night. The air conditioner got the temperature down, but the humidity crept up during the night. The temperature is the same, but you are not comfortable. This phenomenon is captured in psychrometrics—the study of the thermodynamic properties of moist air.

As an example, people are more comfortable at 78 degrees with 45% humidity than they are at 76 degrees with 55% humidity. From a geek’s standpoint, this is because there is more energy (enthalpy) in the more humid air. From a real person’s standpoint, this is because we are cooled when perspiration evaporates from our skin. And this is a key reason to have a properly sized air-conditioning unit. Larger units use more energy when on, but run less often. Smaller units use less energy when on, but run longer to get the temperature down to the thermostat setting. As long as the unit is running, air is being dehumidified. A properly sized air conditioner dehumidifies more than an oversized unit, and, therefore, you can be comfortable at a higher temperature.

You are also just as comfortable with moving air at several degrees warmer than if the air is not moving. This, again, has to do with the ability of moving air to allow more perspiration to evaporate from our skin.

The geeks will tell you that heat gets into your home in the summer through conduction, convection, and radiation. You already know this because you know that heat can come in through cracks around doors, through the ceiling from a hot attic, and through a west-facing window.

The last scientific fact we’ll cover is that the conduction of heat through a wall or ceiling is directly proportional to the difference in temperature between the two areas. So, if you can lower the temperature of your attic or raise your thermostat, you will save energy.

So, armed with a thorough understanding of psychrometrics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer, here are some specific tips you can use to stay cool using less energy.

Move the air – When you are home, use fans. They will allow you to be comfortable at a higher temperature. Ceiling fans don’t cool at all, so turn them off when you are out of the room for any length of time. In shoulder months, consider opening windows and/or using a whole-house fan when temperatures are cooler at night.

Attic – Make sure all attic vents are open in summer. If your house is not surrounded by shade trees, consider adding a radiant barrier to the underside of your roof rafters. Have as much insulation in the floor of your attic as possible. If you have AC ducts in the attic, seal all joints and seams with mastic, and make sure the ducts are wrapped well with insulation. If you have a whole-house fan, make sure it is closed and sealed from the interior when not being used.

Windows – Consider trees, awnings, and solar screens to block sunlight from entering east- and west-facing windows. If the weather stripping is in poor condition around windows and doors, have it replaced, and you will reap even more benefit in the winter.

“Off” – The geeks can calculate that it uses less energy to cool a hot house than to keep that same house cool all day. Use a programmable thermostat and utilize the automatic setback features. Remember, the most cost-effective thermostat setting is “off.” So get close to that as often as you can.

Summer heaters – When cooking, use the vent hood to remove excess heat and humidity. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs). These have gotten better each year, and many brands offer instant-on, good-color rendering, and a long life while cutting energy use (and heat generation) by about two-thirds. Keep big electronics in off mode instead of standby—many use a good bit of energy (and generate heat) when in standby mode.

Maintenance – When the air-conditioning filter gets dirty, replace it. Check the outdoor condenser coil routinely, and clean it when obviously dirty and at least annually. Many can be cleaned with a hose from the outside. Some require an experienced technician to clean from the inside out. If in doubt, watch your technician. Avoid damaging the cooling fins.

Replacing your unit? – Choose a system with a very high efficiency. Minimum code is now a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 13. Go with SEER 16 or better. Require your contractor to perform a heat loss/heat gain survey and get a properly sized unit. Avoid the tendency to oversize. Consider purchasing a dual-fuel heat pump that operates as an air conditioner in reverse in the winter, with natural gas as the auxiliary fuel. Demand that your ducts be sealed with mastic and be fully insulated.

Log on to mlgw.com and click on “In Home Evaluation Program” to learn of MLGW/TVA incentives for making energy improvements and investments. Look at “Energy Tax Incentives” so see how some of these improvements qualify for Federal Tax Credits. Use “My Account” to track your energy use, get energy conservation tips, view and pay your bill, or sign up for paperless billing.

Bill Bullock has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, has been working in the energy field for over 25 years, and is a long-time resident of Midtown Memphis. If you have questions regarding this information or energy use in general, contact him at bbullock@mlgw.org.

By Amy Dunbar

Green is everywhere. From bumper stickers, to logos on t-shirts, Cooper-Young is busting with shades of green. These shades are not the colors found in a crayon box or the colors of the trees and bushes. Rather, they are shades of attitude regarding energy conservation.

I recently completed research, which was done in cooperation with the University of Memphis and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water, for my Master’s thesis. This research revealed five distinct attitudes regarding energy conservation, which will be used as part of the Smallest User Energy Conservation Contest. As noted in previous articles, this contest pits Cooper-Young against Evergreen in a race to use less energy.

According to my research, the apathetic, the cynical, the entitled, the prudent, and the optimist are five attitudes that individuals in Cooper-Young community have regarding energy conservation.

The optimist

One participant noted, “I worry about the future and how the environment will impact my children. That is why recycling is important.”

Individuals with this dominant opinion currently recycle and conserve energy. They also tend to be optimistic about their role in improving the environment.

The prudent

Another participant said, “I am on a tight budget, so my motivation for conserving energy is saving money. If I have to spend more money to conserve, I won’t do it.”

These participants show a high level of economic concern, which dictates their green actions. Being prudent with resources supersedes energy upgrades, which means they are less likely to replace appliances that work for ones that are energy efficient.

The entitled

Conversely, those participants grouped in the entitled category felt that comfort is more important than anything else. Money is not an issue. Yet, these individuals demonstrate a competitive nature, which may motivate them to participate in the contest.

“I work hard and make a good living. Therefore, I should be provided with as many utilities as I am willing to pay for,” one participant said.

The cynical

Believing “I can’t make a difference, so why bother,” this group is less likely to go green than the previous three groups.

In spite of this, though, these participants display a high concern for the opinion of others and are likely to act green in order to appear to be doing the right or cool thing.

The apathetic

This final group is flippant and nonchalant about green issues. Although they are aware of a need to conserve, they do not want to make the changes needed to do so. Rather than money or comfort, these individuals are most concerned about time.

“I don’t have the time to go green,” said one participant. “There are more important things for me to be worried about.”

Blending the shades

Due to the extreme of these attitudes, the Smallest User Energy Conservation Contest will create specific messages for each group. Although that means there will be multiple green messages floating around, the goal is to blend the five shades of attitude producing similar green behaviors within both neighborhoods.

Amy Dunbar will receive a Master’s of Journalism from the University of Memphis this month. Participants of this research project were guaranteed anonymity by the University of Memphis Institutional Review Board. For more information about her thesis or this research, please contact her at adunbar@memphis.edu.

By Bill Bullock

This is the second in a series of articles on energy use and practical information to help a resident of Memphis make wise decisions regarding ways to lower energy consumption and overall utility costs.

Last month’s article discussed how to reduce energy usage and save money when it comes to heating your home. This month’s focus is on cooking, cleaning, and water use.

Water Heating

Most of us heat our water with a natural gas–fired tank unit. If you are using electricity for this, you are spending about twice as much as the rest of us to heat water. Some of the energy used to heat the water is lost through the tank wall (standby losses), so more efficient units have not only more efficient combustion, but thicker insulation. Considering an “on-demand” model? While this will eliminate standby losses, it is not necessarily a wise decision for most of us due to water flow issues and natural gas and water infrastructure costs. See life cycle costing of water heaters at: aceee.org/consumerguide/waterheating.htm#fuelsize. Tip: Reduce the temperature to around 120 degrees or lower—the lower the temperature, the lower the standby losses. Additionally, turn it to vacation setting when away from the house for several days (mark the previous setting with a marker so you can return to your optimal temperature when you get home). If you have to mix in much cold water when you are taking a shower, it’s probably too hot. If you have an electric water heater, plan to convert it to natural gas. When your water heater fails, you are often more focused on quick repair than energy efficiency. Do some homework now so you know what model to get. For most of us, choose either a high efficiency gas storage unit or a natural gas condensing unit 
(if you can find one).

Clothes Washing

Most of the energy used in washing clothes is not from the washing machine, but it is the energy used to heat the water and dry the clothes. But don’t discount the efficiency of a washing machine. More efficient models use less water to wash, and they remove more water in the spin cycle. Tip: Use cold water whenever you can. When replacing a washing machine, consider front loaders that typically use less water and do a better job of removing water. Use a solar clothes dryer (aka, clothesline) when feasible.

Cooking

While cooking uses a lot of energy to create heat, burners and ovens are usually on for such a short time that they are generally not contributing significantly to most of our utility bills. Tip: In summer, reduce the load on your air conditioner and use the vent hood to exhaust hot air from over your stove. In winter, use the hood less and take advantage of the heat, humidity, and aroma. Consider using timers to automatically shut off the oven or at least remind you it’s on. This can save some energy, salvage a pot roast, and give more life to your smoke detector batteries.

Dishwashing

Like clothes washing, the energy here is not so much the appliance itself but the energy used to heat water. When washing or rinsing in the sink, don’t let the water run. Put some water in the sink and wash, then rinse. If you use a dishwasher, run it only with full loads. Use water sparingly to rinse dishes before you load the dishwasher. Forego rinsing and see how good a job it does without—you may be surprised.

Water Use

Other activities that use water include bathrooms and irrigation. Modern toilets use a fraction of the water old ones use, and there are models that do well with one flush. If your toilet leaks (you can usually hear this), you are sending water and money down the drain. If it takes a long time for hot water to get to your shower or sink when you first call for it, you are likely wasting a lot of water. Summertime irrigation of lawns and trees can account for a lot of our annual water use. And when you use water, you are also charged a sewer fee that is proportional to use. Tip: Collect the water running when waiting for the hot water to get there and use it for something else like watering plants or pets. If your toilet is leaking, fix it. Often the culprit is a leaking flapper that you can replace yourself. Fix leaky faucets as well, especially hot water drips. Install low-flow showerheads, and even consider the Navy shower: turn the water on and after you get wet, turn it off until ready to rinse. In your yard, as you add plants, choose drought-tolerant varieties. Keep track of rainfall, and only water when necessary.

Log on to mlgw.com and click on “In Home Evaluation Program” to learn of MLGW/TVA incentives for making energy improvements and investments. Look at “Energy Tax Incentives” to see how some of these improvements qualify for Federal Tax Credits. Use “My Account” to track your energy use, get energy conservation tips, view and pay your bill, or sign up for paperless billing.

Bill Bullock has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, has been working in the energy field for over 25 years, and is a long-time resident of midtown Memphis. If you have questions regarding this information or energy use in general, contact him at bbullock@mlgw.org.

I’ll just be forthright and say that I am not happy with the fact that Cooper Young is losing The Smallest User competition. Well, let me clarify. It’s not so much the losing that I have a problem with; it is the fact that it isn’t even a competition thus far.  Cooper Young has never failed to rise to a challenge or back down from pursuing a good project. Cooper Young was one of the first neighborhoods to push the city for bikes lanes (which is about to be put in place). We also hold one of the best festivals in the Southeast each year, are home to many of the Project Green Fork businesses and a new Farmer’s Market is about to open up because of our encouragement. So, to say that this is not a neighborhood that can get things done when we put our mind to it is to turn a blind eye to the dedication and motivation of its residents.

Based on January’s readings, Cooper Young has used 6% MORE energy than we did last year. Ok, so it’s cold…really cold…ok, like snow cold.  I get it.  I’m a cold-natured person and this winter has really not been fun. I have had to combat the urge to crank up the heat and try to find the little cracks where that darn cold air is coming in (and we have an old house – there’s several!).

So, I hate to burst your bubble, but when Evergreen’s readings were taken, they have used 3% LESS than last year. Yes, their homes may be better insulated or their furnace more efficient, but according to Tom Chamberlain with MLGW, the readings were adjusted because of the severe cold, so that can’t explain it all.

This community is awesome because we think outside the box, to use a cliché. If there is something that we put our mind to, we never fail to find a way to get it done.  That’s all that I am asking for now. Do I want to win this competition?  Yes!  But, honestly what I want most is for people to start paying attention to what this competition means. It means that there is a new and progressive green program in the form of a competition that is being tested in Memphis. MLGW, and our own Cooper-Younger Sutton Mora Hayes, took the time to pursue and apply for a grant to do this competition, with the hope that if it went well they may show its results to the rest of Tennessee. That is no small task, and we should consider it an honor to be allowed to take part in this initial competition. The fact that only about 20 folks from Cooper Young showed up at the Smallest User meeting at First Congo a couple of weeks ago is honestly disappointing. The Evergreen neighborhood had around 150 show up at their community meeting the next day. For those of you that complain about Memphis and its sad #3 Forbes rating, it is programs like this that could potentially change how this city is viewed.

And one thing that I almost neglected to mention – the money in your pocket. So, think about it this way: A) The more energy you save, the lower your MLGW bill will be. B) Ok, so the lower your MLGW bill is, the more money you have in your pocket. C) With more money in your pocket, you can spend on things like the movies, the Farmer’s Market, or an extra drink and dinner at the local restaurants that you enjoy versus paying that amount in your power bill. All this = one BIG win on the individual level!

So, at the risk of sounding like my mother, I ask that you all just do the little things and that Cooper Young take an active part in this competition – turn off your TV when you aren’t watching it, use energy-efficient bulbs, install insulation, etc. This is our community, our city, and we should respect and take pride in that. If we lose this competition, then I want to do it knowing that we gave it our best shot.

By Scout Anglin and Sutton Mora Hayes

About 30 people turned out at First Congregational Church on January 27th for the launch of The Smallest User campaign to reduce energy consumption in the neighborhood. The Smallest User is a partnership between Cooper-Young Development Corporation (CYDC), the Evergreen Historic District Association, MLGW, and The University of Memphis.

During the launch party, Tom Chamberlain with MLGW reviewed the literally dozens of programs that they have available to homeowners to help reduce their energy consumption and make their homes more energy efficient. You can visit The Smallest User Facebook page to learn more about these programs.

Tom also revealed that, as of the end of January, Cooper-Young is LOSING to the Evergreen neighborhood. Our energy usage (as compared with January 2008) went up about 6%, and Evergreen’s usage went down by about 3%. We can do better!

So, in an effort to try to get Cooper-Young back on top, here are a few tips to stay warm and save money on your bill during the winter.

•   Set your thermostat at 68° or lower when you’re home. Every degree below 68° saves four percent on your heating bills.

•   Wear layered clothing and thick socks to keep warm, then set your thermostat even lower.

•   At bedtime, lower your thermostat and add extra blankets.

•   Lower or turn off your thermostat when leaving your home for four hours or more.

•   Close garage doors, cover foundation vents, and close off vents and doors to seldom-used rooms.

•   Keep curtains and blinds closed at night and on cloudy days; open curtains on sunny days for warmth.

•   Place rolled-up towels inside against the bottom of exterior doors and window sills to block wintry drafts.

•   Adjust your water heater temperature to 120° or “warm.” It still provides hot water and avoids scalding. You can lower it when not in use, too.

You can save you more on your bill with these low-cost efforts.

•   Buy a programmable thermostat and program in lower temps when needed.

•   Make sure central heating air filters are replaced every 30-90 days.

•   Caulk cracks around windows and doors.

•   Install storm windows and doors.

•   Add more insulation in your attic.

•   Install a new energy-efficient furnace or water heater with Energy Star endorsement.

Sign up for our email list by sending your information to sutton_cydc@bellsouth.net to get more tips and keep up to date with the program. The energy tips are courtesy of MLGW.