Planning for the Future has Different Roads:

• The Same Road — where the world continues much in the same direction it appears to be going now in regard to energy and environmental concerns around climate change.
• The Long Road — where the world undergoes a significant shift in the economic, geopolitical and energy centers of gravity.
• The Broken Road — where the world continues much in the direction of today, but is then hit by a severe event that overturns established systems and rules.
• The Fast Road — where reasoned decisions and investments about energy and climate risk are made early enough to make a difference.

Low Cost to No Cost Weatherization Solutions:

• Install a programmable thermostat to reduce energy use when you are away from home.
• Clean all dust and debris from your heating equipment. When filters are clogged; the equipment works harder and uses more energy.
• Replace old filters and fix leaking duct work for your home heating system.
• Check insulation levels in attics and crawl spaces. Fill leaks with foam insulation from your local hardware store. Replace damaged or missing insulation.
• Use foam pieces rated for high temperatures around your water heater and pipes. Insulation around pipes and water heaters prevents heat from escaping.
• When using electric heaters, shut doors to rooms you are not using and heat only the occupied rooms.
• Check for leaks around windows and doors. Use a lit incense stick to check around windows and doors for leaks. If the incense smoke is moved to a horizontal line, you are having conditioned warm air escape to the outside. Clear sealant product or plastic sheathing can solve window leaks. Install foam weather stripping around doors.
• To prevent pipes from freezing; remember to open the doors below sinks, this allows for a lower ambient temperature when you are away for the holidays.

Resources:

• East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation (ECKEN) provides a free or reduced weatherization program for qualified residents in Butler County. Call toll free: 1-888-833-0832.
• Westar installs free programmable thermostats through the WattSaver Program. The thermostats have a value of $300.00 and can save up to 20% on your home heating and cooling costs. Appointments can be made online or use the hotline: 1-888-753-6523.
• Home energy loans are available through the Kansas Energy Efficiency Program (KEEP) to qualified homeowners. Apply directly with the lender Sunflower Bank. For more information call: (785) 296-4818.

Links to Discover Your Regional Energy Mix

Have you ever wonder how “clean” your electricity is compared to the Nation in your region? Link: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/how-clean.html

South Central Kansas has a much higher Carbon Dioxide output due to the way electricity is primarily produced with coal. Also, much of the coal used for electric generation is shipped by rail to large coal fired generators. Railroad engines and trucks together release over 600,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 50,000 tons of particulate matter into the air every year in the process of hauling coal. Depending on the electricity provider for your service area; these figures will vary slightly. Coal production and consumption have many associated harmful effects on human and environmental health. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_the_coal_industry

EMISSIONS RATE COMPARISON

Significant reduction of energy consumption with careful use and investment into proven clean sources are two important tools for managing your organizations’ emissions output.

Link (s): http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy.asp

http://www.powerscorecard.org/reduce_energy.cfm

http://www.energysavers.gov/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf

http://ase.org/topics/saving-money-and-energy

The United States has significant coal reserves which makes this a cheap source of energy, for internal real costs.

Eliminating the external costs of this fuel often makes these costs appear to be low. Over the ages, coal has sparked significant geo-political and economic debate. Critics on both sides consider this a number one issue due to its importance for sustaining our way of life and because of the pollutants released from all parts of production, transport and burning of coal

Link: http://www.catf.us/resources/publications/files/Cradle_to_Grave.pdf

Link: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1993/12/the-true-cost-of-coal/4566/

Since the dawn of coal use; its impact has been felt through the ecological system. In the 13th century, coal fires were banned in London for, “being injurious to public health.” Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smog

For every debate, there are two-sides, some say coal is clean technology they are developing but, cannot afford right now:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_coal_technology

http://www.coal-is-clean.com/

Kansas has significant coal reserves. But the question still remains; how good is cheap and abundant?

Link: http://www.mcrcc.osmre.gov/MCR/States/Kansas.shtm

Media campaigns are big part of perception proponents do not overlook.

http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2014

Skelly Launches Green Club