IDAHO POWER
Feel the energy of Idaho Power as you boot up your computer, recharge your cell phone, or do a load of laundry. Eagle residents can save on their energy bill this winter with some tips from Idaho Power.“ The first step to saving at home is to understand how and when you use electricity,” said Blake Watson, Idaho Power Community Relations Representative, who has lived in Eagle since 1992 and worked for Idaho Power for 33 years.“ Registering for myAccount at idahopower. com and checking your use regularly is an easy way to begin.” According to Watson, the next step might be a professional inhome energy audit( available for a reduced fee). An audit will provide recommendations for increasing energy savings, and suggestions for various energy efficiency improvements, such as energy saving light bulbs provided at no additional cost. The items installed during the audit can reduce an average home’ s energy use by up to 5 percent. A typical residential customer uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours( kWh) per month on average. You may be able to save up to 600 kWh per year depending on the condition of your home and the number of improvements installed.
Idaho Power has a few tips for energy efficiency during the winter months. Open the curtains and blinds on sunny days to let the sun warm your home. Close curtains and blinds at night to trap heat inside. Look for air leaks around windows and doors. Caulk windows and add weather stripping to doors and seal other leaks to reduce drafts and keep the warm air inside your home. You may want to check your duct system and all joints for air leaks— or have a professional do it. If you choose to repair duct leaks yourself, use duct mastic, not duct tape. Vacuum registers, baseboard heaters and furnace air returns to remove any dust that might be blocking airflow and reducing the effectiveness of your system. Clean or replace your furnace filter. Have a professional service your heating equipment.
Set your thermostat at 68 degrees when you are home and 55 degrees when you go to sleep or leave the house for extended periods. Remember, though, that it’ s best to choose a moderate setting and limit setbacks to 2-3 degrees if you have a heat pump. For each degree you turn down the thermostat in the winter, you’ ll save approximately three to five percent on your heating costs. idahopower. com
PROJECT FILTER
COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO
Quitting smoking is an excellent way to protect your health as well as those you come into contact with. Project Filter works to educate the public about the resources available to help individuals quit using tobacco. Project Filter’ s website notes that smoking kills more people in Idaho than alcohol, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined. About 4 people die from smoking-related diseases every day. About 10 % of Idaho high school students smoke, 61,000 children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home and 30,200 youth are projected to ultimately die from smoking. Those you love and work with are affected by smoking. People who live with a smoker have a 20 % greater risk of developing lung cancer than those who live with a nonsmoker. Employees exposed to secondhand smoke on the job have a 30 % greater risk of getting lung cancer than employees who work in a non-smoking environment. Project Filter’ s website states that“ Infants and children of parents who smoke are more likely to have ear infections and asthma and have more frequent lower respiratory problems such as coughs, pneumonia, bronchitis, and croup. Smoking can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease, both of which are also linked to heart disease.” If your goal is to stop smoking, Project Filter can help. Projectfilter. org
They say that knowledge is power and what better place to expand your skills than at the College of Western Idaho. CWI is a public, open access, and comprehensive community college committed to providing affordable access to quality teaching and learning opportunities to residents in western Idaho. Boise was the last metropolitan area in the U. S. to have a community college. In March 2007, the Idaho Legislature appropriated funds for the college and in May voters in Canyon and Ada counties voted to form a community college district. Programs available include business, liberal arts, law enforcement, welding, electrical apprentice, nursing and paramedic training, web development, and much more. CWI also offers college credit for high school students, GED preparation courses, and basic skills education. cwidaho. cc
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