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Currents NEWS - LEGISLATION - TRENDS - RESEARCHNew home financing for Illinoisveterans, military familiesIn December, Illinois launched the Welcome Home Heroes programto promote homeownership for Illinois veterans, active military personnel,reservists and Illinois National Guard members.Welcome Home Heroes is open to all qualified Illinois veterans. Activemilitary personnel, reservists and Illinois National Guard members must befirst-time buyers. The financing package includes a forgivable 10,000 grant fordown-payment and closing cost assistance, an affordable interest rate (4 percentat this time) for a secure 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, and a mortgage credit certificate worth up to approximately 20,000 for the life of the loan.The program builds on the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s existingaffordable home loan program, SmartMove, also available through IHDA’slenders. Income thresholds and purchase price limits apply. Administered by theIHDA, the package applies to 1-2 unit residential properties that are located inthe State of Illinois and are purchased as a primary residence.For more information contact a lender in your area. Application is free. A listof lenders is available at www.ihda.org/homeowner/heroes.htm.Illinois hunting and fishing licenses available onlineIllinois fishing, hunting and sportsman combinationlicenses for 2012 are available now from the IllinoisDepartment of Natural Resources Direct license andpermit vendors, online through the IDNR websitewww.dnr.illinois.gov or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT(1-888-673-7648). The 2012 licenses are valid throughMarch 31, 2013 unless other wise noted.Energy auditors help pinpoint savingsFor the most part, companies offering energy audits are reputable andlegitimate and will help you both save money and reduce your carbon footprint if you follow their advice in regard to upgrades. Your local electriccooperative or heating and air conditioning contractor are a good place tostart for advice on energy auditing services in your area.The DOE’s energysavers.gov website has guidelines to help homeownersconduct their own do-it-yourself home energy assessments. For instance,DOE recommends that homeowners make a list of obvious air leaks. Thepotential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home can be as high as30 percent per year.You should also check filters on heating and cooling equipment to see ifthey need to be changed. And if these or other appliances are over 15 yearsold consider replacing them with newer models that meet federal EnergyStarefficiency criteria. Also, swapping out older incandescent bulbs in light fixtureswith higher efficiency compact fluorescents is an easy do-it-yourself project.A professional energy auditor with dedicated assessment tools and theknowledge of how to use them will carry out a more comprehensive assessment than you can do yourself.For more information go to DOE Energy Savers, www.energysavers.gov;EnergyStar, www.energystar.gov.6 Illinois Country Living www.icl.coopEnergy Auditors can help you save moneyand reduce your carbon footprint if youfollow their advice. One area an energyauditor will inspect is your hot water heater.

CurrentsAnswers sought about impactof EPAs power sector rulesLeaders of the HouseEnergy and CommerceCommittee continue seekinganswers from administrationofficials about the potentialimpacts of EPA’s power sectorrules, sending a pair of lettersexploring how the rules could affect energy security and reliability of theelectric grid and other critical infrastructure.In a letter to Secretary Napolitano, members expressed specific concernsthat EPA’s power sector rules, including the Cross-State Air PollutionRule and Utility MACT rule, could adversely affect our nation’s CriticalInfrastructure and Key Resources.The letter references a recent report, based on EPA modeling and powerplant retirement announcements, showing at least 28 GW of generatingcapacity will close as a result of EPA’s new regulations.FERC chairpraises electricco-opsWhen it comes to energy efficiency,electric co-ops should “keep doingwhat you’re doing, and do more of it,”according to Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff.The FERC chief called for continuedefforts to assist consumers in accessinginformation about energy efficiency, aswell as low-cost financing to incorporatesuch efficiency into homes and businesses.These efforts will benefit co-ops aswell, increasing the sector’s viability and“making more consumers want to be partof a co-op,” the FERC chief emphasizedduring a recent interview.Lighting upgrades provide quick room makeoverEver wonder how designers makethe rooms you see in magazines oron decorating shows look so good? Itdoesn’t always depend on paint colorsor fabric choices. From fresh and airy,to intimate and cozy - and everythingin between - lighting sets the toneof a room and should be an integralpart of its design and layout. And youcan make dramatic changes by doingsomething as easy as switching out alight bulb.Not only does a good lighting planmake a room more inviting, it alsomakes it more functional. To createa good lighting plan, you’ll need different kinds of light:Ambient - Provides overallillumination and a comfortable levelof brightness, allowing people to seeand move around safely and easily.Task - Helps you perform a specificactivity, such as reading or playinggames, by concentrating light in aparticular place.Accent - Sets the mood and highlights certain areas and objects, suchas paintings, walls and collectibles.Decorative - Fixtures become anelement of the space themselves,such as chandeliers or pendants.The type of light bulbs you usematter as well. Due to the EISA Actof 2007, traditional incandescent lightbulbs will eventually be phased out;however there are several energyefficient options, ranging from CFLsto halogen or LED light bulbs.For more lighting tips and information about energy-efficient bulbs,visit www.SYLVANIA.com orwww.youtube.com/sylvanialight.Illinois Country Living February 2012 7

Currents NEWS - LEGISLATION - TRENDS - RESEARCHNew DOE Fuel EconomyGuide says one car gets112 mpg on averageDOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) released the 2012 Fuel Economy Guide in November.While fuel-efficient vehicles come in a variety of fuel types,classes, and sizes, many new advanced technology vehiclesdebut on this year’s annual list of top fuel economy performers.The 2012 all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV topped this list,after a conversion from gas-to-electric was factored in to giveit a 112 mpg average.Some 2012 models will be voluntarily displaying new fueleconomy and environment labels that provide consumers withmore comprehensive fuel efficiency information, includingfive-year fuel costs or savings compared to the average vehicle,as well as new greenhouse gas and smog ratings. These labelsare will be required in model year 2013.The mpg rankings are available online at www.fueleconomy.gov. The online version of the guide allows consumers to inputtheir local gasoline prices and typical driving habits to receivepersonalized fuel cost estimates.increases pricesIt now will cost a penny more to mail letters inthe U.S. The new 45-cent price for Forever stamps isone of the changes filed with the Postal RegulatoryCommission (PRC) back in October.Effective Jan. 22, 2012, prices are as follows: Letters (1 oz.): 1-cent increase to 45 cents Letters additional ounces: unchanged at 20 cents Postcards: 3-cent increase to 32 cents Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.): 5-centincrease to 85 cents Letters to other international destinations: 7-centincrease to 1.05Prices also will change for other mailing services,including Standard Mail, Periodicals, PackageServices and Extra Services. While actual percentageprice increases vary, the overall average price increaseacross all mailing services is capped by law at the rateof inflation calculated based on the Consumer PriceIndex. The cap for this increase is 2.1 percent.Finally a thermostat that programs itselfNest Labs has announced that it has created the NestLearning ThermostatTM. Nest learns from your behaviors,preferences and surroundings to create a custom heatingand cooling schedule, keeping you comfortablertablewhen you’re home and conserving energy whenenyou’re away.“It was unacceptable to me that thedevice that controls 10 percent of all energyconsumed in the U.S. hadn’t kept up withadvancements in technology and design,”said Tony Fadell, co-founder and chiefexecutive officer of Nest Labs. “Togetherwith the team, Co-Founder Matt Rogersand I set out to reinvent the thermostatusing advanced technologies, high-qualitytymanufacturing processes and the thoughtfulhtfuldesign elements the iPhone generation has come toexpect. We hope it will not only save money and energy,but that it will teach and inspire people to think moreabout how they can reduce home-energy consumption.”According to the U.S. Department of Energy andLawrence Berkeley National Lab, the annual energy bill fora typical single-family home is approximately 2,200, withheating and cooling (HVAC) accounting for approximately8 Illinois Country Living www.icl.coophalf of the bill. The programmable thermostat, developed inthe 1970s, promised to help people conserve energy, but 89percent of owners rarely or never set a program.The NestN Learning Thermostat addressesprogramming problem through a comthe prbination of sensors, algorithms, machinebillearning and cloud computing. Nestprograms itself based on the temperatures you set. Nest then learnsyour personal schedule in a week andstarts automatically turning downheating or cooling when you’re away tosaveenergy. The Auto-AwayTM featuresusesus sensors to detect when you’re nothome,hom lowering the temperature and savingenergy.Nest to your home’s Wi-Fi toYou can connectcocontrol it from your laptop, smartphone or tablet. Changethe temperature, adjust your schedule and check yourenergy usage.The Nest Learning Thermostat is expected to beavailable at www.nest.com and retail outlets for a suggestedretail price of 249.

Photo courtesy of the Association of Missouri Electric CooperativesWe’re on our way!Let’s say a dangerous winter storm hit last night. The entire area is glazed with an inch of ice andfalling trees have taken out your power lines. Your co-op’s employees haven’t slept and they maynot for days. They’ve arranged for help from other co-ops, are communicating power restorationupdates and are risking their lives to makes yours more comfortable and safe.So, next time a storm hits, be patient and understand that we’re on our way. You, our members,are our most important priority and we’re here for you.For information about storm safety and back-up generators, contact your local TouchstoneEnergy cooperative.Illinois Country Living February 2012 9

Connecting rural IllinoisHow one family’s access to broadband betters their livesby Edward VanHooseNorris Electric Cooperativemembers Karen and ShermanNewlin of Hutsonville havetwo children, Kaleigh and Trenton.Like most Illinoisans they spenda great deal of time utilizing theInternet to augment their dailyactivities. From school research toconducting business transactions, theirbroadband connection allows themto do things that rural families justone generation ago would never havedreamed of doing.Sherman is a farmer, but he isalso a commodity broker with RiskManagement Commodities, Inc.Having high-speed access to theInternet has had a great impact on hislife.“We had dial-up at first, and I justwasn’t able to do the things I neededto do,” says Sherman. “When eitherKaren or I were on the computer, thephone line would be tied up. Thatmeant we had to purchase extra phonelines so we could use both at once.I had to call around for quite awhileto even find a broadband offering.Eventually, I found out that Joink wasoffering wireless service in our area.”The problem facing many residentsin rural areas is there simply isn’t abroadband service provider available,or if there is, residents just aren’t surewhere they can get access.That’s where an organization calledBroadband Illinois comes in.Broadband Illinois is a non-profitorganization with a mission to increaseInternet access and adoption inIllinois. The organization’s free websitecan help you find an Internet providerin your area. Go towww.broadbandillinois.org and typeyour address in the white box to pullup a list of potential Internet providers. (Note that its address searchdoes not list information on satelliteproviders.)It may sound silly to suggest to10 Illinois Country Living www.icl.coopsomeone that’s looking for an Internetconnection to visit a website, but keepin mind that many local libraries andschools have access available. Librariesare morphing into the “broadbandhubs” for rural Illinois.After finding Internet providernames, you can then check your localphone book or go to www.google.com to find contact information.Check with your neighbors as wellto see what providers are available inyour area. There are several things toconsider — availability, cost, speed,reliability, download limits/caps andtechnical support.The Newlins definitely had to consider all of those things when theywere looking into speeding up theirconnection.Karen is a business analyst for ahealth insurance company that licensesand appoints brokers. Her companyconverted from a mainframe systemto vendor-supported offices in Green

Broadband Internet allows Karen (far left) andSherman (center) to work from home instead ofcommuting to traditional offices.Bay, Lawrenceville and elsewhere.Before the Newlin’s upgraded theiraccess, in order to do her job, she wasforced to drive long distances everyday.With the upgrades to her company’ssystems and the new connection available at her home, she is able to spendmore time at home, and accomplisheven more work because she isn’t onthe road between locations so much.Of course, that means she is on thephone many hours a day, and it’simportant that she can look at thesame screen at home even though she’snot even in the same city. She needsto be able to see the policy and insurance information because she supports many different agents and largeagreements.“I enjoy having the ability to do thesame types of work in both the homeand at the office. It wasn’t always thiseasy. We upgraded from dial-up tosatellite Internet access, but using thesatellite didn’t give me the speed necessary to work from home. In August2010, I was unable to work utilizingour home Internet connection, butas of the spring of 2011, our wirelessconnection was installed and I couldwork at home,” says Karen.“I can open files off my networkdrive at work. It’s very fast on thewireless network, which is criticalto doing my job. With dial-up andsatellite I couldn’t do that, but now Iliterally can do everything at home thesame as I do in Lawrenceville.”Sherman adds, “Our satellite connection was always very weatherdependent, but now with the wireless connection I can get quotes fromChicago and New York streamingdown in near real time. That’s veryimportant. In this business you wantthe most up-to-date informationpossible.”And that communication goesboth ways. With the new connectionSherman is able not only to get quotes,but also enter orders directly to theChicago exchange.Of course, there are other benefitsas well. Their faster connection hashelped out with their farm and theirchildren’s schoolwork.“Using our computer we can nowget up to the minute radar for weatherforecasts. We have enhanced researchcapabilities that help us with planning for equipment purchases. Wecan research and order parts. Thereare manuals out there for just aboutanything you can think of, and we cando price comparisons for upcomingpurchases. All of that is available ondemand now,” says Sherman.Karen adds, “Our children usethe Internet for research for schoolprojects too. Our son is a freshmanin high school, so he needs to use itfrequently.”Because wireless works via a signaltransmitted from a tower, the Newlinshad to remove a tree that was blocking line of sight. This is a commonproblem with wireless service, especially in rural areas. If you’re looking to upgrade your service, keep inmind that you may face similar issues.Problems increase with distance fromthe tower. It is difficult for Internetservice providers to predict if addresseson the edges of service areas actuallyhave good access.Also, many Internet providers havedownload limits, especially if it is wireless or satellite service. Download limits are caps on the amount of data youcan download. If you go over the limit,it will affect your service. So, if youwant to watch Netflix video service orIllinois Country Living February 2012 11

Just what exactly constitutes‘broadband’ anyway?The term broadband commonly refers to high-speed Internet accessthat is always on and faster than the traditional dial-u

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