---

October 3, 2008
Volume 10, Issue 7

In this issue:

1. In the Spotlight: Saving Energy at Home
2. Wonderful Wyoming: Weatherization Assistance Program
3. Pathways Plus: New Version of CD Shipping Now
4. Events Calendar: What's up in October and November?
5. Feedback: Connect Wyoming Newsletter Satisfaction Survey
6. Our Thanks to: Connect Wyoming Sponsors
7. Unsubscribe: Easy On, Easy Off

---

10 Simple Ways Wyoming Residents Can Save Energy at Home

Office of the Governor, Cheyenne -

With home energy prices on the rise, saving energy is a priority for most consumers. Experts say that most households in the United States could save between 20 and 30 percent on their household energy bills by taking simple steps to improve efficiency.

"People are inundated with messages about saving energy,” said Tiger Adolf, Executive Director of the Wyoming Energy Council. “Unfortunately too many messages perpetuate long-standing myths, making it difficult to sort out good advice from bad."

Residents who want to save energy should start with small steps, she said. "Whether you are an owner or a renter, you should start with the little things, and work your way up to bigger energy savings. The little things really add up,” Adolf said.

Adolf offered a list of ten simple things that Wyoming residents can do to lower their overall energy use:

1. Eliminate "phantom" energy loss by turning off electronics and unplugging cell phone, MP3, and other battery chargers when not in use.
2. Turn off your computer when you're not using it, and use a "smart" power strip to power down peripherals. The second best way is to set it to automatically go into "sleep" or "hibernate" mode to save energy when not in use.
3. Replace lights that are on for more than 4 hours a day with compact fluorescent bulbs. Replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs will save you up to 70 percent of the energy from that light and give you more and better quality light. (Hint: look on the label for "lumens" and buy a higher number than your old incandescent bulb offered.)
4. Turn down the thermostat while you're at school or at work. If you are out for a typical 8-hour day, scaling back the temperature will save more energy than it will take to bring your home back up to the desired temperature.
5. Change your furnace filter monthly. An inexpensive filter changed routinely offers signicant savings for you and your furnace than a really heavy one that doesn't let the air flow properly.
6. Clean your dryer lint trap after every load. The air has to flow through the filter, and if it is plugged, it takes much longer for the clothes to dry because the dryer has to work harder.
7. Run full loads of laundry and use cold water to cut down on hot water use. Modern washing machines will clean most things just as well in cold as in hot water.
8. Turn lights off when you leave a room. Turning off a light, even for a short period of time, saves energy without adversely affecting the bulb.
9. Insulate your hot water heater tank and turn your water temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Hang heavy or insulated curtains over windows to stop heat from radiating through glass windows. No matter how good or bad your windows may be, glass transmits heat. Blocking that loss, especially at night, will make a big difference saving you money and increasing your comfort by reducing natural air circulation between the warm room and cold glass surface.

A more exhaustive list of 101 energy saving tips is available here.

To learn more about how to control home energy bills (Public Event):

The Wyoming Home Performance Alliance will host a Home Energy Makeover Workshop at Laramie County Community College on Saturday, October 4, 2008.

Tickets are $15 at the door or $10 in advance from the following non-profit groups: University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service; Interfaith - Good Samaritan; Laramie Rivers Conservation District and Laramie Head Start. For more info, visit: www.homeenergymakeover.com/wyoming.

The promotion of simple tips for saving energy is part of the Energy Wise Wyoming campaign which encourages state residents to conserve energy, to take steps to weatherize their homes and to take advantage of state programs designed to lower their heating bills.

The campaign is produced by a coalition of state agencies including the Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Public Service Commission, the State Energy Office, the Governor’s Office and the private non-profit Wyoming Energy Council.

For more energy saving and assistance information:

• More from the Governor's Office (many links inside both):
• Energy costs are on the rise. What can you do now to prepare for fall and winter?
• Energy assistance resources in Wyoming
• Wyoming Low Income Energy Assistance and Weatherization Programs (LIEAP)
• US Dept. of Health and Human Services
• Wyoming Business Council State Energy Program
• Wyoming Energy Conservation Network
• U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Consumer Tips from the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)

Back to top

---

Weatherization Assistance Program

from http://dfsweb.state.wy.us/fieldop/briefing5b.htm

Weatherization is a program for low-income individuals needing to lower home energy bills. By reducing the client’s energy use, Weatherization clients often see lower utility bills during the summer and winter. For income eligible Wyoming residents, services are provided at no cost to them.

What does Weatherization fix?

Health and Safety: Checking for unsafe levels of Carbon Monoxide, poor ventilation, and faulty wiring. Heating System Efficiency and Safety: Tuning and adjusting heating system. Hot Water: Wrapping pipes and water heaters. Drafts and Air Leaks: Sealing major air leaks. Insulation: Attics, floors, and walls and ceilings and bellies in mobile homes.

Agency Name	Local Phone Number	Counties
Council of Community Services	307-686-2730 or 888-686-2738	Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan, Weston
Wyoming Weatherization Services	307-235-9007	Converse, Natrona
Wyoming Weatherization Services	307-875-1890	Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta
Wyoming Weatherization Services	307-754-2844	Northern Big Horn, Park
Wyoming Weatherization Services	307-856-9077	Fremont, Hot Springs, Wind River Indian Reservation: Eastern Shoshone Tribe
Wyoming Weatherization Services	307-532-2287	Goshen, Niobrara, Platte
Wyoming Weatherization Services	307-347-2200	Southern Big Horn, Washakie
Wyoming Weatherization Services	307-742-0313	Albany, Carbon, Laramie

For a Weatherization application or for more information about getting help paying your heating bill, call 800-246-4221. For more information about the Weatherization Program, call the office serving your county.

For additional information from Connect Wyoming,

select one of the following energy topics:

• Weatherization Programs
• Utility Bill Payment Assistance
• Utility Deposit Assistance

Back to top

---

Pathways Plus: New Version of CD Shipping Now

A new version of the Pathways Plus Database of Human Services has been created and is currently shipping. Many thanks go out to users for their patience while waiting for this newest edition.

Back to top

---

Events Calendar: What's up in October and November?

These links will take you to our online calendar. Use the "back" button to return to the Newsletter.

• October Events
• November Events

If you know of an event that should be listed here, please let us know by using the online form "Submit An Event" found in our Online Calendar.

Back to top

---

Connect Wyoming Email Newsletter Satisfaction Survey

Please take 30 seconds (literally) to complete a one question survey that will help us to improve future editions of the Connect Wyoming Newsletter. Clicking the link below will take you to a survey where you may indicate your level of satisfaction with this newsletter.

Connect Wyoming Newsletter Satisfaction Survey

Back to top

---

Thanks To Our Sponsors!

We are continually thankful to the many organizations who have generously contributed to Connect Wyoming over the years.

Please see a list of these on our Funders page.

Back to top

---

Unsubscribe from the Newsletter

Easy On, Easy Off

To subscribe to our newsletter, please go to our Subscription Page.

To stop receiving the CW Newsletter, send a plain-text email message to: majordomo@uwyo.edu with this message in the body:
unsubscribe connect-w (and NO subject).

You should receive an email confirming the unsubscription request. (Please note: this will work only if you receive our newsletter directly from Connect Wyoming. If a friend forwards this newsletter to you, please ask that person to stop forwarding our newsletter).

Back to top

---

Copyright 2008

Editor: Casey Wood
Connect Wyoming
Dept. 4298, 1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
E-mail: connect@uwyo.edu