Winter Safety and Energy-Saving Tips From SWEPCO
SHREVEPORT, La., January 5, 2009 – The AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) service area could experience the impact of snow, sleet, freezing rain and extremely cold temperatures during January and February, making home safety and energy-saving tips a good idea during winter weather.
* For economy, set the thermostat for 68 degrees, then leave it alone. Each degree above that adds to your cost. Setting it higher won’t heat your home any faster. A five-degree lower setting will conserve energy when you plan to be away for the day.
* Keep filter clean. Check them at least once a month. If it’s a permanent-type filter, clean it according to the manufacturer’s directions. A disposable one should be checked each month and replaced when needed. Dirty filters cause the equipment to work harder and use more electricity.
* The entire heating system should be inspected and serviced each year to operate at maximum efficiency.
* Weatherstrip doors and windows to prevent expensive air leaks. Check caulking around windows, doors and other parts of the house.
* Air leakage through small cracks and holes in a home’s exterior is a major reason for heat loss in the winter. Make sure all doors and windows are closed when the heating unit is operating.
* Open curtains or blinds on the sunny side of the house and allow sunshine into the home. Otherwise, keep shades closed to help keep the warm air inside.
* Inspect the attic. Heat rising through the ceiling into the attic is another major source of heat loss. Check the duct insulation to see that all tears are taped and the insulation is securely wrapped around the ducts. Over time, ducts that are not properly sealed can leak as much as 25 percent of heated air into the attic.
* When the fireplace is not in use, be sure the damper is tightly closed. Glass fireplace doors are also good for additional savings.
SWEPCO customers are encouraged to have blankets, flashlights, portable radios and TVs, and a supply of fresh batteries on hand if the power should go off due to inclement winter weather. Customers can report power outages to the company 24 hours a day at 1-888-218-3919. SWEPCO will call out crews to identify and repair the problem as quickly and safely as possible.
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$1000 Prizes up for grabs.
ATHENS, Texas-Deadline for entering the Texas State-Fish Art Contest is March 31, and students and teachers should take time now to review the contest rules and regulations.
Texas students who enter the contest can win prizes of up to $1,000. Entries are judged in three grade-level divisions: 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Thanks to funding from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, the three first-place winners from Texas receive financial assistance for travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to compete in the national competition.
"It’s important that entries be prepared in the format specified in the rules," said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Zoe Ann Stinchcomb, Texas coordinator for the contest. "For example, artwork must be the proper size and have the entry form glued to the back. The complete set of rules is posted on the web site, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishart. Links on that page contain everything you need to know to prepare entries and enter the contest."
Stinchcomb noted that a poster teachers can use to promote the contest to students can be found on the contest page as well. "However, home-schooled students are also eligible to enter the contest," she said.
The State-Fish Art Contest is a program of Wildlife Forever, a multi-species non-profit conservation organization that works to preserve America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and scientific management of fish and wildlife species. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded more than 800 conservation projects in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico.
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Every Thursday at 10:00a.m. and 4:00p.m., Librarian Debbie White reads stories and host a craft workshop.
This week, she will by reading 'Gingerbread Friends' by Jan Brett and 'Too Many Toys' by David Shannon. She will also be doing a craft.
All programs are free.
The Advocate will post the details on the Community page each week, and also on the "Community Calendar"
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