Add lawn tools to spring cleaning to-do list

When water gets into your laundry room—whether it’s from a broken washing machine hose or a late spring storm—your best bet is to treat it like an electrical emergency. If you know a storm is coming, it’s a good idea to unplug your washing machine, dryer and other major appliances. If a lightning strike causes a power surge, your appliances could get damaged or even ruined. If you haven’t unplugged your appliances and stormwater gets indoors, minimize your risk of electrocution by waiting for the water to recede and then shutting off the power supply. Do not do this while standing in water. Do not touch your power cords during a surge or if your appliances are sitting in water. Also, shut off the hot and cold-water supply lines. Don’t touch anything until you do that; as you know, water and electricity absolutely do not mix. Next, call an appliance repair professional, an electrician or a plumber to assess the damage to your washer and dryer. Don’t turn on your washer and dryer after they get wet, even if they have air-dried. According to Consumer Reports, turning on appliances too soon could shock or electrocute you if their interior components are still wet. It can also ruin your appliances.

It doesn’t make sense to put an air conditioning system in a garage because the cool air will leak right through the door, ceiling and walls. But you can keep the space a bit more comfortable this summer by adding insulation. Insulated walls, ceilings and doors can block the heat so it doesn’t penetrate to the inside of the garage, and they can keep the cool, conditioned air indoors where it belongs. In the winter, it can help keep the cold air out. If you need a new garage door, choose an energy-efficient model, which can reduce energy loss through the garage door by up to 71 percent, according to manufacturer Clopay.

If the air inside your house is dusty, it might mean your air conditioning ducts have sprung leaks. If you’re changing your air conditioner filter regularly, it will trap dust and pollutants that get into the indoor air so they never make their way into the duct system—or back into the air. But if the ducts have tiny holes or cracks or joints that aren’t well-sealed, dust can bypass the filter and sneak directly into the ducts. Once dust gets in there, the duct system will blow it all over the house. Dust in the ducts and in the air can raise the temperature in your home and force your air conditioning system to operate inefficiently and struggle to keep your home cool during the summer. It's well worth it to have the ducts of your air conditioning system sealed at the joints. Not only will it prevent dust from flying around your house, it could reduce your air conditioning bills this summer. The average house loses about 20 percent of its conditioned air through ducts that are improperly installed or are leaking at the joints.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer

A springtime tune-up can prevent your air conditioning system from going on the fritz later, when the weather is so hot that you won’t want to be without the a/c for even a few hours. It typically costs less than $150 to have a professional inspection of your system, and it’s well worth the money. Some contractors offer an annual preventive maintenance agreement, which will cost a few hundred dollars a year and typically includes a fall and spring inspection of your HVAC system and discounts on repairs and equipment. A better deal most often is to pay as you go for individual inspections. Either way, your cooling system will get attention from a qualified, licensed service technician who is trained to spot problems that most homeowners overlook. The tech might even alert you if a small repair now will prevent your family from sweltering this summer during an a/c breakdown.

Southwest Public Power District located in southwest Nebraska, has an opening for the position of Engineering Technician. Duties include, but are not limited to, assisting in the maintenance of the District’s geographic information system (GIS), system planning and improvements, and implementing technology as required to improve the distribution systems. The District operating hours are a compressed work schedule with every other Friday off. This position requires passing a pre-employment drug and alcohol test. Southwest Public Power District offers an excellent wage and benefit package, including paid vacation, sick leave, paid health insurance, and funded retirement plan. Southwest Public Power District is an equal opportunity employer. Southwest Public Power District’s headquarters office is in Palisade, Nebraska. The region’s schools, small communities, and recreational opportunities make it a great place to live and raise a family. Interested individuals must email a resume, including job training and three references to: Gary Hanken – garyh@swppd.com . Position will be open until filled. Job Description as follows: SUMMARY The Engineering Technician will work with the System Engineer to meet the goals and duties of the Engineering Department. Assists in the maintenance of the District’s geographic information system (GIS), in planning for new loads and system improvements, and implements technology as required to improve the planning design of the distribution system. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Within the limits of approved board policies, operating guides and procedures, assumes responsibility and has commensurate authority for the following activities: A. Obeys all safety rules, policies, and procedures. B. Assists with system planning studies, engineering, metering, and staking. C. Provides necessary GIS data, drawings, and assistance required by employees to aid in the planning, design, analysis, installation, and maintenance of the electric distribution system D. Have working knowledge of and ability to use the following systems in use by the District: Meridian/CIS; AMI; GIS; OMS; Staking; and work order system. E. Perform updates and maintenance of the SCADA system as directed. F. Prepares specialized map files, spreadsheets and database applications to provide technical support and analysis. G. Be available for load management duties as needed. H. Answers telephone calls in a courteous and efficient manner; operates radio between office and field personnel as directed. I. Know the District policies and procedures. J. Performs other duties as necessary or assigned. JOB REQUIREMENTS A. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) is mandatory. At least one year related administrative or equivalent utility experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience is also required. Experience in dealing with the public is desirable. B. JOB KNOWLEDGE: The following knowledge and skill levels are needed to fulfill the requirements of this position: Must possess a working knowledge of electrical principles; Knowledge of construction/staking units; and legal land descriptions. Training can be provided in identified areas of weakness. This position requires the ability to multi-task, learn various software packages used by the District, and have GIS/drafting/mapping experience. C. COMPUTER SKILLS: This position requires the ability to use office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, plotters, calculators, fax machines, and two-way radio equipment. The employee must have a working knowledge of basic computer programs, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access and Outlook). This position also requires the use of industry-specific programs, for which training will be provided. It is beneficial for the employee to have experience working with databases and file systems. D. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid Nebraska driver’s license. Additional training and certificates necessary to perform utility line work as needed. E. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Night, weekend, and/or holiday work may be required.

Nothing spoils a fun day of Easter egg hunting like an accident involving electricity. Here are eight tips for hiding eggs safely: · If you’re hiding some of the eggs indoors, steer clear of electrical outlets, plugs, light sockets and extension cords. · Outdoors, avoid placing eggs near air conditioning units, low-hanging overhead wires or in trees near electric lines. · Pick up anything on the ground that the children could trip on. They’ll be focusing on finding eggs, not their footing. · Same goes for holes and uneven patches of ground in your yard. · Place eggs well within the boundaries of your lawn. Don’t put them close to the street or driveways. · Bushes are great hiding places for eggs—and also for bees, snakes and other critters that you won’t want your children near. · Avoid bushes that are thorny or have recently been sprayed with pesticides. · Hide your eggs no more than two hours before the hunt so they don’t spoil.

Spring is a great time to save energy at home when most days are neither cold nor hot, so you don’t need to turn on either the heat or air conditioning. Take advantage of the nice weather to use less energy now and prepare your home to be more efficient this summer. Some tips: 1. Open the windows—all of them—to create a cross-breeze all over the house. This keeps the home cool without air conditioning. 2. Call an HVAC service tech to inspect your air conditioning system. A springtime check will give you a chance to repair any problems before the weather gets hot and a poorly maintained system leaves you without cool indoor air. 3. Switch your ceiling fan blades so they rotate counterclockwise. This will create a downward breeze, which will keep anyone in the room comfortable. 4. Use a caulk gun to seal cracks and openings on the indoor side of exterior walls—like around cable and phone lines and electrical outlets. 5. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, now is a great time to install one. This device can save you 5% to 15% on heating and cooling bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, because it adjusts the temperature for times when the family is sleeping or away from the house.

By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer First introduced in the 1950s, recessed lighting or “can lighting” is still a popular choice for residential and commercial lighting. Traditionally, these fixtures consist of a cylindrical or square-shaped metal housing that extends above the ceiling so only the trim or baffle is visible on the ceiling surface. A lamp or bulb is screwed into a socket mounted inside the top of the housing. When switched on, the fixture provides a streamlined and unobtrusive appearance that complements various interior design styles. Despite these benefits, recessed can lights have a reputation for being inefficient. Though they can be fitted with an energy-efficient LED bulb, many still use less-efficient incandescent bulbs. Recessed fixtures with housing that is not sealed can also lose costly heated or cooled air from the space below. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these energy losses can account for up to 50% of a ceiling’s total thermal loss. Though customers can install a more expensive, sealed can light or retrofit existing fixtures with seals, they now have another choice: canless recessed lights. Canless recessed lighting refers to a type of fixture installed directly into the ceiling. They do not have a recessed can or housing that extends above. Moreover, canless recessed lights are self-contained units that integrate the housing, trim, and light source into a single fixture. They are an ideal option for existing homes and facilities as they do not require any large holes in the ceiling and can be easily retrofitted to existing can lights. Compared to traditional recessed lights, canless recessed lights are generally more compact, allowing for quick and easy installation. This makes them suitable for installations in areas with limited space between the ceiling and other structures, like ductwork or pipes. They also have better energy efficiency since they eliminate the need for separate housing that is prone to air leakage and heat loss while utilizing solid-state LED lighting technology which produces the most amount of light per watt of electricity. Since LEDs produce very little heat compared to other bulb options, customers also save on cooling costs. Much like their predecessors, canless recessed lights offer multiple trim options, like baffle, pinhole or eyeball trim, to suit different design preferences. Perhaps the best surprise customers find is that canless fixtures typically cost 25% to 50% less when compared to their canned cousins. Like many other high-performing lighting products, manufacturers can submit their canless recessed fixture products for ENERGY STAR® recognition. Those displaying the ENERGY STAR® label on their packaging are the easiest way customers can assure they are selecting a quality, energy-efficient light. In partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, Southwest Public Power District wants to help their customers gain the most benefit from the electricity they provide. For additional ideas on ways you can make cost-effective efficiency improvements to your home or business, contact Southwest Public Power District or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.