Ameren Illinois Utilities Partners With Libraries to Help You Plug Into Energy Savings
April 24 2009 - 3:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
WATT Solutions Helps Eliminate Energy Vampires PEORIA, Ill., April
24 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help you learn how to spend less
on electricity by using less, the Ameren Illinois Utilities today
announced the WATT Solutions program, a new partnership with
downstate Illinois public libraries. The Ameren Illinois Utilities
have donated WATT Solution kits with Kill A Watt EZ power meters to
the downstate library systems. This donation will allow library
patrons to borrow WATT Solutions kits through their local libraries
at no cost. The WATT Solutions program was unveiled at special
programs held today at the Forsyth Public Library in Forsyth and
the O'Fallon Public Library in O'Fallon. Gov. Pat Quinn addressed
audiences at both events. "I am pleased to join the Ameren Illinois
Utilities in giving Illinois citizens the tools they need to make
their home a greener place," said Gov. Quinn. "Making these power
meters available at local libraries will empower Illinois families
to save money on their electric bill and make their home more
energy efficient." WATT Solutions is part of the Ameren Illinois
Utilities Act On Energy initiative (ActOnEnergy.com), which is
helping Ameren Illinois Utilities residential and business
customers save money by using energy more efficiently. "Using the
Kill A Watt EZ power use measuring device, our WATT Solutions
initiative shows you how much it costs to operate electrical
appliances and devices. You also can learn how much it costs to
leave appliances and devices on, such as computers, printers and
modems," said Stan Ogden, Ameren Illinois Utilities vice president
of Customer Service and Public Relations. "The bottom line is that
our WATT Solutions initiative provides an easy to use tool that can
help you reduce your electric bill," Ogden said. With WATT
Solutions, a consumer simply plugs in an appliance or device and
the meter shows the electric usage by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). With
the power use measuring device, you may calculate cumulative
electrical expenses by the day, week, month or even the year. In
many cases, you may be surprised to learn just how much electricity
some common electrical appliances use. For example, an older second
refrigerator typically kept in a garage or basement may use $100 or
more in electricity during the course of a year. A big screen
television set may cost $18 or more a month to operate. WATT
Solutions allows you to obtain the information you need to make
decisions regarding the replacement of older energy hungry
appliances with new ENERGY STAR rated appliances. For example, an
ENERGY STAR rated refrigerator can save about $70 a year in
electricity costs as compared to an older refrigerator. WATT
Solutions also is designed to help you find and fight phantom
loads, also known as energy vampires. Many appliances and devices
continue to use electricity even when they are turned off or left
in the sleep mode, creating what is known as a phantom load.
Televisions, computers, cable modems, printers and DVD players are
among the most common energy vampires. It is estimated that energy
vampires cost American households $100 or more a year, depending on
the number of appliances and devices in the household. Phantom
loads can be eliminated by unplugging devices and appliances or by
using a power strip with an on/off switch. The WATT Solutions kit
also contains detailed information on reducing electric usage,
covering such categories as heating, cooling, lighting, home
entertainment and appliances. There also is a glossary of commonly
used electrical terms. The WATT Solutions kit is available to be
loaned out to library patrons in the same way they would borrow a
book or video. The Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS,
AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) have been providing safe, reliable energy
delivery service for more than a century. The Ameren Illinois
Utilities deliver energy to 1.2 million electric and 840,000
natural gas customers in more than 1,200 communities within a
43,700-square-mile service territory, while helping you spend less
by using less through our ActOnEnergy.com initiative. DATASOURCE:
Ameren Illinois Utilities CONTACT: Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284,
or Victoria Busch, +1-618-346-1286, for Ameren Illinois Utilities
Web Site: http://www.ameren.com/ http://www.actonenergy.com/
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