From Classbrain.com

Political Cartoons
Desperate For Power
By Cartoon: John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri
Project: Cynthia Kirkeby, ClassBrain
Jul 25, 2006, 08:24 PST

Cartoon: John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri
Project: Cynthia Kirkeby, ClassBrain

Desperate For Power

With triple digit temperatures in much of the US this summer, electric companies have been hard pressed to keep up with the demand. In many cases failing miserably, as power outages have plagued the country.
Peak usage in California has been more than 11% higher than the previous records set last year, according to Reuters. This record usuage caused blackouts throughout the state, leaving more than a million people without power on one of the hottest days on record.
On the opposite coast, as many as 100,000 New Yorkers were left without power for more than 5 days during the hottest week of the year. The story is the same in many states around the country: temperatures have soared, demand has increased, and the power companies have been ill equipped in many ways to keep up.

Suggestions to Decrease Power Usuage While Keeping Cool

  • Make sure that your air conditioner has been serviced. If it stops working, before you spend a fortune on a service call, check the fuses. They're cheap and easy to change and can save you more $100 or more in service charges.

  • Raise your thermostat. For every degree that you increase your indoor temperature, you will save approximately 3% on your electric bill. That can really add up.

  • Make sure that if you have any ceiling fans, that you run them in conjunction with your air conditioner. Your house will stay cooler, and allow you to increase your thermostat. ou can also use room fans to help, although these tend to be less efficient.

  • DO NOT USE YOUR MAJOR APPLIANCES BETWEEN NOON AND 7PM. These are the peak hours of usage. You'll not only save money, you'll help prevent black-outs by reducing the strain on the power companies.

  • Trade out some of your incandescent lightbulbs for compact flourescent bulbs, to save money and ease power needs.

  • It seems simple, but turn off unneeded lights, TVs and radios.



Questions to Ponder

Are the power companies doing enough to keep up with power consumption needs?

Are Americans doing as much as they can to conserve energy?

During especially hot times of the year, is the public sufficiently educated on conservation to help ease the burden on the power companies?

We are seeing record temperatures across the US in the past. Is this a major climate shift or just a temporary temperature swing?


ClassBrain Learning Links

Flex Your Power
A great site from California, with ideas for commercial and agricultural users, as well as residential users.
Source: Efficiency Partnership

The Power Is In Your Hands
Teachers, this is a great site for you. They have tips sheets that you can print out for your students.
Source: Alliance to Save Energy

Home Energy Check Up
We should all do this quick little quiz. You'd be amazed at what you'll find. Source: Alliance to Save Energy

Home Energy Checklist
Take is a day, week, month, or year at a time and by the time you're done, you'll be saving energy and money.
Source: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.



© Copyright 2004 by Classbrain.com