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Drip, Drip: That’s the Sound of Money Down the Drain |
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Do you have a question about some aspect of Lansing Board of Water & Light operations? Include your name, city of residence and phone number, and send it to Q CORNER: E-MAIL: mailto:mdn@lbwl.com FAX: (517) 702-6855 MAIL: Lansing Board of Water & Light Communications Department 1232 Haco Dr., P.O. Box 13007 Lansing MI 48901. |
All of that water makes water conservation a relatively low priority for many people. But if you’re not interested in conserving water, we’ll bet you’re interested in saving money. The average American wastes about 30 gallons of water a day! Brushing your teeth with the water running, water leaks, taking long showers – all of that is money down the drain. Test your “Water Conservation I.Q.” by taking the short quiz below, courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The answers (below) may surprise you, and could lead to substantial savings.
(a) 50
(a) Up to 2 gallons
(a) Running the water
while washing dishes
(a) Up to 1.9 gallons Answers: 1 (d) The average person uses 100 gallons water a day, or 400 gallons for a typical family of four. 2. (c) By simply turning off the water while you brush, you can save more than 100 gallons a month. 3. (c) Incredibly, a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day. Here’s how to tell if your toilet has a leak. Put a drop of food coloring in the toilet’s tank. If the color seeps into the bowl without flushing, you have a leak. 4. (b) Older toilets (made in 1992 or earlier) use between 3.5 and 7 gallons per flush. Newer, high efficiency models use less than 1.3 gallons per flush. For more tips on water conservation, visit the EPA’s WaterSense Web site |
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Winter Meter Reading: It’s Snow Joke! On average, the BWL performs actual “reads” on more than 96 percent of its meters every month – as opposed to estimates. Our track record is well above the industry standard of 87 percent actual reads. However, certain things can get in the way of our meter readers doing their job. This time of year, that means ice and snow. Since safety is a top priority for both customers and our employees, our meter readers are instructed not to try to read a meter if a slipping hazard exists. In that case, the BWL may choose to make an estimate. Please, remove snow and ice from the access routes to your meter. We understand that most customers prefer an accurate, “actual” meter read. You can help us accomplish that. |
There’s no doubt that utilities, including the Lansing Board of Water & Light, will play a growing role in this “green” energy movement. In fact, the BWL already does buy some electricity generated by hydroelectric dams. Then there’s our GreenWise program that allows customers to buy renewable energy (see Q Corner on Page 1). But our green plans don’t stop there. Recently, we repaired and reactivated a small hydroelectric dam on the Grand River in Lansing, near the Eckert Power Station. This provides a modest but steady source of renewable energy. Finally, we are exploring new policies that will require a minimum percentage of our electrical power to come from renewable energy sources. These energy sources include wind, biomass (such as gases derived from landfills), hydroelectric and solar. American attitudes toward renewable energy and energy independence are changing. Concerns about global warming and over-reliance on foreign oil are driving these changes on the political, economic and environmental fronts. We want our customers to know that – though the switch to renewable energy sources will be gradual and challenging – we intend to do our part in helping Michigan “go green.” |
Water-wise, Michigan
residents are among the richest people on Earth. A fifth of the world’s
surface fresh water resides in our Great Lakes.
Many states have set
ambitious goals to expand the use of renewable energy sources such as
wind power. Michigan is currently considering similar “green power”
goals.