'Snow Birds' Can Save Some
Green During Winter Months

I’ve heard about on-demand water heaters. What are they, and can they save money on my energy bills?                                       — N.L., DeWitt

On-demand heaters – sometimes called tankless water heaters or instantaneous water heaters – heat the water as it’s needed. So, you aren’t constantly using energy to keep the water heated as with a traditional tank water heater. Since water heating accounts for about 15 percent of a home’s energy use, there is potential for money savings in the long run by going to an on-demand system. These systems have a life expectancy of about 20 years. Some common installations include in remote bathrooms or hot tubs, in small cottages, or as a booster for appliances that use a lot of hot water such as a washer or dishwasher. The consumer has to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. For instance, on-demand heaters are more expensive than traditional water heaters. And, depending on a home’s hot water needs, this kind of heater may not be able to supply enough hot water. If you’re seriously looking at on-demand water heaters, select a qualified plumbing and heating contractor. Also: n Request cost estimates in writing and try to obtain 2-3 bids. n Ask how many on-demand water heaters the contractor has installed. n Ask the contractor to check local building and plumbing codes, and obtain a local permit, if necessary.

Do you have a question for BWL 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.

  Even if you’re gone from your home for several months, the Lansing Board of Water & Light does bill you for a monthly service charge. The service charge covers our cost of things like billing, operating and maintaining our water plant and water distribution system.

  So, even if your home isn’t using any water, those monthly service charges are in effect. For a residence with a 5/8-inch meter, the monthly charge is $7.03. For a residence with a ¾-inch meter, the monthly charge is $9.84.

  Now the good news. Consider having your water service turned off while you’re gone for an extended time. YOU WILL NOT BE BILLED THOSE MONTHLY SERVICE CHARGES.

  Call our Customer Service Department at (517) 702-6006 to have water service shut off. Additionally, by shutting off the water you can save money if your home has a dripping faucet or leaking toilet. Even small drips can add up to a lot of money down the drain.

  A water shut-off also should prevent a bigger headache – frozen water pipes. 

  When you plan to return, contact us at the same phone number to have your water service restored at a $7.00 cost. Even though you pay that nominal reconnection fee, you will save money by not having to pay several months’ worth of service charges.

Paying Online a Pay-off for the Environment

      Electronic banking and bill-paying are NOT the wave of the future – because the future is HERE.  Millions of people have turned to e-banking and e-payments as a time-saving, convenient way of conducting their financial affairs.

      The Lansing Board of Water & Light is proud to offer online billing and payments. In partnership with CheckFree Corporation, you can sign up to start receiving electronic bills. Once the process begins, you will get monthly e-mails alerting you that your bill is available for viewing online. Our partnership with CheckFree also allows you to pay many other bills online.

      Now, here’s some environmental motivation to help folks consider online bill payments:

      A 2007 survey by Javelin Strategy and Research found that if all U.S. households received and paid their bills electronically, 16.5 million trees a year would be saved. Further, toxic air pollutants would be reduced by 3.9 billion tons – that’s like taking 355,015 cars off the road.

      Click here to learn more about paying BWL bills online,  or call CheckFree toll-free at 1-800-564-9184. You can also call our Customer Service Department, (517) 702-6006.

update on
lead line
replacementS

In 2004, the BWL embarked on an ambitious 10-year project to replace ALL lead service lines that serve about 13,000 customers. We are doing as much, if not more, on lead service line replacements as any other community in the United States.

So, how are we doing?  As of November 2007, we have installed new, non-lead service lines to more than 5,000 customers. That’s 39 percent of all lead service lines in operation, and it means we are ahead of schedule.

Of the BWL’s 56,000 water customers, fewer than 8,000 still are being served by lead service lines.

We frequently remind customers of the most important facts about lead, including ways they can protect themselves. These facts include:

nThe risk to BWL customers is considered minimal. Nationwide, experts agree that the biggest threat of lead poisoning comes from lead paint and lead dust, not water-borne lead.

nThe BWL provides free water filters and replacement cartridges to customers with service lines that are partially or entirely made of lead.  The filters remove at least 99.9% of lead.  Call our Customer Service Department at (517) 702-6006 if you have questions or concerns.

nFlushing water lines is the simplest, most effective thing you can do to minimize lead exposure from drinking water. If a customer with a lead service line doesn’t have a filter and wants to use the water for drinking or cooking, run the water at the tap for seven (7) minutes if the water has been stagnant for six or more hours. This flushing ensures the customer will get fresh water from the water main.

nThe BWL continues to offer free analysis of drinking water to all customers with full lead service lines and is currently taking names of customers with lead service lines who would like to have their water tested during next summer’s testing.

      Silver Bells in the City had some extra sparkle this year. The November 16, 2007 extravaganza became a stage for the BWL to unveil The Toy Mill.

      What is it?  Well, for one thing, it’s a holiday gift to the Greater Lansing community. Resembling an old-fashioned mill house with a working water wheel, The Toy Mill was designed and built by BWL workers. It’s the new collection point for donated toys to the U.S. Marines Corps’ annual Toys for Toys drive.

      “The Toy Mill is our gift to the community, and most important to the children of Greater Lansing who benefit from Toys for Tots,” said J. Peter Lark, General Manager of the Lansing Board of Water & Light.

      Hundreds of Silver Bells visitors stopped by The Toy Mill to donate toys. The Toy Mill now becomes the official site of the Toys for Tots collection at Silver Bells in the City, replacing an old railroad caboose the BWL used for many years.

      2007 also marked the first year that the Lansing Board of Water & Light became the Signature Sponsor of Silver Bells. More than 100,000 people came to downtown Lansing during Silver Bells, making it the capital city’s biggest single-day event.

      Look for The Toy Mill in future years, as a symbol of our slogan, “Hometown People, Hometown Power.”