Welcome to the fall issue of Good Energy, a seasonal tip sheet on managing household energy use. As gas prices at the pump fall, prices for natural gas are climbing to the highest levels in a decade. This issue includes an Autumn To-Do checklist from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as well as spotlights on two appliances — space heaters and heat pumps. We preview new federal legislation offering homeowners thousands of dollars for energy upgrades of all kinds. And, before it gets too cold, how about planting a few trees to shade and cool your home and neighborhood in years to come – there’s money for that too! One last thing: have you noticed all the prairies blooming in parks, along roadways, and in private gardens around the county? The picture above is an Iowa City Park prairie restoration — it reduces mowing, stores carbon, provides habitat, and beautifies the environment. We’d love to hear about prairie projects in other communities.
Check out the autumn issue of Good Energy or download a PDF here. As always, you can sign up for your free publication of Good Energy at the Johnson Clean Energy District website or find it in community newsletters around the county.