THREE BLIN MICE

Bigger and Better SANDBOX TOP SECRET

ONE IN A MILION MAN OVERBOARD

TOTAL LOSS

SCRAMBLED EGGS TOO INTENSE

SHAPE UP

DOWN TO EARTH

NO ONE TO BLAME

TUNA FISH

EXTENDED FAMILY

EYE CHART

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

ICE CUBE

REPEAT AFTER YOURE UNDER ARREST ME

MADE IN CHINA UPDATE

LAND BEFORE RIGHT BESIDE ME TIME

BANANA SPLIT TIME AFTER TIME

EXCUSE ME SPACE INVADERS

GO FOR IT BIG BIRD

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

TRIPOD

READ BETWEEN THE LINES

MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN

TUESDAY MERRY GO AROUND

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE SETTLE DOWN

LONG TIME NO UNDERCOVER SEE

MAKE-UP

BIG FOOT

MICROSCOPE APPLAUSE

A ROUND OF

Getting started 1. Do a home energy audit. This survey analyzes your home's structure, appliances and insulation, as well as your family's lifestyle. Alliant Energy offers customers a free online energy audit called My Home Comfort Chec !p that provides a personalized report detailing specific ways to save energy throughout your home. "earn more a#out home energy audits Heating your home 2. Change or clean your furnace filter once a month. $ust and dirt can %uic ly clog vital parts, ma ing your furnace run harder and eventually #rea down. 3. Have your heating system inspected regularly & especially if it's natural gas. A '()&*)) annual tune&up can help reduce your heating costs #y up to five percent. 4. If you have a forced-air furnace, do !" close heat registers in unused rooms. +our furnace is designed to heat a specific s%uare footage of space and can't sense a register is closed & it will continue wor ing at the same pace. ,n addition, the cold air from unheated rooms can escape into the rest of the house, reducing the effectiveness of all your insulating and weatherizing. #. Install a programma$le thermostat. ,f you use it to set #ac the temperature #y *) degrees for eight hours every night, you'll lower your heating #ills #y *) percent. A '() digital thermostat can pay for itself in energy savings in less than a year. %. Don&t set the thermostat higher than you actually 'ant it. ,t won't heat your home any faster, and it will eep your furnace running longer than necessary. (. )acuum registers and vents regularly, and don't let furniture and draperies #loc the air flow. ,ne-pensive plastic deflectors can direct air under ta#les and chairs. *. If your home has a $oiler system, avoid covering radiators with screens or #loc ing them with furniture. ,t's also a good

idea to add a reflecting panel #ehind radiators & you can purchase one at a home center or ma e one yourself with a plywood panel and aluminum foil. +. If your home has electric $ase$oard heating, #e sure to eep furniture and draperies away from the heaters, and leave at least a three&inch clearance under the heating unit. 1,. -eep curtains and $linds closed at night to eep cold air out, #ut open them during the day to let the sun warm the room. 11. .void using space heaters, including electric, erosene or propane models. .ot only are they e-pensive to operate, they're also very dangerous. 12. If you have hard'ood or tile floors, add area rugs to eep your feet warm. 13. If you&ll $e going on vacation, lower the thermostat to (( degrees. This will save energy while preventing water pipes from freezing. "earn more a#out heating your home Fireplaces 14. If you have a 'ood-$urning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned and inspected regularly, and #urn only fully dried hardwoods to produce the most heat output. 1#. Chec/ the seal on the damper #y closing it off and holding a piece of tissue paper inside the fire#o-. ,f drafts #low the tissue around, repair or replace the damper. 1%. 0hen using the fireplace, turn do'n the furnace to ## degrees. ,f you don't, all the warm air from the furnace will go right up the chimney, wasting energy and money. 1(. .dd fireproof caul/ where the chimney meets the wall, inside and outside. 1*. 0hen the fireplace is not in use, ma e sure fireplace dampers are sealed tight, and eep the glass doors closed. ,f you never use your fireplace, plug the chimney with fi#erglass

insulation and seal the doors with silicone caul . "earn more a#out using your fireplace efficiently Insulating your home 1+. Chec/ insulation levels throughout your house. Measure attic insulation with a ruler, and chec #ehind switch plates for sidewall insulation. 2,. Install more attic insulation. !pgrading from three inches to */ inches can cut heating costs #y /) percent, and cooling costs #y *) percent. 21. .dd pieces of $att insulation to the rim 1oists & the area along the top of the foundation where it meets the e-terior walls. 22. If your $asement is unheated, install #lan et insulation in #etween e-posed floor 0oists. 23. Choose the ne' 2no-itch2 or poly'rapped insulation products. They're much easier to handle and safer to wor with & ma ing them worth the e-tra cost. 24. Install additional attic insulation at right angles to the previous layer. +ou don't have to use the same type of insulation & it's fine to use #atts or #lan ets over loose&fill, or vice versa. 2#. 0hen using loose-fill, $e sure to distri$ute the insulation evenly. Any inconsistencies can reduce the insulating value. 2%. 0hile shopping for insulation, remem#er that 1&value measures the amount of thermal resistance. The higher the 1&value, the #etter the insulation. 2(. ever cover attic vents or recessed light fi3tures 'ith insulation, and allow a three&inch clearance around chimneys and flue pipes to prevent overheating and avoid the ris of fire.

2*. Have a lea/y roof repaired and ma/e sure your $asement is 'aterproofed. 2et insulation is worthless. "earn more a#out insulating your home Air conditioning your home 2+. 4aintain your central air conditioner $y cleaning the outside compressor with a garden hose 3#e sure to shut off power at the fuse or #rea er first4. 5eep plantings at least one foot away for ade%uate airflow. 3,. During late afternoon and early evening, turn off unnecessary lights and wait to use heat&producing appliances. ,t's also a good idea to shade south& and west& facing windows during the hottest part of the day. 31. 5lant a tree. 6ne well&placed shade tree can reduce your cooling costs #y /( percent. 7or ma-imum #enefit, place leafy shade trees to the south and west, and evergreens to the north. 32. 6se ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout the house, and ma e sure your attic is properly ventilated. A ceiling fan should run cloc wise during the summer, and counter& cloc wise during the winter. 33. 7et the fan on your central air conditioner to 2on2 rather than 8auto.8 This will circulate air continuously, eeping the temperature more even throughout the house and aiding in dehumidification. 34. 4a/e sure your 'indo' air conditioner is the proper si8e. ,t's #etter to get one that's too small than too large & a larger unit will start up and turn off more fre%uently and won't do as good a 0o# dehumidifying the air. 3#. Don&t 1udge the efficiency of your air conditioner $y the sound of the fan shutting on and off. The #lower will continue to circulate cooled air throughout your home up to *( minutes after the compressor has stopped. 3The same holds true for the furnace.4 3%. 9aise the thermostat to a$out (* to *, degrees whenever you go to #ed or leave

the house. A programma#le thermostat will do this for you automatically. 3(. If your home can&t accommodate central air conditioning, try a 'hole-house attic fan. This device pushes hot air out through attic vents, lowering the temperature throughout your home a#out five degrees in less than ten minutes. Attic fans cost less than /( cents per day to operate. 3*. During the 'inter, remove 'indo' air conditioners and seal the windows with caul and weatherstripping. +ou might also want to cover the central air compressor with a tarp to eep it clean. "earn more a#out cooling your home Weatherizing your home 3+. 7eal doors and 'indo's 'ith caul/, 'eatherstripping and plastic film. An investment of '() in weatherizing supplies can reduce heating costs #y two to three times that much. $on't forget the #asement windows9 4,. .dd foam gas/ets $ehind all outlet covers and s'itch plates, and use safety plugs in all unused outlets. These are prime places for outside air to lea into your home. :e sure to shut off power at the fuse #o- or circuit panel first. 41. Chec/ the e3terior of your home for air lea/s, especially around openings for water spigots, air conditioner hoses, dryer vents and gas pipes. !se caul or e-panding foam to seal spaces. 42. If your home has a large, single-pane picture 'indo', use heavy draperies during the winter to help hold #ac cold air. 43. 9eflective 'indo' film can help reduce heat gain during the summer, and it will eep furniture and carpets from fading. 44. Chec/ 'indo' panes to see if they need ne' gla8ing. ,f the glass is loose, replace the putty holding the pane in place. Most types of window glazing re%uire painting for a proper seal.

4#. If drafts snea/ in under e3terior doors, replace the threshold. ,f that's not practical, #loc the drafts with a rolled&up towel or #lan et. 4%. 7eal the edges of unused doors and 'indo's 'ith rope caul/. $on't seal them shut permanently & you might need %uic ventilation or escape during an emergency. 4(. Choose the right /ind of caul/ for the 1o$. !se late- or acrylic caul inside & it's easy to clean and more forgiving if you're a #eginner. ;ilicone caul is great for outside use #ecause it lasts longer and seals virtually any type of surface. 4*. Don&t forget to 'eatheri8e the attic access. ;ecure #att insulation to the #ac of the hatch or door, and use weatherstripping to seal the opening. "earn more a#out weatherizing your home Water Heating 4+. 7et the 'ater heater temperature at 12, degrees & a#out halfway #etween low and medium. This will help save energy and prevent scalding, while eeping unhealthy #acteria from growing. #,. Install a 'ater-saving sho'erhead. $on't worry & it won't reduce your water pressure. A family of four, each ta ing a five&minute shower a day, can save '/() a year in water heating costs #y switching to a low&flow showerhead. #1. :i3 lea/y faucets, especially if it's a hot water faucet. 6ne drop per second can add up to *<( gallons a month & that's more than one person uses in two wee s. #2. 6se aerators on /itchen and $athroom sin/ faucets. ,f you have hard water, clean aerators and showerheads with vinegar regularly to reduce deposits and #uild& up. #3. "a/e sho'ers, not $aths. A five&minute shower will use a#out =.( gallons of hot water, while filling a #athtu# can use up to /) gallons.

#4. If your 'ater heater is more than 1# years old, install an insulating wrap to reduce 8stand#y8 heat loss. ,t's also a good idea to insulate hot water pipes where they're accessi#le. "earn more a#out energy&efficient water heating In the kitchen ##. 6se smaller /itchen appliances whenever possi#le. Microwaves, toaster ovens and slow&coo ers can use =( percent less energy than a large electric oven. #%. )acuum the refrigerator coils a#out twice a year to eep the compressor running efficiently. #(. .s your mother al'ays told you, don&t leave the refrigerator door open. Every time it's opened, up to >) percent of the cooled air can escape. The same rule holds for the oven, too. #*. -eep the refrigerator temperature a$out 3%-3* degrees, and the freezer at )&( degrees. #+. Don&t overload the refrigerator or free8er. The cold air needs to circulate freely to eep foods at the proper temperature. %,. 4a/e sure the refrigerator is level, so the door automatically swings shut instead of open. ,f the floor isn't level, use shims to prop up the front of the refrigerator. %1. Don&t 'orry a$out placing hot leftovers in the refrigerator. ,t won't affect energy use significantly, and cooling food to room temperature first can increase the chance of food&#orne illnesses. %2. Chec/ the seal on your refrigerator door #y closing it on a dollar #ill. ,f you can pull the #ill out easily, it's time to replace the gas ets. +ou can purchase a replacement it from an appliance dealer or a home center. %3. 6se your oven&s self-cleaning feature immediately after coo/ing, while the oven is

still hot. This will reduce a lengthy warm&up time. %4. 6se lids on pots and pans to reduce coo/ing times, and don't put a small pan on a large #urner. %#. -eep the grease plates under range $urners clean to reflect heat more efficiently. %%. 9un the dish'asher only 'ith full loads, and use the air&dry cycle. ,f your dishwasher has a 8#ooster8 water heater, use it? this will heat the water to the *@) degrees recommended #y manufacturers, while maintaining an energy&saving */) degrees on your primary water heater. "earn more a#out energy&efficient itchen appliances In the laundry room %(. 0ash only full loads of clothes, and #e sure to set the water level appropriately. %*. 6se hot 'ater only for very dirty loads, and always use cold water for the rinse cycle. %+. Clean the lint screen on the dryer every time you use the machine. A clogged lint screen can ma e your dryer use up to >) percent more energy & and it can #e a fire hazard. (,. 9emove clothes from the dryer 'hile they&re still damp and hang them up. This will save energy, prevent static and reduce wrin les and shrin age. (1. Dry one load of clothes immediately after another. This will minimize heat loss, reducing warm&up and drying times. "earn more a#out energy&smart washers and dryers Lighting your home (2. 7'itch to compact fluorescent light $ul$s. These #ul#s use =( percent less energy than typical incandescents, and they last *) times longer.

(3. ;oo/ for a compact fluorescent 'attage that's a#out one&third of the incandescent wattage you usually use. (4. 6se lighting control devices li e dimmers, motion detectors, occupancy sensors, photocells and timers to provide light only when you need it. (#. -eep lamps a'ay from thermostats< the heat produced can cause your furnace to run less than needed or your air conditioner more than needed. (%. Dust light fi3tures regularly. A heavy coat of dust can #loc up to () percent of the light output. ((. 6se only a single $ul$ in a multisoc/et fi3ture. :e sure to chec the ma-imum wattage the fi-ture allows. (*. 9eplace an incandescent outdoor light or high-intensity floodlight with a high& pressure sodium fi-ture. The #ul#s will last longer, use less energy, and handle temperature e-tremes #etter. (+. 6se lo'-voltage lighting /its to light wal ways, patios and dec s. The soft light will also attract fewer annoying insects. *,. Decorate 'ith pale colors on walls, ceilings and floors. ;oft tones reflect more light, so you can use lower wattage #ul#s and delay turning on lights until later in the day. !sing high&gloss paint can help as well. *1. 9ead light $ul$ pac/ages carefully. 2atts measure the amount of energy needed? lumens measure how much light a #ul# produces. Energy&saving #ul#s produce more lumens per watt of electricity used. "earn more a#out lighting your home Other energy savers *2. =et rid of spare refrigerators or free8ers. An e-tra appliance can add more than '*)) to your energy #ills every year, and it's a safety hazard for small children.

*3. -eep outdoor hot tu$s covered 'hen not in use. ,f you have a pool, use a solar cover to use the natural warmth of the sun to heat the water. *4. -eep 'ater$eds covered 'ith >uilts or $lan/ets to help retain their heat. +ou might also want to insulate the #ottom with a sheet of rigid foam insulation. *#. -eep the garage door closed, especially during the winter. *%. If you need a ne' la'n mo'er, consider an electric model. They're less e-pensive to operate 3a#out three cents of electricity per use4, =( percent %uieter, and they significantly reduce to-ic emissions. *(. Instead of air-polluting and e3pensive charcoal or propane, try an electric or natural gas grill. They're more economical and more convenient & you'll never run out of fuel. **. 6nplug any electrical device that&s not $eing used. Many appliances, especially computers, televisions and AC1s draw power even when turned off. *+. 5lace humidifiers and dehumidifiers a'ay from 'alls and $ul/y furniture. These appliances wor #est when air circulates freely around them. :e sure to clean the unit often to prevent unhealthy mold and #acteria from developing. +,. If your home has no side'all insulation, place heavy furniture li e #oo shelves, armoires and sofas along e-terior walls, and use decorative %uilts as wall hangings. This will help #loc cold air. +1. 0hen you ta/e a vacation, don&t forget to give your appliances a rest too. Turn off and unplug everything you can, set your water heater to the lowest setting and shut off the water supply to the dishwasher and washing machine. Buying new appliances +2. 9emem$er that it pays to invest in energy efficiency. ,n some cases, the money you save in energy costs can pay #ac the purchase price in 0ust a few years.

+3. .l'ays read the ?nergy =uide la$el carefully, and ma e sure you're comparing 8apples to apples.8 Energy use can range significantly even within a single #rand. +4. Choose the capacity that&s right for your family. 2hether it's a furnace or a refrigerator, it doesn't pay to purchase a unit that's too large or too small. +#. In almost every case, a natural gas appliance is more economical to use than an electric model. The '()&=( price difference can #e paid #ac in energy savings in less than a year. +%. 9eplace inefficient appliances & even if they're still wor ing. An aging water heater or refrigerator could #e costing you much more than you thin . ,f your central air conditioner is more than *) years old, replacing it with a high&efficiency new unit will cut your summer electric #ills #y a#out one&third. +(. 7hop during the off-season. Many heating and cooling manufacturers offer significant re#ates during seasonal sales promotions, and dealers may charge less for installation. +*. Investigate ne' technology carefully. ;ome innovations, li e convection ovens or argon&filled windows, may save energy and ma e life more convenient? others, such as commercial&grade itchen appliances, might #e merely e-pensive cosmetic enhancements. ++. ;oo/ for the 2?nergy7tar2 logo. This designation from the Environmental Brotection Agency means that the appliance e-ceeds minimum federal energy& use standards, usually #y a significant amount. 1,,. Don&t forget to as/ a$out 'arranties, service contracts, and delivery and installation costs. 1,1. @e sure to choose a reputa$le and /no'ledgea$le dealer. A good dealer should #e a#le to help you calculate energy savings and the pay#ac period, and he or she should offer you a range of #rands and prices.