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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

'Impact Parties' Teach Energy Efficiency for the Home

"Impact Parties" show residents how to save money and specific ways to operate a more energy efficient home.

There are jewelry parties, purse parties, "sell your gold" parties and now: "impact parties." Wheaton residents can host impact parties through Energy Impact Illinois, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, ComEd and Nicor, to learn how their homes can be more energy efficient and how to save money, according to the City of Wheaton. At each party, an energy contractor conducts a brief energy assessment of a home, informs homeowners of where homes lose energy and options to stop that loss, and share the results with guests. The contractors use the latest technology in the building science world, such as blower doors and infrared cameras that take thermal images to make inefficiencies visual for guests. There is also information …

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

How to Keep the Power on When Storms Hit

Natural gas generators are sparing homeowners the agony of losing power and their cool during this summer's many storms.

The thunderstorms that left thousands of residents without power this summer have prompted an increase in homeowners to install standby natural gas generators to avoid being left in the dark—and heat—again. Nicor Gas service representatives have noticed since late April, and most recently this July, an uptick in requests for gas meter upgrades to accommodate natural gas generators in DuPage, Lake and western Cook counties, said Nicor Gas spokesperson Richard Caragol.  Local generator dealers agree their business has spiked in the last several weeks because of weather-related power outages in the suburbs, but they are quick to note generator sales and installations have been increasing over the past few years. “We used to do one …

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