Visit our website at www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com

Win a Butterball® Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer See Page 5

Keep your home warm without

turning up the heat

Linemen training program

Vote for these election night recipes

CelebratingNational Co-op Month

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

2 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA October 2018

Volume 71 • Issue 10E D I T O R

Ann Thelen

A R T D I R E C T O RJoel Clifton

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E X E C U T I V E V I C E P R E S I D E N TChuck Soderberg

D I R E C T O R O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N SErin Campbell

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R SSteve Seidl, Coon Rapids – President

Don Shonka, Independence – Vice PresidentLarry White, Mount Pleasant – Secretary/Treasurer

Roger Solomonson, Leland – Asst. Secretary/TreasurerGordon Greimann, Sheffield

Neal Heldt, MallardDarrell Jensen, Menlo

Marion Denger, Dows – NRECA RepresentativeCarmen Hosack, Harlan ________________________

Living with Energy in Iowa magazine (ISSN: 1935-7176) is published monthly by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, a not-for-profit organization representing Iowa’s member-owned local electric cooperatives. Association address: 8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992. The phrase Living with Energy in Iowa is a mark registered within the state of Iowa to the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. The magazine does not accept advertising.

Editorial Office: 8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992. Telephone: 515-276-5350. E-mail address: editor@livingwithenergyiniowa.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and length before publication. Living with Energy in Iowa magazine does not assume responsibility for unsolicited items.

Website: www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com

Postmaster: Send address changes to Living with Energy in Iowa magazine, 8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992. Periodicals Postage Paid at Des Moines, Iowa, and at additional mailing offices.

Change of Address: Every local electric cooperative maintains an independent mailing list of its members, so please send your change of address directly to your local electric cooperative’s office. Living with Energy in Iowa magazine cannot make an address change for you.

© Copyright 2018, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. No portion of the editorial, photographic or other content of Living with Energy in Iowa magazine or its website may be reproduced without written permission of the editor.

Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

Features

6 Celebrating National Co-op Month Darcy Dougherty Maulsby – an Iowa

author and electric cooperative member – shares the story of rural electrification powering kitchens and lives for decades.

8 Vote for election night recipes Just in time for election night parties, find

some of our readers’ favorite recipes. PLUS: Receive a $25 credit on your power bill if we include your chocolate-inspired recipe in a future issue.

10 Keep your home warm without turning up the heat

Beyond insulation, there are steps you can take to make your house more comfortable this winter.

C O N T E N T S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Favorites

3 Statewide Perspective Are you a co-op voter?

5 Editor’s Choice Contest Win a Butterball® Indoor

Electric Turkey Fryer!

14 Linemen Apprentice Program Powering important careers.

15 Out Back Perils of grandchildren.

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ON THE COVER

This month’s cover photo is courtesy of Kristi Anderson of Lehigh, Iowa. In this recent photo, her nephew Chris Richardson and his son Canton Richardson re-create a photo from 1996. In the 1996 cover photo (pictured to the right) Chris is a small boy walking with his dad James Richardson (Kristi’s brother-in-law). The Richardson family are members-owners of Prairie Energy Cooperative. Cooperative membership spans many generations!

www.iowaonecall.com

CLICKBEFOREYOU DIG

October 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 3

S T A T E W I D E P E R S P E C T I V E

Are you a co-op voter? Register, learn, vote!BY KEVIN CONDON

In the 2016 elections, rural turnout increased by more than a half-million voters nationwide – quite a feat, considering rural turnout had fallen by more than 18 percent from the 2008 presidential election to 2012. Iowa’s electric cooperatives are dedicated to building on the momentum from 2016 as we continue to partner with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to help keep voter turnout climbing in Iowa for this year’s midterm elections through the “Co-ops Vote” program.

Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan project of America’s electric co-ops, designed to inform co-op members on the key issues facing electric cooperatives. The project also encourages co-op members to support their co-ops and their local communities when they go to the polls.

The program does not endorse or recommend any candidates for election but simply strives to get people engaged, educated and motivated to vote. Co-ops Vote is a great opportunity to show concern for community – one of the seven Cooperative Principles – because informing member-owners about the power of their voice and vote ultimately helps communities. And, it ensures what we care about is reflected at the polls.

Just a few weeks ago, the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) and our Rural Power program helped promote National Voter Registration Day (NVRD). Appropriately, it fell on the same day that IAEC was carrying out our annual “fly-in” to Washington, D.C., where we take our message directly to legislators.

Held on the fourth Tuesday each September, NVRD is a national holiday which promotes voter

registration and voter awareness. Recent numbers from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office indicate that Iowa has seen approximately 250,000 newly registered voters since the beginning of 2015, which means 93 percent of eligible voters are registered. Yet, nearly 420,000 registered voters appeared to “stay home” on Election Day in 2016. On Election Day, which is Nov. 6, we want you to get out and vote!

If you aren’t registered to vote yet, don’t worry. Iowa allows for “same day” registration at the polls on Election Day so long as you can prove who you are (such as with an ID/Driver’s License) and where you live (with a bank statement or utility bill). However, we encourage you to register before Election Day to ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable experience when you carry out your civic privilege of voting. To find out if you’re registered to vote and to find more details about the registration process, go to the Iowa

Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.iowa.gov.

As you prepare to vote, what issues are important to you when evaluating local, state and federal candidates? Before heading to the ballot box, we hope you will consider your outlook on energy issues and how those candidates align with your views. We also hope that as you formulate your opinions on the issues, you will consider how different policies that may be implemented by the government could impact your co-op, your community and perhaps even your electric bill. Learn more about the issues affecting electric cooperatives at www.vote.coop.

As Election Day nears, we hope you’ll consider co-op priorities when you cast your ballot. We don’t care who you vote for – we just care that you vote! Kevin Condon is the director of government relations for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.

2%–3.8%

1%–1.9%

0.1%–0.9%NO INCREASE OR DECREASE

NO DATA

This data demonstrates where rural counties had a higher voter percentage turnout in 2016 than their urban and suburban counterparts.RURAL VOTE vs. URBAN VOTE

CO-OPS VOTE 2016 RURAL TURNOUT

4 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA October 2018

Q U O T E O F T H E M O N T H

“Protecting and maintaining the security and reliability of the grid is a top priority for our associations and our members. The electric sector takes seriously our role in protecting national security. We value Congress as a constructive partner in this endeavor.”

Excerpts from a Sept. 4 joint letter to U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) co-authored by Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Susan Kelly, CEO and president at the American Public Power Association; and Thomas Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute. The five-page letter detailed how members of each of their associations actively work to maximize security and protect the nation’s electric grid amid a growing threat of cyberattacks across various industry sectors.

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The search for a purposeful career can begin and end at your local electric cooperative.

This is an exciting time to be a part of the energy industry. Technology is continuously advancing, and consumers want more say in the way they manage their energy use. That means electric co-ops need a variety of skill sets to develop new technologies and infrastructure, keep the electric grid secure and power the lives and economies of our local communities.

Here are four reasons why electric cooperative careers offer a unique opportunity to make a difference:1. Member-led

Because consumer-members lead and own the organization, co-op employees can take comfort knowing that the loyalty of their employer is with those served by the cooperative.2. Locally owned

The best thing about a member-owned electric co-op is that its only priority is meeting the needs of the communities it serves.

C O - O P C A R E E R S

Four reasons co-op careers are uniqueBY PAUL WESSLUND

3. Variety of jobsThe more than 900 electric

co-ops in 47 states require a lot of different skill sets to keep the lights on. That means potential employment seekers could find work in construction, electrical equipment operation, engineering, customer service, communications and public relations, human resources, software analysis and vehicle maintenance, to name a few.

4. Guided by co-op principlesThe first modern co-op was

formed in 1844 and developed a set of principles that guide co-ops today. Those include voluntary, open membership; democratic control by the membership; members’ economic participation; autonomy and independence; education and training; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for community.

To learn more about electric co-op career opportunities, visit the Careers tab at www.iowarec.org.

When Mother Nature shows her force – whether it’s ice storms, tornadoes, flooding or hurricanes – cooperatives work together to restore electric services to the communities they serve. Cooperation among cooperatives is one of seven principles that guide every electric cooperative. Working in dangerous conditions from the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, this lineman wears a visual reminder of why safety is always the No. 1 priority. Many of Iowa’s electric cooperatives were on standby to assist with restoration efforts. However, mutual aid from nearby states provided adequate resources. Last fall, Iowa’s electric co-ops sent 46 linemen to help with power restoration efforts following Hurricane Irma.

October 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 5

Wyatt Tharp (left) and John Kruckenberg (center),

apprentice linemen with Midland Power Cooperative and Jim Wolfe

(right), job training and safety instructor with the Iowa Association

of Electric Cooperatives, provide a safety demonstration.

Just in time for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Just in time for the feast, we’re giving away a Masterbuilt Butterball XXL Digital Control Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer! Even when “Turkey Day” is over, you can make delicious and nutritious dinners every day of the year with this convenient cooker. Designed to be used indoors, it can hold a turkey up to 22 pounds, has variable temperature control and a digital control panel with a timer. You can fry using oil, or boil and steam with water.

The suggested retail price is approximately $240. For details go to www.amazon.com/Butterball-Digital-Indoor-Electric-Turkey/dp/B00OU6JZ9M.

Visit our website and win!Enter this month’s contest for the

Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer by visiting the Living with Energy in Iowa website at www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com no later than Oct. 31, 2018.

You must be a member of one of Iowa’s electric cooperatives to win. There’s no obligation associated with entering, we don’t share entrant information with anyone and multiple entries from the same account will be disqualified. The winner of the Amazon Echo Show in the August issue was Gary Steenblock from Prairie Energy Cooperative.

S A F E T Y M A T T E R S

As much as things change, many things stay the same. This is especially true when it comes to safety and power lines. Looking through our publication archives, we warned people about the dangers of shooting around electric equipment 50 years ago and again 25 years ago! With hunting season in full swing, never take aim when you may hit a power line or electric equipment. In addition, putting items on utility poles is illegal and creates serious safety hazards.

Staples, nails and tacks used to hang things – as well as the items themselves

F A R M P R O G R E S S S H O W E D I T O R ’ S C H O I C E C O N T E S T

Target practice?

Kara Boyle, marketing and business development specialist with Midland Power Cooperative, captured this perfect shot of the Touchstone Energy hot air balloon flying high over the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, on Aug. 29. The Farm Progress Show is the nation’s leading outdoor farm show. Iowa’s electric cooperatives were on-hand at the event sharing information about how to be safe around electricity and how to improve energy efficiency.

– pose dangers to cooperative line workers who must climb poles to restore or to perform routine maintenance. The nails, tacks and screws left behind can snag utility workers’ boots or puncture safety clothing, making line workers vulnerable to slipping or even electrocution.

In addition to being hazardous, tampering with utility poles can be costly. Posting signs or attaching other objects to utility poles violates many electric cooperatives’ electric tariffs. Individuals may be subject to disconnection and possible legal action.

Our magazine articles from 1968 and 1993.

6 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA October 2018

Now you’re cooking!

BY DARCY DOUGHERTY MAULSBY

Imagine your daily life without electricity – a reality that was common on most Iowa farms as late as the 1930s and 1940s.

It was a truth that struck me time and time again as I wrote my “Culinary History of Iowa” book, which details the evolution of Iowa’s delectable, distinctly Midwest cuisine. Many of these stories reflect the sobering realities of farm life before rural electrification.

Instead of turning a knob on your electric stove to cook a meal, you’d face the endless task of ensuring enough corncobs and wood to fire the cookstove. With no electric refrigerator, you’d be busy much of the summer and early fall canning and pickling foods to preserve them.

Rather than turn on the faucet to get all the water you need for cooking, cleaning and drinking, you may have to pump water by hand outdoors. If you were using water for bathing or laundry, then you’d be carrying heavy pails of

water and heating it on the stove, since you’d have no electric water heater, either.

Want ice cream to cool off on a hot day? Better make it yourself and eat it right away, since there were no electric freezers.

Forget turning on the electric air conditioning or an electric fan after a hard day’s work in the garden, the fields or the barn. In the winter, you’d have to bundle up and stay close to

the wood or coal stoves that were likely in the kitchen or living area, since there was no electric heat.

The physical requirements of housekeeping might help keep you warm, since cleaning a dirty floor required a broom or scrub brush – a far cry from a quick sweep with an electric vacuum. If by some miracle you had a little leisure time, you couldn’t just turn on a

lamp to read a book. A dim and dirty kerosene lamp would have to do.

Many historians acknowledge that farm women bore the heaviest burden of daily life without electricity. “We are told to be more sociable,” said an anonymous Iowa farm woman quoted in a 1915 U.S. Department of Agriculture bulletin called “Economic Needs of Farm Women.”

Cooking on an electric stove.

Cooperative member-owners receive the delivery of a new

electric stove.

Today, Darcy Dougherty Maulsby’s electric stove and oven are vital to making her award-winning recipes, including these molasses cookies.

October 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 7

Now you’re cooking!

BY DARCY DOUGHERTY MAULSBY

Editor’s Note: In celebration of October being National Cooperative Month, we’re looking back at the history of rural electrification and the vital role electric cooperatives continue to play in communities throughout Iowa.

“Why, we can hardly find time to visit a neighbor and are too tired on Sunday for church. A good rest would be a more cheerful prospect than any picnic.”

The electric circus comes to Iowa

As late as the mid-1930s, nine out of 10 rural homes in America had no electric service, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). There were literally two Americas, due to a divide that had been growing for decades.

U.S. cities and towns began connecting to the electric grid in the late 1880s and early 1890s. Residents in most rural towns in Iowa began had municipal electrical service by the early 1900s.

The drudgery of farm life in those pre-electricity years no doubt played a role in younger people leaving the farm for the towns and cities. In the depths of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive

Order No. 7037 in 1935 establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). By 1936, the Rural Electrification Act was passed and sparked a whole new era of locally owned rural electric cooperatives.

To help farm families learn about electricity and how to use it safely, REA hired advisors like Louisan Mamer, a home electrification specialist who had grown up on a farm in southern Illinois. Starting in 1937, Mamer and her colleagues traveled across Iowa and around the nation with their “electric circus.”

Marner’s first electric circus was at an electric cooperative in Iowa. “Having set up the tents [two large circus tents], on Monday night we would demonstrate lighting equipment,” Mamer recalled in a 1975 interview. “The next morning, we had a laundry equipment demonstration at about 10 a.m., and in the afternoon, we demonstrated small appliances. The

last evening, the home electrification specialist conducted a big cooking duel between two local men. That was a highlight of the whole program.”

By 1953, more than 90 percent of U.S. farms had electricity, according to the NRECA. While this changed farm life forever, I often wonder if women gained the most. Nebraska Senator George Norris, the legislative “father” of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, seemed to think so.

“I could close my eyes and recall the innumerable scenes of … the unending punishing tasks performed by hundreds of thousands of women, growing old prematurely; dying before their time; conscious of the great gap between their lives and the lives of those whom the accident of birth or choice placed in the towns and cities,” Norris wrote in his autobiography. “Why shouldn’t I have been interested in the emancipation of hundreds of thousands of farm women?”

Proud to be a co-op member-owner

I’m grateful that rural electrification continues to pay dividends for millions of rural residents. As a member-owner of Calhoun County Rural Electric Co-op (REC), I benefit every day from reliable electricity to power everything from my washing machine to my refrigerator to my smartphone charger and computer. I value their personalized service and their skilled line crew’s ability to get the electricity back on as quickly as possible after a storm knocks out the power.

It’s also interesting to see how my REC is investing in solar energy technology locally to find new ways to provide safe, renewable electricity. It’s a new chapter in the history of rural electrification, which continues to evolve to meet the needs of rural Iowa.

Darcy Dougherty Maulsby lives on a farm near Lake City and is the author of several non-fiction Iowa history books. Learn more at www.darcymaulsby.com.

Ironing was a chore made much easier by electricity.

Electric cooperatives are locally owned by the members we serve and governed by a board of directors who are members of the cooperative. Committed to powering lives and empowering communities, electric co-ops have been guided by seven core principles since the beginning:

5. Education training and information

6. Cooperation among cooperatives

7. Concern for community

1. Voluntary and open membership

2. Democratic member control

3. Members’ economic participation

4. Autonomy and independence

on the

8 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA October 2018

Blonde Brownies 2/3 cup melted butter 2 cups brown sugar 2 eggs 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with cooking spray. Combine butter and sugar, beat until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Stir into egg mixture. Add chocolate chips and nuts, batter will be stiff. Pour into pan. If desired, sprinkle more nuts and chocolate chips on top. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs. Let cool and cut into squares. Serves 24.

Ruth Van Zandbergen • Orange CityNorth West REC

Spinach Dip 1 package frozen chopped spinach, drained well 1 chopped tomato 1/4 teaspoon cumin 16 ounces thick and chunky salsa 16 ounces cream cheese 1/2 cup chopped green onion 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese

Mix ingredients together. Heat in a microwave until bubbly. Serve with crackers or bread cubes.

Marci Domnick • Rock Rapids • Lyon REC

Election Night Snack Mix 1 bag Honey Nut snack mix 1/4 cup dried blueberries 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds 2 cups white chocolate chips 1/2 cup M&M candies – red and blue

Combine the first four ingredients. Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave on high for 60-90 seconds then stir. Melt for an additional 30-60 seconds, if needed. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the snack mix and stir until well coated. Turn the mix out onto a large piece of wax paper. Sprinkle with red and blue M&Ms, then allow to stand at room temperature for about 1 hour to harden. To serve, break the mix into large chunks.

Courtney Walter • Exira • Guthrie County REC

Ham Balls & Sauce 11/4 pound ground ham 1 pound ground pork 1/2 pound ground beef 1 egg 11/2 cup graham cracker crumbs 1 cup milk 2 cans tomato soup 3/4 cup vinegar 2 cups brown sugar 2 teaspoons dry mustard Mix first six ingredients and roll into balls and place into baking dish. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Drain off grease. Top with sauce and bake or put in crockpot to warm. For the sauce: mix tomato soup, vinegar, brown sugar and dry mustard.

Annalee Buffington • Marshalltown • Consumers Energy

TIPLOWER THE TEMPWhen baking cookies, a lower temperature with the cookies baking longer will make cookies chewier on the inside while still crisp and crunchy on the outside.

October 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 9

EMAIL: recipes@livingwithenergyiniowa.com(Attach your recipe as a Word document or PDF to your email message.)

MAIL: RecipesLiving with Energy in Iowa magazine8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48Des Moines, IA 50322-2992

TIPBRIEFLY FREEZE, THEN GRINDCut meat into 1- to 2-inch chunks and place them in a single layer on a sheet tray or large plate in the freezer for about 15 minutes before grinding. Grind in batches no larger than a half pound for a 10-cup food processor.

TIPLESS MESSTo make dip clean up a breeze, use a disposable crockpot liner.

TIPSPRAY, THEN SCOOPWhen you’re measuring your peanut butter, make it easier on yourself by spraying your measuring cup with cooking spray, and then use a rubber spatula to scoop out the peanut butter from the jar.

Crockpot Sausage Cheese Dip 1 box of Velveeta cheese 1 pound ground cooked sausage 1 large can of pizza sauce

Combine all in crockpot and heat until melted thoroughly.

Rebecca Hancox • SeymourChariton Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies 2 sticks softened margarine 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup brown sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 21/4 cups flour 1 cup old fashioned instant oatmeal 2 teaspoons soda 1/8 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 12-ounce package chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the first five ingredients in a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes, don’t overbake. Cool for a few minutes on sheet. Move to rack for further cooling. Makes about 70 nice-sized cookies.

Betty Molln • Greenfield Farmers Electric Cooperative, Inc.

February is the month of love, and one thing we love is chocolate! Whether you bake a special dessert for your sweetheart or cookies for the kids, we’re looking for your favorite recipes that include chocolate! Maybe chocolate is even the secret ingredient in a family recipe. If we run your recipe in the magazine, we’ll send a $25 credit for your electric co-op to apply to your power bill. Recipes submitted also may be archived on our website at www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com.

The deadline is Oct. 31, 2018. Please include your name, address, telephone number, co-op name and the recipe category on all submissions.

Wanted: Chocolate IndulgencesThe Reward: $25 for every one we publish!

Red, White and Blue Berry Bars 1 cup butter 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups flour 11/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 can cherry pie filling 1 can blueberry pie filling

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time; beat well. Add vanilla and dry ingredients; beat well. Reserve 1/2 cup batter; pour remaining batter into greased 10 x 15-inch pan. Spread pie fillings over top. Drop remaining batter over top. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Drizzle with thin powdered sugar icing. Sprinkle with colored red and blue sugar on top.

Mary Gropper • Chelsea • T.I.P. REC

2%–3.8%

1%–1.9%

0.1%–0.9%NO INCREASE OR DECREASE

NO DATA

This data demonstrates where rural counties had a higher voter percentage turnout in 2016 than their urban and suburban counterparts.RURAL VOTE vs. URBAN VOTE

CO-OPS VOTE 2016 RURAL TURNOUT

Your vote counts! See Page 3 for details

10 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA October 2018

When winter’s bitter winds blow and temperatures drop, it may still feel chilly indoors – even with the heat turned up. If you’ve added more insulation, there are additional steps you can take to make the house more comfortable this winter.

When we talk about comfort in our homes, we usually think about where the thermostat is set. But, there’s more to the picture than just the indoor temperature.

Radiant heatAn important piece

of the comfort puzzle is radiant heat, which transfers heat from a warm surface to a colder one. A person sitting in a room that’s 70 degrees can still feel chilly if there’s a cold surface nearby, like a single-pane window, a hardwood floor or an exterior wall. Covering these cold surfaces can help. Try using area rugs, wall quilts or tapestries,

To make sure your home is being warmed effectively and efficiently, start each season off with a furnace inspection conducted by a professional.

bookcases and heavy curtains to help prevent heat loss and make your home feel more comfortable. Keep in mind, radiant heat can really work in your favor. A dark-colored tile floor that receives several hours of direct sun can retain heat during the day and radiate it into the room during the evening.

Air movementAnother possible cause

of discomfort during the

winter is air movement. We recognize this when weather forecasts report chill factor, which is a calculation of air temperature and wind speed.

Moving air makes us feel colder, which is why we use fans in the summer. But during the winter, cold, outdoor air can infiltrate our homes.

Minimizing air leaks

On average, a typical home loses about half its air every hour, and that amount can increase when outdoor temperatures are extremely cold and the wind is blowing. In this case, the best way to keep your home toasty is to minimize air leaks. You can easily locate air leaks in your home with a blower door test, which is typically conducted by an energy auditor. These are some of the most common spots air leaks occur:

Penetrations and

cracks around windows and doors

Exterior cracks in brickwork and siding

Plumbing and wiring penetrations from the exterior to the interior of the home

Mail slots or pet doorsA variety of products

like caulk, weather stripping, outlet cover gaskets and dryer vent covers can be used to seal these leaks.

A fireplace can also be a major source of air leakage. If you don’t use the fireplace, you can seal the opening or install an inflatable chimney balloon. Before using the fireplace, consider this: unless you have a high-efficiency insert, your fireplace will suck heated air from the room out through the chimney. Always close the fireplace flue when it’s not in use.

Heat distributionYour pursuit of comfort

While a fireplace may warm a small area of your home, it can also suck heated air from the room out through the chimney. Always close the fireplace flue when a fire is not burning.

Keep your home warm without turning up the heatBY PAT KEEGAN AND BRAD THIESSEN

Photo: NREL.gov

October 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 11

Quick Tips to Avoid High Winter Bills10Looking to lower your bills this winter? Use the 10 tips below to conserve energy.

Seal air leaks and insulate well to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home.

Reduce waste heat by installing a programmable thermostat.

Turn off lights when not in use.

Lower your water heater temperature. The Dept. of Energy recommends using the warm setting (120 degrees) during fall and winter months.

Unplug electronics like kitchen appliances and TVs when you’re away.

Open blinds and curtains during the day to allow sunlight in to warm your home.

Close blinds and curtains at night to keep cold, drafty air out.

Use power strips for multiple appliances, and turn off the main switch when you’re away from home.

Wash clothes in cold water, and use cold-water detergent whenever possible.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, which use at least 75 percent less energy.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy

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StraightTalk® Images License Policy NRECA voting members (“Members”) have the right to use, distribute, reproduce, publish, and publicly display in any media whatsoever (“Use”) any graphic contained in the Straight Talk library (“Graphics”) for the purpose of promoting their business. Members are permitted to modify Graphics for the purpose of incorporating their respective names and logos within a Graphic. Members are also permitted to resize or alter the layout of a Graphic to fit the dimensional needs of a particular publication; however, Members shall neither crop nor edit the Graphics as to substantially change or modify the original design. Members are not permitted to Use only portions of a Graphic. Members also may not sub-license, sell, lease, or rent Graphics to third parties. Members must include any attribution or source language if any is contained in the original file. If you have a questions pertaining to this Policy, please contact Abby Berry at abby.berry@nreca.coop or 571-319-6231.

Full Page: 7” x 10”

should also include a careful look at your home’s heating system. Is it distributing heat evenly and efficiently? Forced-air systems distribute air through supply ducts and registers. Small rooms may only have one register, but large rooms could have several. You may find some supply registers are blowing copious amounts of warm air and others little at all.

Ideally, every room should have return air registers. If you see possible shortcomings with your forced-air system, enlist the help of a certified contractor that really knows how to improve ductwork.

Inspections, filters and cleaning

Ensure your furnace is running at peak efficiency by scheduling an annual inspection. Check your filter monthly and replace or clean it as necessary. If you heat your home with radiators, bleed them at the beginning of the season so they flow more efficiently.

Beyond that, you can always warm yourself by wearing heavier clothing, doing some light exercise throughout the day, and snuggling with a pet or under a blanket.

By taking some of these small steps, we hope you will enjoy a more comfortable winter!

This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency.

During the winter, covering cold surfaces like hardwood floors can improve comfort. An area rug can be visually appealing while helping retain indoor heat.

Quick Tips to Avoid High Winter Bills10Looking to lower your bills this winter? Use the 10 tips below to conserve energy.

Seal air leaks and insulate well to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home.

Reduce waste heat by installing a programmable thermostat.

Turn off lights when not in use.

Lower your water heater temperature. The Dept. of Energy recommends using the warm setting (120 degrees) during fall and winter months.

Unplug electronics like kitchen appliances and TVs when you’re away.

Open blinds and curtains during the day to allow sunlight in to warm your home.

Close blinds and curtains at night to keep cold, drafty air out.

Use power strips for multiple appliances, and turn off the main switch when you’re away from home.

Wash clothes in cold water, and use cold-water detergent whenever possible.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, which use at least 75 percent less energy.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy

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StraightTalk® Images License Policy NRECA voting members (“Members”) have the right to use, distribute, reproduce, publish, and publicly display in any media whatsoever (“Use”) any graphic contained in the Straight Talk library (“Graphics”) for the purpose of promoting their business. Members are permitted to modify Graphics for the purpose of incorporating their respective names and logos within a Graphic. Members are also permitted to resize or alter the layout of a Graphic to fit the dimensional needs of a particular publication; however, Members shall neither crop nor edit the Graphics as to substantially change or modify the original design. Members are not permitted to Use only portions of a Graphic. Members also may not sub-license, sell, lease, or rent Graphics to third parties. Members must include any attribution or source language if any is contained in the original file. If you have a questions pertaining to this Policy, please contact Abby Berry at abby.berry@nreca.coop or 571-319-6231.

Full Page: 7” x 10”

12 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA October 2018

WHO POWERS YOU?

Together, let’s celebrate the power of human connections

Inspired by someone making a difference in your community? Tell their story and they could win a cash prize.

Visit whopowersyou.com/enter between 10/1/18 and 11/4/18 and submit a photo of your nominee. Then tell us why that person inspires you and how they make a difference in your co-op community.

TOGETHER, LET’S CELEBRATE THE POWER OF HUMAN CONNECTIONS

As the national network of more than 730 co-ops, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives value the people who elevate and energize our communities.

That’s why we are launching a contest to honor inspirational community members across the country.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on the impact they have on the community. All entries must be submitted by November 4, 2018. Winners will be announced December 2018. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

VISIT WHOPOWERSYOU.COM FOR FULL CONTEST RULESSponsored by Touchstone Energy Cooperative, Inc., 4301 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203. ©2018.

WhoPowersYou.com/Enter$5,000 GRANDPRIZE

$2,000SECOND PLACE

$1,500THIRD PLACE

$500HONORABLE MENTION

October 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 13

F R O M O U R R E A D E R S

Memories of REC trip to nation’s capital in 1958 BY MARY HOLT YEARNS

Sixty years ago, I could not have foreseen the major impact the REC trip to Washington, D.C., would have on my future career as an extension housing specialist at Iowa State University. The unexpected spark came from a visit to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. A tour of the kitchen research laboratories at the Center especially piqued my interest.

When electrification came to rural Iowa in the late 1940s and early 1950s, farm families were able to have lighting, refrigeration and running water that allowed them to remodel their homes to create “modern” kitchens and bathrooms. USDA home economists in Beltsville were at the forefront of designing and testing kitchens that would be efficient and functional for these rural families. For example, they tested different kitchen counter heights to determine which ones were optimal for comfort and performance. The results of their research were published in a series of pamphlets on various aspects of kitchen and home design that were widely distributed by extension offices throughout the country.

One of the pamphlets I brought home from the trip was “A Step-Saving U Kitchen.” My mother followed the ideas in the pamphlet faithfully as we remodeled our farmhouse kitchen. And, I kept the pamphlet in my files as I studied housing design at Iowa State University (ISU) and was later hired as a state extension housing specialist. My 38-year career at ISU included teaching home planning and remodeling workshops, writing extension publications on various housing topics, conducting research on designing kitchens that are functional for people with disabilities, and creating interactive exhibits to help people experience the benefits of

universal design.Forty-one years after the 1958 trip,

I intersected again with the electric cooperatives. This time, I was sharing information about “Designing a Home You Can Live in Forever” in the March 1999 issue of the Iowa REC News. The article featured the “Home for All Ages,” a three-room traveling exhibit that I designed with an ISU colleague,

As the Iowa REC Youth Tour approached its 60th anniversary earlier this year, past participants shared wonderful – and significant – memories about the trip with Shelly York, the Youth Tour trip coordinator at the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.

March 7, 2018

Dear Shelly:

I was so surprised to hear from you and to learn that you were interested in my memories of the original REC-sponsored trip to Washington, D.C., in 1958. Looking again at the program reminded me of how honored I felt to be selected for this first-time tour.

Despite my awe with the history and majesty of the nation’s capital, my most lasting memory from the trip turned out to be a visit to the USDA Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. I am enclosing a more detailed description of what I recall from that visit.

Sincerely,

Mary H. Yearns

which showcased universal design — as well as equipment, furnishings and gadgets for people of all ages. The exhibit traveled far and wide in Iowa and across the Midwest — north to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, east to the Chicago Convention Center, west to Grand Island, Nebraska, and south to St. Louis.

I will always be grateful to Rideta Electric, Inc. in Mt. Ayr (now Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative) for sponsoring the wonderful trip to Washington, D.C., that ignited my lifelong interest in housing design.

Mary H. Yearns, Ph.D., is a professor emerita and retired extension housing specialist, Iowa State University Department of Human Development & Family Studies.

14 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA October 2018

T R A I N I N G P R O G R A M

a. Total no. of copiesb. Paid/requested

circulation: (1) Mailed outside-

county mail subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541

c. Total paid distributiond. Free or nominal rate

distribution (3) Free or nominal rate

copies mailed at other classes through the USPS

e. Total free or nominal rate distribution

f. Total distributiong. Copies not distributedh. Totali. Percent paid

55,92655,249

55,249

569

56955,818

10855,926

98.98%

54,86254,224

54,224

571

57154,795

6754,862

98.96%

16. Electronic Copy Circulation 0 017. Publication of Statement of Ownership

will be printed in the October 2018 issue of this publication.

18. Signature and title of editor, publisher, business manager or owner: Charles Soderberg, Executive Vice President (9/12/2018). I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete.

Average no. copies each issue during preceding

12 months

No. copies of single issue

published nearest to filing date

\

Iowa’s electric cooperatives offer DOL-certified linemen apprenticeship program

Recently, the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives began offering a four-year linemen apprenticeship training program. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)-certified program includes 7,000 hours of online and hands-on training, study and tests.

“We saw a need for this type of program for electric cooperatives in Iowa, and worked to implement this rigorous training effort,” says John Dvorak, director of safety and loss control for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Working on power lines is an unforgiving business and specialized training is needed. Today, almost every state has an apprenticeship training program.”

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly skilled careers. Workers benefit from apprenticeships by receiving a skills-based education that prepares them for good-paying jobs.

Apprenticeship training programs help electric cooperatives recruit and retain this critical workforce.

The electric cooperative linemen apprenticeship training is available to interested cooperative employees, and the class size isn’t limited. Each individual cooperative pays the annual tuition for the program, and the employee must be supervised by a journeyman lineman or someone with the equivalent training. Currently, 50 Iowa linemen are going through the program.

“Once an individual graduates from the program, they are qualified to work anywhere in the world as a certified journeyman lineman,” Dvorak explains. “However, the ultimate benefit is for the employee and his or her family. Our goal is to train them at the highest level, so they can work as safely and efficiently as possible. Making sure they can go home safe and sound each night is what’s important.”

United States Postal ServiceStatement of Ownership, Management and Circulation1. Publication title: Living with Energy in Iowa2. Publication number: 1935-71763. Filing date: 8/31/20184. Issue frequency: Monthly5. Number of issues published annually: 126. Annual subscription price: N/A 7. Complete mailing address of known office

of publication: 8525 Douglas, Suite 48, Des Moines, Polk County, IA 50322-2992 Contact person: Charles Soderberg Telephone: 515-276-53508. General business office of publisher:

Same as above.9. Full names and complete mailing addresses

of publisher, editor and managing editor: Publisher – Charles Soderberg, EVP

Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, 8525 Douglas, Suite 48, Des Moines, Polk County, IA 50322-2992; Editor – Ann Thelen, same address as above; Managing Editor – N/A.

10. Owner: Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, 8525 Douglas, Suite 48, Des Moines, Polk County, IA 50322-2992

11. Known bondholders, mortgagees and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None

12. Tax status: The purpose, function and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during the preceding 12 months.

13. Publication title: Living with Energy in Iowa14. Issue date for circulation data: August 201815. Extent and Nature of Circulation:

October 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 15

Last weekend our two grandsons, ages 4 and 2, stayed the day with us. It’s been four days since that time, and I’m still tired. I continue to pick up little plastic animals in odd places. My couch cushions are still off the couch because they were part of a blanket fort. And my husband, Kent, asked me why there were two toy monster trucks on the bathroom sink.

These kids are “easy” ones. They don’t cry when their parents drop them off. They aren’t hard to get to sleep. They’re not picky eaters. They’re just full of energy and remind me of Energizer Bunnies who never wind down.

The morning started well enough. They arrived at our house with breakfast in them already. We played outside and wore them down enough that they went to bed in the afternoon without a struggle.

After the 2-year-old ran the trash compactor 22 times straight, my nerves were a little fraught. The older grandson pulled his socks off at some point along the way; we still haven’t found them. When they played a pounding duet on my new piano, it reminded me of why I haven’t paid to have it tuned lately. Our dog, Monte, followed them around for several hours, eating up everything they dropped, from splotches of yogurt to saltines, to goldfish crackers.

One of the boys hauled a box of cheese crackers into the blanket fort. That was followed by a bag of cookies. I heard unabated crunching and crackling and the definite sound of crackers being smashed into the carpet.

At this point, I didn’t care – I knew where they were, they were quiet, and they weren’t fighting.

I’m not one to get upset about a dirty house, especially when it

O U T B A C K

comes from something as adorable as grandkids. But the amount of energy to keep up with two miniature livewires is unbelievable.

We had our children young, in our 20s. Today, it seems nothing for women to have children in their 30s or 40s … and for men, even later. The thought of being 40 and chasing a toddler or getting up at 3 a.m. with a child in the throes of night terrors makes me tired just thinking of it. My hat is off to those folks who do it every day.

Right now, we have just two grandsons. But, we have hopes for more from our other two sons and their spouses. How we’ll handle six or

seven remains to be seen. My mom used to take all eight of her grandkids camping. She gave them the camper, and she slept next to it in a tent. She says looking out the tent flap at 2 a.m. and seeing the entire camper shaking from a boisterous game of “Spoons” convinced her she’d made the right decision.

So, I’ll enjoy my two babies as long as I can. As I glanced over to the corner of the living room; however, I saw Monte quietly vomiting in the corner. It looked like cheese crackers.

Valerie Van Kooten grew up on an Iowa farm and loves writing about everyday things that affect all of us. She and her husband have three sons and two grandsons.

Best in class service is our superpower. We’re a local, not-for-profit electric cooperative. We don’t have customers, we have members. People aren’t just our number one priority, they’re the reason we’re here.

To learn more about the power of the cooperative difference, visit TouchstoneEnergy.com

YOUR ENERGY SUPERHEROES

YOUR SOURCE OF POWER. AND INFORMATION.