Energy

It's a hard life on a dairy farm. “My alarm goes at 2:00,” says Mary Jane Miller with Miller Dairy Farm just outside of Hutchinson.   It's the only life she's known for the last thirty years.   “I have always said cows remind me a lot of people and people remind me of cows.” Click here for photos of the chocolate feed And on the Miller Dairy Farm that includes their diet. “Here are some cherries and random chocolate pieces,” says Orville Miller as he unloads the farm's latest truckload of chocolate.

By Megan Strader (WICHITA, Kan.) If you've been thinking for awhile that it's time to replace a hot water heater or a furnace for something a little more energy efficient, there may no a better time than in 2009. Starting January first certain renovations to your house could earn you a tax credit come 2010. "I think it motivates people to do upgrades they might not otherwise do, which eventually is a benefit to everybody," says Wess Galyon, President and Ceo, Wichita Builders Association.

The deadline is just days away, but it's still not too late to participate in the federal tax credit for energy efficiency. "It's free tax money," said President of Northstar Comfort Services Jeff Boone. The credit offers a 30% rebate, up to $1,500 for home improvement things like energy efficient windows, heating and cooling units, and water heaters. While there may not be enough time to do those bigger things, there are some things you can still do to take advantage of the credit, including weather stripping and adding insulation.

Freshman congressman Mike Pompeo from Kansas' Fourth District has been named to two subcommittees of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Officials with Pompeo's office say he will serve on the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.       According to Pompeo's office, the Energy and Power subcommittee deals with issues including national energy policy, renewable resources, energy regulation, utility issues and even regulation of nuclear facilities.

There are only two in the country and Wichita is home to one of them. This week, a new energy efficient Wal-Mart opens in northern Wichita. Dubbed the "HE.2," the building uses 25 percent less energy than a typical Wal-Mart Supercenter. Highlights of the design include:    -Dozens of skylights -Lights that automatically dim when sun shines through -Circulating water that is used to heat and cool the building.  The same system is used in the coolers reducing refrigerant use by up to 90 percent.

by Jennifer Searle (GREENSBURG, Kan.) The small Kansas town leveled by a tornado takes another step in rebuilding green. Today the city of Greensburg, Kansas Power Pool and John Deere Renewables announced plans for a Greensburg Wind Farm. Ten windmills are planned.  Those behind the project say it will be able to supply the whole town with energy. Groundbreaking on the farm could happen this summer.  Operation could begin next year

We all know the frustration, you're in the middle of a call and your cell phone's battery dies.  But a student at Kansas State University hopes to give your phone or laptop a little energy boost. Steven Klankowski is developing new materials to increase the energy capacity of batteries in cell phones and computers.  He says it could lead to fewer batteries inside devices and it could make them smaller and lighter. "What we see in everyday life is just the electricity coming out, but the chemistry inside is what i'm working to try to improve.  We need to use iPod, iPad, notebook computers, all these need good batteries so you can run for longer time and also reduce the weight," Klankowski said.

Name:  Ty Masterson Office Sought:  State Senate Distict 16 Political Party:  Republican Website:  www.tymasterson.net Education:  Graduated from Augusta HS, attended Butler Co. Community College, K-State, Wichita State University      Civic Activities:  Andover City Councilman, precinct committeeman, 4 th District Republican Delegate, Republican State Committee member; Member,...

The city of Wellington is "taking charge," and it's starting to add up. The Lunchbox Diner is sporting some brand new efficient lightbulbs, using a fraction of the energy and eventually saving the business money. "I'm sure it has but it's just not showing up. But just the savings in lightbulbs is good," explains Linda Smith, the diner's owner. It's all part of a challenge for Wellington businesses and homes to become more energy efficient. " "We've swapped out over 7,000 lightbulbs so far and we've had six people, four people already receive rebates on new air- conditioning and heating units and we have two more pending so I think we're going well.

Westar Energy wants customers to be on alert for imposters. The electric utility says it received a report of a man claiming to be a Westar Energy employee going door-to-door in the Derby area. The imposter is trying to access homes saying he's performing home electricity audits. Westar says the man does not work for them or any of their partner companies. The company says all Westar Energy workers wear clothing bearing the Westar logo and carry company identification. One of the men was described as approximately 40 years of age, 6 feet tall, and 200 lbs. The men were driving a newer gray or black truck with an extended cab. If someone comes to your door claiming to be from Westar, the company says you should ask them for identification.

Many homeowners have been turning down the heat as the temperatures rise in the mild winter. Still, several residents tell Eyewitness News their latest electric bill nearly doubled. Jim Keazer, Westar Energy customer, said he was shocked to see his bill jumped considerably from previous months. He said his bill was $100 more than what he normally pays in a two bedroom townhouse. "I haven't changed a single thing," Keazer said. "We keep our thermostat set to 68 degrees. I haven't bought any brand new appliances.

A long-term wind energy project at Fort Hays State University finally becomes reality. Friday FHSU president Dr. Edward Hammond said a contract was signed and work will begin soon to install two wind turbines on campus. Officials say the system will go into operation by June of 2013. The project has been in the works for six years. The university says the turbines will mean energy savings between $600,000 to $1 million a year. The final cost of the project is estimated at $8.8 million to $9 million.

Warning that tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, governors in wind energy states are calling on Congress to renew an expiring tax break.     Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R), Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R), Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) said at a teleconference Tuesday that uncertainty over the future of the wind energy production tax credit already has hurt the industry - which employs 75,000 people and drives more than $10 billion a year in economic development.

We all know the frustration, you're in the middle of a call and your cell phone's battery dies.  But a student at Kansas State University hopes to give your phone or laptop a little energy boost. Steven Klankowski is developing new materials to increase the energy capacity of batteries in cell phones and computers.  He says it could lead to fewer batteries inside devices and it could make them smaller and lighter. "What we see in everyday life is just the electricity coming out, but the chemistry inside is what i'm working to try to improve.  We need to use iPod, iPad, notebook computers, all these need good batteries so you can run for longer time and also reduce the weight," Klankowski said.

What ended up being a minor inconvenience for a lot of people could have been a major disaster in South Wichita. Westar Energy shut off electricity to 2,500 customers for about an hour.  That's after thieves scaled the fence and stole copper out of the transformer at the substation along South Broadway. A Westar spokesman says if a maintenance crew hadn't noticed the damage Thursday morning, the transformer would have likely blown up with the increasing power demand during the afternoon.  He says that would have knocked out power to the area for a week.  Nearby resident Paul Smith says that would have been disasterous.

Westar Energy Tuesday announced earnings of $61 million, or $0.48 per share, for the second quarter 2012 compared with earnings of $44 million, or $0.38 per share, for the second quarter 2011. Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were $89 million, or $0.70 per share, compared with $75 million, or $0.66 per share, for the same period in 2011. Per share results for both periods in 2012 reflect additional shares outstanding as a result of the company having issued shares to fund capital investments.

A Florida school district bans energy drinks from campus. Many districts have scaled back sodas on campus to cut down on sugar, but few have targeted energy drinks because of the high levels of caffeine.   Energy drinks, like Monster and Red Bull, contain about 200 milligrams of caffine. That's the same as 3 cups of coffee. Monster advises a limit of one can every 4 hours, and no more than 3 per day. For some teens, that can be too much. That's why the school board in Manatee County, Florida voted unanimously Monday to ban energy drinks.

Life is hard on a dairy farm. “My alarm goes at 2:00,” says Mary Jane Miller with Miller Dairy Farm just outside of Hutchinson. It's the only life she's known for the last thirty years. “I have always said cows remind me a lot of people and people remind me of cows.” And on the Miller Dairy Farm that includes their diet. “Here are some cherries and random chocolate pieces,” says Orville Miller as he unloads the farm's latest truckload of chocolate.