Energy

Press Release Governor Mark Parkinson May 14th, 2009 Governor Mark Parkinson has named Troy Findley as Kansas' Lieutenant Governor. "A Lieutenant Governor must meet two critical criteria: first, this person has to be ready at a moment's notice to assume the responsibility of Governor; and second, that person and I will need to work well together for the benefits of all Kansans. I'm proud to say that Troy Findley exemplifies these qualities," said Parkinson.

Linda Cooper knows how to entertain almost any child.  When she's at work as a school bus monitor for children with special needs, she relies on her phone to help her out. "I have a couple of autistic kids that if they start getting agitated, I'll put on some mellow music and it just calms them right back down,” Linda said. Linda's phone works just as long as she does. "My phone is pretty much being used from 6:30 in the morning until about 4:30 in the afternoon,” Linda said.

You see the EnergyGuide labels on all types of appliances. They tell you how much electricity an appliance uses, based on tests required by the government. Machines that do well qualify for an Energy Star. But can you rely on it? Not necessarily when you're shopping for a refrigerator, according to Consumer Reports . In its energy tests, refrigerators generally use about 20 percent more energy than it says on their yellow EnergyGuide label. That's because the tests are tougher, but Consumer Reports believes they better reflect how you'd actually use a refrigerator.

Soaking, sultry weather has driven dehumidifier sales up at a time when the appliance industry as a whole is down 25 percent. If you're in the market for a dehumidifier, Consumer Reports has the information you need so you don't get soaked at the store. Tougher environmental regulations are forcing manufacturers to build greener dehumidifiers. Most manufacturers are using a new refrigerant, which is less damaging to the ozone layer. And Consumer Reports tests show that these new, ozone-friendly dehumidifiers are just as good, if not better, at removing humidity, than older models.

When it comes to buying energy-efficient lightbulbs, you have new choices. LED bulbs are just hitting store shelves now. They claim to last five times longer than CFLs and 25 times longer than incandescents. Consumer Reports took a first look at one of the newest LEDs, the Cree CR6, to see how it stacks up. It's very similar to an incandescent bulb, but it doesn't get hot and it uses less energy. Consumer Reports' testers have the bulb burning continuously. The Cree CR6's manufacturer says the bulb will last a whopping 50,000 hours!

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.

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation has cancelled its energy emergency for Thursday. The company asked customers serviced by Lane-Scott, Pioneer, Southern Pioneer, Prairie Land, Victory, Western, and Wheatland Electric cooperatives to conserve power Thursday morning. Sunflower says normal power usage can resume.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is proposing a comprehensive energy policy she says will help boost the use of renewable energy in Kansas. Sebelius told reporters Friday her legislative proposal won't include any plans for a coal-fired energy plant in western Kansas. She said the state should wait to see what rules and regulations the new Congress and the Obama administration will impose on coal plants. Her proposal allows Kansans to generate their own electricity through net metering, which enables customers to use their own generation and effectively sell back the extra electricity they produce.

(COLWICH, Kan.) The city of Colwich is lighting the way towards energy efficiency. Westar Energy kicked off its Colwich Switch Saturday. As part of a pilot project, the company gave 500 homeowners 6 compact florescent light bulbs. It will spend the next 12 months tracking the towns energy consumption. Westar hopes to see a decline. Compact florescent light bulbs use 75% less energy and lasts eight to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Westar says if residents use all six bulbs they receive, they will save about $30 a year and it will help the environment.

The extreme cold took its toll on a major utility outlet Thursday as Sunflower Electric issued an "energy emergency". They asked customers to reduce their usage and conserve energy. Sunflower Electric Power helps power the Ellsworth correctional facility. Since it is a large client, the prison took notice. Officials say they have been trying to cut back on energy by installing energy efficient light bulbs and monitoring temperature throughout the living units. "We have already gone through the last four or five years redoing everything we do to conserve as much energy as possible," says Todd Britton of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility.