Accidents can be prevented by practicing safety around electric appliances, tools, and power lines. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) offers these tips for safety when working with electricity, indoors and outdoors in recognition of May being National Electrical Safety Month.

Indoor safety:

• Check to make sure all electric cords are free of fraying or cracking. Replace any cords that may be damaged.
• When unplugging appliances, always pull from the plug, not the cord.
• Avoid using extension cords, especially for a long period of time. Do not string extension cords together, and make sure that the appliances do not exceed the amperage capability of the extension cord.
• Unplug appliances when they are not in use.
• Keep all electric appliances away from sinks, baths, and other water sources. If an appliance falls into water, never reach in to get it.
• Never use a metal object to dislodge something from an electric appliance.
• Make sure all electric plugs fit securely into the outlet. Never try to force a plug into an outlet, or use another object to make the plug fit.
• Avoid overloading an outlet with too many appliances.

Outdoor safety:

• Downed power lines are often caused by thunderstorms or other severe weather. Always treat a downed power line as if it were live, and do not touch it or any objects around it. If you see a downed power line, contact the police department, fire department, or your electric company immediately.
• Keep all ladders, scaffolding, and tools at least 10 feet away from any overhead power lines. For high-voltage lines, allow even more clearance. Remember that overhead power lines may not be insulated like normal electric cords, so you should never touch an overhead line.
• Use clean, dry wood or fiberglass ladders around electric lines instead of metal.
• When installing a satellite dish on a roof, allow a distance of at least 1.5 times the length of the dish away from any power line. If the dish falls during installation, do not attempt to catch it.
• Before beginning a project that requires digging, call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) at 8-1-1 to have underground electric and utility wires marked. You should call at least 48 hours before digging.
• Select low-growing plants and shrubs that will not grow high enough to touch overhead power lines. If you are landscaping near an electric transformer, plant at least 10 feet away from it.
• Don’t attempt to trim trees or shrubs that are growing near power lines. Call the local electric company if there are trees growing too close to a power line.
• Don’t use electric powered lawn tools in wet conditions.
• Always wear rubber-soled shoes or boots when using electric lawn tools. Never operate an electric tool barefoot.
• Never allow children to climb trees that are touching electric lines.
• Never allow children to fly kites, balloons, or other toys near power lines. If a flying toy becomes tangled in a power line, do not attempt to retrieve it. Instead, call your local electric company for assistance.

Accidents:

• If someone receives an electric shock, do not touch the victim because you could receive a shock. Immediately turn off the power source and call for medical assistance.
• If an electrical appliance catches on fire, do not try to put the fire out with water. Unplug the appliance, turn off the fuse or circuit, and use a fire extinguisher approved for use on electrical fires.
• If you are in a car and come in contact with a downed power line, stay in the car and call for help. If you need to get out of the car, jump away from the car and do not touch both the car and the ground at the same time. Immediately call for help, and do not provide physical assistance to anyone who may still be in the car.
• By keeping these safety tips in mind, you can prevent electrical accidents from happening and be prepared to respond if an accident occurs.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business, and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe, and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative.

View this article in it’s entirety on the PUCO website - http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/OHPUC-7a51b7

Eventually everyone will have to replace their T12 lighting, but there is only one more month left to replace this inefficient lighting and receive the T12 incentive.  A lighting retrofit from this inefficient lighting will result in energy savings and also will be eligible for a custom rebate at any point.  On top of this, if you complete a T12 retrofit before June 30^th you will receive an additional incentive through your utility.  An example of this program is with American Electric Power (AEP), they are currently offering $3 per T12 lamp that is replaced with more efficient technology until June 30^th.  This incentive is on top of the savings that would be created and realized through your electricity bill.

We would like to remind you that this technology will need to be replaced in the near future no matter what, wouldn’t you like to be incentivized for it while the opportunity is still available? Not sure what lighting technology you are currently using at your facility? Plug Smart can come out for free and make sure that you are taking full advantage of all existing opportunities.

Read more about the AEP T12 Incentives – https://www.aepohio.com/save/programs/T12Lighting.aspx

Contact us today! EnergySavings@plugsmart.com

There are thousands of ways in which we can do our part to make this earth a better place, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, reducing waste, and changing the way we eat, just to name a few.  Plug Smart’s main focus is energy efficiency and renewable energy, we have done our part over the past several years and we plan on continuing on this path for a very long time.  Making buildings more energy efficient is one of the most cost effective and easiest ways to better our earth.  Not only will you save money on your utility bills and get new technology, but you will also reduce harmful emissions.  One of the most simple and cost effective changes to make is lighting, which generates savings through reduction in kilowatts and maintenance, while also providing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide reductions.  While lighting is a quick and easy fix that makes a big difference, heating and cooling your facility accounts for over half of a typical facility’s energy use.  The temperature in Ohio is finally turning the corner and while we are all excited for an actual spring it can only mean one thing, air conditioners will be kicking on soon.  It is always a good idea to make sure that your HVAC is operating optimally and you have taken all provisions to ensure you aren’t wasting unnecessary amounts of energy.

In the public sector alone, our team has helped over 43 million square feet of space become more energy efficient through a variety of different projects.  These projects have resulted in a reduction of carbon emissions of nearly 16,000 metric tons annually and a nearly $300 million reduction in utility and maintenance bills. This reduction in carbon emissions every year equates to over 36,000 barrels of oil being burned, over 3,000 cars on the road, nearly 1.8 million gallons of gas being consumed, over 100 homes energy use, or nearly 3,400 acres of pine trees being cut down.

Plug Smart is doing everything that we can to help this earth through energy efficiency, one project at a time.  If you would like to learn more about how your facilities can become more energy efficient and how you can do your part to help the environment, don’t hesitate to contact us today.  We even offer free audits in most areas of Ohio to qualifying organizations who would like to learn how their buildings operate and the ways to decrease their energy spend.

Happy Earth Week and make sure you do your part to make this earth a better place tomorrow than it is today!

COSE is a strong advocate for energy efficiency and renewable energy.  This is a big reason why Plug Smart felt that joining COSE would be a great fit, our goals are aligned.  COSE recently published an article in their April Newsletter that explained the benefits of energy efficiency with an example of a small business in Cleveland.  The Cleveland Brew Shop is a small business, so being on budget is extremely important.  Every single penny is important in a small business, so when their electricity bill was more than double what they had budgeted, this became a huge problem.  A quick audit of their facility left this small business with a 25-page report that helped give a visual of what the anticipated energy output for the year would be and where that could be if they followed some recommendations. One of the easiest and quickest payback items for this small business and many other facilities are lighting improvements.  This small business was able to realize nearly $1,000 annually by making a few quick changes to their lighting and would see nearly $500 more a year in savings by installing a programmable thermostat.  Click on the link below to read the article in its entirety on the COSE website.

The savings at this small business are very substantial to them and may seem minuscule to larger facilities, but imagine taking these savings and multiplying them by 50 or even 100.  Large facilities can see savings on this scale of between $75,000 and $150,000 a year for a few simple changes to their current lighting and controls.  Learn more about how organizations like COSE and Plug Smart can help you become more energy efficient and save money! Email us today – EnergySavings@plugsmart.com

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EASING THE PAIN

Nationwide, schools alone spend more than $6 billion on energy costs and it is estimated that these schools could save at least 25 percent of that by implementing smart energy measures.  At the state level people are implementing energy efficiency upgrades to help save money, save jobs, and help improve their facilities during tough economic times.

Plug Smart is one of the few firms that offer school districts, municipalities, cities, BODD’s, and others creative ways to finance and mitigate risk on these types of projects.  Plug Smart is able to execute a performance contract, which helps to ensure that the client sees every penny of the promised energy savings.  When executed properly, there is very little downside to implementing energy efficiency projects.  Not only do they reduce costs, improve cash flow, help the environment, and put people to work, but you also get new and more reliable equipment.

They key is picking a partner has the right amount of experience, vendor neutrality, and willingness to partner with the client by putting some skin in the game.  Plug Smart is Ohio-based and an expert on all different types of House Bill projects.  Contact Plug Smart today on how you can create financial breathing room while also making your buildings more efficient and comfortable.

Annually this small facility will save around $1,000 which may not seem like a lot, however it is over 50% of their current spend. This also equates to 2.5 tons of coal not being burned.

Your facility could also have the potential to become an operational profit verses a deficit with increase quality of lighting. Ask us how.  EnergySavings@plugsmart.com

Difference between Metal Halide High Bay facilities versus Fluorescent High Bay facilities

Here at Plug Smart we believe in Energy Efficiency because we know it works. We see it work every day
and it’s a simple concept that if as a state we can use less energy to do more, we will be more competitive
for years to come in a global market place. We ask that you make your voice heard in support of Energy
Efficiency. Speak out against the utility companies that in the end make money off selling you more
energy at a higher price! Email your representative and tell him you support SB 211 and HB 315!

To find the contact info for the Senators on the Public Utilities Commission to get your voice heard go
here – http://www.ohiosenate.gov/committee/public-utilities

Plug Smart was honored to help kick off and close this conference with two separate presentations to all of the attendees.  Our first presentation focused on effective industrial energy management strategies for energy savings.  This helped the users better understand how they are charged for energy and how to best track their energy usage.  Opportunities were also presented showing how to reduce peak demand and how to optimize equipment scheduling.  The second presentation was based around harnessing the power of geothermal systems.  This presentation focused on the process cooling side of geothermal and the use of it within manufacturing facilities.  This technology is very economical in almost any setting, though the context of this presentation focused on manufacturing facilities, geothermal is very commonly found in schools, city buildings, hospitals, and much more.

Plug Smart is made up of subject matter experts that are respected in the energy efficiency community and with over 35 years of experience we have seen nearly everything there is.  Partnering with a company like Plug Smart helps you become more familiar with how your facility uses energy and how you can start saving money right away on utility bills.  We have worked with Universities, Manufacturing Plants, large Commercial, Cities, Federal Buildings, Hospitals, K-12 School Districts, and much more.  We can answer just about any question that we see and nothing makes us happier than seeing our clients energy bills shrink in size.

Please contact us today if you have any specific questions about your facility or energy efficiency in general – EnergySavings@plugsmart.com -or- (800) 518-5576

Brochure for this Event

Senate Bill 221 states that utilities throughout the state must decrease their electricity sold by 25 percent by the year 2025.  This forces the utilities to incentivize energy efficiency retrofits and building their new facilities above standard code in order to count it toward their 25% reduction.  The PUCO allows organizations that have made an investment in their buildings over the past 3 years to recover the rebate money that they are entitled to.

Many organizations have filed for some of the prescriptive rebates because they are more straightforward and feel that is all they are entitled too.  We are trained to find all possible rebates through building modeling, which is guaranteed to find the maximum rebates possible. Plug Smart is an expert at administering these rebate programs and is considered to be the best in Ohio at helping organizations receive the money that they deserve.  We have helped our clients acquire millions of dollars throughout the past several years for improvements that they were going to have to make at some point or had already made.  Feel free to contact Plug Smart if you have any questions about the utility rebate programs and how much your facility may be eligible for.  If you have made improvements over the past several years and feel that you may have missed out on these rebates contact Plug Smart today!

EnergySavings@plugsmart.com

“The fact is, if you look at what we said and you look at how this formula was put together, it’s completely consistent,” Gov. John Kasich said. “We shouldn’t be in the business of funding buildings. We should be in the business of funding children, students, and that’s what this plan does.”  The education of students is the most important piece and that needs to be addressed first and foremost.  Knowing this, many districts are scrambling to figure out how they can fund the buildings with necessary capital projects that directly affect learning.

Plug Smart is an expert in dealing with the delicate situations that K-12 school districts throughout Ohio are currently facing.  We have worked with numerous districts throughout the state that are both financially stable and also in financial distress.  Plug Smart has many creative programs that help districts of all shapes and sizes find ways to lower their utility spend while also funding necessary capital improvements to their buildings.  Whether you have questions about starting a House Bill 264 project or need creative ways to save your district money immediately, contact Plug Smart today!

EnergySavings@plugsmart.com

Columbus Dispatch Article Regarding Kasich’s School District Funding Plan – http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/02/08/this-is-not-what-we-were-told.html