Energy Saving Tips - Free and Low Cost Recommendations

Free and Low Cost Recommendations
Replace Light Bulbs
Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and save 75% off lighting costs.
Unplug Electronics
Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
Save Water
Installing faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads will cut water heating costs by 50% and save up to $300 per year. It will also cut water use by up to 50%. As much as 19% of California electricity is used to pump, transport and treat water.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Setting your air conditioner 5° higher will save up to 20% on cooling costs.
Buy Energy Efficient Appliances
Always buy ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment - they're up to 40% more efficient. Find rebates and incentives in your area using our rebate finder.
Adjust Your Water Heater
Turn your water heater down to 120° or the "Normal" setting when home, and to the lowest setting when away. Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs.
Keep Cool With Ceiling Fans
Reduce air conditioning costs by using fans, keeping windows and doors shut and closing shades during the day. Most ceiling fans use less energy than a light bulb.
Be Smart About Lighting
Turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with CFLs instead of overhead lights.
Power Down Your Computer
Enable "power management" on all computers and make sure to turn them off at night. A laptop computer uses up to 90% less energy than bigger desktop models.
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
Load Up Your Dishwasher
Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded. Fewer loads reduce energy and water use.
Maintain Your Clothes Dryer
Make sure your dryer's outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after every load. When shopping for a new dryer look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off when clothes are dry.
Find and Seal Leaks
Sealing cracks, gaps, leaks and adding insulation can save up to 20% on home heating and cooling costs.
Test for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.

Special Notice!

Keller ISD schools open; no confirmed Swine Flu


Keller ISD has no confirmed cases of Swine Flu, but it is diligently working to minimize risks for all students and staff.


The district has reported four Type A Influenza cases, one each in four separate KISD schools: Florence Elementary, Bear Creek Intermediate, South Keller Intermediate and Central High. Swine flu has yet to be determined in any of these cases.

Please visit Keller ISD website to get the latest information regarding this issue.

Eat Local! Great Resources in the Keller area

category:Restaurants


What’s the one small change that 1) instantly improves your health 2) helps the environment 3) boosts Texas’s economy and 4)helps you win the lottery (OK, so we made that last one up)? Buying more food from local sources!

Your average supermarket fare travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets to you – and who wants a jet-lagged tomato? When you shop the farmstands or farmer’s market in the Keller area, you get fresher, better-tasting and more nutritious food for you and the family.

It also saves energy by cutting down on carbon dioxide emissions from those cross-country transports; more importantly, it puts more money back into the community. Growers who supply supermarkets only get about 18 cents on the dollar, with the rest going to various middlemen. When you choose locally-grown foods, more of that money goes directly to the farmer, who then circulates it back into the area economy.

Shopping “close to home” is easier than you think. Start here to find a list of great sources of delicious, local food!


http://www.americantowns.com/tx/keller/news/eat-local-great-resources-in-the-keller-area-18480

Homeowner’s Security Survey

If you are interested in making your home more secure AND saving
money on your homeowner’s insurance rates, we offer another free
service to residents:

For Safety - The Security Survey is an inspection conducted on
your home by a certified Crime Prevention Officer. The officer
checks the interior and exterior of your home and discusses how
better to secure the premises. The officer draws up a plan specific to
your home, making recommendations about subjects such as locks,
lighting, landscaping, etc.

For an Insurance Discount - Texas law allows for a 5% insurance
rate discount if the residence meets certain basic requirements. If
your home meets these requirements, the Crime Prevention Officer
submits a report to the Texas Insurance Board for your rate reduction.
If your home fails to meet the requirements, the officer gives you a
report indicating how to bring it up to the insurance standards.
That same Texas law allows for a 15% discount if the residence
meets the basic requirements as well as certain advanced requirements.
This level requires a monitored alarm system connected to specific
windows and doors in the home.

For further information on this service, contact Corporal Mike
Bedrich at 817.748.8137. Corporal Bedrich will get forms to you
to fill out in advance and set an appointment to meet at your home
for the inspection. Please be aware that the insurance discount is not
immediate - this is one government entity dealing with another!
Colleyville Police Department can also provide this service.
Please contact Officer Bill Hudgins at (817) 503-1230 or by email
at hudginsb@ci.colleyville.tx.us

Best regards,

Rhonda Moore
Lieutenant, Community Initiatives Unit
871.748.8349
Southlake DPS

http://www.kencemedia.org/www.peelinc.com/newsletters/0704TM.pdf

News from The Keller Independent School District

Special Reminders!


Friday, April 10

Holiday, No School


Monday, April 13

Bad Weather Make-Up Day
Due to inclement weather, the district was closed Wednesday, January 28. The district will make up that bad weather day Monday, April 13. The day has long been posted on the district's calendar as a possible make-up day. In an effort to avoid re-scheduling end-of-year high school exams and to allow for summer school staff development, April 13 was selected as the best of all options.

District News

TAKS TESTING DATE CHANGE FOR HIGH SCHOOL

Due to conflicts with state/national competitions, Keller ISD has slightly modified the TAKS schedule for Grades 10 and 11 only.

Sophomores and juniors were originally scheduled to take the Social Studies portion of the TAKS test on Friday, May 1. That date has been moved to Monday, April 27.

No other TAKS administration dates have been modified. Below is the summary of the assessment dates for all students with the recent change:

Monday, April 27
Grade 10 Social Studies
Grade 11 Social Studies

Tuesday, April 28
Grade 10 Math

Wednesday, April 29
Grade 11 Math

Thursday, April 30
Grade 9 Math
Grade 10 Science
Grade 11 Science

Please contact your campus if you have any questions.

CENTRAL AND FOSSIL RIDGE UIL ONE-ACT PLAY DISTRICT CHAMPS

Central High School's production of "The Rivers and Ravines" and Fossil Ridge High School's production of "Gint" were named the two advancing plays in District 5-5A competition. Keller High's production of Bad Seed was named the alternate play at the contest. Central and Fossil Ridge will compete in the Area contest held at Fossil Ridge High School on Friday, April 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Individual awards were:

Central High School
All-Star Cast - Matt McPherson, Porcia Bartholomae, Anthony Cervantes

Honorable Mention - Katelyn Johnson, Cody Hallford

Outstanding Technician - Ryne Easen

Fossil Ridge High School
Best Actor - Creytn Crosby

All-Star Cast - Trevor Bynum, London Powers

Honorable Mention - Veronica Perry, Melissa Rondon

Outstanding Technician - Olivia Bates

Keller High School
Best Actress - Autumn Teague

All-Star Cast - Stephanie Grilo

Honorable Mention - Emily Burke, Katie Folger, Zach Danz

Outstanding Technician - Alec Danz

At the Zone Competition the week prior, the following individual awards were given:

Central High School
All-Star Cast - Katelyn Johnson, Matt McPherson, Porcia Barthlomae

Honorable Mention All-Star Cast - Anthony Cervantes and Michaela Heidemann

Outstanding Technician - Stephanie Warnick

Fossil Ridge High School
Best Actor - Creytn Crosby

All-Star Cast - Trevor Bynum, London Powers

Honorable Mention All-Star Cast - Veronica Perry, Melissa Rondon

Outstanding Technician: Camilla Bates. In addition, the best technical crew was awarded to Fossil Ridge's crew of Camilla Bates, Olivia Bates, Paul Vyakulin, and Ryan Guillory.

Keller High School
Best Actress - Autumn Teague

All-Star Cast: Emily Burke, Zach Danz

Honorable Mention All-Star Cast - Katie Folger, Stephanie Grillo

Outstanding Technician: Kaitlyn Kimble

KISD BOYS SOCCER - DISTRICT 5-5A 2009 ALL-DISTRICT HONORS

Most Valuable Player
Keller - Joel Oldham - SR
Central - Chad Asher - JR

Goalkeeper of the Year
Keller - Ryan Smith - SR

Defender of the Year
Keller - Ryan Epperson - SR

Coach of the Year
Keller - Jason Bates

1st Team Forward
Keller - Evan Perkins - SR
Central - Nathan Reyes - SR

1st Team Midfield
Keller - Grant Beck - SR

1st Team All-District Defender
Central - Chandler Elder - JR

2nd Team Forward
Ridge - Parker Banks - JR
Central - Justin Duprist - JR
Keller - Karson Lofink - JR

2nd Team Midfield
Ridge - Jordan Shea - SR
Central - Derek McCormick - SR
Keller - John Rock - SR

2nd Team All-District Defender
Keller - Eric Fiscus - SR
Central - Blake Howard - SR
Ridge - Beau Breckenridge - JR

2nd Team All-District Goalkeeper
Ridge - Ozzie Ruiz - JR

KISD SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE CANDIDATES FORUM NIGHT

The Keller Council of PTAs is hosting a School Board Trustee Candidates Forum Night on Tuesday, April 28 from 7 - 8 p.m. in the Boardroom of the KISD Administration Building (350 Keller Pkwy).

All of the Board of Trustees Candidates will speak to the community, with a Question & Answer session to follow. The event will be moderated by the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County and is sponsored by the Keller Council of PTAs.

Early Voting will be held Monday, April 27 - Tuesday, May 5. Election Day is Saturday, May 9.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Bryce, Legislative Chairman/Keller Council of PTAs at 817-454-6423.

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY FORUM

Any student interested in enrolling at a U.S. Service Academy sometime in the future is strongly encouraged to attend a forum taking place at the TCC Southeast campus on Saturday, April 4, from 8 a.m. -12 p.m.

The United States Military Academy at Westpoint, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, The United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy all have a complex process for application that goes well beyond the traditional college application process.

Come to learn what you need to know to navigate the process, how to improve your chances for admission, and the benefits of an unparalleled post-secondary education at this special event open to any high school student.

Members of Congress, academy liaison officers, and current cadets will all be on hand to assist Tarrant county families with creating a greater understanding of the process!

For more information http://www.kellerisd.net/kellerisd/

A New Year, a New Statistic - Home Prices Plunge 19%

RISMEDIA, April 2, 2009-While the new year is a time for many to start over, a report released yesterday on U.S. housing prices may encourage many to start house shopping. Prices of single-family homes in the U.S. dropped a drastic 19% for the year from January 2008 through January 2009, according to Standard & Poor’s S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, one of the leading measures of U.S. home prices.

According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, 13 out of the 20 metro areas across the U.S. saw record rates of annual decline, while 14 areas reported declines in excess of 10%, compared with the rates in January 2008. Following the lead of the 14 metro areas, the 10-City Composite and the 20-City Composite also set new records, with annual declines of 19.4% and 19.0% respectively.

“Home prices, which peaked in mid-2006, continued their decline in 2009,” says David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index committee at Standard and Poor’s. “There are very few bright spots that one can see in the data. Most of the nation appears to remain on a downward path, with all of the 20 metro areas reporting annual declines, and nine of the MSA’s falling more than 20 percent in the last year. Indeed, the two composites are very close to that rate and have been reporting consecutive annual declines since October 2007. The monthly data follows a similar trend, with the 10-City and 20-City Composite showing thirty consecutive months of negative returns.”

As of January 2009, average home prices across the U.S. are at similar levels to what they were in late 2003. From the peak in the second quarter of 2006, the 10-City Composite is down 30.2% and the 20-City Composite is down 29.1%.

While all 20 metro areas reported negative monthly and annual rates of change in average home prices, seven metro areas and the 20-City Composite recorded a record monthly decline in January. Seven metro areas reported declines in excess of 4% in January, with Phoenix leading at -5.5%. On a somewhat positive note, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Las Vegas reported a relative improvement in home prices in year-over-year returns, in terms of lesser rates of decline than the previous month’s values.

In terms of annual declines, the three worst performing cities are Phoenix (down 35%), Las Vegas (down 32.5%) and San Francisco (down 32.4%), while Dallas, Denver and Cleveland had the best results in terms of annual decline: 4.9%, 5.1% and 5.2%, respectively.

Looking at the data from peak-thru-January 2009, Dallas is the least hurt (down 10.8%), while Phoenix is down 48.5% from its peak in June 2006. The rate of decline from the individual heights of each marketplace show how much each market has taken back in terms of the gains they earned within the past 10-15 years. All 20 metro areas are in double digit declines from their peaks, with nine of the MSA’s reporting declines greater than 30% and five of those (Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego) in excess of 40%.

For more information, visit http://rismedia.com/2009-04-01/a-new-year-a-new-statistic-home-prices-plunge-19/#

Maytag Recalls Refrigerators
March 10, 2009

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Name of product: Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand refrigerators.

Hazard: An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. Description: The recall includes certain Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand side by side and top freezer refrigerators. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel.

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MODELS AND SERIAL #'S - CLICK LINK BELOW

Maytag Recalls Refrigerators


provided by
Tammi Burgee * Senior Account Manager * 214 -732- 5999 * tammi.burgee@fnf.com www.homewarranty.com * 1-800-862-6837