Insulation and infiltration were the buzz-words for a team of URE employees on Community Care Day, May 20. United Way sponsors the event each year "bringing neighbors and resources together to improve lives in Union County." This year the event drew 345 volunteers to work on 146 projects.
URE chose to donate funds and labor to weatherize two homes. The team of seven employees from four different departments crawled in attics, stuffed basement wall joists and otherwise sealed-up holes.

Cindy Stoppa of Member Services helped Mrs. Allie Diehl with her drafty kitchen. "She really considered us a blessing and even made us homemade cookies. I will definitely be doing this again next year," Cindy said.

For photos of the whole team in action, see the photo gallery.

Replace it with a heat pump

Before making any air conditioning decisions consider this: What type of fuel are you using to heat with this winter?

It might seem odd to be thinking about heat when you're choosing air conditioning, but it's the heating fuel source that should drive your equipment choices. The failure of an air conditioner is a golden opportunity to improve your heating costs. Don't miss out!

If you heat with propane, fuel oil or even natural gas, you may want to consider a heat pump as your air conditioner replacement. We all know the price of all fossil fuels has risen significantly in recent years. It is expected to go up even more.

One possible choice when replacing an old or failing air conditioner is a fossil fuel (dual fuel) heat pump. A fossil fuel or dual fuel heat pump system works like this. The heat pump works as an air conditioner during the summer. During the winter, the electric heat pump heats your home until temperatures reach the mid 30s. The fossil fuel system takes over when the temperatures go lower.

Adding a dual fuel heat pump to your furnace, you will only need to heat on fossil fuel in our climate about 35 percent of the time and 65 percent of the time on electricity. During electricity operations, it will average 200 percent efficiency. Overall it will achieve around 96 percent efficiency. This will keep your heating costs in line. The additional costs of the heat pump over air conditioning will generally be paid for within three years or less.

An even better solution is to replace the fossil fuel system completely with an electric heat pump. An all-electric heat pump with an HSPF of 8 will cost nearly 35 percent less to operate than a 90 percent propane furnace when fuel costs three dollars a gallon.

If you spent close to $3,000 last winter to heat your home, installing an all-electric heat pump may save you $1,800 this year. Even a plain electric furnace in place of a 90 percent propane furnace could save up to 33 percent when you're paying three dollars a gallon for propane.

If you are burning fuel oil at three dollars a gallon, there is less advantage to an electric furnace. But if fuel oil goes to more than three dollars, the electric furnace becomes a better solution. At four dollars a gallon, an electric furnace will save up to 30 percent to heat your home.

If you plan on getting rid of your old energy hog air conditioner, consider the heat pump in place of the air conditioner. At the cost of fossil fuels, the heat pump has become the no-brainer for replacement.

For more energy effcienct advice, visit Paul's Energy Advisor web resouce pages.

President to Member

BY ROGER YODER
Like many of you, when I hear discussions surrounding nuclear energy, I am reminded of the fear and uncertainty surrounding the 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania. But in the nearly 30 years since then, advancements in technology, safety and security have made nuclear power an option to consider when it comes to providing a reliable and affordable supply of electricity in an environmentally responsible fashion.

Today, nuclear energy accounts for roughly 19 percent of the nation's power supply and remains the biggest source of generation that can produce large amounts of base load electricity without polluting the air. With Congress, as well as state and local officials, looking at enacting measures aimed at curbing power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, clean nuclear power is getting a closer look by many, including electric co-ops.
For electric co-ops, nuclear units supply 15 percent of all power requirements, trailing only coal at 62 percent. But to meet increasing demand for more electricity while reducing carbon emissions, our country will need more nuclear reactors, in addition to ongoing investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and technologies that can curb greenhouse gas emissions.

The Electric Power Research Institute, a non profit utility-sponsored organization whose members include electric co-ops, predicts that 64,000 megawatts of new nuclear power generation (approximately 32 two-unit plants) will need to be available nationwide by 2030 to help lower carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels. This will entail significant financial investment, as well as research and development in storing and reprocessing nuclear waste.

Many analysts believe it will take at least 10 years or more to bring a nuclear plant into service. Our nation needs to do more to speed up this process while ensuring safety.

At URE we are dedicated to looking out for you, ensuring your access to reliable and affordable power. We are, with electric cooperatives across the country, engaged in a grassroots campaign called "Our Energy, Our Future: A Dialogue With America" that seeks to start a conversation with policymakers regarding critical energy questions, including advancements in nuclear power. Please visit www.ourenergy.coop to contact your elected officials and add your voice to the campaign.

When it comes to raspberries, buying local may be as good for you as it is for Union County.
by Eileen Tuttle
photos by Shelly Detwiler and Eileen Tuttle

Momma always said, "Eat your vegetables!" Shelly Detwiler says, "Eat your raspberries." Shelly's a mother and a dietician, so we better listen.

Detwiler is the catalyst behind Union County's latest you-pick produce: Mitchell's Farm. As a dietician and the daughter in a long line of farmers, she was naturally inclined toward planting. In fact, Shelly and her husband, Paul, and sons, Jake and Luke, had already been running Detwiler Veggie Farm since 1998.

Then one fateful day in 2007, Shelly ran across an article in the Columbus Dispatch proclaiming the health benefits of black raspberries.1 It extolled the virtues of anthocyanins, a chemical naturally present in flowers and leaves that is particularly concentrated in dark-colored berries.

Research at The Ohio State University has revealed that anthocynanins mysteriously "seek out and destroy harmful free-radical molecules that circulate in the body." The chemical reaction they launch in the body has the potential to break down a variety of cancer cells and even prevent recurrence.

Another wise woman by the name of Mary Poppins advised that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. She must have been thinking of black raspberries. Cancer-fighter and a great source of fiber: What's not to like?

The health benefits convinced Detwiler. She and her family planted three acres of berries by hand - 2,500 plants - and added them to her vegetable sales. Now Mitchell's Farm stands alone.

Sales started with word of mouth. Now Detwiler's pleased to have to worry whether there will be enough berries left for her morning oatmeal. This year her older son, Jake, has launched a 4-H project and roughly doubled the acreage. With the additional crop, "I'm hoping I'll have more to myself," she quips.

Raspberries become ripe at different times depending on the variety. Black raspberries are typically ready in late June and early July. The red and yellow raspberries follow in August.

Detwiler advises, "Get involved in your food choices." She is a vocal advocate of both eating fresh fruits and veggies and acquiring them locally. "I think it's important that people do know where their food comes from," she says. She encourages us all to adopt the new "locavore" trend - eating what is produced close to home.

True locavores would seek organic produce first, but a family farm is a close second. A family farm controls its own food processing decisions, and when it sells direct to the consumer, it controls the retail dollar process, too.

The result is a fresh product that supports the local economy. As for black raspberries, the result may be less chance for cancer, too.

Mitchell's Berry Farm is open Mon., Wed., Fri. and Sat., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 9331 Mitchell-Dewitt Road. Along with berries in season, they offer corn, green beans, red peppers and, new this year, edamame. Visit them online at www.mitchellsberries.com.

The Board officers were elected at May's annual organizational meeting. Continuing in the roles of chairman and vice chairman are Jeff Wilson and Jeff Reinhard, respectively.

Pat Baker will continue to serve as secretary of the Board. Assuming her duties as treasurer this year will be Bill D'Onofrio.