Clean Energy Insight - Moving Energy Forward

[Approx. Read Time: 1 minute]

It’s Friday again and we’re back to talk about consumption conservation! The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and we’re going to be spending more time indoors flipping on lights, cranking up the heat, and doing what we do best… consuming energy!

Making the Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

One of the easiest ways to reduce our energy bills is by making improvements to our household lighting. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nearly 11% of our energy bill is from lighting. An Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) uses 75% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and lasts approximately 10 times longer! That equates to about $30 in savings over the lifetime of a single CFL. (www.energystar.gov)

Courtesy of Energystar.gov

How to Upgrade your Lighting:

Effort: Low
Time Required: 1-2 minutes
Materials Needed:

• Lamp, light fixture, etc.
• EnergyStar rated CFL Bulb
• EnergyStar rated Fluorescent Fixture (Optional)

Steps:

1. Determine the most effective room to upgrade. Since CFL’s are most efficient in fixtures used continuously, try starting with a community room such as the kitchen.
2. Select the proper bulb size/power for your fixture. (Visit www.energystar.gov for guidance in choosing the right light)
3. As an optional step, consider upgrading your permanent lighting fixture to an Energy Star qualified fluorescent fixture.

Purchase, install, flip the switch, and SAVE!!!

So remember, next time you flip the switch… Energy Is Our Future –Don’t Waste It!

( By Christina Haviland ) [Approx. Read Time: 2 minutes]

What better way to capture the attention of our nation’s elected officials than with a room full of women with zeal?  Last week approximately 500 women came together for the 2009 combined U.S. Women in Nuclear (WIN) and WiN Global conference in Washington, D.C.  The theme of the conference was Enhancing Our World Through Nuclear Technology and was a message unmistakably demonstrated throughout the week.

The global event started out with educational tours of various nuclear power plants and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Operations Center.  The official conference began with welcoming introductions by Cheryl Boggess, President of Win Global, and other industry leaders.  General speaker sessions highlighted diverse topics ranging from “Perspectives on Nuclear Technology” to “Ensuring Nuclear Safety Around the World” and “Managing Nuclear Risks.”  Breakout sessions gave participants the opportunity to focus on technical subjects such as used fuel management and developing new nuclear technologies, as well as topics such as career development, communication, and leadership roles.  All in all, there was something of interest for everyone.

The speaker series came to it’s conclusion with a special appearance from AREVA’s Chief Executive Officer and Forbes 2009 ninth-most powerful woman in the world, Anne Lauvergeon.  Bringing together all the key messages of the conference, Lauvergeon expressed her outlook on the future of the nuclear industry and the steps we all must take to ensure the advancement of nuclear power on a global scale.  Eager to take those first steps, WIN members made their way Thursday afternoon to the Capitol to meet with their state elected officials and discuss the important role nuclear technologies will play in our nation’s future carbon-free energy generation!

As a fourth time attendee, I can say with experience that each year WIN is making a larger and longer lasting impression on the industry as a whole.  So what did I learn from a week filled with technical discussions, networking galore, community outreach, and a whole bunch of estrogen?  It just goes to show you that the most important role we play as advocates to enhancing our world through nuclear technology is being present for the discussion!

Women In Nuclear (United States)

Women In Nuclear (Global)