News from BG: July 7, 2021
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Community Energy Savings Days
Community Energy Savings Days are called for when demand for electricity is expected to be high. This can occur during very hot or very cold weather, when homes and businesses are using high amounts of electricity at the same time. There’s plenty of power available and the grid is in good shape, but if we can conserve during these peak hours, the City can save on transmission and capacity costs in the future.
When a Community Energy Savings Day is called, residents can help by simply using less energy between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. If residents use less energy during these times of peak demand, we can spread demand more evenly on the network, reduce the cost of providing energy and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases generated.
Participating in a Community Energy Savings Day is easy. Residents can take simple conservation steps such as: shutting off lights when not needed; unplugging small appliances and electric chargers (especially those with small lights); raising the air conditioner thermostat a degree or two; closing curtains, drapes and blinds; doing laundry and other household chores requiring electricity during hours other than 2:00 – 6:00 PM; and turning off televisions, computers, gaming consoles, and other electronic devices when not being used.
As a municipal electric system, owned by its citizens and customers, it is contingent upon those same citizens and customers to keep the electric rates for themselves and all other customers of Bowling Green Municipal Utilities as low as possible. Our citizens and customers have the opportunity to make a difference in their system and their rates by conserving energy when called for. As forecast dictates, we will most likely be asking our citizens and customers to again conserve energy at additional times this summer.
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Tips for Reducing Utility
Bills During Warmer Months
In the last few years, we have experienced some of the hottest summers on record. Air conditioning is one of the largest uses of electricity in a house. If your air conditioner is running 24/7, some of your highest electric bills of the year will occur between June and September. Installing a pool will result in an increase in electric (and water) usage. Extreme heat and dry conditions can also lead to an increase in water usage for landscaping.
First, look closely at the utility bill to determine where the increase has occurred. The utility bill contains the amount owed for electric, water, sewer, and the refuse/recycling fee. In most cases, the increase in charges is a result of a higher usage in electricity or water. During extremely hot periods in the summer months, air conditioning, poor insulation, and pool filters/heaters can result in higher electric usage. Watering lawns and landscaping during dry periods will also increase the amount of water used.
Read through this month's Utility Insert (PDF) for suggestions on ways to reduce your utility bill during warmer months.
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Support Renewable Energy with EcoSmart Choice
Green-pricing programs such as EcoSmart Choice® are based on the purchase and retirement of renewable energy certificates (RECs). For each megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity that is generated from renewable resources, one REC is created. For each REC that is purchased and used by the electric utility for the green-pricing program, one MWh of traditional non-renewable electric generation is offset.
By participating in the EcoSmart Choice program, customers will help stimulate the demand for new renewable energy facilities, thus reducing their carbon footprint and providing for cleaner, healthier and safer energy supply.
An average residential customer participating in the program can offset 12,600 pounds of CO2 emissions each year - the equivalent of not driving a car 15,159 miles.
Customers can select from varying levels of participation, up to 100%, with the associated amounts added to their monthly electric bill. This is an affordable option for customers wishing to support renewable energy efforts.
Customers can enroll at any time by contacting the Utility Business Office at 419-354-6252 or by submitting the online EcoSmart Choice® Application. Customers can cancel their participation in the program at any time with no cancellation fee by contacting the Utility Business Office at 419-354-6252
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Rooftop Solar
Is it Right for my Home?
As a member of American Municipal Power (AMP), Bowling Green is one of 135 municipal members who have partnered together to expand our ability to provide a reliable, sustainable, and cost competitive electric system for the benefit of our customers. This membership has allowed Bowling Green to build renewable energy projects and provide the Efficiency Smart program and the EcoSmart Choice program.
In a typical year, every Bowling Green electric customer can expect to receive up to 40% of their electric energy from renewable resources. As a comparison, 3% of generation in the State of Ohio came from a renewable resource in 2019 and 19% of generation in the United States came from a renewable resource in 2020. We are committed to the community’s long-term renewable energy goals and providing affordable electricity to our residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
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Impress your friends and neighbors, and bond with your favorite pet at the 60th Annual Pet Show! Join our Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Department at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 14th for this fun opportunity! The event is open to all legal pets and will take place in City Park at Needle Hall Outdoor Stage.
Register the night of the Pet Show in the categories listed below:
Funniest Pet Name; Prettiest Girl Cat; Best Groomed Pet; Biggest Rodent; Most Unusual Pet; Shaggiest Pet; Most Interesting Farm Pet; Prettiest Bird; Best Dressed Pet; Pet with Longest Ears; Best Behaved Pet; Best Pet Trick; Bird that Tweets/Talks Loudest; Prettiest Girl Dog; Cutest Boy Dog; Largest Cat; Slimiest Reptile; Smallest Cat; Cutest Boy Cat; Pet That Looks Most Like Owner; Smallest Dog; Largest Dog
For questions or more information, please call 419-354-6223.
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Lunch in the Park
Friday, July 9th
Bowling Green Parks and Recreation, along with series Title Sponsor Premier Bank and Entertainment Sponsor Brookdale, will be hosting the fifth 2021 Lunch in the Park series event on Friday July 9th, 2021. Food from Beckett's Burger Bar will be available for purchase from 11:30am-1:00pm at City Park’s Martin and Kiwanis Shelters. There will be a live performance by Jeff Tucker performing on guitar.
This is a rain or shine event with the event taking place inside the new Veteran’s Building in the case of inclement weather.
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Concerts in the Park
Sunday, July 11th
Bowling Green Parks and Recreation, along with series Title Sponsor BG Transit, and supporting sponsors Edward Jones Investments and Otterbein Senior Life in Pemberville, will be hosting the 2021 Concerts in the Park series this Sunday, July 11, 2021. There will be a live performance by the Jeff Tucker Band beginning at 7:00pm on the Needle Hall stage.
This is a rain or shine event with the event taking place inside the new Veteran’s Building in the case of inclement weather.
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CodeRED: Emergency and Community Alerts
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CodeRED provides the City with the ability to notify residents in the event of emergency situations or critical information such as water boil advisories, snow emergencies, or large scale electrical outages. In order to receive these notifications, residents need to sign up for this free service. Residents are also encouraged to download the free mobile app as well.
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WOOD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
WEEKLY UPDATE
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Wood County Health Department will continue to make vaccine clinics available this summer to anyone who hasn’t yet been vaccinated for COVID-19. Several options will be available on a recurring basis, and other times and locations will be scheduled on a weekly basis.
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City of Bowling Green | 419-354-6204 | 304 N. Church St. | www.bgohio.org
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