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Energy-smart

Rhyme Time
Even though there are no words in it, the cartoon below has a message. Can you figure out what it is saying? Think about what the message could be, and then write it in the thought bubbles. Then come up with a title for your cartoon!
Title:

DOWN 1. After they let you surf the web and learn something deep, turn them off, or at least let them sleep! 3. When working on a line above, this insulator is the material for a line persons glove. 4. Be bright! Make sure your bulbs use this kind of light. 5. Too many plugs in an outlet should never be promoted; it means that a circuit is sure to be . 6. Pedal power to get you there and leaves no pollution in the air! . 8. Natural gas flames should have a certain hue, meaning their color should always be . 9. Always be on the lookout for these when flying a kite or climbing in trees.

Solve the rhyming riddles to fill in the crossword puzzle. Here some news: energy safety or conservation is part clues!

good ole

, you

for

6. Room in your home to be especially aware, because electrical hazards and water are everywhere
7. Heres some really good news: you conserve energy when you 11. Part of the natural gas rig the reason you call before you dig! 12. Turbines powered by wind, water, biomass (you get the gist) use reusable energy that is often called this.

10. If the stench of rotten eggs fills the air, this natural gas danger may be present there.

Whats the scoop on poop?

Emery Gen er ik ng tatth io in tan s. S In entanks, bacteria breaks it down which gives off methane in Clear Lake, Iowa gas. Like natural gas, methane can be burned to generate electricity. The electricity produced often stays right on the farm where it powers lights and machinery. But in some areas, the poop is powering whole neighborhoods. A company called Clear Horizons in Dane County, Wisconsin, uses manur e from three area farms to generate electricity for up to 2,500 homes. In a similar way, tra sh can also be used to generate electricity. When trash rots, it gives off methane. The methane is then burned to produce electricity. Whats one of the newest energy sources? Poop. No kidding! Manure from farm animals is collected

(Answers:) 1. Climbing a tree with power lines running through them. 2. Flying a kite near power lines. 3. Power cord running over a swimming pool. 4. Standing on a ladder near power lines. 5. Climbing a substation wall. 6. Standing on a pad mount transformer. 7. Playing with underground utility flags.

(Answers below)

Can you find safety dangers in the picture? Circle seven activities below that you should never do.
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The path to saving energy

Alliant Energy has a whole network of pipes underground to get natural gas into homes. Dont worry; the network isnt as mixed up as the drawing of pipes below! We just drew them that way for this activity.
On the left side of pipes below, are the beginnings of 8 sentences. To the right of the pipes, there are ends of the sentences in a mixed up order. Together the beginnings and ends reveal something important about energy safety or energy the path, read a sentence beginning and then read conservation. Before you out how the sentence should end. the options on the right to try to

Rebus puz zle

A rebus puzzle uses letters, numbers and picture clues to represent words or sounds. See if you can figure out the puzzle below to uncover an important safety rule to remember.

st +

Natural gas is really odorless but it has a smell because... ...by turning off the lights to save electricity.

a+

Gas stoves have an open flame, so dont let...

...in the event of a leak, the escaping gas can be detected.

f+ d

If you ever see a substation or a transformer unlocked you should...

...call Alliant Energy so a professional can lock it and make it safe.

Your refrigerator uses more electricity when...

... set the thermostat down to 55 degrees to save energy. ...use a shower timer. That way everyone is happy in the morning and the utility bill is lower.

p+

fl

Be a watt watcher when you leave the room...

When turned on, DVD players, televisions, and laptops...

...you leave the door open.

& +
quo

No reason to keep the house warmer in the winter if no one is home...

...flammable objects like newspapers gather near the stovetop.

!
i + +4 maid

To make sure there is hot water for everyone in the family...

...use electricity even if you are not using them.

3
Answer: Stay away from power lines, substations, and transformers!

Spotted in the sun

Help your family plant a tree. It helps clean the
air we breathe and saves energy too. Place leafy shade trees the west, and evergreens to the north. One well-placed shade tree can reduce the cooling costs by 25 percent. Remember to have parents call 811 before digging in the yard to make sure they dont hit utility lines underground. It is also important not to remove the utility flags as they mark where adults can and cant dig underground. It could be very dangerous if those flags are moved! and
Its hot inside the sun! Its hot with words ... words that help shine light on energy conservation. See if you can peer into the sun and find them all. Words can be found across, up and down and diagonally.

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Now, get going before the sun sets!

Biomass Coal CFL CPT Conservation Efficiency Energy Hydro LED Renewable Solar Trees Turbine Wind Geothermal Green

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Bent Tree Wind Farm, in Freeborn County

Minnesota, has 122 wind turbines that can produce up to 200 megawatts of wind energy. Thats enough energy to almost 50,000 homes.

Before you go
Sometimes trying to get outside can seem like a maze, especially when you have to make sure that everything is turned off before It very important, however, to turn off lights, and TVs, and video games when youre not using them or when youre leaving way out of this house maze youll see light switches electronic equipment that you should turn OFF as you pass by.

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Don ever climb the walls of a substation. If your ball or pet goes inside, call Alliant Energy. Well come and get it for you.

Glossary
Biomass: a renewable energy source that comes from material from such wood, crops, and even garbage odorless atmosphere colorless, present in the formed Geothermal Energy: heat, hot water, or steam from within the Earth that is used to create electricity and for heating and cooling Green: the term used to describe something that is friendly to the environment Hydropower: electricity created using energy that comes from moving water Light Emitting Diode (LED): a type of light bulb that lasts longer and uses less energy than a CFL Mercaptan: the substance that utility companies add to natural gas to give it a bad smell, like rotten eggs to help detect leaks

carbon-based by tion, and by the decomposition of organic matter Clock Programmable Thermostat (CPT): a thermostat you can set to raise and lower the temperature automatically that helps save energy. Compact Florescent Light (CFL): a type of light bulb that uses up to 75 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb Electric Shock: the passage of electricity through the body that can cause serious burns and even death Energy Conservation: the act of using less or saving energy Energy Efficient: a term that describes products and actions that use less energy due to advanced technology and equipment

Phantom Energy Loss: the constant draw of electricity by appliances and electronics, even when theyre not being used
Renewable Resources: energy sources that can be replaced naturally, such as the sun, wind, and water Shower Timer: a timer that can be used in the shower to help you know when it is time to get out Solar Energy: energy that comes from the suns rays that reach the Earth Turbine: a machine with blades or rotors that are turned by a force, such as wind, water or steam, to create mechanical energy Wind Energy: energy that comes from the power of moving air

Speed racers
In a race between electricity and light, which would win? Electricity travels at the speed of light. (Thats 186,000 miles per second!) The race would be a draw. This is why you should never touch electrical equipment or any type of exposed wiring. Electricity travels so fast that you will not be able to pull away before getting shocked. That shock can be deadly.

ENERGY STAR: a label given to a product or appliance that shows it meets tough government standards for energy efficiency

 2012 Alliant Energy 201552 4/12 MJ