Working Together for Energy Efficiency

From: Madison Gas and Electric

If we’re all energy efficient, we can save energy and money and be good stewards of the environment.

Below are some of the most common ways we all can reduce our energy use during the colder months.

Fix air leaks: Make sure your home is adequately sealed to avoid air leaks. Latch windows and double check weatherstripping around doors. Quality caulking and weatherstripping can last for decades.

If your attic has fewer than 7 inches of insulation, fix air leaks from the house into the attic and add more insulation. Failing to fix air leaks before re-insulating is a big mistake. Most air leaks come from attics, basements, kneewalls, and garages under living spaces.

Use the “auto” setting on your thermostat: Use your thermostat to set the furnace fan to “auto” instead of “on” to avoid costs resulting from the fan running continuously.

Also, lower the thermostat when sleeping and when away (55°F lowest setting). The longer your home is at a lower temperature, the more you save. Consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat to make saving energy more convenient!

Adjust your curtains and blinds: Close them at night. This will keep the cold air from dispersing throughout your home. Open them during the day to allow the sun to warm the room.

Adjust your water heater: Heating water can account for up to 25% of the energy used in your home. Turn down your water heater to 120°F to help save energy without making a noticeable impact.

Consider a home energy assessment: MGE’s partner in energy efficiency, Focus on Energy, helps customers purchase a home energy assessment to help you identify which upgrades make sense for your home. See a brief video of a home energy assessment in Monona at energy2030together.com.

Explore smart home technologies: Smart power strips, thermostats, lightbulbs, and switches make energy efficiency easy. Smart home technology can be automated and/or controlled remotely via a smartphone, tablet, or computer, putting control at your fingertips no matter where you are.

For more energy-saving information and brief videos of how new technologies can help meet your household’s energy goals, visit energy2030together.com.

Energy efficiency is a priority under MGE’s Energy 2030 framework for a more sustainable energy future. Let’s work together!

Fight Fraud:  Guard Your Medicare Card

(October 18, 2017)

If you have Medicare, you can protect your identity and help prevent health care fraud by guarding your Medicare card like you would a credit card.

Identity theft from stolen Medicare Numbers is becoming more common.  Medicare’s here to help by removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards and replacing them with a new, unique number for each person with Medicare.  Medicare will mail new Medicare cards with the new numbers between April 2018 and April 2019.

Here are some important steps you can take to protect yourself from the identity theft that can lead to health care fraud:

• Don’t share your Medicare Number with anyone who contacts you by telephone, email or in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Medicare will NEVER contact you (unless you ask us to) for your Medicare Number or other personal information.
• Don’t ever let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare Number.
• Review your Medicare Summary Notice to be sure you and Medicare are only being charged for actual items and services received.

If you’re looking to enroll in a Medicare plan:

• Remember there are no “early bird discounts” or “limited time offers.”
• Don’t let anyone rush you to enroll by claiming you need to “act now for the best deal.”
• Be skeptical of free gifts, free medical services, discount packages or any offer that sounds “too good to be true.”

If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare Number or other personal information, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).  To learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft and health care fraud, visit www.Medicare.gov/fraud or contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (www.smpresource.org).

This message is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Angel Tree at NESCO

This year NESCO has an Angel Tree in the lobby.  The Angel Tree is for area seniors in need.  If you would like to help out, please stop by the Warner Park Community Recreation Center and pick out a tag from the tree.  Any support is greatly appreciated.