Georgia Magazine - July 2011 - (Page 50C)

Web exclusive WKnow how to survive auto accidents involving power lines I Spring is a good time for a house safety check Fundamentals hen the last traces of winter fade away, many homeowners can’t wait to begin tinkering around the house. Georgia’s electric cooperatives urge all ambitious home improvers to heed these guidelines: nstincts tell us to flee danger. Unfortunately, in vehicle accidents that bring down power lines, these natural inclinations can lead to tragic results. Safe Electricity wants everyone to know: If your car hits a power pole, or otherwise brings down a power line, stay in your vehicle and wait until the local electric utility arrives and ensures that lines have been de-energized. If you come upon or witness an accident involving toppled power poles and lines, don’t leave your vehicle to approach the scene. Indiana teenagers Lee Whittaker and Ashley Taylor saw a power line safety demonstration at their high school and never dreamed their new knowledge would be put to the test. Five days later, they and two classmates were in a car that crashed into a utility pole, bringing live power lines to the ground. Fortunately, they heeded the safety advice they’d Inventory the inside • Clean off stairways and steps. Check treads, risers and carpeting and replace worn coverings. Sprinkler systems can save lives M ost fire departments urge homeowners to install sprinkler systems in new homes, or when they remodel their existing homes. Fire spreads so quickly that you could have as little as two minutes to escape before it’s too late. A fire sprinkler system can buy you a few more minutes. When it senses a fire, the sprinkler system auto- matically sprays water on the flames. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will spray. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that 90 percent of deaths in residential fires can be prevented by sprinklers. If you’re buying a new home, March 2011 place to remain is inside the car. Only in the rare instance of fire should people leave a vehicle. Then, they must know how to do so safely: Jump free and is installed behind your walls, similar to plumbing, and is connected to your home’s water supply. A plumber should do the installation. received, and survived because they knew the right actions to take. And they helped others who approached the scene by warning them to stay away. A video of their story can be seen on www.safeelectricity.org. According to the National Highway Traffic and • Inspect your air-conditioning system and have repairs made now, before summer begins. Give the fireplace a thorough cleaning and close the damper. Consider calling a chimney sweep. Safety Administration, tens of thousands of accidents occur each year where power poles are struck by cars or large equipment. Each accident has the potential to bring down power lines. Surviving the accident itself might not be enough to stay alive, without awareness of the right moves to make. In the vast majority of those accidents, the safest choose one that has a sprinkler system. If you’re remodeling your home, add a system. The sprinkler system clear, land with feet together and hop away. It’s difficult to get out without creating a path for current to flow, which is why one should get out only if forced to. “When people are involved in a car accident, electricity is usually the last thing on anyone’s mind,” notes Safe Electricity Executive Director Molly Hall. “We’re often more concerned about whether anyone was injured, or how badly the vehicle is damaged. We forget that by exiting the vehicle, we’re risking bodily exposure to thousands of volts of electricity from downed power lines.” Safe Electricity, based in Springfield, Ill., is the safety outreach program of the Energy Education Council, a nonprofit organization with more than 400 electric cooperative members and many others who share the mission of educating the public about electrical safety and energy efficiency. You can still get a tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements T he 30 percent tax credit for energy-efficient replacement windows, insulation, roofs and other home products expired at the end of 2010, but a new, smaller credit is good through this year. You can take a credit on your 2011 taxes for the same items, although the amounts are lower. To qualify, you must have the product installed by Dec. 31, 2011. The products must meet government-set energy- efficiency standards, which you will find at www.energy star.gov. Here are some of the products that qualify for a 2011 tax credit: • Heating, air conditioning or ventilating fan: Tax credit is $50 to $300, depending on the kind of equipment you buy. • Insulation: Credit covers 10 percent of the cost of the product—excluding installation—up to $500. July 2011July 2011 • Metal and asphalt shingle roofs: Take 10 percent of the cost of the product—excluding installation— up to $500. • Electric heat pump water heaters: Qualify for a $300 tax credit. • Windows: Tax credit is for 10 percent of the costs—excluding installation—up to $200. More online at www.georgiamagazine.org 50C • One of the first places to look for trouble is the roof. Watch for loose or missing shingles and leaks around flashings. Don’t begin repair work unless you’re confident of your do-it-yourself abilities. Think about calling a professional. • Be sure to inspect your gutters before April showers begin. If they are clogged, rainwater will overflow onto the siding of your house and could cause moisture problems. Downspouts should carry rainwater safely away from the foundation of the house. If they pour water out on the ground, it could seep into the basement. • If your exterior paint job appears healthy, but it’s just a little dirty, don’t apply a fresh coat. If all your home needs is a cleaning, wash it. • A special reminder to parents: Never leave a container of liquid unattended near a small child. This includes wading pools, scrub buckets, toilets and bathtubs. The curious youngster can lean over to play in the water or drop something in a bucket and fall in head first. • Be sure patios, porches and driveways are free from cracks and holes. • Check for damage as you take down storm windows and put up screen doors and windows. • Trim broken tree limbs and prune shrubs. Remove dry leaves and debris from under porches, wooden stairs and window wells. Pick up all junk, cans and other litter. SAFE ELECTRICITY http://www.safeelectricity.org http://www.energystar.gov http://www.energystar.gov http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2011

Georgia Magazine - July 2011
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Special Energy Report
A Jewel Against the Sea
“A Special Blessing”
Your Own Backyard
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - July 2011