Welcome to Consumers Energy! A resource for all you energy needs.
- Consumers Energy was incorporated as Marshall County Rural Electric Cooperative on July 28, 1938.
- Members of Consumers Energy receive member dividends and that's a co-op difference!
- Consumers Energy is the first natural gas cooperative in Iowa which means there are areas in Central Iowa that people have a choice for their natural gas supplier.
- After the first substation was energized in 1939 Consumers Energy had 210 members - today the co-op serves over 5,000.
- Consumers Energy was selected as one of five locations in the United States to install an AISEN Combined Heat & Power unit for Japanese Co.
- Consumers Energy has been recognized by the Governor of Iowa in 2004 & 2005 for Environmental Excellence.
- Consumers Energy owns a 25 acre commercial development called The Marshalltown Gateway Centre that is located next to the co-op's Headquarters.
As energy technologies such as solar, wind, geothermal and others continue to advance, buildings are able to be much more environmentally friendly while using less energy.
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System® in order to have a consensus-based national standard for developing these high performance, sustainable buildings.
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.
Solar energy is a renewable resource that is clean, plentiful and locally available. It is the energy force that sustains live on earth and it can be captured and converted into electricity through the use of photovoltaic arrays (PVs).
Consumers energy has a photovoltaic solar system installed on the southeast wall of their office building. This system is expected to produce approximately 7,500 kWh per year, which will prevent approximately 13,845 pounds of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere each year.
Biofuels are any type of fuel that is derived from recently living organisms or their byproducts. Biofuels are important because they are renewable, unlike coal, oil or other natural resources. They also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as compared to non biofuels.
Biofuels such as Ethanol and Biodiesel are also very important to Iowa’s economy as they are made from renewable resources from Iowa – corn (ethanol) and soybeans (biodiesel).
The Consumers Energy turbines, “Mike and Nora”, generate 480 volts AC of electricity that is sent to transformers next to each turbine. The transformers increase the voltage to 7200 volts AC and then feed into a junction box which then splits the power between the Consumers Energy Headquarters and the electric distribution grid. Any electricity that is not used by the Headquarters facility is put onto the grid and sold back to Cooperative’s energy supplier.
Anemometer: Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller.
Blades: Most turbines have either two or three blades. Wind blowing over the blades causes the blades to "lift" and rotate.
Brake: A disc brake can be applied mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically to stop the rotor in emergencies.
Controller: The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16 miles per hour (mph) and shuts off the machine at about 65 mph. Turbines cannot operate at wind speeds above about 65 mph because their generators could overheat.
Gear box: Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase the rotational speeds from about 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm) to about 1200 to 1500 rpm, the rotational speed required by most generators to produce electricity.
Generator: An induction generator that produces 60-cycle AC electricity.
High-speed shaft: Drives the generator.
Low-speed shaft: The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rotations per minute.
Nacelle: The rotor attaches to the nacelle, which sits atop the tower and includes the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake. A cover protects the components inside the nacelle.
Pitch: Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to keep the rotor from turning in winds that are too high or too low to produce electricity.
Rotor: The blades and the hub together are called the rotor.
Tower: Towers are made from tubular steel (shown here) or steel lattice. Because wind speed increases with height, taller towers enable turbines to capture more energy and generate more electricity.
Wind direction: This is an "upwind" turbine, so-called because it operates facing into the wind. Other turbines are designed to run "downwind", facing away from the wind.
Yaw drive: Upwind turbines face into the wind; the yaw drive is used to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. Downwind turbines don't require a yaw drive because the wind blows the rotor downwind.
Yaw motor: Powers the yaw drive.
Box 1 (By stairs) Heating cycle - “Pipe loops buried underground circulate fluid that absorbs heat from the ground because the ground is warmer then the air on a cold day.”
Cooling cycle – “Pipe loops buried underground circulate fluid that releases heat to the ground because the ground is cooler then the air on a hot day.
Box 2. (by ground) Heating cycle - “The fluid in the pipe absorbs heat from the ground. Cooling cycle – “The fluid in the pipe releases heat into the ground.”
Box 3. (By furnace) Heating cycle - “The heat energy is transferred to the geothermal unit. The unit compresses the extracted heat to a high temperature and delivers it to the building through a radiant heat system.”
Cooling cycle – “The cooled fluid is sent to the geothermal unit which transfers the heat in the air to the fluid.”
Box 4. (above furnace) Heating cycle – “Hot air is blown through the ducts into the house.”
Cooling cycle – “Cool air is blown through the ducts into the house.”
Box 5. (below window) Heating Cycle – “The geothermal system also uses the warm fluid to help create hot water in the water heater.”
Box 6. (above water heater) heating cycle – “Hot water is used for sinks, showers, laundry and more.”
Cooling cycle – “Cold water is used for sinks, showers, laundry and more.
Your own backyard has the potential to be an energy source for heating and cooling comfort.
Consumers Energy uses geothermal energy for heating the materials storage warehouse. The geothermal system uses 10 horizontal loops that are each 200 feet long and 15 feet deep in the ground to pull the heat from the earth. The fluid passes through the ¾ inch diameter pipes and brings the ground source energy to the heat pumps that supply heat in the warehouse.
- Consumers Energy was incorporated as Marshall County Rural Electric Cooperative on July 28, 1938.
- Members of Consumers Energy receive member dividends and that's a co-op difference!
- Consumers Energy is the first natural gas cooperative in Iowa which means there are areas in Central Iowa that people have a choice for their natural gas supplier.
- After the first substation was energized in 1939 Consumers Energy had 210 members - today the co-op serves over 5,000.
- Consumers Energy was selected as one of five locations in the United States to install an AISEN Combined Heat & Power unit for Japanese Co.
- Consumers Energy has been recognized by the Governor of Iowa in 2004 & 2005 for Environmental Excellence.
- Consumers Energy owns a 25 acre commercial development called The Marshalltown Gateway Centre that is located next to the co-op's Headquarters.
- Enough sunlight falls on the earth’s surface every hour to meet world energy demand for an entire year.
- Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his experiments with solar and photovoltaics.
- Wind farms currently produce enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 600,000 families in the United States.
- The largest wind turbine in the world, located in Hawaii, stands 20 stories tall and has blades the length of a football field.
- One wind turbine can produce enough electricity to power up to 300 homes.
- The first geothermal power plant opened in California in 1921.
- A professor at Ohio State University invented the first geothermal heating system in 1948.
- Volcanoes and geysers are examples of geothermal energy
At Consumer's Energy we utilize a variety of energy efficient resources to decrease our cost of operation. Wind Turbines and a solar array supply electrical energy directly to our office to meet our power needs during hours of operation and the excess power is sold back to the grid. We incorporate large energy efficient windows along with solar tubes and dimmable fluorescent lights to utilize the suns light in our work spaces to save energy. To offset our heating and cooling requirements we use a geothermal system.
Consumer's Energy uses wind turbines to generate 480 volts AC of electricity that is sent to transformers next to each turbine. The transformers increase the voltage to 7200 volts AC and then feed into a junction box which splits the power between Consumer's Energy and the electric distribution grid. Any electricity that is not used by the Headquarters facility is put onto the grid and sold back to the Cooperative’s energy supplier.
We use geothermal energy for heating the materials storage warehouse. The geothermal system utilizes 10 horizontal loops; each loop is 200 feet long and 15 feet deep in the ground to transfer energy to and from the earth. The fluid passes through the ¾ inch diameter pipes and transfers the ground source energy to the heat pumps to supply the heating to the warehouse. This system uses am ecm motor that can be controlled at different speeds to allow the system to more easily control the temperature while saving additional cost over conventional motors on heating and cooling systems.
Solatubes are incorporated into the ceilings to bring natural lighting into the workplace through metal tubes that are highly reflective. These tubes allow the Headquarters facility to reduce the number of fixtures installed for lighting and also to reduce the amount of light they need to put out. There are sensors located in the work area that sense the amount of light present and dim or brighten the fluorescent lights to meet predetermined levels thus reducing the amount of energy required to light the space. This is just another way we are able to effectively utilize energy efficient methods to offset energy costs.
At Consumer's Energy we are continually striving to position ourselves at the front of the line when it comes to knowledge and understanding of new energy efficient technology and how it can be utilized by our members to offset their rising energy costs. It is our goal to utilize the most cost effective efficient energy technology to help meet our member’s energy needs that will allow us to continue to grow together into the future.
Consumers Energy uses energy audits in several ways to benefit its members.
Energy audits can be the first step in determining how much energy your home uses when you have questions or concerns about your energy usage.
When we have gathered all the data we then evaluate the information and design a solution that reflects the needs of our member and make recommendations you can use to decrease your energy usage.
A Geothermal heat exchange system uses renewable energy stored in the earth to heat and cool your home. Geothermal only needs a small amount of electricity to keep you comfortable whether it is hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Natural gas and propane are limited resources that need to be acquired, processed and transported before they can be used.
For Geothermal:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified Geothermal Heat pumps as a technology that significantly reduces greenhouse gasses and other emissions associated with heating, cooling, and water heating.
Geothermal systems represent a savings to homeowners of 30 to 70 % in heating mode and 20 to 50 % in cooling mode compared to conventional systems. They are an average of 48% more efficient than the best gas furnace, 75% more efficient than oil furnaces, and show an average of 70% reduction in energy consumption compared to electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment.
Source: U.S Environmental Protection Agency
For Natural Gas:
Natural gas which is one of the cleaner fuels that can be used but it is a limited resource. Clean as it may be, it still contributes to the decay of the environment. Supplies are limited and as the supply grows smaller and harder to obtain the cost will continue to increase. There is also growing concern about the damage to the environment.”
For Propane:
Propane is a fuel that is a by-product of processing gasoline for the transportation industry and is also a limited resource. It is one of the cleaner fuels but also contributes to the decay of the environment. The oil used to make propane is a limited resource and will become harder to get. As it does the cost will increase and it will become less desirable as a fuel not to mention the continued damage it does to the environment.
Your water heater is one of the most important, yet often neglected home appliances. It provides hot water for showers, dish washing and clothes cleaning but it is often only thought about when it comes time to be replaced, usually because the existing water heater is leaking all over.
The Iowa Energy Center reports that fifteen to twenty percent of your home’s total energy cost goes for water heating. With this in mind, it pays to spend some time thinking about how to make the most of your water heater.
Electric Hot Water Heaters
As natural gas and propane prices continue to rise, an electric water heater becomes a better choice. Electric water heaters are inexpensive, easy to install and maintain, convert power at 100 percent efficiency and are easy to operate. In addition, electric water heaters are safer and provide better air quality then their natural gas counterparts.
Consumers Energy offers special incentives for several models of high efficiency electric water heaters.
- A heavy coat of dust on a light bulb can block up to half of the light.
- A hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second can add up to 165 gallons a month. That’s more than one person uses in two weeks.
- An energy-smart clothes washer can save more water in one year than one person drinks in an entire lifetime!
- Some new refrigerators are so energy-smart they use less electricity than a light bulb.
- A heavy coat of dust on a light bulb can block up to half of the light.
- A hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second can add up to 165 gallons a month. That’s more than one person uses in two weeks.
- An energy-smart clothes washer can save more water in one year than one person drinks in an entire lifetime!
- Some new refrigerators are so energy-smart they use less electricity than a light bulb.
- Geothermal energy currently provides more than 2,700 megawatts of electricity nationwide - enough to power more than 3.5 million homes.
- A geothermal power plant emits no nitrogen oxides, very few sulfur dioxides and 1,000 to 2,000 times less carbon dioxide than a fossil fuel plant.
- To save energy, lower your water heater temperature to between 120 and 140 degrees.
- To save energy, Install a water blanket around your electric water heater and insulate the first 5' of hot and cold water pipes.
- Reducing your water heater temperature ten degrees will save more then six percent in water-heating energy.
- Every water heater has two price tags – the purchase price and the operating cost. Consider the operating cost when selecting a water heater.
Electricity is a very powerful and useful energy that makes things work to give us heat, light, cooling, and more. Electricity is generated from many sources. Fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and fuel oil are used to make most of the electricity today. Some electricity also comes from nuclear energy. Wind and solar energy is used to make more and more electricity every day.
Keep towels and curtains away from gas stoves.
- First Electric Car was demonstrated in 1888. The rechargeable storage battery, invented in 1859 and improved in 1881, was a factor in making electric vehicles practical.
- First Electric Elevator installed 1889. Making the skyscraper practical, the first elevator was installed in New York City by Otis Brothers & Company.
- First Electric Range marketed in 1906 by General Electric
- First Electric Washing Machine invented in 1907. Named "Thor," the first self-contained electric clothes washer was created by a Chicago company.
- First Home Refrigerator manufactured 1913 by a Chicago company.
- First pop-up Toaster introduced in 1926.
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