Amherst, Ohio Is Supporting Earth Day With “Acts Of Green”

April 15, 2011

April 2011 – Amherst, Ohio –Amherst Municipal Electric Department is organizing activities and events to celebrate Earth Day, 2011. Amherst’s “Acts of Green” are the ways, both large and small, that individuals, businesses and organizations can take part in Earth Day, and show their support for a clean, healthy, sustainable planet.

Recently, Amherst Municipal Electric Department joined with 46 other municipalities to promote energy efficiency through a comprehensive 3-year program called Efficiency Smart administered by American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP). The goal of the new venture is to encourage residential, business and industrial customers to adopt cost-effective energy efficiency measures that provide reliable and verifiable energy savings.

One of the new services available through the program for Amherst residents and businesses is the use of a meter that can measure how much electricity is used by plug-in lights, appliances an electronics. Amherst residents and businesses can request the meter by calling Efficiency Smart 877-889-3777 or visiting the website www.efficiencysmart.org. Efficiency Smart pays for the cost for shipping out and returning the meter which can be used for a period up to three weeks at no charge to the customer. “It’s a great way to find out how much your lights, appliances, and electronics cost to operate and whether it’s time to improve efficiency,” says Angie Mason, Customer Support Specialist for Efficiency Smart.

Efficiency Smart provides the following springtime energy efficiency tips so that Amherst residents and businesses can get started on right away on their “Acts of Green”.

Money-Saving Spring Cleaning
Efficiency Smart tips for springtime energy savings

Whether you love or hate spring cleaning, here’s some good news: Cleaning could save you money. When you make the following tips part of your annual spring cleaning list, you can cut your energy costs by getting better performance from your appliances, exhaust fans, and air conditioners.

Dry clothes faster: Clear lint from your clothes-dryer exhaust hose. A coated or clogged hose can significantly increase the amount of time and energy your dryer uses. Have a flexible hose? Replace it with smooth metal ducting to improve air flow, dry clothes faster, and reduce drying energy use. You also won’t need to clean a smooth, metal hose as often.

Don’t make your fridge work so hard: Clean dust from under your refrigerator, the front vent at the base, and any exposed coils at the back. Another tip: Make sure products aren’t blocking the fan vents inside the fridge and freezer.

Clear the air: Dust bathroom ceiling fan covers and fan blades. Clean dust and grease from the kitchen stove hood and exhaust fan.

Dusting off your pride and joy? While you’re dusting your TV, computer, gaming equipment, and other home electronics, take a look at how they’re plugged in. You can stop overpaying to power these big energy users (many draw electricity even when off) by plugging them into an advanced power strip, which automatically cuts electricity to any idle equipment you choose.

Step outside and take a look at any accessible exterior vents, such as for the clothes dryer, central-heating system, water heater, kitchen-fan exhaust, or bath-fan exhaust. Clear them of any blockage or buildup of dust, webs, leaves, and lint.

Do you have mildew on bathroom ceilings? This is a sign of insufficient ventilation. If you have a bath fan, use it. If you need a fan, look for an ENERGY STAR® qualified model. These fans are very quiet and use little electricity. Be sure to vent bath fans to the outdoors, or you’ll risk moving your mildew problem to another area of the house or attic.

Prepare for summer: Clean the back of window air conditioners, dust central-air system intakes and vents and keep them clear of obstructions. See that central-air filters are clean. Also, are you planning to use a bug light this year? Make it an energy-saving CFL (compact fluorescent light bulb). Make a clean slate for next winter. While your memory of winter is fresh, now is a great time to make note of cold-weather problems and plan summer fixit projects that will reduce your energy costs next winter:

Did your windows rattle? Were they drafty? Caulk any gaps around window frames. Do the same around exterior door frames. Replace broken panes and any cracked or missing glazing. See that window sashes lock properly. If you don’t have storm windows, have them made for next winter.

Were your windows fogged up? Were sills wet, moldy, or rotting? These may be a signs of poorly-performing windows (see previous tip) and/or excess moisture and insufficient ventilation. To address sources of excess moisture: Repair any plumbing leaks. Do any air drying of laundry outdoors. Don’t bring unseasoned firewood into the house. See that bath fans and clothes dryers are vented to the outdoors. When possible, vent kitchen hoods to the outdoors. To provide sufficient ventilation: Use bath fans after bathing and use kitchen hood exhaust while cooking. For useful info on bath fans, see the tip, above, about mildew on bathroom ceilings.

Did your pipes freeze? If so, your pipes are in a space that isn’t properly sealed and/or insulated. Speak with a knowledgeable contractor about sealing gaps and installing insulation.

Did you see ice dams or icicles on your house? A likely cause is heat escaping through gaps in the attic floor or roof. A knowledgeable contractor can effectively sealing those gaps and ensure that you have sufficient, well-installed insulation. See the next bullet.

Was the house drafty? You’ve got air leaks. These can occur in the attic floor and basement walls and in numerous places throughout the house, such as around plumbing, wiring, recessed lighting, at soffits, attic hatches, and more. Consult a knowledgeable contractor who is specially trained to find and fix the causes of drafts and high energy bills by doing a comprehensive, whole-house assessment.

Efficiency Smart services include rebates for energy-efficient appliances and lighting, financial rebates and free removal of old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers from homes, and rebates for over 70 energy efficient products and services for businesses. Efficiency Smart also offers account management services and customized incentives for large commercial and industrial customers. Efficiency Smart was established by American Municipal Power, Inc. for the benefit of its member communities. It is administered under contract with the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. Operations are based in Columbus, OH.

Find Amherst Ohio Codified City Ordinances, Regulations & Laws Online

April 10, 2011

I occasionally get contacted by Amherst Ohio residents who are doing research on specific city ordinances, regulations and laws.  Although all members of Amherst City Council have a hard-copy binder that includes all of the city ordinances, most residents don’t realize that anyone can access these ordinances online for free.

In order to view all of the Amherst Ohio ordinances, regulations and laws online, please visit this link: http://www.conwaygreene.com/amherst/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0

The website that I linked to above (called W.H. Drane Company Codified Ordinances & Municipal Codes)  includes the following public information, organized into folders:

Codified Ordinances of the City of Amherst, Ohio

Directory of Amherst, Ohio Officials

Tables of Special Ordinances

Part One: Amherst Ohio Administrative Code

Part Three: Amherst Ohio Traffic Code

Part Five: Amherst Ohio General Offenses Code

Part Seven: Amherst Ohio Business Regulation

Part Nine: Amherst Ohio Streets and Public Service

Part Eleven: Amherst Ohio Planning and Zoning

Part Thirteen: Amherst Ohio Building Code

Part Fifteen: Amherst Ohio Fire Prevention Code

By the way, this website also includes lists of codified ordinances, regulations and laws for the following Ohio cities, as well:

Ada, Ohio
Alliance, Ohio
Amherst, Ohio
Ashland, Ohio
Ashtabula, Ohio
Aurora, Ohio
Barboursville, WV
Bay Village
Codified Ordinances of the City of Beachwood, Ohio
Bedford, Ohio
Bedford Heights, Ohio
Bellefontaine, Ohio
Bellevue, Ohio
Belpre, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
Blue Ash, Ohio
Boston Hts, Ohio
Bradford, Ohio
Bratenahl, Ohio
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Brookville, Ohio
Brunswick, Ohio
Bryan, Ohio
Burton, Ohio
Byesville, Ohio
Canal Winchester
Canfield, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Carey, Ohio
Carrollton, Ohio
Codified Ordinances of Celina, Ohio
Centerburg, Ohio
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Chardon, Ohio
Charles Town, WV
Chillicothe, Ohio
Circleville, Ohio
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Cleveland MetroParks
Clyde, Ohio
Conneaut, Ohio
Cortland, Ohio
Coshocton, Ohio
Crestline, Ohio
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Codified Ordinances of the City of Defiance, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
Codified Ordinances of Delphos, Ohio
Delta, Ohio
Codified Ordinances of the City of Dover, Ohio
Eastlake, Ohio
Eaton, Ohio
Edgerton, Ohio
Edon, Ohio
Enon, Ohio
Fairborn, Ohio
Fairfield, Ohio
Fairmont, WV
Findlay, Ohio
Fostoria, Ohio
Fremont, Ohio
Gahanna, Ohio
Galion, Ohio
Gallipolis, Ohio
Garfield Heights, Ohio
Gates Mills, Ohio
Gibsonburg, Ohio
Glen Willow, Ohio
Grandview Hts. Ohio
Greenhills, Ohio
Groveport, Ohio
Hamilton, Ohio
Harrison, Ohio
Heath, Ohio
Highland Heights, Ohio
Codified Ordinances of Highland Hills, Ohio
Hilliard, Ohio
Hubbard, Ohio
Huber Heights, Ohio
Hunting Valley, Ohio
Independence, Ohio
Johnstown, Ohio
Kirtland Hills, Ohio
LaGrange, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Lancaster, Ohio
Lewisburg, Ohio
Lexington, Ohio
Lorain, Ohio
Lordstown, Ohio
Louisville, Ohio
Loveland, Ohio
Lowellville, Ohio
Lyndurst, Ohio
Macedonia, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
Marietta, Ohio
Martinsburg, WV
Massillon, Ohio
Codified Ordinances of Maumee, Ohio 

Mayfield Village, Ohio
Medina, Ohio
Mentor, Ohio
Middlefield, Ohio
Middleport, Ohio
Milan, Ohio
Millersburg, Ohio
Minerva, Ohio
Mingo Junction, Ohio
Monroeville, Ohio
Montpelier, Ohio
Moraine, Ohio
Moreland Hills, Ohio
Morgantown, WV
Moundsville, WV
Mt.Vernon, Ohio
Napoleon, Ohio
New Cumberland, WV
New Lexington, Ohio
New Middletown, Ohio
Newburgh Hts., Ohio
Newton Falls, Ohio
Niles, Ohio
North Canton, Ohio
North Olmsted, Ohio
North Perry, Ohio
North Ridgeville, Ohio
Norwalk, Ohio
Norwood, Ohio
Oak Hill, WV
Oakwood, Ohio
Oberlin, Ohio
Obetz, Ohio
Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Ontario, Ohio
Orange, Ohio
Oregon, Ohio
Orrville, Ohio
Ottawa, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Painesville, Ohio
Parkersburg, WV
Pepper Pike, Ohio
Perrysburg, Ohio
Port Clinton, Ohio
Portsmouth, Ohio
Powell, Ohio
Ravenna, Ohio
Reminderville, Ohio
Richfield, Ohio
Richmond Hts. Ohio
Ripley, West Virginia
Rocky River Development Code
Rossford, Ohio
Salem, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Seven Hills, Ohio
Sharonville, Ohio
Sheffield Lake, Ohio
Silver Lake, Ohio
South Amherst, Ohio
South Charleston, West Virginia
South Russell, Ohio
Spencer, WV
Springboro, Ohio
St.Albans, West Virginia
St.Bernard, Ohio
St.Clairsville, Ohio
St.Marys, Ohio
St.Marys, WV
Stow, Ohio
Streetsboro, Ohio
Strongsville, Ohio
Struthers, Ohio
Summit County, Ohio
Sunbury, Ohio
Tallmadge, Ohio
Tiffin, Ohio
Trotwood, Ohio
Troy, Ohio
Twinsburg, Ohio
Uhrichsville, Ohio
Union, Ohio
Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Vermilion, Ohio
Vienna, WV
Waite Hill, Ohio
Wakeman, Ohio
Walbridge, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Waterville, Ohio
Wauseon, Ohio
Waverly, Ohio
West Carrollton, Ohio
West Unity, Ohio
Westover, WV
Wheeling, West Virginia
Whitehall, Ohio 

Whitehouse, Ohio
Wickliffe, Ohio
Willoughby, Ohio
Wilmington, Ohio
Windham, Ohio
Winfield, WV
Wintersville, Ohio
Woodmere, Ohio
Woodville, Ohio
Wooster, Ohio
Wyoming, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Zanesville, Ohio