Reduce impact of extreme temperatures on power grid
URBANA, Ill. - The National Weather Service reports that portions of the Midwest have experienced record-breaking, early-season heat, including numerous record highs and heat index values above 105 degrees....
Funds available to districts to replace school buses
URBANA, Ill. – Federal funding is now available for replacing older dirty school buses with cleaner vehicles, including electric school buses. University of Illinois Extension and Prairie Rivers Network are collaborating on a free online webinar...
Summer is upon us: Is your swimming pool safe?
SpRINGFIELD, Ill. — Summer is almost here, and that means spending more time outdoors. To cool down, many take a dip in a pool. Or to relax in the evening, a hot tub provides a nice way to soothe aching muscles.
One aspect of owning a pool or hot tub that can be overlooked is its...
Know what to do around downed power lines
May is Electrical Safety Month
After an accident involving downed power lines, stay in the car or cab and call 9-1-1
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — May is Electrical Safety Month and a good time to think about how to stay safe in a situation where there are...
Geothermal energy systems capture the power of the sun
URBANA, Ill. – Solar energy is not limited to solar panels. Geothermal energy represents another method of using solar energy to heat water and buildings and to generate electricity.
As the sun heats the earth’s surface, geothermal systems harvest this energy in a clean, efficient, and...
Stay safe during electrical storms
URBANA, Ill. – Exceeded only by floods, lightning is the second largest killer associated with storms. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, over 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes...
Shared space: $10 million grant examines how crops, solar can occupy same space
URBANA, Ill. — Some view crops and solar panels as competitors for prime real estate. A 4-year, $10 million dollar grant awarded to University of Illinois' Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment will design "agrivoltaic...
Keep pharmaceuticals out of local waterways with drug take back day
URBANA, Ill. – That expired bottle of pills sitting at the back of the medicine cabinet was once useful, but now it’s just taking up space. The question is – what do you do with it? Flush it? Throw it away?
Either choice puts drugs into nearby rivers or lakes putting the environment,...
Renewable Energy Resurgence: What You Need to Know About Solar and Wind
Renewable energy projects have been popping up across the country. Locally, new solar projects have been installed on acreages and connected to the grid. Other solar and wind developments have been proposed for the area. Solar panels can now be seen on many homes and businesses...
Reclamation programs help communities transition abandoned mines
URBANA, Ill. — For more than 140 years, coal mining communities in 72 Illinois counties have helped to power the state. As Illinois pursues energy transitions, coal power plants have downsized and closed, leaving mines abandoned and communities without avenues to replace lost tax revenue and...
During harvest: Know and teach electrical safety on the farm
From dump truck driver to teenager, everyone should be aware of potential electrical hazards
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Harvest means long hours, increased stress, and tight schedules. Because of that, ...
Geothermal systems bring smaller footprint to scalable, renewable energy
URBANA, Ill. – As Illinois advances towards its goal of converting all energy systems to 100% renewable energy by 2050, it recognizes that other energy sources besides solar and wind are necessary to reach the state’s future demands.
Geothermal energy could be the key to replacing...
Educator Duane Friend honored for 30 years of soil, water conservation
URBANA, Ill. – When Duane Friend shows up to an event towing what looks like an oversized sandbox, he’s hard to miss. Over 30 years, more than 35,000 children have jostled for the best view of “river” water carving through the display as Friend describes...
