HomeMy WebLinkAboutInside College Station NewsletterIi Inside College Station
* * * * * * CITY OF COLLEGE STATION • Home of Texas A6M University * College Station, Texas
Saving
ENERGY
could
save
you
MONEY •
S ummerwill soon arrive and bring with it
higher temperatures and higher utility
bills. College Station Utilities would like to
provide you with some tips on how you can
reduce summer energy consumption as
well as lower your utility bills.
Here are a few simple conservation tips:
• Have your air conditioning system
checked by a trained professional to
ensure that it is at its peak operating
condition. •
• Replace your return air filter at least
once every month; more often if you •
have pets.
• Keep your thermostat at no less than 78
degrees while you are home and raise it
during extended absences.
• Install a programmable thermostat that
will automatically adjust temperatures
for savings.
• Do heat - producing tasks such as
cooking, laundry and dishwashing in
early mornings or late evenings.
• Use your microwave rather than your
oven whenever possible.
• Reset your water heater temperature
between 110 and 120 degrees.
• Close blinds and shades to reduce heat
gain in windows that receive direct
sunlight.
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs and
turn off lights when not in use.
Open windows and use fans instead of
air conditioning on cooler days.
• Use exhaust fans to remove heat and
moisture from bath, kitchen and laundry
areas.
• Check weather - stripping on doors and
windows and replace or repair where
necessary.
• Wear lighter clothing and use fans to
circulate air for greater comfort when
you are at home.
June 2011
* * * * * *
Energy Conservation /Rebates
979.764.3724
Wind Watts /Wind Power
979.764.3535
cstx.gov /ucs
e -Sill Sign -up
979.764.3535
cstx.gov /ucs
e- Payments
979.764.EPAY (3729)
epay.cstx.gov
Credit Card Payments
979.764.3535
24/7 Utility Dispatch
979.764.3638
M Colleoe Station Utilities
Reliable, Affordable, Community Owned
Learn more at:
cstx. gov /utilities
• Plant landscaping to help block the sun
to reduce heat gain.
• Learn to read your electric and water
meters to help monitor your daily usage.
For further energy conservation assistance,
schedule an on -site energy audit, which
are available to College Station Utilities
customers at no charge. An energy audit
reveals how and where energy is wasted
in your home, and provides methods to
reduce overall energy consumption and
energy costs. Call 979.764.3724 to set up
your audit today.
For more information, call 979.764.6274
or visit cstx.gov /utilities.
Wes." Inside College Station
S eeClickFix College Station, TX-
wu..s rued. Welch M.,
GOary
0 AA
III PI 11040
See -Click -Fix
New feature for reporting city issues
The city has partnered with a third -party
provider, SeeClickFix.com, to provide an
online application that allows citizens to
report code enforcement violations and
other issues by flagging the location and
taking a picture with their smart phone.
Once a report has been made, individuals
can track the status of their complaint,
receive progress reports from city staff
and comment on other complaints. Issues
can also be reported and tracked online at
SeeClickFix.com/college_station for those
who do not own a smart phone.
"We are always looking for ways to empower
our citizens through better communication,"
Planning and Development Services
Director Bob Cowell said. "We encourage
our residents to take an active role in
their neighborhood integrity through this
technology."
This application is available now for iPhone,
BlackBerry and Android phones. Simply
download the application by searching for
"SeeClickFix" on your phone's App store.
For more information, contact Venessa
Garza at 979.764.3570 or vgarza @cstx.gov.
Down - Payment Assistance
Buying a home? Let us help!
Recently, City Council approved a change
to the City's Down - Payment Assistance
Program. This is good news for you!
Now, 15% of the purchase price of a College
Station home is available for income - eligible
homebuyers through a 0% interest, deferred
loan with the City of College Station.
Not ready to buy a home yet? Apply to the
program and get one -on -one homebuyer
and credit counseling tailored to you and
your needs.
To apply for down - payment assistance,
please go to cstx.gov /housingassistance,
visit us at 1207 Texas Avenue, or call
979.764.3778.
July 2011
Drinking Water Quality Report
Have you ever wondered where your
water comes from, or just what is in your
tap water? If you've ever found yourself
pondering those and other deep questions,
be sure to check your mailbox this month
for the latest issue of College Station's
annual Drinking Water Quality Report.
As part of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the
United States Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA) wants to make certain
that every tap water consumer in America
has information on the water they drink.
Every community water system is required
by law to provide its customers with a
drinking water quality report, also known as
a Consumer Confidence Report, by July 1 of
each year.
While some of the language in the report
is fairly complex, the bottom line is that
College Station's water meets all federal
and state drinking water standards. Nearly
every day, College Station's tap water is
tested for compliance with these standards.
Out of the hundreds of samples collected
from the billions of gallons of drinking water
provided last year, not a single sample
violated federal or state standards.
The report describes where College Station's
water comes from and how it's treated, lists
what was detected in the drinking water
June 2011 {PAGE 2}
from samples through December 31, 2010,
and the source of these substances. If a
contaminant was not detected or tested
for, it is not included in the report. This is
why you won't see some drinking water
contaminants, such as arsenic or endocrine
disruptors, in College Station's report.
The 2010 report will be mailed to more than
30,000 College Station water customers.
The project is paid for through the water
fund, which receives no revenue from sales
or property taxes. The fund is generated
from water and wastewater rates, along
with service charges.
events
coming in July
July 4
City offices will be closed
for Independence Day.
Garbage, brush, bulk and
commercial waste will be
collected as normal. The
Monday recycling route will be
collected on Monday, July 11.
July 13
Town Hall Meeting
with Councilman Jess Fields
cstx.gov /calendar
July 18
Neighborhood Seminar Supper
RSVP by July 15
Topic: "Recycling" by Heather
Qualls, Recycling Coordinator
bmoore @cstx.gov
July 20
Exploring History Lunch Lecture
RSVP by July 18
Topic: "Brazos County Media"
by Robert Borden
aboykin @cstx.gov
events