In these trying economic times, all of us find ourselves needing a little help. Several Indiana agencies have come together to help Hoosiers save money by offering ways to conserve energy and finding ways to help with the cost of mounting utility bills. The Indiana Office of Energy and Defense (OED), the Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), and the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) have partnered together to create the Hoosiers Care Program, which highlights energy-saving practices. Most people don’t realize the actual savings they can create by taking small steps such as winterizing your home, turning down the thermostat, and performing routine maintenance on your vehicles.
Are you committed to doing your part to save money and the environment? The first step is to take the Hoosiers Care Pledge. If you need assistance with any of the topics or suggestions above, please visit the following agencies’ websites:
Indiana Department of Environmental Management: http://in.gov/idem/
Indiana Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor: http://in.gov/oucc/
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority: http://www.in.gov/ihcda/
Office of Energy and Defense Development: http://www.in.gov/oed/
SMALLSTEP.GOV
Here’s an opportunity to take a step toward better health in the coming new year. Visit SmallStep.gov, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The initial website is for Adults and Teens, and there is an additional website for children, SmallStep Kids, with a fun public awareness campaign that advises: “Get up and play for an hour a day” which features friendly characters from the movie Shrek. Both websites contain basic tips on eating healthier, becoming more active, and avoiding harmful substances. The audience is all of us – especially those of us who feel that our busy lives leave little time for a healthy lifestyle. It directs users to tools such as the online Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Center, and Create-a-Diet from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Take a small step today! “Fact: Even small changes in your life will add up to big results.”
SmallStep.gov for Adults and Teens: http://www.smallstep.gov/
SmallStep.gov Kids: http://smallstep.gov/kids/flash/index.html
FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS
Since 1930, the FBI has been using a uniform system of compiling and publishing crime statistics. It currently gathers information from over 17,000 law enforcement agencies and publishes it in several annual publications. The most comprehensive is Crime in the United States, which includes crime data for various regions and states and also has arrest and employee information. This information is available to the public – you can find it online from the FBI’s website, as early as 1995. For information from earlier years, see your local federal depository library.
The data found in the Uniform Crime Reports should only be used for planning and research purposes. It is not designed to be a ranking system of law enforcement agencies. Other statistical reports that are available include Hate Crime Statistics and Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted. These are also available online and in print. The FBI has several publications online that are not necessarily statistical in nature. These include The FBI Strategic Plan 2004-2009 and A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety.
Uniform Crime Reports: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm
Crime in the United States: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm#cius
Federal Depository Libraries in Indiana: http://www.in.gov/library/2559.htm
Hate Crime Statistics: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm#hate
Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm#leoka
FBI Strategic Plan: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/strategicplan/strategicplanfull.pdf
Parent’s Guide: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm
KIDS IN THE HOUSE
Please remind your young and young-at-heart patrons to visit Kids in the House, from the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Choose from countless fun activities while learning about the U.S. government. Learn About Congress and how a bill becomes a law. Use Time Traveler on different Time Warp settings and travel with Bill to the 18th and 19th centuries. Also, take a virtual trip to Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol building and learn what sculptures have been contributed over time by all of the states. For parents, teachers, and librarians, check out the Educational Resources section to find links to further teaching websites.
Kids in the House http://clerkkids.house.gov/index.html
BATTERY RECYCLING TIPS
Many people give and receive electronic equipment for the holidays. However, a lot of that equipment is also accompanied by batteries. While more and more types of electronics now come with rechargeable battery units, many still use disposable batteries. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued a press release offering tips for the proper disposal of batteries.
Of course, the best way to limit the number of batteries going to the landfill is to purchase the type that you recharge yourself. However, IDEM also encourages Hoosiers to save and collect batteries, as many waste management facilities will take them and dispose of them properly. IDEM warns that trying to dispose of batteries yourself may result in releasing dangerous chemicals into the environment.
Recycle Indiana also offers a list of Electronics Management Service Providers, as well as recycling centers around the state. The site also provides Indiana regulations for recycling and additional tips on recycling electronics.
IDEM: http://www.in.gov/idem
Press Release: http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/32102.htm
Electronics Management Service Providers: http://www.in.gov/recycle/5739.htm
Indiana Regulations http://www.in.gov/recycle/5741.htm
Electronics Recycling Tips: http://www.in.gov/recycle/5721.htm
by Katharine Springer & Elisabeth O’Donnell