Solar Energy -- Monthly Leasing Now Available

Have you considered solar energy but the upfront cost was just too much? TXU has announced a leasing program with free installation of panels. They estimate that a 3- or 4-bedroom home might initially cost about $35 a month on the 15-year, transferable lease, increasing 2.5% annually. However, the end result should be an energy savings, so hopefully the lease would pay for itself. TXU customers can sell TXU Energy the surplus electricity produced. Actual lease prices run $20 - $100 per month.

Homeowners in the Metroplex can qualify if they have broadband Internet service and good credit -- and sufficient south-facing roof space. Your roof should be in good condition before installation. SolarCity provides the solar panels, installation, maintenance and insurance.

Documents needed are a copy of your bill and a record of your kilowatt hour usage for each of the past 12 months (available from your electricity provider).

Learn more and sign up for a quote at www.txu.com/solar or call 877-TXU-SOLAR.

DART Plans Extensive Route Changes for 12-2010

When the Green Line expands in Dec. 2010 and the Lake Highlands stop is added to the Blue Line, many bus routes will change to provide service to the new stations. The DART website includes route by route descriptions and overview maps to explain the changes. DART is currently hosting a series of community meetings leading up to a public hearing on Tuesday, March 23, 6:30pm at DART headquarters on Pacific Avenue.

It appears that buses 29, 31 and 409 will still continue the same routes in this immediate area. However, there will be new opportunities to take one of those buses to a light rail station. Both the 29 and 409 will serve the Green Line at the Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station and 29 will also go to the Love Field Station. Number 31 will serve Bachman and Walnut Hill/Denton Green Line stations. In the downtown area the 29 and 31 will continue to link to the Green, Red and Blue Lines as they currently do.

Although the future Green Line Market Center Station would seem like a closer option, at this time convenient bus links are not apparent.

February Snow Breaks Records

Snow began falling before dawn on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. The first shot is around noon on Thursday. At 5:30pm it had accumulated on the window ledge. The last view is 7:30am Friday. At the airport we reached 11.2" on Thursday and 12.5" during the 24-hour period, breaking both snowfall records. Many staff spent the night nearby, either in the hospital or at area hotels.

More Snow Shots

These were taken around the hospital during the February 11-12 snow.

Appropriate setting to remind us that the Winter Olympics are beginning in Vancouver, Canada!

E-Book on Haitian Infectious Disease

EBSCO has offered one of their e-books free to support the Haitian situation.
"THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF HAITI is one in a series of GIDEON e-books which summarize the status of individual infectious diseases, in every country of the world. ...
Since the book focuses on geographic medicine, it does not include detailed information on diagnostic testing, pathogenesis, therapy or molecular biology." It is updated regularly.

Nursing Reference Center database trial

We have a 30 day trial of EBSCO's Nursing Reference Center, their point-of-care, evidence-based product designed for nurses. Contact your nursing educator or librarian for the password information. Enter a search term to find a information in a variety of formats. Click the "Diseases & Conditions" tab to reach concise but extensive Quick Lessons and Evidence-Based Care Sheets. Clicking any tab will produce an A to Z listing of the available topics in that category. Click the "Advanced Search" tab to limit your results to specific types of documents, including CE resources. Please be sure to give us your feedback on this product!

Texas Consumer Complaint Center

Consumers who have been treated unfairly in Texas or by a Texas company can get help from the Texas Consumer Complaint Center. University of Houston law students staff this 3 year old center. Contact them at www.TexasCCC.com or leave a message at 877-839-8422. The director also has a a website www.PeoplesLawyer.net.

source of information: Teresa McUsic, "The Savvy Consumer" column, Fort Worth Star Telegram, 2-5-2010

Census Time

Be sure to participate in the official US Census by completing and returning your form when it arrives at your home. Forms will be mailed in February and March.

Why participate? The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. An accurate Census helps provide future generations with the resources they need. The information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services. Every question they ask is for a specific reason.