Super Bowl Watchers In It For the Ads?

Do you tune into the Super Bowl for the action on the field or the ads between plays? According to the results of a survey recently released by The Nielsen Company, if you watch for the game, you are in the minority. The media company found that the majority of Super Bowl viewers enjoy the game’s ads more than the action on the field.

Fifty-one percent of those questioned said they most enjoy the commercials that air throughout the game when compared to the Super Bowl game itself. Forty-nine percent said that they enjoy the game more than the ads. Results were based on a sample of over 25,000 households in Nielsen’s Homescan panel.

The poll was just a small portion of what Nielsen released as part of their comprehensive study of the trends and effectiveness of paid Super Bowl advertising. Read about all their findings here.

If you do plan to actually watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, which team will you be rooting for? (Go SAINTS!)

How Do You Watch TV?

Technology is a funny thing. Ten years ago, if someone had asked me how I prefer to watch TV, I would have given them my best "what are you talking about" look and continued on about my day. There used to be one way to watch TV: live. Well, unless you were that crazy guy who actually hooked up a VCR, but let's get real, hardly anybody did that. I was an uber-nerd and I still thought that guy was kind of lame. My apologies to those of you who did that. I'm sure you're pretty cool.

Anyway, TV watching has changed. Some would say for the better, and others (primarily networks) would argue that it's for the worse. With more people constantly moving to online viewing of their favorite shows as well as watching via DVR, it's getting harder for TV networks to make the big bucks they used to off of ad revenue. While everybody is still trying to figure out what the ad revenue model is for the Internet and TV executives want to figure out how to eradicate DVR, we are still happily watching American Idol, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (for one more night anyway) and 30 Rock.

My TV habits are totally different now than they used to be as a result. I even watch sports almost exclusively with DVR, so I can get past the commercial breaks, timeouts, etc. Knowing this, I thought I'd make a poll to find out how our readers watch the tube as well. Feel free to vote and tell us how you watch your favorite shows in the comments!

Knology and NFL Network Announce Expanded Partnership

Good news for Knology customers who are also NFL fans. The cable company plans to deliver more football games to sports fans across its viewing area in 2010 and beyond. Knology and NFL Network recently announced a multi-year agreement to continue carriage of NFL Network through 2014. The new deal includes primetime regular-season games carried by NFL Network, including Thursday night games, as well as all preseason games.

NFL Network is now available to Knology digital cable customers as part of the Digital Preferred packaging in Alabama (except Dothan), Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. High definition customers in Pinellas County, Florida can also view NFL Network in HD. Knology basic and HD customers in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota will continue to have access to the NFL Network live games.

If you want to see more NFL games in the New Year, see if Knology is available in your area.

Verizon Operations Center Earns LEED Green Building Certification

Verizon recently announced that its operations center in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, has earned the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® Silver certification for the center's environmentally friendly-design and energy efficiency.

To make the 1.4 million-square-foot facility more energy efficient, Verizon uses temperature sensors and energy-management systems to monitor heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The company also controls the facility's lighting schedules; tracks maintenance and service requirements; uses air handlers with variable frequency drives for energy-efficient heating and cooling; and has installed energy-efficient light-emitting diode and fluorescent T-5 lights.

"Verizon's LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. "As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, the Verizon operations center is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement."

Verizon says that is remains committed to finding practical and innovative ways to increase energy efficiency and bolster conservation efforts. The company currently operates the largest fuel cell site of its kind in the nation. Using seven fuel cells, the company's Energy Star Award-winning facility in Garden City, New York, can generate enough electricity per hour to meet the energy needs of 400 single-family homes.

To qualify for the Energy Star rating, the center had to place among the top 25 percent of the most energy-efficient facilities in the U.S. Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star rating use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and release 35 percent less CO2.

If you would like to follow Verizon's lead and make your home or office more energy efficient, check out the energy conservation tag of the blog for great resources on how to be greener in the New Year.

The U.S. Green Buildings Council Partners with Girl Scouts to Create Greener Schools and Communities

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently announced that they have joined forces to help girls take action to improve the environment and their communities by promoting green schools.

Local Girl Scouts will participate in Forever Green projects as part of USGBC’s National Green Schools Campaign. Girls will team with USGBC volunteers throughout its extensive chapter network to develop and use their leadership skills to significantly impact the environment by working in schools and throughout their communities to save energy, conserve water, increase green space, improve air quality and reduce waste.

“Through our partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA, we have the potential to reach and inspire millions of girls – America’s future leaders – to impact the way school buildings are designed, built and operated, enabling a healthier and environmentally responsible built environment for future students and teachers,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC.

To learn more about what Girls Scouts are doing to help better the environment, check out It's Your Planet—Love It! Maybe you'll even find something inspiring to help you make changes in your own community.

PG&E to Purchase and Operate Major California Wind Energy Project

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) recently announced that it plans to purchase and operate a major wind generating plant to be built in Southern California to serve the utility's electric customers.

With a power capacity of up to 246 megawatts, the proposed project would be the first wind project owned by PG&E. If approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, the project could begin producing wind power by December 2011.

With a projected annual output of up to 670 gigawatt-hours per year, equal to the energy consumed by about 100,000 average homes, the project would contribute significantly to PG&E's efforts to meet California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Find PG&E service available in your area

Qwest Donates More Than $10.5 Million to Communities in 2009

Qwest Communications recently announced that its employees and foundation increased their commitment to community service in 2009 by collectively donating more than $10.5 million, in addition to volunteer time and in-kind resources and equipment, to local education and community programs.

More than half of Qwest’s employees participated in their employee-giving campaign, conducted in partnership with the United Way, which was an increase of nearly 20 percent over 2008. The Qwest Foundation provided a 75 percent match to employees’ contributions resulting in a total gift of $5.1 million to communities across the country. It is the largest gift the foundation and Qwest employees have made through the campaign in the past decade.

“Qwest is able to deepen its partnerships with local education and community programs thanks to the remarkable generosity of its employees and the Qwest Foundation," said Rich Baer, executive vice president, general counsel & chief administrative officer and Qwest Foundation president. "In an especially challenging year, Qwest employees continue to answer the call to service, through donations of time and money, and are making a true difference in their communities.”

Kudos to Qwest for their generosity to the communities they serve!

The Home Depot to Launch Martha Stewart Living Paint Line and Offer Martha Stewart Clean Products

Planning to spruce up your home with some new paint or be greener in the New Year? The Home Depot may have you covered on both. The home improvement store recently announced that it plans to add more products from queen of homemaking herself, Martha Stewart.

Beginning in March 2010, The Home Depot will offer a Martha Stewart Living paint palette that will consist of 280 handpicked colors created by Martha Stewart and the her design team. The company plans to offer the line in stores across the U.S. and Canada and all colors will be available in interior and exterior paint in four interior and two exterior sheens.

If you aren't planning any major home improvement projects but you still want to your house to be a little greener, The Home Depot will also offer the Martha Stewart Clean collection, which includes 10 environmentally friendly cleaning products for laundry, kitchen, bath and general cleaning needs for every room. The collection will carry the Eco Options label, The Home Depot's certification for products that meet certain environmental performance criteria.

"I'm thrilled to be working with The Home Depot to provide consumers with a beautiful paint palette inspired by nature and unique objects," said Martha Stewart. "I'm also delighted that our natural Martha Stewart Clean products will be available at The Home Depot, providing safe and effective cleaning solutions for those who are concerned about the environment in their home and in the wider world beyond it."

For more info on these new products, check out The Home Depot To Launch Exclusive Martha Stewart Living Brand of Paint in March 2010.

Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency Home Improvements

It's tax time again! When you are filling out your returns (before April 15, 2010!), don't forget to claim any tax credits relation to energy efficiency home improvements you did in 2009.

For improvements made in 2009 and 2010, you can get an income tax credit of up to $1,500 for installing efficient new windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in your home. However, efficiency criteria will vary dependent on when these items are installed.

Not sure what counts and what doesn't? The Alliance to Save Energy offers a handy Guide to Energy-Efficiency Home and Vehicle Tax Credits.

Charter Customers Watching More Video On Demand

Charter Communications recently announced that its digital video customers are watching more Video On Demand programming with a record 110 million programs viewed from July through September of this year.

The company says that the many choices and features now available with Charter On Demand is what is driving the growth.

“By using Charter On Demand, our customers have access to a wide range of outstanding network shows," said Rich DiGeronimo, Vice President of Product Management at Charter. "There are more than 50 programs from our On Demand Primetime Free category, many of which are available a day after their cable television premiere."

To help you catch your favorite shows, Charter is also offering a new On Demand reminder service that sends text or email reminders alerting you about upcoming movie releases, events or premieres available On Demand. You can register and then receive these reminders by title or category searches.

If you are not currently a Charter customer, find service available in your area.