by jboullion | Apr 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The heat-producing bulbs are gone from the freezers at Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly. And the natural gas furnace isn’t getting used much.
These are two of the ways the expanded Cedarburg grocery store scored the highest of any of nine other supermarkets across Wisconsin that are participating in the Wisconsin Green Grocer program.
Store co-owner Ryan Olsen said he and his family saw the opportunity to become more energy efficient as they pursued a remodeling project that increased the size of their store by one-third, to 43,000 square feet.
“With energy prices forever climbing, it just made sense for us to (make an) investment now to reap the rewards of not having as high energy consumption later on,” he said.
As a result, the store’s energy bills are about the same, or slightly more than before, but the store has grown by 11,000 square feet and has six more full-time and 10 more part-time workers.
“This is an example of how we can create jobs and grow our economy but keep our energy use about the same,” said Brett Hulsey, an environmental consultant who worked with the grocers association on its initiative. Hulsey is also a Democratic state Assembly representative from Madison.
Some changes can be small – like giving shoppers the ability to recycle plastic bags – but others can be much more extensive.
“They’re heating almost all the building with reclaimed heat from their compressors,” Hulsey said. “That was the first time I’d seen that.”
by jboullion | Feb 14, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by by Nick Paulson in the Wausau Daily Herald:
STEVENS POINT — The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is using competitions as a way to engage students in plans to reduce energy use across the campus.
Students in residence halls currently are competing in two contests — one in energy and one in recycling — that, in addition to offering prizes, organizers hope will teach students sustainable practices that will stick long after graduation.
UWSP has been exposing students to green living for years through more passive measures such as a “greenest dorm room.” But by appealing to students’ competitive natures and bringing whole residence halls together, contest organizers hope to engage students who otherwise wouldn’t care.
“Wherever there is that added support, you see an increase in participation,” said Cindy Von Gnechten, facilities designer for UWSP Residential Living. “Obviously, we want to educate them, but the biggest thing is to carry that with you as you go beyond the residence halls.”
One competition, created internally, will pit residence halls against one another to see which one can cut its February energy usage the most, compared with a baseline from November. The hall with the biggest reduction will win three grand prizes.
Students also can be caught doing something green to be entered into a weekly raffle for environmentally friendly prizes.
UWSP residence halls also are participating in a national recycling contest, RecycleMania, in which universities across North America compete to decrease trash and increase recycling.
by jboullion | Dec 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
Tom Content wrote and posted the following article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the day before the Joint Committee on Finance voted along party lines (12 Democrats in favor, 4 Republicans against) to approve funding for Focus on Energy:
Lawmaker calls for audit; business groups against added funds
With a decision possible Tuesday on an increase in funding for the state Focus on Energy program, a lawmaker called for an audit of the energy efficiency initiative and several business groups came out against what they criticized as “a $340 million energy tax hike.”
Business groups including Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, the Wisconsin Paper Council, Midwest Food Processors Association and the Wisconsin chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses issued a letter opposing increased funding for energy efficiency.
“Energy conservation and efficiency is a great idea, which is why so many businesses, like paper companies, already do it,” said Ed Wilusz, vice president of government relations for the Wisconsin Paper Council, in a statement. “But the existing state program appears to be working well. We doubt that the massive spending increase called for in this proposal is necessary or would be effective.”
Supporters of energy efficiency say it’s the least-cost alternative to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and a way to help the state postpone costlier expenses like investments in power plants.
The opposition by business groups comes even though large manufacturers in Wisconsin are exempt under state law from paying more to the Focus on Energy program.
The Focus on Energy program is funded through a surcharge on most customers’ electric bills. Under the PSC proposal, funding would ramp up over the next four years, raising $20 million more than current levels in 2011 and $60 million more in 2012. The increase would result in an average rate increase of 0.2% in 2011 for utility customers, and 0.7% in 2012.
Increases in funding are also proposed for 2013 and 2014 under the PSC proposal that will be reviewed Tuesday by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee.
Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Allouez) said Monday he wants the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct an audit of Focus on Energy before lawmakers agree to an increase in funding.
“Our economy is still in bad shape, and families and businesses in our state are hurting,” he said in a statement. “We need to make sure that this program is providing the benefits that it claims it is before we agree to add more funding.”
Although not audited by the Legislative Audit Bureau, the Focus on Energy program is audited regularly by independent consulting firms.
by jboullion | Nov 29, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Steve Schultze of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
$800,000 in energy saving has been realized from efficiency program
Milwaukee County has reaped some $800,000 in energy saving from its “green print” environmental program, as well as millions of gallons of water and gasoline saved through more efficient plumbing, cars and trucks.
Though slow to adopt “green” efficiencies, the county jump-started its efforts once a half-time sustainability director was assigned to monitor the program in early 2009. Since then, the courthouse complex and more than 50 other county buildings either have undergone energy audits or soon will.
Lighting, heating, cooling and other upgrades enabled the saving, though it’s applied to upfront costs of some $10 million. In theory, after eight years the costs through contracts with private vendors will be covered, and savings will go to the county’s bottom line.
“I’m happy with the successes we’ve had with the resources we’ve been given,” said Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic, who pushed for the program’s creation in 2007. She said more could be done if the county would add more staff time to the effort.
It took more than a year to designate a green print coordinator, with the county’s budget problems hindering the initiative.
“By having small changes all over the place, we’ll have a very huge result,” said Dimitrijevic.
by jboullion | Oct 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story on WDIO-TV, Duluth, Minnesota:
It may surprise you but 44 states–including Minnesota and Wisconsin—don’t guarantee their residents the right to line dry their laundry. But a Superior lawmaker is making sure his clothesline-using constituents aren’t hung out to dry.
There’s a million different ways Northland residents can enjoy a Sunny sunday, but at Jan Conley’s household perfect weekend weather is reserved for hanging the laundry.
“There’s something iconic about hanging clothes out,” said Jan Conley of Lake Nebagamon. “I think there’s something really nice about it you know you feel good you’re outside you’re hanging clothes you’ve accomplished something and then when you’re done great I washed these clothes and they’re hanging out.”
A movement, dubbed the “Right to Dry” revolution by followers, began some years ago in Oregon, when homeowners’ associations began banning residents from line drying their laundry. Although none of those communities exist here, Representative Nick Milroy wants to protect those rights for his Wisconsin residents before they’re taken away.
“People really cherish their freedom in this country and I think taking away something as simple as allowing people to line dry their clothes is save money save energy it just doesn’t make send to me,” said Wisconsin State Representative, Nick Milroy of Superior.
Conley joined the “Right to Dry” movement a few years ago. She said using a dryer is a waste of energy and she wishes more of her neighbors would let the wind to handle the job.
“It’s a part of America. Its part of who we are,” said Conley.
