by jboullion | Oct 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
Focus on Energy provides $99,000 to boost energy saving efforts
Madison, Wis. – Since being acquired in 2001, Cortec Coated Products in Eau Claire, Wis. has prided itself on finding smart business solutions. The manufacturer has built on its knowledge and experience to become a global supplier and forerunner in the coated paper and film industry. With the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, Cortec Coated Products has also been able to build on Focus’ knowledge and experience tobecome a leader in energy efficiency.
Cortec Coated Products received $99,000 in financial incentives from Focus on Energy after installing an innovative heat-recovery system and plant-wide lighting and steam
trap upgrades. These improvements will save the company more than 223,000
kilowatt-hours of electricity and 175,000 therms of natural gas annually – enough
energy to power 200 Wisconsin homes for a year. The company will also benefit
from $210,000 in savings on its energy bills each year.
The biggest energy saver is a unique heat-recovery system installed last [June] that provides extraordinary energy savings. The system captures “waste” heat from the facility’s oven exhaust system and instead of venting that hot air outside of the facility; the system extracts heat from the outgoing air and returns it to the oven inlet to start the process again. Reusing this heat enables the manufacturer to significantly reduce its natural gas use and saves $170,000 a year. Focus on Energy awarded $82,000 to help get the project off the ground and also provided $2,400 prior to install so a feasibility study could be completed to assure significant energy savings.
by jboullion | Oct 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Shelly Birkelo in the Jansville Gazette:
JANESVILLE — Have you broken down and turned on your furnace yet?
It’s natural to wait as long as possible in an effort to keep your winter heating costs down.
There are, however, other ways to spend less money and save energy starting with an annual furnace inspection.
“It will probably cost between $50 and $100, but it is important to make sure your furnace is running correctly and efficiently,” said Steven Schultz, Alliant Energy communications program manager.
A checkup also will clean out dust or dirt, he said.
“Dust and dirt can clog vital parts, making your furnace run harder and eventually break down,” Schultz said.
It’s also the best prevention against deadly carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Alliant’s monthly Natural Gas update newsletter.
To find an energy-smart heating contractor in your area, visit alliantenergy.com/ dealerlocator.
A home energy evaluation also can help consumers understand where their energy is going, Schultz said.
“It can show you where heat is escaping during the winter, for example, and will provide you with a blueprint for weatherizing your home,” he said.
For details about how you can do a home energy audit, visit www.alliantenergy.com/utilityservices/foryourhome/easyenergysavers/014671, Schultz said.
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy-efficiency and renewable energy initiative, also is a good source for energy and money-savings tips, Schultz said.
It is funded by all of the state’s utilities and can be accessed by visiting www.focusonenergy.com or calling 1-800-762-7077, he said.
by jboullion | Oct 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Shelly Birkelo in the Jansville Gazette:
JANESVILLE — Have you broken down and turned on your furnace yet?
It’s natural to wait as long as possible in an effort to keep your winter heating costs down.
There are, however, other ways to spend less money and save energy starting with an annual furnace inspection.
“It will probably cost between $50 and $100, but it is important to make sure your furnace is running correctly and efficiently,” said Steven Schultz, Alliant Energy communications program manager.
A checkup also will clean out dust or dirt, he said.
“Dust and dirt can clog vital parts, making your furnace run harder and eventually break down,” Schultz said.
It’s also the best prevention against deadly carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Alliant’s monthly Natural Gas update newsletter.
To find an energy-smart heating contractor in your area, visit alliantenergy.com/ dealerlocator.
A home energy evaluation also can help consumers understand where their energy is going, Schultz said.
“It can show you where heat is escaping during the winter, for example, and will provide you with a blueprint for weatherizing your home,” he said.
For details about how you can do a home energy audit, visit www.alliantenergy.com/utilityservices/foryourhome/easyenergysavers/014671, Schultz said.
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy-efficiency and renewable energy initiative, also is a good source for energy and money-savings tips, Schultz said.
It is funded by all of the state’s utilities and can be accessed by visiting www.focusonenergy.com or calling 1-800-762-7077, he said.
by jboullion | Oct 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Amy Hetzner in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A new provision allowing school districts to bypass voters and raise property taxes for energy-efficiency improvements is gaining notice among school leaders with aging buildings and limited funds.
The exemption from state-imposed revenue caps was included in the 2009-’11 budget passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Jim Doyle in June.
But it took until last month for the state Department of Public Instruction to issue discretion on how much they could spend and what they could spend it on, as long as they show the projects saved money on energy.
Now school boards have until Nov. 1 to decide whether they want to exercise their newfound flexibility for the school year already under way.
Three boards already have passed resolutions announcing their intentions to exceed revenue limits in paying for energy-efficiency projects. The most expensive of the proposals, from the Whitehall School District, involves $450,000 in spending over the next three years.
by jboullion | Oct 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
(October 1, 2009) – Wisconsinites continue to realize the financial and energy savings of installing ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in their homes. And now, for a limited time, Focus on Energy is offering CFLs for a discounted price at participating retail locations throughout the state.
Focus, Wisconsin’s statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy information, is launching the annual promotion October 1, 2009.
CFLs that have earned the ENERGY STAR last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs and are 75 percent more efficient – saving as much as $30 over the course of their lifetime. In addition, the bulbs produce 75 percent less heat than their standard counterparts, making them safer to operate.
“Over the past several years, thousands of residents throughout Wisconsin have reduced their energy use and utility bills by installing ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs, but there are still many who have not made the switch,” said Rhonda Pittman, Lighting Program Manager. “In these tough economic times, there is no better time to install a product that will save money while also helping Wisconsin’s environment.”
While financial savings associated with using CFLs remain one of the primary reasons Wisconsin residents opt for them, CFLs also offer environmental benefits. Because qualified bulbs use so much less energy to operate, less pollution is being generated.
