by jboullion | Jul 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Milwaukee businesses and residents would benefit from loan programs the city is proposing to develop over the next year to help reduce energy bills.
The City of Milwaukee submitted its proposals for spending $5.8 million in energy-efficiency block grants as part of the federal stimulus package.
The city was given an indication of how much money it will receive but needed to submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Energy detailing how the funds would be spent, said Jodie Tabak, spokeswoman for Mayor Tom Barrett.
In an application submitted late last month, the city unveiled plans to boost energy efficiency of city-owned buildings and launch a revolving loan fund to help homeowners and businesses reduce energy use and save on utility bills. The city could also use some funds to add more hybrids to the city fleet, the city’s application says.
Nearly $1.5 million would be spent on the residential program, known as Milwaukee Energy Efficiency or ME2, to help homeowners afford the upfront costs of energy-saving upgrades.
Under the city’s plan, the revolving loan fund would help finance projects to replace old furnaces or make homes airtight through air sealing and insulation. Homeowners would then pay back the fund through regular installments.
by jboullion | Jul 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
As temperatures creep higher, so do energy bills.
Fortunately, Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, has a number of simple tips to get your home ready for summer — saving you energy and money. The following are Focus on Energy’s top five tips for keeping your cool this summer:
1. Install a Programmable Thermostat. These help save money and keep homes
comfortable by automatically adjusting temperature settings while the homeowner is asleep or away. A tip for getting savings is to set it five degrees higher in the summer when the house is unoccupied for eight hours or more. Homeowners can save about $100 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.
2. Replace an Outdated Cooling System. When replacing an air conditioner it’s important to look for the ENERGY STAR®, as these units can use up to 14 percent less energy than standard models. Also, consider a timer for window units. Set the timer for a half hour before you return home so it’s not running when no one is there.
3. Install a Ceiling Fan. Used in combination with your air conditioner, ceiling fans allow you to raise your thermostat setting by as much as four degrees without reducing your comfort. However, be sure to turn the fan off when you’re not in the room to save energy — ceiling fans cool people, not rooms.
4. Replace standard bulbs with CFLs. Turning off lights when you are not using them helps to keep a room cool, but another tip is to replace standard light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs — they produce about 75 percent less heat, which helps cut energy costs associated with home cooling. Additionally, replacing your five most used light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs can save at least $35 a year.
5. Install Window Treatments. Shut out the hot summer sun by closing windows and pulling shades or curtains on south- and west-facing windows. This helps to reduce the amount of solar heat coming through the windows.
by jboullion | Jul 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From Focus on Energy:
Whether you are a resident of an apartment or condominium, own apartment buildings, or are a condo owners’ association, Focus on Energy has energy saving programs for you. Choose the program that is best for you.
Programs for Apartment and Condo Residents
The Apartment & Condo Efficiency Services Program provides energy efficiency information for residents of apartments or condos. Whether you are looking for tips to keep your apartment comfortable and keep your energy bills low or need help finding ENERGY STAR® qualified products, we can help.
Programs for Apartment Owners
Focus on Energy’s Apartment & Condo Efficiency Services Program specializes in energy efficiency for new and existing multi-unit residential properties. Owners, developers and residents turn to us for the information, technical expertise and financial incentives to help them make their properties more energy efficient.
by jboullion | Jul 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in the Dunn County News:
Last year, the Menomonie City Council approved the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. This year, the Plan Commission is urging the council to adopt Governor Jim Doyle’s “25×25 Goals.”
Both are more than just pieces of paper, explained Wendy Sander of Cedar Corporation at the commission’s June meeting.
“The governor’s goal is to be generating 25 percent of our state’s electricity and transportation fuel from renewable sources by 2025,” she said, noting that by signing the agreement, the city would become eligible to receive grant funds to help pay for projects aimed at energy efficiency and sustainability.
“A specific one we’re looking at is the energy block grant,” Sander said. “We’re doing some work on the fire station right now that is extremely eligible for that program. It would score higher if the council had passed the 25×25 plan. … It’s similar to the climate protection agreement.”
Several months ago, the city council authorized upgrades to the aging mechanical and electrical systems in the downtown fire station, city engineer Charlie Jones told the commission.
“When we were in the process of doing the plan and getting ready for the bid, through diligent research, we found the grant,” he said. “That actually delayed the bidding process, because we believe we can get some grant dollars to help pay for the upgrades to make it more efficient.”
by jboullion | Jun 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
As temperatures creep higher, so do energy bills.
Fortunately, Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, has a number of simple tips to get your home ready for summer — saving you energy and money. The following are Focus on Energy’s top five tips for keeping your cool this summer:
1. Install a Programmable Thermostat. These help save money and keep homes
comfortable by automatically adjusting temperature settings while the homeowner is asleep or away. A tip for getting savings is to set it five degrees higher in the summer when the house is unoccupied for eight hours or more. Homeowners can save about $100 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.
2. Replace an Outdated Cooling System. When replacing an air conditioner it’s important to look for the ENERGY STAR®, as these units can use up to 14 percent less energy than standard models. Also, consider a timer for window units. Set the timer for a half hour before you return home so it’s not running when no one is there.
3. Install a Ceiling Fan. Used in combination with your air conditioner, ceiling fans allow you to raise your thermostat setting by as much as four degrees without reducing your comfort. However, be sure to turn the fan off when you’re not in the room to save energy — ceiling fans cool people, not rooms.
4. Replace standard bulbs with CFLs. Turning off lights when you are not using them helps to keep a room cool, but another tip is to replace standard light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs — they produce about 75 percent less heat, which helps cut energy costs associated with home cooling. Additionally, replacing your five most used light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs can save at least $35 a year.
5. Install Window Treatments. Shut out the hot summer sun by closing windows and pulling shades or curtains on south- and west-facing windows. This helps to reduce the amount of solar heat coming through the windows.
