Companies look for ways to cut back in tough times

by | Mar 16, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an article by Rick Barrett in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Todd Nelson, owner of the Kalahari Resort, fires off in staccato fashion the belt-tightening measures taken at his Wisconsin Dells water park.

• Seventy employee cell phones eliminated. Saving: $4,500 a month.

• Wristbands for water park customers changed to a cheaper model. Saving: $60,000 a year.

• A new laundry water recycling system: $70,000 a year.

• Six company cars sold, saving thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and maintenance.

• More than 100 employee e-mail addresses canceled. Saving: $8,000 annually in account fees.

• Employees attending trade shows now stay at cheaper hotels rather than the convention hotel.

“They can drive an extra three miles to a Comfort Inn,” Nelson said.

For most companies, cost-cutting is key to surviving this recession. Layoffs and job reductions have been the most painful measures, but other less dramatic steps also can result in significant saving and can help a company’s long-term health. . . .

Some companies have found huge savings through energy conservation.

The Kalahari installed a 103-panel solar hot water system that heats 60% of the water in the resort’s laundry room.

Low-flow shower heads were installed in guest rooms, reducing water consumption by 2.46 million gallons per year.

The resort has a goal of cutting its electric bill by 30%, using dozens of measures such as motion-sensor lights in public areas.

Doyle will speak at Wind Industry Supply Chain Seminar, March 31, Appleton

Doyle will speak at Wind Industry Supply Chain Seminar, March 31, Appleton

by | Mar 13, 2009 | Uncategorized


Wisconsin Wind Energy Supply Chain Seminar
Appleton, Wisconsin
March 31, 2009

Wisconsin Wind Energy Supply Chain Seminar will focus on wind turbine manufacturing challenges and opportunities in the state of Wisconsin. Over 8,000 components and parts are used in the construction of utility-scale wind turbines, offering opportunities for a wide range of manufacturers and service providers in Wisconsin. The existing manufacturing and service industries, as well as academic and other institutions in Wisconsin makes it an ideal state to benefit from the growth of the wind energy industry.

Hear from The Honorable Jim Doyle Governor of Wisconsin
Tuesday, March 31, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Governor Jim Doyle is focused on creating opportunity for all of Wisconsin’s people and is building upon current efforts to create jobs, make America energy independent, and address the global climate crisis.

Complete program. Register online.

The view from atop MATC turbine in Mequon

The view from atop MATC turbine in Mequon

by | Mar 12, 2009 | Uncategorized

Jenny Heinzen, RENEW president and wind technology instrutor at Lakeshore Technical College, took this photo the V-17 wind turbine above the Mequon campus of the Milwaukee Area Technical College.

An article by Tom Kertscher in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on the turbine when it became operational:

Mequon – The largest wind turbine on a technical college campus in Wisconsin has been erected at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Mequon, where officials hope that what’s been dubbed “Blades of Freedom” will reduce campus energy costs and help train students for sustainable energy jobs of the future.

The turbine, which at 160 feet high and 56 feet wide easily is visible from Highland Road, also is aimed at raising awareness among the public about renewable sources of energy, said Michael Townsend, vice president of the Mequon campus.

Facebook subscirbers can see more photos in Jenny’s photo album.

$25 million in federal funds will help bus system delay crisis

by | Mar 11, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an article by Larry Sandler in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A $25 million cash infusion from the federal stimulus package will delay – but not avert – a financial crisis at the Milwaukee County Transit System, county officials and outside experts agree.

Wisconsin’s biggest bus system is in line to receive nearly one-third of the $81.6 million that the stimulus legislation will send to the state for transit. And County Executive Scott Walker, who has opposed other stimulus funding, says he will accept the bus money.

Milwaukee County’s share of the dollars will go toward buying new buses and other equipment for the transit system. Walker said that will meet his criteria for accepting stimulus funds, because the county won’t have to match part of the federal money with local tax dollars and won’t be required to fund ongoing operations that weren’t already planned.

Last year, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the Public Policy Forum warned that the transit system would be forced to slash service by 35% as early as 2010 unless it won new state or local funding.

The funding crisis stems largely from the way county officials used federal aid to avoid pumping more property tax dollars into the bus system. For years, Congress gave the county money to buy new buses, but the county legally spent the cash on major maintenance to keep old buses running longer. Those federal dollars are running out just as the transit system needs to start replacing about one-third of its aging fleet.

With the stimulus money, the county can buy some but not all of the 155 buses it needs, said planning commission Executive Director Ken Yunker.

That postpones the transit system’s day of reckoning, but doesn’t eliminate the need for a long-term solution, Public Policy Forum President Rob Henken said.

“Realistically, we’re probably talking about buying at least a year,” Walker said.

Q&A on solar electricity and solar hot water

by | Mar 10, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an interview with Clay Sterling by Michael Burke published in The Journal Times (Racine):

Q. What is an off-grid home, and how did you achieve that?

A. There’s no physical connection between the home’s electrical system and the utility. You have an on-site power generation system, so you are your own utility. In my case, the sources are both solar and wind electric.

You store that energy in a battery pack for immediate or later use. Generally, those are sized for about three days of no power input — and generally, in three days you’ll have some power input.

But there are times, like in November, December and March, when you’re not generating enough. So you have to back up the whole system with a gasoline generator.

Q. Are we talking about do-it-yourself or professionally installed solar projects?

A. Professionally installed. We train homeowners and DIY people, but now 60-70 percent of people who go through program are in the trades. The systems are also being manufactured in ways that speed up installation for electrical and plumbing shops that want to offer this work.

Q. Where can one install a useful solar system?

A. For solar electricity, you need no shading from at least 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day of the year, and the sun’s position changes. Sometimes a roof is a suitable place. Sometimes a backyard, on a pole or on the ground.

Solar hot water, on the other hand, is very forgiving. You can have a little shade throughout the day with little or no impact.

Q. What are the investment costs and payback times for solar electric?

A. Before you install anything, you have to address energy efficiency. A homeowner could reduce electrical loads by 30-50 percent with energy-efficient measures. For every dollar you spend on energy efficiency, you reduce system cost by $3-$5.

A 4-5 kilowatt photovoltaic system for an average home would cost about $40,000 today, complete. After doing energy-efficiency measures, it would cost about $28,000.

Using $40,000, Focus on Energy would give a 25 percent rebate. A federal tax credit would knock off another 30 percent, for a final cost of about $21,000.

You’re still looking at a long time to pay off this system. But you can assume that each year the cost of energy will rise and value of dollar will decline.

The $28,000 system would end up costing you $14,700.

Q. What about solar hot water costs?

A. About $7,000-10,000 for a system. After the rebate and tax credit, you might spend $4,725. It would connect to a traditional hot water heater but reduce the amount of energy needed to heat water. It would supply 50-75 percent of an average home’s water-heating needs, averaged over a whole year.