Racine wants green for housing project

by | Oct 16, 2008 | Uncategorized

From an article by Dustin Block in The Daily Reporter:

Ken Lumpkin cautions against poor timing as Racine closes in on building an environmentally sound housing development in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

“The whole area needs to be cleared out, new sod put down, and the lot should be utilized as a park until the economy makes a turnaround,” said Lumpkin, a member of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Racine, about the site of a former homeless shelter torn down earlier this year to make room for development.

“It’s a fragile area directly across the street from an elementary school,” he said. . . .

The city hired Pragmatic Construction LLC, Milwaukee, for preliminary work on the site, and the city is reviewing the results, O’Connell said. He said he wants to give a report to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Racine, which is in charge of the project, by November.

The challenge for developers of the green housing project is to build affordable new homes in a neighborhood with deteriorating housing stock, said Juli Kaufmann, co-owner of Pragmatic. Homes surrounding the property are valued at about $50,000, according to Racine County property tax data.

But the green, high-efficiency homes Pragmatic specializes in could be the perfect fit for a low-income neighborhood, Kaufmann said. With lower heating and gas bills, the homes would be cheap to run, and they’re built from durable materials that eliminate the need to paint or repair exteriors.

“We certainly think about that, and our clients talk about that,” Kaufmann said. “It’s on the table. The objective would be to figure out how to build reasonably affordable homes with homes across the street selling for $50,000. It’s impossible to build any size home at that price today.”

The city likely would support construction of a spec home on the site and then recruit builders to take on a certain number of lots on the property, O’Connell said. The property could support roughly 10 homes, and could possibly include multifamily homes.

O’Connell said building green homes keeps to the city’s commitment to environmentally responsible construction and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Milwaukee's Hot Water Products picked by State for solar hot water services

by | Oct 15, 2008 | Uncategorized

From a media release posted on marketwatch.com:

TORONTO, Oct 15, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Mondial Energy Inc. of Toronto, Canada and Hot Water Products of Milwaukee, Wisconsin are pleased to announce that their partnership was selected as one of two renewable energy providers for solar thermal energy services to State of Wisconsin facilities. The state facilities which could potentially purchase solar thermal services from this contract include the 26 campuses of the University of Wisconsin, Department of Correctional institutions, and other State owned buildings.

Renewable energy needed to cut mercury pollution

by | Oct 14, 2008 | Uncategorized

A letter by Kristin Charipar to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The Oct. 5 article “Strict mercury rules likely to take effect” did not mention a key element: According to the Energy Information Administration, two-thirds of Wisconsin’s electricity comes from coal-fired generation. If Wisconsin used more sustainable and less polluting forms for electricity, this mercury rule would not be so controversial.

Wisconsin needs to move toward sustainable energy policies. I fully support the proposed mercury rule because it will give electric companies an additional incentive to stop proposing coal power plants (which not only release mercury but also lots of greenhouse gas emissions) and invest in renewable energy instead. This is rule is taking a step in the right direction by focusing on humanity (our environment and health) rather than a monthly bill.

I applaud the Department of Natural Resources for its work on the mercury rule and hope the government will continue to move toward policies that will make Wisconsin a clean and green place to live.

Sign up for heating assistance before season begins

by | Oct 13, 2008 | Uncategorized

From an article on Living Lake Country:

The Wisconsin Department of Administration’s (DOA) Division of Energy Services and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) urge energy customers to contact their local utility if their heat is currently disconnected. The agencies also encourage residents to take advantage of energy-efficiency programs and the state’s low-income bill payment assistance programs to reduce the burden of their utility bills this winter.

Wisconsin law states that consumers cannot be disconnected during the heating moratorium period from Nov. 1 through April 15, if they are connected at the start of the moratorium. Customers who are currently disconnected must make arrangements with their local utility to pay outstanding bills to have their service restored. If a consumer has not made arrangements to pay an outstanding bill, the utility is not required to reconnect the service until payment arrangements have been made.

Payment agreements
Consumers who need to set up a payment agreement should call We Energies at (800) 842-4565. If customers cannot reach an agreement with their utility, they may contact the PSC at (608) 266-2001 or (800) 225-7729.

Energy assistance
There is financial assistance available for eligible households who cannot pay their gas or electric bills this winter. The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) administers low-income and energy assistance programs for the state. WHEAP is part of the state’s comprehensive Home Energy Plus program which also provides assistance with emergency energy needs, emergency furnace repairs, and weatherization and conservation services.

Eligibility is based on income and family size. For example, a family of four which earns $7,743.75 or less in the three months prior to applying for assistance is potentially eligible. For a two-person family the earnings must be $5,133.75 or less. Benefits are based on income levels and energy bills. Consumers do not have to be behind in their energy bill payments to qualify.

For information about WHEAP, including contact information for local energy assistance offices, call 1(866) 432-8947) or visit www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov.

Milwaukee searches for solar contractors

by | Oct 10, 2008 | Uncategorized

From a story by Sean Ryan in The Daily Reporter:

Milwaukee wants its hometown builders to reap the benefits of a surge in solar energy, but the contractors that do that work are from Madison.

Hiring Madison talent both increases project costs and sends cash to out-of-town businesses, said Ann Beier, director of Milwaukee’s Office of Environmental Sustainability.

“We want the jobs here,” she said. “It’s pure and simple. We want Milwaukee residents to do the work.”

But Milwaukee doesn’t have contractors with the necessary certifications to draw public money for solar energy projects. Focus on Energy, the Madison-based group that offers grants for solar projects, requires contractors have experience and education before installing photovoltaic panels.

Most Focus on Energy-sponsored projects use Madison contractors, said Niels Wolter, solar electric program manager for the organization.

“Of course, that adds to the cost (in Milwaukee),” he said, “and of course Milwaukee wants to keep its money in the city.”

Focus on Energy requires contractors to take weeklong solar-installation courses before working on a project, Wolter said. Then, by the time contractors have worked on a maximum of nine projects, they must get certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Inc.

Banks, like Focus on Energy, don’t like financing projects if the contractor installing the panels is not certified, said Don Albinger, vice president of renewable energy solutions for Johnson Controls Inc., Milwaukee. But he said there are not many classes to prepare contractors to take the exams.

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) offers the necessary classes.