Animation shows how solar electric and solar hot water systems work

by | Oct 2, 2008 | Uncategorized

From Focus on Energy:

It’s a great time to protect the environment, reduce your carbon footprint and save money in the long run. Do it all by installing a solar electric or solar hot water system.

Solar electric systems: capture solar energy and transform it into electricity. Click here to learn more and see how solar electric systems work.

Solar hot water systems: use the sun to heat water and then store it for extended periods, right on your property, making plenty of hot water available for showers, laundry and dishes. Click here to learn more and see how solar hot water systems work.

Right now, there are valuable financial incentives* available that can significantly reduce the cost of these systems:

+ 30% federal tax credit up to $2,000 (expires December 31, 2008)
+ Cash-Back Reward of up to 25% for project costs
+ Site Assessment co-funding of up to 60%
+ An additional $500 bonus for owners of Wisconsin ENERGY STAR® Homes or existing homes that have gone through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program
+ For multi-family buildings or other businesses, implementation grants are available to install solar projects

Visit focusonenergy.com/renewable to learn more about solar and available financial incentives or to sign up for our Renewable eNewsletter.

Waukesha home opens for Solar Tour

by | Sep 29, 2008 | Uncategorized

A press release issued for the Wisconsin Solar Tour:

A Waukesha home will be one of more than 150 sites in the state open for the 2008 Wisconsin Solar Tour on October 4.

The home of Julie and Vince Toman, 2105 Parkview Court, features 30 roof-mounted solar panels following the second story roofline in the rear of the house.

“It produces more electricity than we need for much of the year. We’ve only paid 6 electric / gas bills in the last 15 months,” according to Julie Toman.

“In fact, we get a credit for the amount of excess electricity it generates,” she added.

Businesses with solar installations will welcome visitors on October 3, the first day of the two-day Solar Tour, organized by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), located in Custer, Wisconsin.

Tour destinations will showcase advances in energy efficient construction, new products, sustainable landscaping, and renewable energy technologies.

“The tour demonstrates that renewable energy is practical, reliable, and affordable in today’s economy,” said Amy Heart, Program Director for the MREA.

“Tour participants have the chance to talk with people who live and work with renewable energy and green building features,” Heart added.

Full details on the Solar Tour and all the open businesses and residences are online at www.the-mrea.org/solartour.php.

Webinars: Building Communities Educational Series

by | Sep 26, 2008 | Uncategorized

From the UW-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development:

Today’s society is complex and challenging. There are myriad social, environmental and economic opportunities and challenges facing communities and businesses of all types and sizes. How do we engage each other in ways that benefit more than just a few special interests? How do we proceed so that we can achieve important objectives, but not do so at the expense of other ones that we also value? Is there a way of balancing a healthy economy, a healthy ecosystem and a healthy community? If we find that balance, can we sustain it?

This year’s Building Communities Webinar Series tackles these important questions. We address global, regional and local issues and challenge ourselves as both a community and as individuals. Join us in discovering some of our constraints and uncovering the limitless potential we possess to overcome them. If you care deeply about the economy and the viability of our businesses … if you care deeply about the ecological health of our planet … if you care deeply about the quality of life of our community – this webinar series is for you. Join us to be enlightened, to be informed, to be challenged, and to be called to action!

Who Should Attend:
Extension educators along with local elected and appointed officials working with communities on economic development and quality of life issues, including local business leaders, economic development professionals, and environmentalists.

Co-sponsors:
University of Wisconsin-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development and Sustainability and Energy Teams. . . .

The registration fee is $40 per program/$275 for the series per site (You can invite as many people as you would like to participate at your site).

Programs will be held on the third Tuesday of the month from 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. (Central Time) from October 2008 – June 2009.

This year, the series will focus on Sustainability:

October 21, 2008, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Setting the Stage: Sustainability and Sustainable Community Development

November 18, 2008, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Energy Efficiency

December 16, 2008, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Renewable Energy

January 20, 2009, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Sustainability and Comprehensive Planning

February 17, 2009, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Sustainable Business Practices and Strategies

March 17, 2009, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Green Collar Jobs: Sustainable Work in a Low Carbon World

April 21, 2009, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Local Food Networks: Food Localization as a Sustainability Strategy

May 19, 2009, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Sustainability Indicators and Measurement

June 16, 2009, 11:30 – 12:30 P.M., C.T.
Community Organizing for Sustainability

Kettle Foods gets it

by | Sep 25, 2008 | Uncategorized

From the Green Racine blog:

Salem, Ore.-based Kettle Foods says that it has yielded environmental and economic benefits by adopting measures that include offsetting all of the electricity used to operate both its Salem and Beloit factories with wind power. Additionally, the Beloit plant is home to 18 rooftop wind turbines.

“When we decided to go for green – or in this case, gold – with LEED certification of our new factory, we knew it was the right thing to do,” says Tim Fallon, president of Kettle Foods’ North American division.

The company also recycles of 2,300 gallons of waste oil with conversion to biodiesel used to power a company fleet of diesel-engine cars called BioBeetles, and reduces more than three million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually resulting from the elimination of shipping lines between Oregon and the Midwest.