by jboullion | Aug 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a story by Lindsey Hayes on WXOW, La Crosse:
LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW)– It’s the largest academic building on the UW-La Crosse campus and its name is Centennial Hall.
The facility will officially open on the September 6th for the first day of classes, yet on Wednesday UWL’s Chancellor Joe Gow lead a tour to introduce the new state of the art building.
Centennial Hall is 189,000 square feet.
It houses 44 classrooms, two auditoriums and offices for fourteen departments.
Each classroom is equipped with advanced technology, has flexible seating for interactive teaching, and 90 percent of the building has natural lighting.
This $40 million facility also has special interior design.
Much of the furniture, carpet and even the solar panels on the roof were based on input from students and staff.
by jboullion | Jul 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A solar financing program for city residents will be unveiled Thursday at a community kickoff event at South Shore Park Pavilion.
Under the new program, Milwaukee Shines will partner with Summit Credit Union to help homeowners finance the installation costs for solar panels.
The city says a study of solar installers found financing options were a key barrier to homeowners installing panels.
“We have seen the number of solar installations increase over the past two years since our solar program began, but financing the installation can still be a challenge for homeowners,” said Amy Heart, who manages the Milwaukee Shines solar program.
Solar installers and organizers of the city’s solar program and the city energy efficiency program will join Mayor Tom Barrett and Ald. Tony Zielinski at the kickoff event, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Heart said she hoped that Summit Credit Union’s involvement in the program would help spur a long-term change in how local lenders view investment in renewable energy.
The first 20 participants in the loan program will receive $1,000 off the cost of the solar installation. The financing arrangement will supplement incentives that homeowners and owners of multifamily dwellings with up to three units can receive, Heart said.
The loans will be available for solar electric or hot water systems. Homeowners can also take advantage of a 30% federal tax credit and a Focus on Energy incentive, Heart said.
“Between a homeowner being interested in solar and moving forward, it can be about three years,” she said. “This will help a lot of installers and site assessors working in the area, and help us add solar to folks’ homes around the area.”
by jboullion | Jul 20, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Wausau Daily Herald:
Mr. Chris Hamrin, president and CEO,
W Solar Group, Inc.
Chatsworth, CA
Dear Mr. Hamrin:
We here in Wausau are eager to learn where your company will build a manufacturing plant that will employ as many as 600 people making your high-tech solar panels. We were ecstatic to learn back in January that Wausau was one of the few Wisconsin cities — along with Eau Claire and perhaps others that have shown interest since then — being considered for the facility.
We won’t disparage Eau Claire or any other city in this great state. We don’t have to. We think what we have to offer in Wausau speaks for itself.
You already know some of our key assets. Your company spokesman, Evan Zeppos, was on target when he said this about Wausau in January: “It’s a very good spot as it relates to a supply chain, geography, transportation. It has a well-known reputation for having a good workforce, and it’s certainly very high on the quality-of-life scale.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
by jboullion | Jul 12, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Gregg Hoffman on WisBusiness.com:
Tom Lukens has been to a lot of places over his long career in horticulture and business. Now, the president emeritus of Golden State Bulb Growers is creating “a beautiful place to simply be” along the West Fork in the Kickapoo Valley.
“I believe human beings are motivated by sharing experiences,” said Lukens, who continues to serve as a senior sales rep and technical consultant for the Moss Landing, California, Golden State Bulbs company, and has started Nature Nooks Retreat.
“That motivates me here. I believe this place gives you a sense of belonging which is good for us. We’ve built the buildings to not only be energy efficient as possible, but to bring the outside to you when you are inside. . . .”
Driftless Area Project head Jeff Hastings, Trout Unlimited, UW-Madison researchers and others have helped Lukens in his development of Nature Nooks and have embraced his bio-diversity approach to stream restoration.
The green construction starts with Lukens’ home, a 1,440 sq. ft. structure that resembles Frank Lloyd Wright designs and is intended to make as small a carbon footprint as possible.
Through the use of passive and active solar, hydronic heat in the floors, energy efficient windows and materials and a little bit of wood, Lukens was able to operate the home without “a drop of petroleum” last winter.
He estimates the solar part of his system cost about $34,000 more than conventional heat systems would, but he received an $18,000 tax credit and will recover any additional costs through energy efficiency.
Lukens also has worked with local contractors and has used local materials whenever possible.
“It starts by not building a home with more space than you need,” Lukens said. “This space is plenty for our purposes. By using local materials and labor, you also save costs, contribute to the community economically and leave less of a footprint because of transportation.”
by jboullion | Jul 6, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Kolbe Windows and Doors:
Wausau, Wis. (July 2011) – Located in Wausau, Wis., Red Eye Brewing Company produces and sells craft beers complimented by dishes made from home-grown ingredients. The owners’ preference for locally-sourced, environmentally-responsible materials, their attention to detail and their appreciation for quality, contributed to their selection of Kolbe’s windows and doors.
“Red Eye truly believes that our success as a business is measured through our commitment to the community and the environment, paired with sound economic practices,” says co-owner Brett Danke. . . .
Bringing this systematic, sustainable, whole building design to life, S.D. Ellenbecker served as a hands-on general contractor, including the installation of Kolbe’s windows and doors. Opened in 2008, the 6,000-square-foot space’s other green building features include:
- location is a quick walk for downtown shoppers, near a designated bike route and one block from the bus terminal;
- reclaimed Redwood fence, planed by hand, and re-used as wood trim;
- waterless urinals, which save a combined 90,000 gallons of water per year;
- spent grain from the brewing process is provided to a local farmer, which he uses as a supplement for his cattle, eliminating it from the landfill;
- wood burning oven is fired with locally-sourced hardwoods, a renewable source of energy, which avoids the consumption of natural gas and electricity for primary cooking needs;
- solar water heat, which further reduces the consumption of natural gas and electrical power, equating to nearly 35 years of “free hot water” for use in the brewery and its restaurant.
