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 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a brief guide published by Focus on Energy:
Cities and towns across Wisconsin are seeking ways to address concerns about global climate change while improving the environment and their local quality of life.
Environmentally-friendly or “green” options for communities have long included programs to encourage recycling and the purchase of recycled products, improving public transportation and developing new zoning ordinances that reduce urban sprawl.
Recently, many communities have begun to seek strategies for achieving carbon reduction goals as a way of becoming greener. Because fossil energy use is the primary source of carbon emissions, communities are turning to energy efficiency and
renewable energy to make their energy production and use more sustainable.
The guide answers the following questions:
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE ENERGY?
HOW DOES SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PLANNING FIT
INTO OTHER GREEN COMMUNITY GOALS?
HOW DO COMMUNITIES GET STARTED?
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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.
by jboullion | Jun 26, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
Focus on Energy honored Craig Tarr of Hudson-based Energy Concepts with the 2009 Market Provider of the Year Award. The award was presented at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s (MREA) 20th annual Energy Fair on June 21, 2009 in Custer, Wis.
The Market Provider of the Year Award was conceived as a way to recognize renewable energy contractors who exemplify the goals and expectations of the Focus on Energy Program. The award provides the opportunity to honor one such contractor each year for their commitment and dedication to excellent customer service and quality renewable energy systems installation. Contractors who receive this award are exceptional in their passion, intelligence and dedication when it comes to providing renewable energy services.
“Craig’s 20 years of experience in the engineering industry has contributed greatly to his highly successful growth in the renewable energy industry,” said Emily Hickey, market provider program coordinator. “Wisconsin truly benefits from having well qualified businesses like Energy Concepts grow our renewable energy markets.”
The renewable energy division of Energy Concepts was launched in 2006, and in just two short years the company transitioned from a sole proprietorship to an engineering and full-service renewable energy company with six full-time employees. This success is due largely to Tarr’s ability to establish and maintain a strong reputation for professionalism and high quality, and his ability to tackle and accomplish solar and wind systems of any size. And his mechanical engineering background, as well as LEED perspective, allow him to step outside the box and rise to challenges. In 2005, Tarr was accepted into The Climate Project, Al Gore’s initial training program for 1,000 citizens from around the United States. In addition, Tarr has taken an aggressive approach to establishing Energy Concepts as a renewable energy leader through outreach and participation in industry events, and has proven to be a great Focus on Energy partner.
by jboullion | Jun 25, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a fact sheet published by Focus on Energy:
Rooftop wind turbines are one of the most talked about trends in renewable energy. City dwellers and suburbanites, inspired by the spread of large turbines and intrigued by the idea of producing their own energy, are today inquiring about rooftop wind systems in record numbers.
But just how viable are these systems? Can small rooftop wind turbines ever produce enough electricity to make the investment worthwhile? Find out the answers to these and other commonly asked questions below. . . .
Will a small rooftop turbine power my whole house?
No. Small turbines can only produce small quantities of electricity due to their small rotors.
Rooftops are ill-suited to harness the wind regardless of their location due to the trees and buildings surrounding a home. Rooftops in the city are particularly difficult places to harness the breeze. Not only are cities less windy than the countryside, but the air is turbulent because of trees and the variation in heights of buildings. Turbulence can wear out a turbine and reduce its life expectancy.
One analysis showed that a common type of rooftop turbine (being tested by Madison Gas Electric) “had generated about 45 kWh in about eight months (in a year about 65 kWh). The average single family WI home uses 10,000 kWh/year. Are you ready to live on 65 kWh/year?”
