by jboullion | Apr 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Joe Knight in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram:
A national expert on sustainability who has met with Eau Claire city officials, UW-Eau Claire staff and Luther Midelfort staff says Eau Claire is taking the first steps toward being more efficient and environmentally friendly.
“I think there’s a real interest and excitement in Eau Claire … the hospital has been doing some great things, and the city and university,” Gips said.
Gips, president of Minnesota-based Sustainability Associates, will speak Monday at UW-Eau Claire to kick off a series of events the university and community groups are planning to commemorate Earth Day (April 22), which they have expanded to Earth Month.
“I’m going to share about this very exciting movement going on around the country, actually around the world, but especially in Wisconsin,” he said.
Wisconsin has more cities designated as “eco-municipalities”, which have agreed to use sustainable principals, he said. Washburn and Ashland were the first two. Madison, La Crosse, Menomonie, Dunn County and the city of Eau Claire are among more than 20 communities in the state that are either “eco-municipalities” already or are taking steps in that direction.
Gips advocates what he calls the “natural-step framework” for making companies, cities – even churches – more efficient and sustainable. The framework was developed in Sweden. IKEA was the first business to use it, but now many U.S. companies have adopted it, he said. The U.S. Army and Navy are also using the “natural-step framework.”
Over the past year, various Eau Claire city departments have been assessing sustainability, said city manager Mike Huggins.
“Specifically, they’re looking at energy, reducing waste streams and looking at the concept of sustainability through the ‘natural step’ process,” Huggins said.
by jboullion | Apr 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Energy Center of Wisconsin:
Identify operational and maintenance improvements in existing buildings and ensure their continued performance over time.
Retro-commissioning is a systematic process for identifying and implementing improvements to an existing building’s equipment and systems. The process focuses on building operation and maintenance activities. It targets energy using systems with the goal of reducing energy waste, achieving energy cost savings and selecting the most cost-effective solutions to achieve these goals and fix existing problems. Results of retro-commissioning may include improved temperature control, better indoor air quality, building pressurization, laboratory safety, infection control and/or electrical system reliability. Potential savings from low-cost to no-cost energy efficiency improvements typically range from 10%-20%.
This half-day training provides an introduction to retro-commissioning. Participants will learn how to conduct a process-based evaluation of building systems performance and energy consumption. Participants will also learn how to determine whether a building is a good candidate for retro-commissioning.
For more information, please visit www.ecw.org/university.
by jboullion | Apr 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by WPPI Energy:
Black River Falls – As Earth Week approaches, many homeowners will be considering how to incorporate “green” principles into their own homes. One Black River Falls couple is leading the way.
Tom and Verona Chambers will celebrate the completion of their net zero energy home during a 4:00 p.m. ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on Thursday, April 16. The Chambers’ net zero energy home combines state-of the art, energy efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems to produce as much
energy as the home consumes, achieving a “net zero” impact on our nation’s energy supply.
Through WPPI Energy’s GreenMax Home initiative, the Chambers have designed and constructed the first owner-designed and inhabited net zero energy home in the region that can be reasonably and affordably replicated in a cold climate. The couple’s home demonstrates a wide variety of practical, energy-saving
approaches that any homeowner could adopt to save energy and help protect the environment.
Present for the ribbon cutting will be:
+ Homeowners Tom and Verona Chambers
+ Representative Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls)
+ Utility representatives, contractors, project partners and other service providers for the home
+ Local government officials.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
4:00 p.m.
118 James Street
Black River Falls, Wisconsin
by jboullion | Apr 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Megan VerHelst in the Jackson County Chronicle:
The city of Black River Falls is testing a new kind of street light bulb that could ultimately save taxpayers money and provide a more efficient way keep the streets lit.
Four LED, or light-emitting diode, street lights were recently installed on N. Eighth Street for a trial run. City Utility Manager Jerry Ewert said the city decided to try out the alternative lights after WPPI Energy made the technology available to Wisconsin cities at a discounted price.
“We’re experimenting with them,” Ewert said. “Other communities are experimenting with them as well.”
The utility, in conjunction with the city of Black River Falls, decided to try out the LED lights because they are supposed to decrease both energy and maintenance costs, compared to the high-pressure sodium bulbs the city uses now.
The city currently sets a $70,000 budget for street lighting, said City Clerk Bill Arndt. Homeowners in Black River Falls pay, on average, $35 per year for street light costs.
“The street light budget was getting so high, so we are looking at something we can do,” Arndt said.
The city purchased the four LED lights — two with a strength of 30 LED and two with 40 — and installed them in the 500th block of North Eighth Street. Each light cost $600 and gives out a whiter, clearer light than the high-pressure sodium bulbs throughout the rest of the city.
Ewert said the main disadvantage to the LED lights are the initial cost. The four installed now were offered to the city at a discounted price, and Ewert said a standard LED replacement unit could cost up to $800 — 10 to 15 times the cost of a high-pressure sodium bulb.
But if the city were to replace all 439 street lights with the LED technology, it would be worth it in the long run, Ewert said.
“The expected life of one (LED light) is 30 to 40 years,” Ewert said. “The high-pressure sodium bulbs are significantly lower than that. Three to four years is about average.”
by jboullion | Apr 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
The 2nd Sawyer County Earth Day Event of 2008 was listed as one of the top news stories in the Sawyer County Record’s Year in Review.
We didn’t need to read that the Celebration of Earth Day-local solutions to global problems- drew more than two hundred local people to the Sawyer County Fairgrounds We were there again bringing together organizations, businesses, schools, & people from our area exhibiting and speaking about renewable energy, composting, fuel efficiency, gardening, natural & locally produced foods, water quality, and many other displays
Sustainability is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The first & second Earth Day Events facilitated by the Sawyer County Democratic Party and Good Friends highlighted and informed the visitors as to what is available in our area to assist them in not only becoming more sustainable in their individual lives, but how our communities can work together to be sustainable.
Because we know you are a community leader and pioneer in the sustainability movement and have been working hard in assisting our county’s residents in understanding and incorporating green and healthy practices in their lives, we would like to invite you to participate in the 3rd Earth Day Event- Local Solutions to Global Issues, April 25, 10-4 pm at the Sawyer County Fairgrounds near Hayward.
There is no charge to you for table or space for displays. You will be responsible for whatever taxes or fees for any products that might be sold by you. You are encouraged to fill out the attached document and return it at your earliest convenience. This will help us to assist you with your needs and assure a space for you. Set up time will begin at 9am on the 25th.
This year instead of a separate area for speakers and presentations, we will provide a “roving mic” which will be available throughout the day in the exhibition hall for you to do a short presentation about your display to visitors and other participants if you wish.
Protecting the earth and living lives individually and as communities that ensure that our grandchildren & their grand children will enjoy the good sustainable life has never been a politically partisan goal. It is all of our goal. We all are responsible for leaving the earth in better shape than we inherited. We all need to work together, no matter our beliefs or political leanings.
Thank you for what you are already doing and providing to the people of Sawyer County and our region. And thank you for your consideration in being a participant in the 3rd Sawyer County Earth Day Event this year.
For more information, questions, comments, you can call Waldo at 715-354-7450 or email sawyerdemocrats@yahoo.com. You can also contact damzel02@gmail.com
