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 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Liz Welter in the Marshfield News-Hearld:
Issues raised by the city’s Sustainable Marshfield Committee transcend political agendas, resulting in wide-spread community support, said Marty Anderson, chair of the committee and a former alderman.
“Sustainability is living and working in ways that don’t jeopardize our current and future social, environmental and economic resources,” he said.
“You can come at this from a lot of different angles. Whether it’s economic, the environment or health issues, there’s a wide-spread understanding we need to act,” said Anderson, adding that the committee recommends initiatives and tactics to the Common Council that will move the city towards achieving sustainability.
“When the city switched to LED lights in all the traffic lights, I think the savings is about $16,000 annually,” Anderson said.
Marshfield can be a model for what is pragmatically possible, he said. Two initiatives the committee recommended to the city have been approved. One was supporting the use of phosphate-free fertilizers and the other was to support state legislation to protect groundwater.
Through the committee, Marshfield’s city buildings and fleet vehicles will participate in a state-funded study. Wisconsin has a goal to reduce fossil fuel use by 25 percent by 2025. The committee will determine by December what the city would need to do to meet this goal.
“This could give us a road map for the future,” Anderson said.
To encourage the public’s use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, the committee purchased more than 1,500 to give away at various community events.
“We gave out about 1,000 during the Cultural Fair,” said committee member Sue Meyer, who talked at the fair about the energy needed to create electricity for an average four-person family house in one month.
“Most Wisconsin power plants use coal to generate electricity. It takes 162 pounds of coal to light the average home for one month using incandescent light bulbs,” Meyer said.
by jboullion | Apr 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Steve Schultze in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Hybrid diesel-electric buses run cleaner and quieter and get better mileage than their conventional diesel engine counterparts, advocates say.
Dozens of cities around the United States use hybrids, including Madison, Chicago and New York. But don’t expect to see them anytime soon in Milwaukee.
Higher hybrid costs have put them out of reach for the Milwaukee County Transit System, at least for now. The local bus system is seeking $16.4 million in federal stimulus aid, which it plans to use to replace 41 aging diesel-powered buses with new diesel buses, transit system managing director Anita Gulotta-Connelly told county supervisors this week.
The big reason is cost. Hybrid models each cost about $500,000, or up to $200,000 more than conventional diesel buses, according to an analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national environmental policy advocacy group. The hybrids also cost an extra $30,000 to $60,000 in expected costs of replacing their battery packs, according to a report from the transit system.
Cheaper fuel costs for the hybrids – they get about 30% better mileage – would save up to $85,000 over the 12-year life of a bus if diesel fuel averaged $3.50 a gallon, the transit system report says. That still makes traditional diesel buses more affordable.
by jboullion | Apr 10, 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 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 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a post by Andrew Alt on SmelserTownship.com:
A former supervisor of mine keeps a sign posted in his office to this day. It reads, “In God We Trust; all others bring data.” As a senior engineer at one of our nation’s premiere medical device manufacturers, I have learned the value of these words. Millions of people around the world count on our products to work, leaving no room for errors in judgment when it comes to product quality and reliability. That is why we employ only the best and brightest people who utilize cutting-edge tools and techniques to make informed, data-driven decisions in everything we do.
Using data to make decisions has become second nature to me thanks in no small part to the fine education I received from Saint Rose School, Cuba City High School, and UW-Platteville. That’s why I get frustrated when I see or hear of people from my hometown area making poor decisions based on bad information rather than concrete evidence. Case in point: people against wind energy.
by jboullion | Apr 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Custer, WI:
Enjoy Earth Day with friends and help support the MREA! Move Some Earth Day brings together volunteers to help improve our demonstration site, so we can better promote and educate others about renewable energy and sustainable living.
We have a variety of projects and need a variety of skills. Bring tools such as rakes, shovels, chainsaws, etc. All volunteers should bring gloves.
We need help in the following areas:
• Cleaning the ReNew the Earth facility
• Landscaping and mowing
• Preparing the pond for spring
• Cleaning shower trailer at campground
• Turning compost & Many other projects!
Move Some Earth Day happens rain or shine.
by jboullion | Apr 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
MEETING NOTICE
The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union will be having it’s first April 2009 meeting at Brewing Grounds – 2008 N. Farwell Av. on April 11, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
by jboullion | Apr 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Craig Reber in the Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa):
TOWN of SMELSER, Wis. — Voters returned two of three incumbents in the contentious Smelser Township Board of Supervisors race — an election that essentially put a controversial wind farm proposal on the ballot.
Incumbent Town Chairman Gabe Loeffelholz retained his seat, turning back a bid by challenger Greg Brandt, 204-193.
Incumbent supervisor Arnold Rawson kept his post with 295 votes. He was joined on the board by challenger Robert Droessler, who tallied 199 votes.
Incumbent James Kraus had 172 votes, and Mike Reese received 67, neither garnering enough votes to win the supervisor seats.
“I survived one,” said Loeffelholz, who previously served in the state legislature representing the 49th Assembly District. “I’m used to winning and I’m used to losing. That’s all a part of life — like work, religion and politics.”
Wind Capital Group, headquartered in St. Louis, wants to build about 61 towers in portions of three townships: Smelser, Paris and Hazel Green. The proposed White Oak Wind Farm would have a total capacity of 100 megawatts.
