Renewable Energy Issue Makes Front Page of Wausau Daily Herald
Wisconsin is fifth in the nation for dependence on coal for electricity, sending $853 million out of state for the fuel in 2008. Why not keep more of those dollars working in our own economy by switching to clean energy sources like solar and wind?
We’ve been pointing out for ages that when it comes to fossil fuel, Wisconsin is dead in the water. Every lump of coal, drop of oil, and therm of natural gas we burn has to be imported from out of state – thus exporting dollars that could be used to bolster our state’s economy.
Well, it finally made front page news.
Today’s Wausau Daily Herald featured an article penned by Gannett News Service staff writer Larry Bivens, entitled Coal costs Wis. $853 million each year.
The article covers a recent report released by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) entitled “Burning Coal, Burning Cash: Ranking the States that Import the Most Coal.”
Coal is one of the dirtiest ways to get electricity. Burning it brings consequences not only for global climate change but for Wisconsin’s air quality and thus the health of its citizens.
In addition, switching to renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind will keep more dollars circulating in our state’s economy.
“Wisconsin has the technical potential to generate 4.2 times its electricity needs from renewable power,” Biven quotes Barbara Freese, a senior analyst with UCS and a co-author of the report, as saying during a recent teleconference.
Want to be part of the solution? Call us to find out how we can help you generate your own clean, local electricity from the sun! 715-218-8654
Tags: coal, PV, renewable energy, solar, solar contractor, Wausau, Wausau Daily Herald, Wisconsin
Home Performance Consultant Discusses Gas Range Safety
Did you know that code allows gas ranges to vent right into your kitchen and emit more parts per million of carbon monoxide than a water heater which vents into your chimney?
Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it safe. Here, Dan tells you what happens when you cook with a gas oven or cook top and how to do it safely.
Tags: carbon monoxide, CO, cooking with gas, energy audit, gas appliance safety, gas oven, gas range, Home performance, home rater, kitchen safety, Wausau
Performance Energy, Inc. Earns BBB Approval
Performance Energy is now an Accredited Business of the Better Business Bureau
After a several-weeks-long approval process, we just received notice of Performance Energy’s approval as an Accredited Business by the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin.
We’re very proud. But it’s just the beginning. We pledge to continue to put forth our best effort to live up to the honor by providing quality service and honest information to all our customers.
Growing Green Congregations
Kudos to St. Anne’s Parish of Wausau, WI for their recent decision to become a Green congregation. It’s a responsible choice and a natural one for a community that wishes to honor God’s creation.
This Saturday, Jan. 9th from 10:30-3:30, St. Anne’s will be hosting an interdenominational workshop on eco-spirituality. The key speaker, former professor Sister Lucy Slinger, has worked with indigenous peoples of Australia and Africa. Her passion for the sacred dimension of all Creation helps lead people to a deeper understanding of the relationship between self, others, God and Earth.
Performance Energy, Inc. is delighted and honored to be a part of this important event. We will have equipment and informational displays on sustainable home energy available for viewing during the workshop and during and after the next morning’s service. We will also be offering a drawing for a solar site assessment at the event.
Tags: eco congregation, eco-spirituality, Green congregation, Sister Lucy Slinger, St. Anne's, Wausau
EconoBurn Boiler on display in Wausau
Our first EconoBurn wood boiler unit is now on display at 1699 Schofield Ave. Suite 304 in Schofield, Wisconsin. It is solid. I just learned today that it is the only pressurized wood boiler to meet code requirements. All the outdoor wood boilers are open vessel, which means they rust out fast. A pressure vessel has no air and always the same water so there is no internal rust.
To view the boiler, please call me at 715-218-8654 for available times.
Dan Michelsen
Tags: outdoor wood boiler, outdoor wood boilers, Renewable Wood, Wausau, wood boiler, wood gasification, Wood heat
Performance Energy to Offer Home Performance Testing
Dan completed his Home Rater training last week in Madison. Passed the exam with the highest score in the class. Next week he’ll go back down for more specific training in the various home rater programs through Focus on Energy. We’re looking forward to providing the Wausau area with home performance services.
Dan earned a 90% on his Home Rater exam - the highest score one of hte instructors had ever seen!
Solar Thermal Project Update: One Step at a Time
It’s not always easy being the first.
As the first solar thermal contractor in Marathon County, we’re paving the way in terms of letting suppliers know exactly what the industry needs in terms of parts and materials.
Although work on the Henricks project began a while ago, it’s taken until now for everything to finally get here and ready to go.
In the meantime, Dan’s been working outside in the chill Wisconsin winter, getting the panel mounts ready for installation. This particular project presents a unique challenge because of a combination of awning-mounted panels over vinyl siding and a less-than-flush exterior wall. The panels must be mounted securely enough to withstand windstorms, while the vinyl needs room to flex with outside temperature variations to avoid cracking.
Dan tells me the panel mounts are almost completed and the parts are lined up and ready to go.
They’re planning to hang the panels Saturday.
We’ll keep you posted!
Tags: Marathon County, solar contractor, solar hot water, solar installer, solar thermal, solar water heater, Wausau
