The Rhinelander area was well represented among 15 northeastern Wisconsin non-profit groups getting energy-efficiency money from Wisconsin Public Service.
WPS's Energy Challenge asked non-profits to work toward energy efficiency and weatherization.
ArtStart Inc., of Rhinelander placed third overall, garnering a top $1,500 check. Others getting $1,000 awards are the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry, Northwoods Community Elementary School, and the Rhinelander Basketball Association.
Leah VanZile from Wisconsin Public Service said non-profit members had to achieve four tasks to get the money. During last October and November, 10 members had to reduce energy use at home. It also meant installing weatherization kits in community members homes who needed it...
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"....as well as getting 10 signups for various WPS programs. The last challenge task was charting the members actions, for example if somebody changed to(energy efficient light bulbs) cleaned refrigerator coils, changing furnace filters, along with energy savings...."
Van Zile says among all the groups, the two month results showed a cumulative electric savings of 56,000 kilowatt hours. Overall that’s a 23 percent savings across all organizations. These numbers equate to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 8 passenger vehicles or nearly 15 tons of waste sent to the landfill instead of recycled.
