Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change

Transitioning to a is an opportunity for us address systemic inequalities like energy burden.

"Most often, low-income folks have the highest energy burdens. But according to the climate advocacy group 350 Wisconsin, low-income households in Madison face an average energy burden of 4%, while for extremely low-income households 9% of their income is required to afford to pay for light and heat."

Read more via The Capital Times:

Rising electric, gas bills harshest for those least able to go green Low-income Wisconsinites have the least access to energy-efficient technologies to reduce utility bills but carry the heaviest energy burden.

As part of the , Wisconsin will receive nearly $149 million for Home Energy Rebates, which will be provided through two programs: Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. These rebates will reduce the price of energy-saving, whole-home improvements like insulation and efficient heating and cooling equipment in existing single-family and multi-family buildings. Rebates will likely double for low- and moderate-income households. Learn more at focusonenergy.com.

Focus on Energy is also leading the state’s plan for Home Energy Rebates and is in the process of developing a community engagement plan to collect feedback on how the program should be administered.

We encourage you to sign up for updates from Focus on the Home Energy Rebate planning process so that you have the opportunity to add your input. In the end, these programs are designed to benefit homeowners like you, so getting involved in the development of new programs is essential!

Sign up here: https://focusonenergy.com/home-energy-rebates

Of the annual $2,000 spent by the average American on energy, $200 to $400 could be lost due to drafts, air leaks around openings, and outdated heating and cooling systems. Through energy efficiency improvements, you have the opportunity to trim such losses, resulting in cost savings and a more comfortable home or business.

Learn more about the incentives available for energy efficiency upgrades on our website: https://daneclimateaction.org/what-you-can-do/Federal-Funding-for-Individuals

On track to account for 9% of total vehicle sales this year, EV sales continue to rise, up from 7.3% in 2022.

EV sales climb and are on track to be 9% of US new car purchases in 2023: Atlas Public Policy U.S. sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles reached 17.7% of new light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter, according to the Energy Information Administration.

There's more to heat pumps than their energy efficiency and sustainability.

What You Need to Know About Heat Pumps This decidedly unsexy piece of home technology is an investment—but it’s a worthy one that’ll save you money for years to come.

Last week, Kathy joined City of Madison, Wisconsin Government Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Wisconsin Office of Sustainability & Clean Energy Director Maria Redmond to talk with CLEAN UW-Madison members and UW-Madison Office of Sustainability staff about state and local government efforts to accelerate climate action.

There's no reason we can't achieve something similar — or even better— in Dane County.

"Despite winter temperatures that average 29 degrees Fahrenheit and an annual snowfall of more than six feet, heat pumps have been selling like hotcakes in Alaska’s capital city — so much so that heat pump installers are struggling to keep up with the high demand."

A Cold Alaska City Has Become a Heat Pump Hub The ‘electrify everything’ movement is taking off in Juneau, Alaska.

Last Saturday, more than 120 high school students, college students, and even a few eighth graders gathered to talk about the climate crisis, demonstrating another way Dane County is leading on : youth involvement.

Learn more about this event and its evolution in our latest blog from Kathy: https://daneclimateaction.org/OECC-Blog/Empowering-Youth-Around-Climate-Action

The newest episode of Parisi in the Park is available now! Joe joins John Reimer, Assistant Director of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department, at Babcock County Park to spotlight Dane County’s Yahara Chain of Lakes Sediment Removal Project. Dane County is working to help mitigate future flooding risks of climate change rains by increasing the flow of water through the lakes and improving the management of lake levels during high water periods.

Watch it here//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MICP_LSFgF8

Dane County’s Yahara Chain of Lakes Climate Change Mitigation Project | Parisi in the Park County Executive Joe Parisi joins John Reimer, the Assistant Director of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department, to spotlight the county's Yahara ...

Get tax credits and rebates for your home energy efficiency improvements!

With colder days ahead, the Inflation Reduction Act could help reduce efficient energy costs CapTimes reporter Natalie Yahr joins "Morning Edition" host Alex Crowe to dive into how Wisconsinites can get help paying for green energy upgrades.

Get your FREE Focus on Comfort pack from Focus on Energy to prep for the incoming chilly weather. This pack comes with weather-stripping, window film, energy-saving LED lights, and night lights. These resources will help keep drafts out to stay comfortable and maximize efficiency throughout the winter!

Focus on Comfort Thank you for choosing to make your home more energy efficient. You will receive: Two (2) 60w equivalent A19 LEDs Ten (10) Switch and Outlet Gaskets Two (2) Dusk-to-Dawn LED Night Lights One (1) Self-Adhesive Door Sweep Two (2) 17-foot Rolls of Door Weatherstripping One (1) Window Film Insulation Ki...

Everything from "How does a heat pump work?" to maintenance and best practices can be found in this incredible guide from Focus on Energy! It truly has it all, check it out:

Electric Heat Pump Customer Buying & Operation Guide This interactive flipbook is created with FlippingBook, a service for streaming PDFs online. No download, no waiting. Open and start reading right away!

Don't know where to start with the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program? Then you might find our little guide to be handy... https://daneclimateaction.org/what-you-can-do/Federal-Funding-for-business/How-to-Calculate-Your-Tax-Credits

We applaud Children's Community School of Mount Horeb and the other Climate Champion schools throughout Dane County taking . Learn how CCS's net-zero plan came together and about their commitment to nurturing future generations of sustainable action in our latest success story: https://daneclimateaction.org/Climate-Action-Plan/CAP-Stories/Children-s-Community-School-Net-Zero-Building-Success

Exciting developments for and in Dane County and abroad! We look forward to improved opportunities for solar installations, especially with the current low solar costs and incentives. Now is the time to go green and make a positive impact. 🏡☀️

Public Service Commission rejects MG&E proposal to change net metering Environmental advocates cheered the decision, fearing the alternative would hurt rooftop solar expansion.

Feeling a draft? A cozier, more energy efficient home awaits you, with help from the ... This five-minute piece from Wisconsin Public Radio offers some quick insights you might not have considered.

Listen: With colder days ahead, the Inflation Reduction Act could help reduce efficient energy costs Wisconsin Public Radio features in-depth news from WPR’s seven bureaus and NPR, entertainment programs, classical music and discussions on the Ideas Network.

What are your eco-friendly goals for Madison? Why do you care about the environment? Participate in this quick community survey to share feedback with City of Madison, Wisconsin Government, Sustainable Madison Committee (SMC), and the project team. Let the City know your thoughts on the draft Sustainability Plan’s eight themes and supporting goals. Your input will inform future investments, decision-making, and sustainable enhancements throughout Madison. Participants will also be entered to win a $20 gift card to Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co.! 😋

This survey is available in English, Spanish, Hmoob, and Chinese:
• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SustainabilityENGLISH
• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SustainabilitySPANISH
• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SustainabilityHMOOB
• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SustainabilityCHINESE

Here's a great job opportunity for a sustainably minded individual:

The Dane County Natural Resources Extension Educator designs, delivers, facilitates, and evaluates research-based educational programming and services with a focus on climate change, sustainability planning, and citizen science programming. The educator will work closely with community organizations and municipalities throughout Dane County. Put your experience with program development and facilitation skills to work in this role. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

To learn more and apply by November 22, 2023 visit:

Natural Resources Extension Educator (Dane County) - Madison, Wisconsin, United States Job Summary: About the Division of Extension:Extension Vision: A thriving, well-known and sought-out educational resources that reflects the rich diversity of the stateExtension Purpose: We Teach, Learn, Lead, and Serve, connecting people with the university of Wisconsin-Madison, and engaging with t...

⚠️ Registration for the annual Dane County High School Climate Conference closes on 11/7.


Registration is open to youth in 8th grade through university, along with teachers and advisors. The event is located in Dane County, but students from beyond Dane County are welcome!


Sign up for free here: https://www.theconnectiondane.org/2023-conference

Another Sustain Dane Summit, another informative and heartening event! The keynote speaker and founder and director of Girl + Environment, Diamond Spratling, was truly inspiring, galvanizing our commitment to collaborative sustainability throughout our community. 💚

The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program is an tax credit program created that provides a 10% or 20% bonus for solar and wind energy projects less than 5MW (AC) that benefit in low-income communities.

The bonus is additional to the existing IRA solar tax credits and is designed to make more affordable and accessible for low-income communities, which have historically been disproportionately burdened by pollution and climate change. It is also expected to create jobs and boost economic development in these communities. To be eligible for the bonus, projects must:
• Be located in a low-income community, on Indian land, or
• Be a qualified low-income residential building project or qualified low-income economic benefit project

The window for the 2023 applications opened October 19. Because this bonus has annual limits we recommend you apply as soon as you are able. Learn more about the Bonus Credit Program and apply today: https://www.energy.gov/justice/low-income-communities-bonus-credit-program

You've probably heard a lot of "yeah, but's" when it comes to EVs and their sustainable impact. This article sets the record straight on many of those misconceptions.

Factcheck: 21 misleading myths about electric vehicles - Carbon Brief Carbon Brief factchecks 21 of the most common – and persistent – myths about electric vehicles.

For being such a small part of our daily lives, it's a spooky to see how much lawn equipment contributes to air pollution. "[This] really inefficient engine technology is, pound for pound, more polluting than cars and trucks." 😱

Lawn equipment spews ‘shocking’ amount of air pollution, new data shows “Really inefficient engine technology is, pound for pound, more polluting than cars and trucks.”

It was awesome to meet with members of the Sustainability Leaders Collaborative at Village of McFarland’s new net-zero Public Safety Center. We're really proud of the Dane County schools and governments that continue to lead by example. When we collaborate, we can accomplish so much more!

TONIGHT: Join Kathy at the Verona Public Library at 6:30 p.m. to learn about funding your personal, business, or nonprofit energy projects with help from the ! 💚

Monday, October 30 at 6:40 pm:

Now is a great time to invest in clean energy technologies. Thanks to the 2022 federal Inflation Reduction Act, people can get tax credits for new and used electric vehicles, for energy efficiency and renewable energy project...there are so many opportunities.

Kathy K***z, Director of the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change, will explain the available funding that can help individuals, businesses and even nonprofits reduce their energy bills. She will also answer questions and connect you to local resources that make it easy to go green.

Do you or someone you know have an interest in making meaningful contributions to climate action? We're seeking an intern, and we'd love to hear from you! Find a position description and application info here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/countyofdane/jobs/4255444/lte-intern-office-of-energy-climate-change?page=2&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

What will it take for Dane County to get carbon neutral by 2030? Just check the roadmap to see where we are and where we're going: https://daneclimateaction.org/OECC-Blog/Our-Roadmap-to-Carbon-Neutrality

We're fortunate to share a community with amazing leaders like this. Kudos to the awardees from Wisconsin EcoLatinos, Urban Triage, and JH Findorff, all who will be honored at Sustain Dane upcoming 2023 Sustain Dane Summit on November 3. Register to attend at https://sustaindane.org/summit/

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2023 Sustain Dane Live Forward Awards. The Live Forward Awards acknowledge inclusive leaders who locally focus on sustainability, community healing, and resiliency.

This year's awardees include:
🍃Cristina Carvajal, Wisconsin EcoLatinos
🍃Ruthanna Hutton-Okpalaeke & Cooper Talbot, Urban Triage
🍃Ben Austin, JH Findorff

Join us to celebrate these community leaders at the Sustain Dane Summit on Friday, November 3, at the Monona Terrace.

Learn about all the awardees and nominees, and register for the Summit at Sustaindane.org/summit

Clean energy tech can boost state economies, improve health, reduce pollution, and fortify buildings for improved resilience to extreme weather events. Take a peek at what the future might look like in 2050... 👀

Picturing a Clean Energy Future Just Got Easier New graphics show sector-by-sector opportunities, federal investment potential, and the real human benefits we can access if states act fast.

Want to get nerdy about EVs? This article takes an in-depth look at precisely how effective EVs can be at reducing greenhouse gasses. 🤓

How Effective Are Electric Vehicles In Reducing Emissions? | OilPrice.com Rystad Energy research indicates that, across their lifecycles, battery electric vehicles emit half the CO2 equivalent compared to gasoline or diesel cars.

Special thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer to plant trees during an unfortunately wet day at Alliant Energy Center! Shoutouts to Wisconsin EcoLatinos, AKA Sorority, and Madison College students who pitched in, we greatly appreciate your hard work! 💪

On Friday, November 3, join Sustain Dane for their 15th annual Sustain Dane Summit at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center! Connect with local sustainability leaders, share stories and connect with other green-minded individuals, and build new skills for the future. For more information and registration, visit https://sustaindane.org/summit/. 🌎

For those who aren't concerned about the various health and ecosystem impacts of climate change, would you please think of the beer?

Climate change could make beer taste worse Study shows quality and quantity of hops - a crucial ingredient - are falling with hotter weather.

What is your vision for a green, climate-friendly, and resilient Madison? Where do you see opportunities for improvement? What are your top priorities? The City of Madison, Wisconsin Government wants to hear your thoughts on the draft Sustainability Plan’s eight themes and supporting goals. This plan will help the City advance sustainability through its policies, programs, and projects. By taking this quick survey, you are helping ensure the draft themes and goals are in line with the community’s vision for a sustainable City of Madison. Ten lucky winners will receive a $20 gift card to Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co.! Let’s work together to create a sustainable City for both existing and future Madisonians! Get started at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SustainabilityENGLISH

Last week, the Village of McFarland celebrated the opening of its new Public Safety Center, likely the first net-zero municipal building in the state of Wisconsin! Learn more about the plan, the building, and how the can make projects like this more cost-effective: https://daneclimateaction.org/Climate-Action-Plan/CAP-Stories/McFarland-Net-Zero-Public-Safety-Center

Join our Tree Canopy Collaborative this Saturday, October 14, for a tree planting event at Alliant Energy Center. This kid-friendly event (yes, we even have kid-sized shovels) is a great way to pitch in, create shade and clean the air, as well as meet fellow tree lovers! Donuts, coffee, and juice will be available as well as planting supplies and work materials.

⚠️ This event will be hosted rain or shine. Bring weather-appropriate clothing and work gloves, if possible. RSVP below:

Alliant Energy Center Tree Planting Come plant trees and improve your community!

"When it starts dying, get electrifying."

These 5 big purchases can save energy — and money — at home : Life Kit To live a more climate friendly life, invest in home appliances and vehicles that run on electricity, not fossil fuels, say sustainability experts. Here are a few energy-saving solutions to consider.

It's wonderful to see so many great resources made available for Wisconsin educators and students!
Check it out at https://teachwisconsinclimate.org

Financing can make your renewable energy or energy efficiency project possible in the near-term. Take a look at some of the options available:

PACE Wisconsin (Property Assessed Clean Energy) - Program for property owners to obtain low-cost, long-term loans for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation improvements.

Green Mortgages - Banks and mortgage lenders can offer a house buyer preferential terms if they demonstrate that the property for which they are borrowing meets certain environmental standards. This could be for a newly built home or for renovations that improve a building’s environmental performance. These are incentives for a borrower to either buy a green building or renovate an existing one to make it greener because the lender would offer a lower interest rate or an increased loan amount.

Focus on Energy has information on other financing opportunities as well as rebates that can reduce the cost of a project.

And don’t forget about the tax credits and tax deductions available through the !

Dane County’s Department of Land and Water Resources was awarded $1.5M in federal funding through the Urban and Community Forestry grant program made possible from the .

This funding will support the hazardous tree removal and tree planting, especially in underserved neighborhoods. In addition, the projects will also focus on proactively recruiting and training workers from marginalized populations into careers in forestry. 🌳

Dane County, Milwaukee to receive $13.5 million in climate change funding Inflation Reducation Act funding will help combat climate change, add green spaces