August 09 eMail update


As the summer draws to a close, asses your Mpower pledge. What have you already accomplished? What is your next step?  Below are two stories we hope inspire you to continue your commitment to making Madison the clean, green, energy capitol. You can. You count.


Mpower Business Highlight: Good For Business’s Success


Good for Business pledged to reduce their water usage as part of their Mpower Pledge. In late 2008 they replaced their 3.5 gallon toilet with a more efficient 1.6 gallon toilet. They also found and repaired a leaky faucet in the basement.  These two easy improvements reduced their water consumption by such a drastic amount the Water Utility thought their meter wasn't working properly. When they visited to check the meter, they found it worked perfectly! You too can reduce your water usage drastically – take this month to check out more efficient toilet options and check for leaks.

Two options to reduce what you flush down the drain:

M- thusiastic Individuals: Scott & Jen’s Story  


Like many Madisonians, we’ve long planned to replace our windows “some day”.  Our house was equipped with the original 1941 double hung windows, and they had deteriorated to the point where we needed to make a decision about investing a fair amount of time in repair and refurbishment, or quite a bit of money in replacing them.  In the end, we opted to replace, and the thing that put us over the edge was the federal tax credit.  We also felt strongly that we wanted help contribute to an economic recovery, but we wanted to do it in a way that represented an investment, not just an expenditure.

Under the credit, you can receive a tax credit for 1/3 of the price of windows (up to a max of $1500) .  The new windows must be Energy Star rated, which most of the major makers offer.  The benefits are significant—less energy wasted, greater convenience, and better control of sound levels in your home—even your furniture is likely to last longer due to the high-tech glass.  Plus no more hauling storm windows and screens twice a year, as all that is integrated into most new windows.

We replaced 8 windows in all.  It was definitely a major expense for us, but when we did the math, we figured out that the value of the tax credit (our project was big enough to qualify for the full $1500) was the equivalent of getting two windows free.  We’ve already noticed that it’s quieter when the windows are closed, and because the windows open and close so easily and smoothly, we can much more easily regulate the temperature in the house.  Most people don’t realize that the top sash of a double hung window is made to slide town and open from the top.  This is a great feature, as it allows the hot air, trapped by the ceiling, to escape, and draws cooler air in to replace it.  It’s a giant air-exchange system that costs nothing to run.  The vast majority of older double hung windows no longer function this way—most of the top sashes have been painted shut.

Quality Energy Star windows are not cheap, and the supplier we bought them from cautioned us that in most cases (with current energy prices), energy savings will generally not create payback within a time frame that makes financial sense to most homeowners.  But that’s not what we were after.  We wanted to improve our house, increase our quality of life, and also stop wasting energy by letting our heated or cooled air escape around our old windows.  We’re very happy with our new windows, and since we expect energy prices to keep rising in coming years, I expect we’ll come to love them even more as time goes by.

It should be noted this is not Scott and Jen's first adventure in energy efficiency. Previously, they completed a home energy audit and implemented quick payback actions like improving their home's insulation. They also are a one car household, reduce their outdoor water usage through rain barrels, and reduce their waste by composting and rearing chickens.

Share your Business Highlight or M - thusiastic stories with  info@mpoweringmadison.com.


Meet the M at Ride the Drive


Ride the Drive provides the perfect opportunity for you to engage your family and friends in a car free way. On Sunday, August 30th, you can explore 6 miles of down town Madison at your leisure by foot, stroller or bike. Get your face painted at the Mpower booth, from 10 am - 1:30 pm, located in the bus lane between North Hamilton & Wisconsin Ave. Look for the 9 ft M, you’ll find us!

Other car free fun:

Get perks for biking to your favorite neighborhood establishments with Bicycle Benefits: http://www.bicyclebenefits.org

Check out your true cost of car ownership: http://www.bikesatwork.com/carfree/cost-of-car-ownership.html


MadiSun still offering free solar assessments for business and residential


Madison business owners enjoy a unique competitive advantage over other area businesses.

Forward-thinking businesspeople everywhere are adding renewable energy to their commerial, industrial, and residential buildings. They know that businesses enjoy excellent state rebates and federal tax incentives for renewable energy systems.

A professional assessment of a building's "solar potential" normally costs several hundred dollars. However, the city of Madison has a federal grant to provide FREE solar information and services to Madison city residents and businesses through the MadiSUN program.

The MadiSUN program provides information on types of solar systems, tax incentives, and return on investment examples. The program offers a certified solar assessor who can provide a "Quick Solar Report Card"  via email. Buildings with good solar potential qualify for an in- person solar assessment and complete report. THIS SERVICE IS FREE IN THE CITY OF MADISON.

For further information, please send an email to solar@cityofmadison.com containing your name, street address, phone number.