You are invited to Eric Holthaus, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Cedar Rapids, to learn about Cedar Rapids’ sustainability initiatives. Holthaus will be the featured speaker at Energy Breakfast, Tuesday, January 15th at 7:30 AM at T-Bock’s Underground. He will cover topics including the development of the city’s Municipal Sustainability Plan, becoming a STAR Certified Community, and projects in waste reduction, solar, biking, and green yards. Since joining the
Author Archives: Kristin Eggen
Join the Environmental Law and Policy Center’s(ELPC) Senior Policy Advocate Steve Falck at T-bock’s Sports Bar and Grille for a conversation about local energy policy on December 18th. Mr. Falck will provide an overview of energy policy for the upcoming legislative session. He will also discuss opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy policy, which policies could be under attack, and how locally-led Energy Districts can help. Steve Falck
You probably know someone like my Great Aunt. My great aunt lives in a very small house in a very small town in northeast Iowa on a small fixed income. She has her share of health concerns, and is still as sweet as can be. She tends to her home the very best she can. When I told her that her income would probably qualify her for a Green Iowa
Amy Bouska, Howard County Energy District, Citizen’s Climate Lobby It’s only half a mile between the Hart Senate Office Building and the Longworth House Office Building, but when you add in a security check and getting lost in the labyrinthine buildings on both ends, it takes 15-20 minutes of fast walking each way. Of course, my appointments in November were House, Senate, House, Senate. I think of it as the
Andy Johnson, Director OK we’re past the mid-terms, what is the picture for clean energy policy in Iowa? Not great, frankly, but here are two priorities we can all – whatever your ideology – get to work on, and one long-shot, alley-oop shout-out to Republicans with clean energy leadership inclinations. First priority: Restore full funding to the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The WAP is a comprehensive home energy improvement
Joel Zook, Energy Planner In the clean energy line-up, Solar is the MVP. We get it. Solar is shiny and new, it slashes your electric bill, you’re creating your very own clean energy – what could be better? But if you dig down to why people install solar there are often two main reasons: it makes sense financially, and it’s going to help reduce their impact. I’m here to introduce
In early November, the City of Guttenberg, the Clayton County Energy District’s (CCED) and local landlord’s Isaac Eulberg and Gary Willman completed their lights and water direct install kick off the project. Consistent with the energy district’s value, “to build community by keeping energy local, clean and fair,” the goal of the project was to lower energy costs for a targeted group of low to moderate income households while helping
Joel Zook, Energy Planner Home and Business owners thinking about upgrading their insulation, heating or cooling systems should act now before rebates lower, or disappear in early 2019. This article outlines the changes that are coming to the energy efficiency programs across Iowa. Iowa’s investor-owned utilities have filed plans for their 2019 energy efficiency programs. The proposed programs completely remove rebates for some measures (building insulation and high-efficiency boilers). Other proposed
Every September the WED office welcomes a new Green Iowa AmeriCorps team. This year four amazing women join the WED office for 11 months of home energy saving, community engagement, and helping northeast Iowans reduce their energy use. We are grateful to have such a positive, hardworking, dedicated members who come from diverse backgrounds. Throughout the year you’ll hear about their experiences here in the monthly newsletter. Read below to
Andy Johnson, Director The recent Global Warming of 1.5°C report, released by the prestigious Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on October 8, was a wake-up call to some. To many others, it was one more installment in 30+ years of science documenting the dangers of human-induced climate change, and the opportunity we still have (maybe) to protect a liveable world for our kids and grandkids. We’ll summarize key take-away’s from