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BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: STEPS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN MAKE TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 17:57:48 GMT

Sustainability may have become a bit of a 'buzz word', but when looking to the future, it is necessary for communities to include when preparing for the unexpected.

What does it mean to be resilient? Building communities that are more readily prepared for the unexpected helps municipalities protect their residents' lives, homes, and infrastructure. By investing in sustainability, local governments can minimize the risks and impacts of climate-related events and other hazards, ultimately ensuring the safety and well-being of their constituents. Formulating and implementing policies geared toward sustainable development position your community to be better prepared to withstand large-scale emergencies, economic downturns, and natural disasters. Local governments need to be ready and at the forefront of innovation in order to reduce economic loss, maintain infrastructure, and protect local commerce.

But where should your government start?

WHAT DOES A CLEAN ECONOMY LOOK LIKE IN WISCONSIN?

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:38:37 GMT

The Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin (CECW) held their inaugral meeting March 29th, announcing the main objectives of the coalition and what those goals look like for the future of the a greener state-wide economy. By working together, the CECW hopes to leverage combined influence and expertise of its founding members, as well as recruit other organizations to join them in those initiatives.

MADISON BUSINESSES WILL NEED TO UPDATE THEIR ENERGY SCORECARD

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 19:57:00 GMT

Is your business ready for changes in energy infrastructure? Well, if you're located in the City of Madison, the time to make those changes is quickly approaching.

Earlier this month the City of Madison passed a new Building Energy Savings Program in efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and keep the community on pace to meet their net zero goal of 2050. At present, the city's commercial buildings account for 30% of pollution. The new program, which had been under development for the last two years, will require nonresidential, commercial buildings to log and track energy use with program benchmarks, and also require a "tune up" to these systems every four years.

Mayor Rhodes-Conway released in a statement “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our era, and everybody needs be part of the solution. By enacting the Building Energy Savings Program, we are working with covered building owners [to] take common-sense actions to save energy. This is good for the climate, it saves businesses money on their bills, and supports green jobs.”

What does this mean for your business?

The new city program won't require owners to install new systems or replace those that continue to function. Some of these improvements are as simple as updated heating and cooling schedules. The key points of the program are aimed at improving existing structures and promoting education, best practice, and training, so business owners won't be left in the dark when the ordinance take effect in January of 2024.

Upper 90 is well-versed in improvements like those required in this program. If you are looking for solutions to your building's current energy infrastructure, contact us to day to see how we an help renovate and rejuvenate your space for the Building Energy Savings Program and more! You can access the full city ordinance here .

SHORT-CHANGING PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS: OUR STATE FUNDING DILEMMA

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 20:14:38 GMT

The recent unveiling of the proposed State budget once again brings funding in K-12 public schools to the forefront of discussion. In recent years, school districts have been forced to do more with less, due to state-imposed "spending" limits. Twenty years ago, Wisconsin ranked 11th in the nation in terms of spending per student. Today that ranking has fallen to 25th.

GRANT APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR PROJECT FUNDING SOLUTIONS

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:44:51 GMT

Funding energy efficiency and facility improvement projects can seem like a daunting task for your organization's budget.

Did you know grant funding exists for many of those types of projects?

POST 2023 STATE CONVENTION WRAP-UP

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 20:38:49 GMT

This past week our team had the privilege of attending the 102nd Annual Wisconsin State Education Convention, where we were able to connect with old friends and make many new connections over the course of the four day conference. We were also able to show off a bit of our new look too!

The theme of this year's State Education Convention touched on the principles of unity, community, and opportunity — areas we strive to highlight and create in each project we participate in here at Upper 90. Some of our favorite moments and key takeaways this year included listening to insights from both educators and students that shared some of their experiences from the 2022 academic year in energy efficiency and sustainability.

Agricultural Sciences Instructor and FFA Adviser, David Kruse, and his students from Elkhorn Area High School presented their amazing journey of making solar a reality for their school greenhouse in the Solar Schools Pavilion area. It was a great opportunity to hear first-hand how this initiative created buy-in not only amongst the student body and faculty at the school, but also within the surrounding community.

They shared what resources were available to help spur on this project through local, state, and regional levels, like grants . They also used this opportunity for community outreach through forums to address concerns, as well as answer questions and share knowledge. The district plans to expand into other school facilities in the coming year. It's truly an inspiring story!

Unity - Community - Opportunity

Oconomowoc High School students and their AP Environmental Science teacher, Kelly Holtzman, presented in a breakout session on the results of their participation in the Renew Our Schools Initiative, as one of the winners of the Fall 2022 competition. This program is put together by Focus on Energy , KEEP (K-12 Energy Education Program) , and the Colorado-based non-profit Resource Central , and allows for students to spear-head energy efficiency initiatives in their schools that create savings simply by changing day-to-day habits.

The students at Oconomowoc High School were able to not only save money that they could then reinvest in other more energy efficient LED lighting options, but because of their efforts and buy-in they created in a team atmosphere, they also won a cash prize from the competition! It's a group effort that produced measurable results from both an economic and educational perspective, touching on several of the seventeen UN sustainable development goals.

It was overall a fantastic week for Upper 90 in Milwaukee. We listened, shared, and learned so much from so many. If you are interested in any of the above initiatives for your district or business, how best they might fit your needs, or have any other questions, please contact us — we can help connect all the dots!

INNOVATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR FACILITY

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 17:29:41 GMT

Video Footage Courtesy of H&M Underground Solutions

We work through each issue for our clients on a case-by-case basis, and at Boscobel Area Schools, we knew we could find the best solution to fit their budget and facility needs. If you would like to learn more about other facility or consulting services we offer feel free to contact us to see what we can do for you.

Upper 90 prides itself on a consortium approach with the work we do, delivering innovative and cutting-edge techniques with our extensive list of talented partners, vendors, knowledge, and expertise.

Most recently, a portion of sewer and sanitation pipe at Boscobel Area Schools was replaced as part of a larger facility improvement project with us. The section of pipe in question had been a long-standing issue for the district, difficult to resolve due to location underneath the gym floor. Our collaborative team went to work problem solving.

During this process we decided to use a technique that was relatively non-invasive and saved the district valuable resources of both time and money. Partnering with the skilled group at H&M Underground Solutions , we were able to use a technique that replaced the corroded section of pipe without expending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars or disrupting regular school activities.

Sustainable solutions for facility improvement, renovation, and efficiency do not always mean a massive investment. We are focused on bringing the best, most innovative, and economical solutions to you, without sacrificing quality.

ENGAGING STUDENTS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:29:41 GMT

Engagement is a key-factor in a quality and enriching educational experience, and one way to help spur your school district towards an energy efficient tomorrow.

Through the State of Wisconsin's Renew Our Schools Energy Challenge made available through Focus on Energy and Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP), school districts all across the state have the opportunity to not only to compete to win funds to bring home to their classrooms, but also educate their student body and staff on the the importance of energy efficiency and responsible consumption. The competition-based program is a phenomenal way to introduce the economic, social, and environmental principles behind sustainability in a fun and exciting way.

In the fall of 2022, the program saw seventeen schools across the state as participants, with Oconomowoc High school being one of the winners. Upper 90 supports and celebrates initiatives like these that encourage facility improvement, energy efficiency through immersive and participatory education. These types of exercises support and align with the UN SDGs as well as our own company mission.

As students gear up for the next Spring 2023 challenge, you can also start making small changes by:

Unplugging unused electronics
Using task lighting instead of light an entire room
Switching out old light bulbs for energy efficient replacements
Turning out lights in unused spaces

You can visit the State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission website for other suggestions or ideas on how to become more energy efficient.

Here at Upper 90 we also have an extensive toolkit of resources available in our services related to facility planning and improvement, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Applications haven't opened for the fall 2023 Renew Our Schools Energy Challenge yet, but contact us today and stay up to date on when and how we might be able to help your district!