Rebuild Cedar Falls

Project Update

Project
Rebuild Cedar Falls

Goals
Accelerate energy efficiency improvements in existing commercial, institutional, and residential buildings in Cedar Falls; reduce our community energy bill by $3 million.

Rationale
Implementation of energy efficienty measures saves money and improves the local economy. It is estimated that every dollar spent on energy efficiency generates $2.32 worth of local economic activity. In contrast, 80% of the money spent on energy currently leaves the state (e.g., transferred to Wyoming for purchase of coal). Moreover, energy efficiency saves resources and reduces pollution.

Accomplishments

The Cedar Falls, San Antonio, Chicago connection. The U.S. Department of Energy has designated Cedar Falls, San Antonio, and Chicago as exemplars for energy efficiency achievement in a small town, a mid-sized and a large city. We presented our programs at the National Rebuild America meeting in New Orleans in July 2002.

Saving dollars and resources. We are saving the community and UNI about $120,000 per year in reduced energy costs. Electricity consumption has been reduced by about 3.4 million kilowatt hours, gas consumption by 578,000 cubic feet, coal by 1,600 tons, and water by 20.6 million gallons. We estimate that the Cedar Falls community could save about $3 million annually through full participation in our program.

Reducing pollutants. Air emissions have been reduced for carbon dioxide (4,000 tons/yr), sulfur dioxide (47 tons/yr), and nitric oxide (20 tons/yr).

Collaborations. We have worked in close partnership with Cedar Falls Utilities for incresaed public outreach, and with UNI's Department of Residence for projects within the university. Through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, we have shared our experiences with other Iowa Rebuild communities.

Would you like to join us? Help us to achieve our goal of reducing energy costs by $3 million. Some of the actions you can take to reduce energy consumption in your home, and save money on your energy bills are:

Lighting: replace all incandescent light bulbs with T-8 compact fluorescents. This action can save up to 70 percent on your lighting bill.

Caulking: minimize infiltration by filling cracks in caulking of windows and doors inside/outside.

Hot water: decrease water temperature to 120 - 130 °F or lower; every 20 degress above this level adds 10% to your hot water bill; wrap insulation jacket around older water heaters and insulate all hot water lines.

Furnace: check age, condition; change filters monthly.

Air conditioning: ensure outside unit is not obstructed with bushes, and not in the sun; check the SEER rating -- central air should have SEER of 12, window units 9 - 10.

Space heating: use set-back programmable thermostat to lower home temperature when unoccupied. Lowering the temperature for eight hours per day will save 10% of heating bill for each 10°F decrease.

For more information, contact Bill Stigliani, Director, CEEE (Tel.: (319) 273-2573; email: stigliani@uni.edu

Last updated: March 29, 2006
webmaster: trini@uni.edu

Project	Rebuild Cedar Falls
Goals	Accelerate energy efficiency improvements in existing commercial, institutional, and residential buildings in Cedar Falls; reduce our community energy bill by $3 million.
Rationale	Implementation of energy efficienty measures saves money and improves the local economy. It is estimated that every dollar spent on energy efficiency generates $2.32 worth of local economic activity. In contrast, 80% of the money spent on energy currently leaves the state (e.g., transferred to Wyoming for purchase of coal). Moreover, energy efficiency saves resources and reduces pollution.
Accomplishments	The Cedar Falls, San Antonio, Chicago connection. The U.S. Department of Energy has designated Cedar Falls, San Antonio, and Chicago as exemplars for energy efficiency achievement in a small town, a mid-sized and a large city. We presented our programs at the National Rebuild America meeting in New Orleans in July 2002. Saving dollars and resources. We are saving the community and UNI about $120,000 per year in reduced energy costs. Electricity consumption has been reduced by about 3.4 million kilowatt hours, gas consumption by 578,000 cubic feet, coal by 1,600 tons, and water by 20.6 million gallons. We estimate that the Cedar Falls community could save about $3 million annually through full participation in our program. Reducing pollutants. Air emissions have been reduced for carbon dioxide (4,000 tons/yr), sulfur dioxide (47 tons/yr), and nitric oxide (20 tons/yr). Collaborations. We have worked in close partnership with Cedar Falls Utilities for incresaed public outreach, and with UNI's Department of Residence for projects within the university. Through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, we have shared our experiences with other Iowa Rebuild communities. Would you like to join us? Help us to achieve our goal of reducing energy costs by $3 million. Some of the actions you can take to reduce energy consumption in your home, and save money on your energy bills are: Lighting: replace all incandescent light bulbs with T-8 compact fluorescents. This action can save up to 70 percent on your lighting bill. Caulking: minimize infiltration by filling cracks in caulking of windows and doors inside/outside. Hot water: decrease water temperature to 120 - 130 °F or lower; every 20 degress above this level adds 10% to your hot water bill; wrap insulation jacket around older water heaters and insulate all hot water lines. Furnace: check age, condition; change filters monthly. Air conditioning: ensure outside unit is not obstructed with bushes, and not in the sun; check the SEER rating -- central air should have SEER of 12, window units 9 - 10. Space heating: use set-back programmable thermostat to lower home temperature when unoccupied. Lowering the temperature for eight hours per day will save 10% of heating bill for each 10°F decrease. For more information, contact Bill Stigliani, Director, CEEE (Tel.: (319) 273-2573; email: stigliani@uni.edu