E-Community Program - ESAC
December 15, 2004
Mayor Terrance Duggan and
City Council Members
City Hall
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque IA 52001
Re:
E-Community
Dear Mr. Mayor and Council Members:
The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission was presented with information
about the E-Community Dubuque Program by Mr. Mark Henning at their December
meeting. After discussion and reviewing the program, the Commission voted to
endorse this program that involves a partnership between Alliant Energy and the
Dubuque Area labor Management Council, which will serve as the local organization to
host the E-Community Advisory Committee. Since the E-Community Program is
intended to involve all levels of the community, including area industries, businesses,
government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and residents,
the ESAC feels it is a worthwhile effort to promote energy efficiency and reduce energy
expenditures.
We further recommend that the City Council endorse the E-Community Program on
behalf of the City of Dubuque.
Sincerely,
/17
~1(Ll&,?~//a!/-c.."/ /
John Nemmers, Vice-chair
Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
e
E-ComlJl~!lity
~ ~~~:t!{
Mark Henning
E-Community Dubuque Coordinatol
P.O. Box 892
Dubuque, IA 52004-0892
Office: (583) 558-0576
Fax: (583) 558-0576
henningm@peoptepc.com
,"-Communi",. A Pa'""Nhlp afDALMC and Alliam EM""
The E-Community Dubuque Program promotes Community Excellence by supporting:
The wise utilization of Energy
Enhancing public & private Energy Education and Awareness
Safeguarding the Environment
Promoting Efficient practices in all forms, from energy efficiency and renewable
energies to waste minimization and adjusting everyday behaviors, and
Identifying and helping to create Economic Opportunities and Development through
energy efficient practices, the effective use of resources and the implementation of
improvements.
The comprehensive goal for E-Community Dubuque is to stimulate awareness in energy efficiency,
renewable energy and environmental protection. Through collaborative efforts, the Dubuque
community can recognize and strengthen wise energy management and efficiency improvements. E-
Community Dubuque will offer a holistic approach, emphasizing the importance of the whole and the
interdependence of all the parts, to meet our current and future energy needs. We know that energy
efficiency is proven as the most immediate and economical solution to energy concerns. It costs less
than 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour to implement energy efficient solutions, versus 4 to 10 cents per
kilowatt-hour for new energy through traditional fossil fuel generation.
The E-Community Dubuque Program Action Plan initial phase objectives will be to decrease the
community's overall electrical consumption, according to Weather-Normalized usage data from 2003
by approximately 3,074,000 kWh (0.436%). Additionally, identify and then encourage having
efficiency measures installed or procedures initiated to reduce energy demand by over 1100 KW.
These results will be achieved through supporting and facilitating energy management, efficiency
improvements and educational initiatives to support the community's low-income, residential,
commercial, industrial, governmental and agricultural consumer energy needs. By collaborating the
programs, resources and people in place with Alliant Energy, Aquila Inc., the Department of Energy,
the Iowa DNR, the Iowa Energy Center and strategic partners of the Dubuque Area Labor-
Management Council and E-Community Dubuque, these goals are realistic and attainable during the
contract period. The Action Plan is deliberately structured to accommodate revisions and updates and
as utility and other rebate and incentive programs are introduced and/or changed.
The Plan anticipates expansion therefore as initiatives are completed, additional and new projects will
be integrated. The E-Community Dubuque Program will adjust as the program continues to evolve
and mature.
E-Community Dubuque recognizes that Iowa imports 97.3% of its energy resources, making the state
almost completely dependent on outside sources of fuel. Utility companies, such as Alliant Energy,
public facilities, businesses and individuals have made investments to improve energy management
practices, which have already avoided millions of dollars in additional energy costs. Through
technological innovation, demonstration, implementation and education initiatives, E-Community
Dubuque will encourage the Dubuque community to boost energy efficiency efforts and the payback
increases well into the future. The Iowa 2002 Comprehensive Energy Plan is to reduce electric and
natural gas consumption statewide twenty (20%) by 2010. In accordance, the E-Community
Dubuque Program, it's partnerships and strategic alliances, will aim to support the State of Iowa
realize this target to help to ensure affordable and secure energy supplies that minimize
environmental impacts for current and future generations.
In Dubuque, as with most communities, the principal barrier is the effective distribution of information
regarding the benefits of utilizing energy efficient practices and incentive programs by consumers.
Energy efficiency is the least-costly and most immediate method to meet energy supply issues. By
reducing the amount of energy needed to run homes and businesses, those dollars can be reallocated
to important activities within the Dubuque community.
The majority of small, medium or even large sized businesses, organizations and area residents, don't
have time to be energy experts in addition to all their other duties and responsibilities. E-Community
Dubuque can assist in finding the best energy saving solutions for Dubuque energy consumers. By
setting reasonable goals and taking practical first steps to realize measurable reductions in energy
usage, the community will curb expenditures, improve productivity, enhance overall comfort, Increase
economic profitability, advance employment prospects and safeguard the environment.
E-Community Dubuque will emphasize to the Dubuque community consumers the importance and
profitability of implementing energy efficient procedures and provide assistance in identifying energy
improvement projects and what action is required for the performance of such projects.
Identify energy waste and what can be done about it.
Explain how new technologies and renewable resources can save energy, money and
improve productivity.
. Assist in developing individual energy efficiency plans.
. Facilitate locating qualified trades to help implement the energy plans.
. Describe how to utilize incentives to get energy improvements underway.
. Help realize additional savings by looking for the ENERGY STAR label on lighting,
computers, refrigeration equipment, motors, electronics and other products for homes and
businesses.
. Discover new resources and information with access to training, education and other
utility, state, and federal programs.