Nestled in downtown Portage, Wisconsin, Portage Cafe embodies the essence of a small-town establishment where you feel at home, connect with the community, and enjoy quality food.

Portage Cafe partnered with Focus on Energy to assess and improve the efficiency of this long-standing business.

• Cafe owner Tammy Medina worked closely with Focus on Energy during the assessment to identify pain points and determine which upgrades would make the biggest impact.
• The lighting and HVAC were deemed the highest priority, as they encompassed the largest portion of Portage Cafe’s energy bill.
• After going through the each of the kitchen appliances, it was discovered the dishwasher and refrigerator would make the greatest impact on the energy efficiency and quality of service.

As a result, Portage Cafe has enhanced their welcoming atmosphere while becoming more energy efficient. The upgrades to lighting, HVAC, and kitchen appliances enhance customer comfort and make work better for employees, all while reducing costs and providing an energy savings of approximately $1,500 per year.