Focus on Energy | Where Smart Energy Powers a Smarter Future

One Step at a Time

Saying "Yes" To Energy Efficiency

Altoona doesn’t brag. It builds. And in 2025, those efforts earned statewide recognition, as the City of Altoona received a Focus on Energy Efficiency Excellence Award—one of only 11 awarded across Wisconsin.
From LED lighting upgrades to solar installations and high-efficiency water systems, Altoona’s approach wasn’t about doing one big project. It was about consistently saying “yes” to smart energy decisions—and building a culture of sustainability one step at a time.

Partnerships Build Communities

With support from partners like Xcel Energy, Focus on Energy, and the Partners in Energy program, the city implemented improvements across nearly every municipal building, including City Hall, the Public Library, the Fire and Emergency Services buildings, and the Public Works campus.

“There’s nothing more rewarding to me than working with communities like Altoona,” said Steve Craker, the city’s Focus on Energy Advisor. “Every time we proposed a project, the city said yes—and then asked, ‘What’s next?’”

And those choices really added up:

282,791 kilowatt-hours of electricity saved. That’s enough to power more than 30 homes for a whole year.
530,000 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air. the same as taking 53 gas-powered cars off the road.
$31,107 in annual taxpayer savings. That’s money that can now be used for parks, roads, and other city services.

City Planner Taylor Greenwell credits the success to collaboration and commitment.

“Everyone involved—across departments, across partners—wanted to help. That made all the difference.”

Much of the work focused on the city’s Public Works campus, where occupancy-sensored LED lighting, building upgrades, and redesigned workspaces brought new life—and major savings—to older infrastructure. In other buildings, solar arrays and efficient pump systems helped reduce both environmental impact and utility costs.

Commissioner Marcus Hawkins from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission says Altoona is a great example for other cities.

“It’s not just about saving energy,” he said. “It’s about making smart choices and doing what’s right for the community.”

Some cities make big promises. Altoona just takes action—quietly, carefully, and always looking forward.
It’s not flashy. It’s just smart.