Eau Claire, WI – Marshfield Clinic Health System’s new clinic and hospital in Eau Claire is the latest example of its long-standing and successful relationship with Focus in Energy.
Located on Craig Road, it is a beautiful building and a great example of energy efficiency in a healthcare facility, earning Marshfield a $153,909.58 financial incentive from Focus on Energy. The money helps offset the greater initial cost of choosing energy-efficient equipment and materials.
The healthcare company has been working with Focus on Energy in Wisconsin for a number of years and Facility Manager John Dubiel has seen the benefit.
“I like the idea that there’s qualified people in the system, in Focus on Energy’s system, that we can converse with. But obviously the financial incentives are important, too. I think it’s a combination,” Dubiel said.
Marshfield Clinic Health System worked with Focus on Energy’s Design Assistance program to assure efficiency of the facility’s walls and roof, as well as its HVAC and lighting systems. These energy efficiency measures, over the course of their lifetime, will save nearly 24,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and more than 1,318,380 therms of natural gas. The total energy savings is enough to power 2,863 average homes for a full year and equates to more than 26,000,000 pounds of coal burned.
“We’re going to spend less money (on energy), but yet we do feel like it’s the right thing to do: save energy,” Dubiel says.
“This project is an excellent example on how to use energy model simulation to make design decisions that support the owner’s mission,” said Francisco Sayu, the Energy Advisor with Focus on Energy’s Design Assistance program that worked on the project.
Marshfield-Eau Clare is a customer of Xcel Energy, one of the 107 Wisconsin utilities that fund the Focus on Energy program. Customer of those utilities are eligible for the energy expertise and financial incentives the program offers to homeowners, businesses, farmers, school and municipalities. The most recent independent evaluation found every $1 invested in Focus on Energy creates $5.93 in benefits for Wisconsin, including economic benefits, reduced energy costs, and reduced pollution.
About Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy is Wisconsin utilities' statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program funded by the state's investor-owned energy utilities and participating municipal and electric cooperative utilities. Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus on Energy information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control Wisconsin's growing demand for electricity and natural gas. For more information call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.
