Sauk City's Vintage Brewing Co. Honored with Energy Efficiency Excellence Award

Sauk City – Vintage Brewing Company received an Energy Efficiency Excellence Award on Tuesday for the company’s efforts to save energy at its new Sauk City facility. 

Vintage Brewing Company has worked with its utilities, Alliant Energy and Sauk City Utilities, along with Focus on Energy to make several energy-efficient changes at its Sauk City brewery/restaurant/banquet hall, including upgrades to LED lighting, kitchen ventilation controls, and a custom refrigeration system.

“They’ve really embraced the Focus on Energy program,” said Focus on Energy’s Jeff Danielson, who worked with Vintage Brewing Company on the projects and nominated the company for the award. 

“Working with Jeff and his team and Focus on Energy has made it easier for us to navigate through a lot of the energy savings we knew we wanted to do, but just didn’t know how to go about doing them,” said Vintage Brewing Company owner Trent Kraemer. “We were lucky enough to have him and his team, and Trevor Madigan from Madigan Refrigeration and the guys from United Electric [kind of] all working together.”

Jolene Sheil with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission presented the award to Kraemer, pointing out Vintage Brewing Company is in the only brewer in the state to win a 2018 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award. The company took advantage of more than $9,000 in incentives through Focus on Energy programs to make investments in energy efficiency. 

“You still have to do what you feel is right, because it is a very large investment, especially with the refrigeration and a lot of the fixtures,” Kraemer said during the award ceremony, which included representatives from Sauk City Utilities. “But, in the long run, over the life of the building, it’ll pay for itself over and over again. It really makes the decision easier.”

Focus on Energy is working with utility companies across the state to present 16 Energy Efficiency Excellence Awards to outstanding businesses, schools and institutions.

A recent evaluation report found every $1 invested in Focus on Energy programs 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.

About Vintage Brewing Company-Sauk Prairie
Vintage Brewing Company is a family owned and operated brewery, restaurant, wedding, and event venue located on the banks of the Wisconsin River in Sauk City. The business prides itself on its local, hand-crafted, award-winning array of beers.

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Pictured above from left to right:

Travis Anen, Sauk City Utilities
Colin Kepler, Sauk City Utilities
Jolene Sheil, Wisconsin Public Service Commission
Trent Kraemer, Vintage Brewing Company Owner
Jeff Danielson, Focus on Energy
Trevor Madigan, Madigan Refrigeration