New Boilers Increase Comfort, Energy Savings for Wisconsin Parish

Eau Claire, Wis. – An Eau Claire church is ready to face another Wisconsin winter thanks to its latest project with FOCUS ON ENERGY®.

St. James the Greater Catholic Church wanted to decrease its energy and maintenance costs for a pair of aging boilers. The church started working with Focus on Energy through Xcel Energy’s Mid-Market Program, which strives to increase energy efficiency among the utility’s non-residential customers.

Bill Lobner, an Energy Advisor with Focus on Energy, helped the church upgrade to two new, high-efficiency boilers. Trade Ally Contractor Bartingale Mechanical installed the new boilers last November and Focus on Energy provided a $19,500 financial incentive to the church to help offset its investment in energy efficiency.

“The people of St. James the Greater are very appreciative of the Focus on Energy rebate they received after replacing an ancient boiler system in the church,” said Anne Henriksen with St. James the Greater. “The rebate means that the many ministries of the parish did not have to be reduced in order to cover this major capital improvement.”

The boilers will also reduce annual energy costs at the church by about $3,200.

Focus on Energy offers financial incentives and energy expertise to residential, business and municipal customers of 107 partnering Wisconsin utilities. A recent third-party evaluation noted it runs the most cost-effective energy efficiency programs in the nation. It also found every $1 invested in Focus on Energy generates more than $5 in benefits for Wisconsin, including economic benefits, reduced pollution and reduced energy costs.

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.

​

Photo: Before and after images of boilers at St. James the Greater Catholic Church