Onalaska Business Honored for Efforts to Increase Energy Efficiency
Xcel Energy
Onalaska – A longtime La Crosse-area business was honored Tuesday in Onalaska for its commitment to energy efficiency, when Schneider Heating and Air Conditioning earned an Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from Focus on Energy.
“I didn’t realize till a few months ago this award was even out there. We didn’t try to go get it,” said Mark Schneider. “It was just something that in our day-to-day operations of doing business and thinking outside the box and trying to improve people’s efficiencies of their homes, they recognized that we’re doing a pretty decent job of that.”
Schneider Heating and Air Conditioning has been a Trade Ally contractor with the Focus on Energy program for many years and has helped many of its customers obtain incentives for switching to more energy efficient HVAC equipment.
“Focus on Energy has just really given us a platform to be able to push energy efficiency,” Rick Schneider told a small crowd that gathered outside the Onalaska business for the award presentation. “But the bottom line is we have a lot of customers that probably otherwise would not have been able to upgrade to a more efficient system if you did not provide the rebates. It’s really allowing homeowners to maybe step up to a system that’s gonna save them money.”
Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Mike Huebsch presented the award to the brothers at the event Tuesday morning.
“And really what they’ve focused on is not just energy efficiency, but making sure that residents have an opportunity to get efficient equipment, get a great building that’s efficient and not losing a lot of energy, and also maintaining air quality,” Commissioner Huebsch said after the ceremony. “And the value of that is not just for the resident and for Schneider, but it’s for all of us. Because as they use less energy or we use energy more efficiently, perhaps we won’t need a new transmission line. Perhaps we won’t need to build another generation plant. You know, all those things benefit all of us.”
An Xcel Energy representative was there and backed up the commissioner’s sentiment.
“We are very honored that we actually have trade partners working with our customers on promoting energy efficiency,” said Xcel Energy’s Dee Dee Kerska. “We as a utility try to promote efficiency but the work of our Trade Allies makes it a little easier for us to promote energy efficiency to residential homes and businesses.”
Schneider Heating and Air Conditioning is the first of 16 Wisconsin businesses, schools and institutions that will be presented with an Energy Efficiency Excellence Award this summer.
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 Schneider Heating and Air Conditioning
Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., is the leader in heating, cooling, ventilation and air quality products and services in the La Crosse Area. They have been serving the Coulee Region for more than 70 years.
