Barron County owns the five campus buildings and received the Rural Energy Startup Program grant in partnership with UW-Eau Claire – Barron County. The grant distributed by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission is intended to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency.

The collaborative grant written by UW-Eau Claire and submitted by Barron County provides funding for an energy audit of the five campus buildings. A consultant will be hired for the audit to help prioritize building improvement needs and make recommendations for improvements to reduce utility costs and improve the comfort of occupants. The consultant’s report may includeupfront costs and ongoing costs, projected energy savings and return on investment as it relates to energy efficiency and electrification.

Dr. Abbey Fischer, UW-Eau Claire – Barron County campus director, thanked county administrator Jeff French, the Barron County Board and UW-Eau Claire sustainability coordinator Lily Strehlow for their work and support in obtaining the grant.

“The awarding of this grant is another illustration of the strong and collaborative relationship between the county of Barron and the university,” Fischer says. “With the energy audit, I expect we will identify specific methods for improving energy efficiency on the campus to save both resources and money.”

UW-Eau Claire has been working to improve energy efficiency across campus locations for years, Strehlow says.

“Energy efficiency both reduces energy costs and reduces fuel use, which benefits the environment,” Strehlow says. “This environmental leadership led by our facilities team embodies the campus sustainability commitment and provides experiential learning opportunities for students.”