Running a small business or nonprofit is exhausting; it requires a lot of different skills and knowledge. Of course you want to spend less on energy costs but who has time to figure out the right options? Where would you even start?
You can start with us, the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change. We make it easy for you to cut your operating costs, to improve workplace conditions for your staff, and to impress new and existing customers.
OECC supports small businesses and nonprofits in Dane County that want to improve their operations. We strive to make overhauling an organization’s facilities less daunting. With our help you can cut operating costs, improve working conditions and win over your customers. Plus you’ll reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with our countywide Climate Action Plan. These far-reaching impacts are why we can serve as a resource to make sustainability aspirations become a reality.
With the unprecedented amount of noncompetitive federal funding available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), OECC is here as a guide so Dane County organizations can seize the opportunity to fund clean energy projects. Whether it's solar, geothermal, or EV fleets, let us provide our expertise. We strive to make taking advantage of funding simple.
Whether you don’t know where to look or you’re worried about missing a deadline, we want to help maximize your investment by leveraging all federal, state, and local funding available. We can assist with questions regarding applications, eligibility criteria, and IRA tax credits.
From selecting trade allies to successfully communicating sustainability priorities in requests for proposals, the choices one makes while collaborating with contractors heavily impacts the installation of a sustainability project. Let us help ensure it’s a smooth process to achieving your vision. Dane County does not endorse any specific contractor but has the expertise so you can feel confident you’re making an informed decision.
When investing in upgrades, anticipating the future needs of a building and where to allocate dollars can be challenging. We are open to discuss concerns that arise from work scopes so that you have all the information available to get it right the first time. Additionally, we can connect you to local leaders who have embraced cutting-edge technology early on and can share their experiences to draw from.
"The Colonial Club Senior Activity Center was built in three phases - 1969, 1976 & 1985. As we celebrated our 50th anniversary, we knew it was time to address aging building concerns. It became even more urgent as an original furnace went down in January of 2020 and there were no replacement parts on hand. A chance meeting with [Dane County staff] led us to a complete building energy assessment with the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change and Slipstream, a nonprofit dedicated to finding cost efficient energy solutions. As a result of this energy audit, we were able to re-fit our entire building's lighting with energy efficient LED lighting & fixtures to help save on our energy consumption & costs. We actually now have a blueprint moving forward to address other building improvements including HVAC. We are very grateful to have discovered this invaluable local resource."
-Bob Power, Executive Director of Colonial Club
