Wisconsin Job Watch

A new monthly publication that provides a snapshot of the effects of the recession on Wisconsin jobs.

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Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2)

Contact: Eric Sundquist, Senior Associate and Policy Analyst [erics at cows.org]

As the world comes to grips with the economic, environmental, and political hazards of conventional energy use, many people have had the same brilliant idea. Waste not! Use less energy by improving the efficiency of its use. One obvious place to begin this is buildings, which account for about 43 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.

COWS and the City of Milwaukee are developing an innovative program to improve the efficiency of the city's building stock. In contrast to the standard practice of relying on ever-more imported fossil fuel and more power plants in which to burn it, improving Milwaukee's energy efficiency would reduce pollution and keep more dollars inside its borders.

The potential is great and the model is simple: The Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) program would allow building owners and occupants to pay for the cost of improvements as a charge on their municipal services bill or utility bill, on a schedule that allows them immediate savings. If a participating building owner or occupant leaves the property before repayment is complete, the remaining obligation can go to the next owner or occupant as he or she benefits from reduced energy costs. The program will create thousands of good jobs — ranging from entry level to highly skilled — and fill them locally.

COWS is currently working with state and local partners toward a pilot of the Me2 model.