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Baldwin City...Take Charge!
The Kansas State Energy Office is sponsoring the non-profit Climate & Energy Project's Take Charge! Challenge in 2011!
Kansas communities "compete" against their neighbor cities. Baldwin City's northeast region competition in 2011 is Gardner, Ottawa, and Paola.
Each community promotes events, awareness, and energy efficiency programs, which are scored in three categories:
- Energy Audits & Efficiency Program participation
- Light bulb switches
- Community Involvement
Funds are provided by the federal American Reinvestment & Recovery Act via the Kansas Energy Office.
Schedule an Energy Audit!
The KCC/State Energy office offers rebates on energy audits for your home or business. For $100 a certified energy auditor will audit your home and prepare a report on your home's efficiency, examining things like insulation levels, windows, doors, lighting, HVAC systems and anything else that might keep your home or business from being as efficient as it should be.
Such an audit typically costs $300-$500, but the KCC is currently offering rebates so they can be done for $100. Find approved energy auditors participating in the rebate program here (or contact city hall):
http://www.efficiencykansas.com/auditors_list.php
After the audit, make the improvements through the Kansas Energy Office's Efficiency Kansas program or apply for assistance through the Federal Weatherization program. More information on these programs is available at City Hall.
Switch out your light bulbs!
Switching out the old-school incandescent light bulbs in your home or business to more efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs is the easiest way for you to participate. CFL bulbs typically use less than one third the energy of the old-school bulb, which can make a difference in your home's efficiency (and your electric bill).
After bulbs are switched out, you must log in to www.takechargekansas.org and record the number of light bulbs you switched out. We can't get credit for it if it isn't logged in. You may also contact city hall to report the number of bulbs switched.
Participate!
Keep an eye out for community events throughout the year that promote the Take Charge Challenge! Several events will be scheduled in conjunction with other community events in order to reach as many people as possible.
In addition to events, we will be getting information in front of various community and civic groups. If you or your organization has an idea for an event, or if you simply would like a Take Charge team member to address your group or organization to talk about the Take Charge Challenge, please contact city hall at (785) 594-6427.
Community outreach and involvement is a big part of the scoring for the Take Charge Challenge. The more people we can reach, the better chance we have of winning the Take Charge Challenge!
All households in the 66006 area code are eligible to help Baldwin City win the Take Charge Challenge.
Community Partners
- Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce
- Baldwin City Economic Development Corporation
- Baldwin USD No. 348
- Baldwin Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP)
- Baldwin City Recreation Commission
- Kansas Energy Office
- The climate & Energy Project
- City of Baldwin City
- Baldwin City Municipal Power & Light
- Our hometown Efficiency Kansas banks:
- Baldwin State Bank
- Kansas State Bank
- Mid-America Bank
- Every home and business in the 66006 zip code!
