Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Archive for August, 2010

Neighborhood Energy Challenge- Residential Program Coming to Rochester

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Neighborhood Energy Challenge- Residential Program Coming to Rochester

 

Rochester, Minn.- Minnesota Energy Resources and Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) have teamed up with the Center for Energy and Environment through grants from the Joyce Foundation and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund to offer Rochester homeowners a full service residential energy program, Neighborhood Energy Challenge 

Rochester homeowners and their entire family are invited to attend FREE workshops which will be held on September 23, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Folwell Elementary School gym and October 14, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.at the Bamber Valley Elementary School gym. Childcare will also be provided. Residents need to RSVP for either of the workshops by contacting Ashley Robertson at (888) 734-6365 arobertson@mncee.org.

“I hope that all residents of Rochester will take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to be more green and energy efficient and save more green in their pocketbooks,” says general manager Larry Koshire, who hopes all homeowners will participate. 

At the workshop homeowners will be able to sign up for customized home energy visits from qualified professionals, who will install energy and money saving materials in the home as well as perform a blower door test. Participants will also receive personalized home energy tracking and feedback, which will allow the resident to track their energy use and learn how these materials result in savings.  Also, homeowners will receive information on innovative financing, incentives, rebates and stimulus funding opportunities. Up to $400 of services and materials for only a $40 co-pay per household.

To learn more about Neighborhood Energy Challenge program contact or visit Ashley Robertson at the Center for Energy and Environment at 888-734-6365 or arobertson@mncee.org. Information is also available on RPU’s website, www.rpu.org.
 

About Rochester Public Utilities

 

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 47,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 36,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

 

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System maintenance schedule for Saturday morning

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

We will be doing system maintenance Saturday morning (August 14) from 10 a.m. until noon. During this time you will not be able to access your account or make payments online. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Geothermal lake plates being installed

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

If you’ve been out to Foster Arends Park lately, you’ve seen the dirt moving and the flags posted marking the north part of the property for the geo lake plate installation. When completed, the geo system will be capable of transfering up to 3 million BTU’s (energy) through the mixture of water and 30% propelyne glycol running through 30 exchange plates submerged in the lake. This is enough energy to provide heating and cooling for the new Rochester Public Works Transit Operations Center and the exisiting RPU Service Center.


One of the sets of the lake plates

A more efficient and environmentally friendly means of heating and cooling, the geo lake plate system will save the city of Rochester a substantial amount of energy and money each year of operation.


The lake plates have to be pulled to a designated location in the lake for a proper depth and year round temperature