Focus on Energy: Companies Awarded For Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home Energy Efficient Building Excellence

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Chris Thiede / Robyn Grossman

Hoffman York

414-225-9556 / 414-225-9520

cthiede@hyc.com

rgrossman@hyc.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (January 30, 2006) – Several builders and other industry professionals were recognized during the New Construction Awards Banquet, sponsored by Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes on January 30. Awards were given in five categories for excellence in upholding the standards of the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program.

“On behalf of Focus on Energy and the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program, I want to congratulate these builders for their hard work and dedication to excellence,” said Greg Nahn, Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program Manager. “Because of their efforts, homes built in Wisconsin are some of the most energy efficient, high quality homes in the country.” The awards banquet was held during the Better Buildings: Better Business conference at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

The winners were:

Excellence in Building Air Tightness

· Ralph Gulig Construction, Inc (Fond du Lac)

· Eric Ringstad Construction (Ladysmith)

· Roger’s Carpentry, LLC (Sun Prairie)

· Kevin Jones Builders, LLC (Racine)

Excellence in Creative Print Advertising

· Kickapoo Homes of Viroqua, Inc. (Viroqua)

Excellence in Creative Multi-Media Advertising

· Schmidt Bros. Custom Homes, Inc. (Appleton)

Excellence in Creative Promotional Tools

· Kraus Construction, Inc. (Kiel)

Consultant of the Year

· Chuck Greening, The House Inspector, LLC (Appleton)

Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Ready Modular Homes Special Certificate Recognition

· Wisconsin Homes, Inc. (Marshfield)

· Norse Building Systems, Inc. (Ladysmith)

The Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program is part of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative. The program promotes homes that are comfortable, safe, durable and energy efficient. By choosing a builder who is a program partner, Wisconsin residents are ensuring they are getting a home that is built to exceed nationally recognized building standards. Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes incorporate building standards that are more specific to Wisconsin’s extreme weather and they are, on average, up to 25 percent more energy efficient than homes built to Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code. To date, more than 5,000 Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes have been built statewide.

About Focus on Energy

Focus on Energy is a public-private partnership offering energy information and services to energy utility customers throughout Wisconsin. The goals of this program are to encourage energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, enhance the environment and ensure the future supply of energy for Wisconsin. Since July 2001, the program has helped Wisconsin’s businesses and residents cut their annual utility bills by more than $86 million – reducing their energy consumption by nearly 725 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and more than 35 million therms of natural gas. For more information, call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.

About Better Buildings: Better Business

Better Buildings: Better Business conference is a learning, networking and business development opportunity tailored to Wisconsin’s residential building and remodeling industry. The conference is being held January 30-31, 2006 at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells.