Alliant Energy: Green Lake Conference Center recognized for energy-efficiency achievements

Media Contact: Scott Reigstad (608) 458-3145

Facility given Shared Savings Award for energy conservation and being green

MADISON, WI – May 12, 2009 – Green Lake Conference Center has received a Shared Savings Award in recognition of significant achievement in energy efficiency and conservation. The award was recently presented to the facility by Alliant Energy Strategic Account Manager Mary Brott. Shared Savings is an award-winning business energy-efficiency program that Green Lake Conference Center participated in to save energy and benefit the environment.

“Green Lake Conference Center is very deserving of recognition for the steps it has taken to realize sustainable energy-savings within its operations,” said Chris Schoenherr, Alliant Energy Director of Sales and Strategic Accounts. “We are proud that they are committed to being a green organization and we are pleased to give them our Shared Savings Award.”

The Center has utilized WPL’s Shared Savings multiple times over the past few years to realize energy savings. In 2005, Shared Savings was used during the construction of Kraft Centre for energy-efficient HVAC, water heating, an efficient building envelope, lighting and a heat recovery ventilator. In 2007, three more projects were completed: re-lighting the recreation center; installing a variable exhaust controller for the kitchen exhaust hood system; and installing an efficient boiler system in Pillsbury Hall.

The two 2007 Shared Savings projects resulted in a 50,000 kilowatt-hour electricity savings and a 15,000 therm natural gas savings, resulting in removing the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions of 19 passenger vehicles from the road or saves enough energy to power 9 average-sized homes for one year.

“We are pleased to be recognized by Alliant Energy for our achievement in energy efficiency,” said Brad Carroll, Green Lake Conference Center Vice President of Operations. “The Center is always looking for ways to control our energy costs and be a good environmental steward. We’ve worked hard to be environmentally-friendly in everything we do.”

As with any business, cash is important and paying for the energy-efficiency measures takes upfront dollars before the long-term gains can be realized. That’s where Shared Savings stepped in to assist Green Lake Conference Center. The program is an initiative that assists industrial, commercial and agricultural customers with identification and implementation of energy efficiency projects – and invests the capital to finance them.

“I worked with Brad and the Center on several energy-efficiency projects in their buildings and it’s clear that they are very committed to controlling their costs and using energy wisely,” added Brott. “The financing available through our Shared Savings program was a perfect fit for getting their projects accomplished.”

Green Lake Conference Center is a premier Christian conference and leadership training center founded by the American Baptists in 1943. The facility offers a wide range of accommodations for groups of up to 1,000 with 30,000 square feet of meeting space and full dining and banquet food service that provides many options to meet conference needs.

Through its Shared Savings program, Wisconsin Power and Light Company, an Alliant Energy company, has helped thousands of Wisconsin business, government and farm customers cut energy usage, save money and preserve precious natural resources for over 20 years. More than 2.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity have been saved over the last seven years with the program – that’s equal to the energy produced by a 280-megawatt power plant.

Business, government and farm customers interested in the low-cost financing available through WPL’s Shared Savings program are encouraged to visit http://www.alliantenergy.com/sharedsavings or call 1-866-ALLIANT (255-4268) for more information.