Rise Up the MREA

Renewable energy technology has come a long way over the years. One such advancement — cold climate heat pumps — are no different and can offer homeowners an efficient and economical way to heat and cool their home while reducing carbon emissions.

Learn everything you need to know about heat pumps including how they work, different configurations, available incentives, and barriers to adoption in this week's episode of the Rise Up Podcast featuring Justin Margolies, Senior Product Developer at Slipstream.


Get Connected:

Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org

The Energy Fair: https://www.theenergyfair.org

The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org

Email: Info@midwestrenew.org



0:00 Justin Margolies Introduction

1:36 Slipstream and Justin's work

2:56 How does a heat pump work?

3:58 Cold climate heat pump advancements

4:37 Measuring efficiency

7:34 Defrost cycle process

8:57 Heat pump configurations

11:06 Benefits of heat pumps

14:08 Barriers to adoption

17:43 Heat pump incentives

20:15 Customer considerations

22:52 Other heat pump styles

26:06 Beneficial electrification

28:11 Closing thoughts


ABOUT OUR GUEST: JUSTIN MARGOLIES

As the Senior Product Developer at Slipstream, Justin specializes in conducting research on emerging technologies and developing programs and solutions for residential heat pumps. His primary focus is on advancing the organization's mission by collaborating with utilities, local and state governments, regulatory bodies, and communities to facilitate sustainable market transformation. Justin is deeply committed to bridging the gap between research outcomes and widespread impact in the realm of clean energy transition. His goal is to drive responsible market growth and enhance the adoption of heat pump technology for both space and water heating applications.

Justin leverages his extensive experience in the clean energy sector to drive innovation in beneficial electrification research and solution development. He holds a Master of Arts in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, complemented by a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Macalester College.

Ever wondered how solar panels work? Or how the solar industry has grown over the years? Or how to ensure a quality solar installation? Get answers to all these questions and more in this episode of the Rise Up Podcast as Nick Hylla interviews Kris Schmid, founder and owner of Legacy Solar, LLC and MREA instructor.


Get Connected:

Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org

The Energy Fair: https://www.theenergyfair.org

The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org

Email: Info@midwestrenew.org



0:00 Kris Schmid Introduction

1:38 The Energy Fair and starting in solar

3:07 How does solar work?

4:54 Changes in the solar market

8:46 Critical design considerations

10:46 Indicators of a quality installation

13:30 Customer solar considerations

15:39 Incentive paperwork, site assessments, and service upgrades

19:40 Batteries and solar technology advancements

25:42 Solar workforce

29:21 NABCEP certification

32:56 Closing thoughts


ABOUT OUR GUEST: KRIS SCHMID

Kris Schmid is the founder and owner of Legacy Solar, LLC, a solar energy company that has been designing and installing solar electric and solar thermal systems in northwestern Wisconsin since 2002. With a background in electrical engineering and software design he now shares his expertise by instructing PV classes for the MREA, including the Solar Training Academy, and is a NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional and a Licensed Master Electrician.

Illinois stands out as a leader in solar development across the United States. Essential to this progress are various solar training programs, notably those run by the Chicago Urban League, which play a crucial role in meeting the workforce demands necessary for the sector's advancement.

In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Andrew Wells, Vice President of Workforce Development for the Chicago Urban League, discusses the opportunities and challenges of solar workforce development in Chicago.
Get Connected:

Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org

The Energy Fair: https://www.theenergyfair.org

The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org

Email: Info@midwestrenew.org



00:00 Andrew Wells Introduction

1:47 The LUV Institute

2:21 Changes in the City of Chicago

4:14 Chicago Urban League's work

7:21 Workforce Development

8:37 Solar job placement challenges

16:12 Illinois Green Bank and Solar for All

19:55 Solar Project Management

25:55 Instructor capacity

29:04 What more is needed

32:19 Closing thoughts



ABOUT OUR GUEST: ANDREW WELLS

A Chicago native, Andrew is a community advocate and a champion of building more equitable social systems. He is on the Board of Directors for the Love, Unity & Values (LUV) Institute, a member of the Guiding Team for the City of Chicago Digital Equity Plan, and, since 2013, has been the Vice President of Workforce Development for the Chicago Urban League, a nonprofit organization that provides a range of services, including job training, education, and housing assistance.

Part of his work with the Chicago Urban League has been starting a solar job training program to expose the new field of renewable energy to the Chicago public. He also led a project for the Urban League to install solar panels onto their building, along with a solar carport in the Urban League's parking lot, making it the largest solar installation project in the city.

So you want to finance a home electrification project but don't know where to start? Well, you're in luck! In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nick Hylla talks to Nicole Burford, VP of Market Development and Sustainability at Clean Energy Credit Union, about what consumers should know before taking out a clean energy loan, how to determine the best financing, and the impact of where you do your banking.

Did you know MREA Members are eligible to join the Clean Energy Credit Union and secure a loan for a clean energy product or service? Now you do!

Learn more at: www.midwestrenew.org/cecu/

Join as an MREA Member at: www.midwestrenew.org/membership/


Get Connected:

Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org

The Energy Fair: https://www.theenergyfair.org

The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org

Email: Info@midwestrenew.org



00:00 Nicole Burford Introduction

01:18 About Clean Energy Credit Union

04:11 What makes CECU unique

06:06 Changes in lending

9:18 Working with Inclusive

10:39 Considerations before taking on a loan

15:10 What else should a consumer know?

17:33 How to determine the best financing

20:11 Clean Energy for All loan program

24:39 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

28:35 Impact of where you do your banking



ABOUT OUR GUEST: NICOLE BURFORD

Nicole is the Senior Director of Marketing and Sustainability at Clean Energy Credit Union. Nicole has over 10 years of marketing experience spread across a variety of industries. At Clean Energy Credit Union, Nicole oversees and leads the development of company-wide sustainability and marketing practices. Nicole implements programs to increase the awareness of the credit union’s mission, while also fostering relations with the communities it serves.

After studying Advertising and Communications at Iowa State University, Nicole was one of 30 students nationwide accepted to Gannet’s Talent Development Program where she began her career as a Digital Strategist at Register Media. When she relocated to Colorado, she worked at a digital agency where she had the opportunity to help clients with their digital marketing efforts.

In her current position, Nicole collaborates with external partners of the Clean Energy Credit Union to enhance member experience. Nicole is passionate about the environment and fighting climate change. This passion drew her to Clean Energy Credit Union’s mission. She is involved in a variety of environmental organizations and is happy to be working for a not-for-profit business that is helping to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future.

In today's world, electrifying your home and becoming more energy efficient has never been easier. With various funding opportunities and programs available, the incentives to upgrade your energy systems are too big to be ignored.


Join Kevin Kane in this week's episode of the Rise Up Podcast that focuses on energy efficiency successes and challenges, available funding for homeowners, barriers to electrification, and the steps you can take to start your own energy efficiency journey.


Get Connected:

Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org

The Energy Fair: https://www.theenergyfair.org

The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org

Email: Info@midwestrenew.org



00:00 Kevin Kane Introduction

02:02 Green Homeowners United Background

05:23 Services offered by GHU

06:41 Successes and challenges in energy efficiency

08:58 Inflation Reduction Act and additional funding

13:03 Barriers to electrification

17:48 Comparing opportunities now and in the past

21:06 Largest needs to meet goals

24:53 Assessment and weatherization process

28:09 Planning for the future and final thoughts



ABOUT OUR GUEST: KEVIN KANE
Kevin is the Chief Economist and co-founder of Green Homeowners United, a residential energy efficiency firm based in West Allis, WI that works to fight climate change at home by leveraging modern technologies to upgrade buildings into more efficient structures. He works with lenders, realtors and homeowners to help people navigate and understand the benefits of green homes, and green mortgages specifically.

Substantial federal funding to spur America’s transition to a clean energy economy is a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) from the Biden Administration. Local and state governments now have the opportunity to incentivize homeowners to make environmentally-conscious decisions when working on their homes.

Kane is a BPI-certified energy assessor and has a Masters in Applied Economics from Marquette University, which he combines with over a decade of experience as a community organizer and policy advocate, to show homeowners the carbon impact, building costs, and financial returns for energy efficiency improvements as well as the economic calculations of green lending.

Ensuring that every home is weatherized and equipped with energy-efficient systems should not only be a possibility, but a reality for all. Community Assistance Programs (CAPs), such as West CAP, play a vital role in enabling low-income communities to access these essential upgrades, fostering fair and equitable advancements in energy conservation that benefit both finances and the environment.

Join Peter Kilde, executive director of West CAP, as he guides us through the array of weatherization and energy assistance initiatives available, shedding light on the successes and hurdles encountered by CAPs in this episode of the Rise Up Podcast.

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) information and application: https://energyandhousing.wi.gov/Pages/AgencyResources/energy-assistance.aspx


Get Connected:

Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org

The Energy Fair: https://www.theenergyfair.org

The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org

Email: Info@midwestrenew.org



0:00 Peter Kilde Introduction and Bio

5:53 What are CAP agencies?

7:53 Services provided by CAP agencies

11:08 Exciting innovations and programs

14:08 Weatherization Assistance Program

18:33 Weatherization process

20:54 Energy assistance

22:49 West CAP successes and challenges

32:01 Energy efficiency and incentives

35:22 Growing opportunity in energy efficiency

39:24 Magic wand solutions

41:59 Inspiring the next generation



ABOUT OUR GUEST: PETER KILDE

Since 1995, Peter Kilde has been executive director of the West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency Inc. (West CAP), a community action agency that works to alleviate poverty through affordable housing development, homelessness intervention, food security and other sustainable community asset-building initiatives.

In the past ten years, West CAP has ramped up efforts to offer more affordable housing. Driven by the urgency to address climate change impacts on vulnerable populations worldwide, Kilde has championed the integration of energy-efficient practices into the agency's housing projects.

Recognized for his outstanding leadership in affordable housing innovation and energy conservation, Peter Kilde was honored with the 2013 Charles M. Hill Sr. Award for Housing Excellence.

His passion for community advocacy has led to serving on the National Community Action Partnership Board and co-chairs its Strategic Visions Committee, which focuses on the depletion of other natural resources, environmental degradation, and how economic turmoil impacts low income communities.

He also serves on the Wisconsin CAP Assn. (WISCAP) Board, the regional Workforce Development Board, and as Board Chair of Slipstream, a Wisconsin-based national nonprofit linking energy conservation, and social equity. He is also former chair of the St. Croix Valley Foundation Board.

Additionally, Kilde served on the Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas USA (ASPO – USA) Board, his regional Workforce Development Board, the local Habitat for Humanity Board, and the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation Board.

Before West CAP, Peter worked for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota where, for ten years, he was operations director of Wilder Forest, a 1,200-acre conference and education center highlighting the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues.