Becky Nilges is putting on a full-court press as the end of Take Charge Challenge, Iola’s chance to win $100,000 for energy conservation measures, draws near.
“It ends Sept. 30 and we want to do all we can between now and then,” said Nilges, who has headed local efforts to get Iolans to think about energy efficiencies.
The challenge, hosted by the Climate and Energy Project of the Kansas Energy Office, is a competition among 16 cities in four regions of the state to see which can do the most to promote energy efficiency. Points are accumulated by residents swapping out incandescent light bulbs for energy-efficient fluorescent ones, informational events focused on saving energy, encouraging residents to have energy audits of their homes and businesses and anything else to increase awareness or reduce energy usage.
In the next few days Nilges encouraged Iolans to contact the city administrator’s office, 365-4900, if they recently have installed a programmable thermostat or done any energy upgrade or lighting project that resulted in energy efficiencies. Same goes for businesses.
Iola had been in third place, behind Fort Scott and Chanute, in the southeast region, but moved up to second, behind Fort Scott, this week.
“And we’re close to first place,” Nilges said.
Fluorescent light bulbs, free in exchange for incandescent ones, are available at City Hall in the administrator’s or clerk’s offices, and Nilges said she would be at the Jefferson Elementary School carnival Friday evening in Riverside Park to exchange bulbs and collect names of people who have done or will do anything to reduce energy use.
Seed money of $25,000 went to each of the 16 Kansas cities to do all that has been done to focus on energy efficiency and grand prizes of $100,000 for the four regions came from 2008 federal stimulus money.
The contest began Jan. 1, and even if Iola isn’t one of the winners, Nilges is convinced from first-hand experience that many Iolans have done things and learned techniques that translate into a cleaner and less energy dependent future for the city.
On the wish list for projects if Iola is a winner is an easy-to-do recycling program. Currently, only aluminum cans and newspapers can be recycled locally. Other things have to be carried out of town, although recycling scrap metal, which may be sold at Ray’s Metal Depot in LaHarpe, is worth the effort with the price spike for such things as copper, brass and iron.
“If people have a place and there’s access, they will recycle,” Nilges told the Register in an earlier report, which accomplishes two things, it saves resources and reduces landfill use.
Iola green team moves up in energy challenge
