“Our organization provides 400,000-500,000 meals to a 60-80 mile radius around Nisswa,” notes Hansen. “We play a significant role in fighting hunger and food insecurity in this region. If we can take the steps that allow us to decrease our utility bills, we know over time the savings will add up significantly and thus, allow us to have funds available to use for our organization’s mission, which is meal packing.”
When asked how the project changed from its original concept, Hansen states “The project grew. We initially were looking to insulate the warehouse and replace a non-insulated door that was broken. We expanded the project to include an energy audit with Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power. We upgraded several more light fixtures to LED and received rebates from both utility companies. It made sense to do this work at the same time we were doing other energy efficiency updates.”
