WPS Health Solutions was recently selected as a 2020 recipient of the Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from FOCUS ON ENERGY^®.

Focus on Energy created this award to recognize the efforts of Wisconsin businesses and organizations to improve their energy efficiency. "It was incredibly difficult to select our 2020 winners as we had so many exceptional nominations to choose from," said John Beard, then-senior public relations and media specialist at Focus on Energy. 

This year's award recipients—13 in all—include large manufacturers, small businesses, a dairy producer and a school district. "They represent the groups across Wisconsin making smart energy decisions that will bring lasting change to Wisconsin," Beard said. "They are lowering their energy costs while making the state's economy more globally competitive."

Leveraging programs and partnerships

WPS, a nationally regarded government contractor and not-for-profit health insurer, has long worked to improve its energy efficiency and sustainability. The company took that commitment to new levels in recent years. WPS opted into two game-changing energy programs: MGE's On Demand Savings (ODS) and Focus on Energy's Strategic Energy Management (SEM).

The ODS program tied MGE's electric meters to the energy management system at WPS. This allowed WPS to leverage both real-time and historical energy-use data to better understand how to shed electric load and maximize energy and cost savings during on-peak—high demand—periods. The SEM program provided WPS with technical, management and financial support to identify and implement both large and small energy-saving opportunities. 

Joining these programs was just the beginning. WPS also made a commitment to participate in regularly scheduled partner meetings—typically once or twice a month—that kept efficiency and sustainability at the forefront. 

"Our partnerships help us better understand what's driving our energy costs up and changes that will have the most impact on our energy use and budget," said Ken Roseth, Vice President of  Facility Operations and Office Services at WPS Health Solutions. "The level of engagement, teamwork and guidance we received from MGE and Focus on Energy made a critical difference. Without it, I don't think we would have had the same results."

"From the first time I met with WPS, I could see they believed being a sustainable company was the right thing to do and that they were willing to think outside the box to make that happen," said Alex Dodd, the energy advisor from Focus on Energy who partnered with WPS. "They are truly committed to transforming their organization."

Another key element of WPS's success? A strong Green Team composed of a cross-section of employees. "This group is attuned to what's going on in the community and what's important to our employees," Roseth stressed. "Their focus makes a difference." 

Award-winning results

Over the past three years, WPS has completed more than 25 major energy efficiency initiatives, including the following:

• 10+ LED lighting retrofits
• Optimization of 20+ different air handlers and their associated support equipment
• Optimization of data center climate controls
• Overhauling of a dated steam heating and baseboard control system to a high-efficiency hot water system

These changes contributed to an impressive array of savings for two WPS facilities on the Madison campus—Corporate Center and the Nordby Building. Both are now certified as ENERGY STAR® buildings. ENERGY STAR certification is an energy benchmark, awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy, indicating a building is performing within the top 25% of all buildings nationwide. 
 

Energy savings just part of the story

WPS's commitment to sustainability goes beyond saving energy. Recent changes include the following:

• Switched to all liquid deicing materials for winter snow removal. This decreased chloride use by 50% to 60% per application and reduced runoff. 
• Installed a unique brine reclamation system for two buildings on the main campus, which cut the amount of sodium chloride discharged in grey water city sanitation lines. 
• Committed to install water-saving fixtures in restrooms with a goal of saving 1.6 million gallons of water per year. 
• Expanded a recycling partnership with electronics and began new programs for batteries, fluorescent lighting and composting. 
• Switched to paper products that contain a high level of post-consumer recycled fiber. 
• Moved to reduce energy consumption at satellite offices throughout Wisconsin, taking advantage of building-wide LED upgrades and HVAC upgrades wherever possible. 

 
"We are working hard to be a great community partner and are honored to have our efforts acknowledged by Focus on Energy," said Roseth. "What we've accomplished to date is just the beginning of all we hope to achieve."

The newest energy-friendly change at WPS: Electric vehicle charging stations

When the WPS Green Team approached company management about the possibility of adding on-site electric vehicle (EV) charging, Ken Roseth, Vice President of Facility Operations and Office Services at WPS, was quick to agree with the request and said it was worth investigating. "It seemed like a win-win in terms of increasing our sustainability and helping WPS attract and retain employees."

Did you know? Workplace charging can help increase EV use. Research from the U.S. Department of Energy has shown drivers are six times more likely to drive an EV when they can charge at their workplace. 

MGE strongly recommends companies have their employees take a survey to determine if workplace charging is a good fit. The WPS survey—conducted and compiled free of charge by MGE—indicated EV chargers would likely be a hit:

• 7 employees already owned an EV.
• 87% of respondents had a less than 50-mile commute—which aligns with EV use.
• 40% of respondents were somewhat or extremely likely to consider an EV the next time they were in the market for a new vehicle.
• 51% of respondents reported they'd be in the market for a new vehicle in the next two years.
• 50% of respondents felt on-site charging would make them at least somewhat likely to consider an EV purchase or lease.

Based on survey feedback and insights, MGE provided two charging stations, with two ports each, that allow four drivers to charge at the same time. Because the stations were installed just as the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting Wisconsin, WPS is still finalizing its charger policies and rollout. And a planned EV Driving Day—co-hosted by MGE—was pushed back until employees return to the WPS campus. But WPS believes the foundation has been laid for high charger use once people are back in the office. 

"This is just one more example of MGE being a true partner," Roseth said. "They're committed to working closely with WPS to assist as needed to make smart choices and provide sustainable energy solutions."
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