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 News From OES
 LIVE DATA FROM WIND TURBINE: Live Output data of the Port of Milwaukee's Wind Turbine is now available to the general public. CLICK HERE to navigate to the website.
MAYOR BARRETT LAUNCHES SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING EFFORT: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced at the State of the City address on February 13, 2012, that Milwaukee will create a Sustainability Plan in 2012. Mayor Barrett announced the Green Team members and outlined the strategy for the Sustainability Plan. CLICK HERE for details.
About Our Office
The City of Milwaukee Office of Environmental Sustainability was created by Mayor Tom Barrett to position Milwaukee as a leader in environmental sustainability and performance in the 21st century. The office was created through community support received by the Milwaukee Green Team, a group commissioned by Mayor Barrett in 2004.
The City of Milwaukee Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES) was created by Mayor Tom Barrett to position Milwaukee as a leader in environmental sustainability and performance. OES promotes cost-effective environmental sustainability practices that meet Milwaukee’s urgent environmental, economic and social needs while enhancing long-term economic growth, thus, improving the environment and livability of Milwaukee for all its citizens. For instance, the OES team works with other City departments, the Common Council, area businesses, and academic, community, and workforce organizations, to save taxpayer dollars by reducing energy bills in city buildings and in homes and businesses. OES also promotes cost-effective green infrastructure solutions to the city's storm water management challenges.
Our Goal: We will also help create and promote a citywide strategic vision
for making Milwaukee a more economic, environmental and
socially sustainable place to call home.
The City of Milwaukee is doing great things to not only ensure future generations can enjoy our parks and natural resources, but also to improve city government resource efficiency. To learn more about the Office of Environmental Sustainability and how the City of Milwaukee is being more resource efficient or programs that help residents and businesses save money e-mail us at sustainability@milwaukee.gov.
The Office of Environmental Sustainability is 100% funded by grants. Since 2006, OES has successfully attracted more than $20 million in grant funding to Milwaukee to help create an environmentally and economically sustainable community.
What We Do
  
The Office of Environmental Sustainability is solely grant funded, and works on a number of initiatives that will help the city government and the community at large become both environmentally and economically sustainable. Projects and goals include:
Reduce city energy use by 15%
OES provides funding and support to City departments to help reduce energy use, and helps track and monitor its reduction goals. Through projects such as lighting retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades, this energy reduction will save hundreds of thousands of dollars for City departments, and savings for the City budget.
OES provides free energy evaluations and low-cost loan options for homeowners and businesses in Milwaukee who would like to make their home more energy efficient. Me2 can help homeowners save on energy bills and upgrade homes with new insulation and other energy saving equipment with limited upfront costs. Me2 takes the guesswork out of making your home more energy efficient. Me2 works to create private-sector 'green job' opportunities in the construction industry.
OES manages the City’s solar program, which works to expand solar energy use through a comprehensive, citywide approach. Milwaukee Shines provides funding for city departments, schools, and non-profits to add solar to facilities. The program also helps homes and businesses invest in solar by providing education and training. OES is building a strong local solar manufacturing and installer base. This program, funded through an US Department of Energy Solar America Cities grant, helps create cleaner air for our community reduces energy costs for the City and the community.
Milwaukee Sustainable Manufacturing (ME3) Program
OES utilizes stimulus dollars to leverage technical assistance to increase the efficiency of small to medium size manufacturers. The ME3 team works with manufacturers to identify cost-effective practices and projects that help firms increase material and resource efficiency, cut energy costs, water use and decrease waste.
Business Grants for Energy Efficiency
OES, in partnership with the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation, has awarded $850,000 in ARRA grants to local manufacturers and data centers to support energy efficiency projects. Grants have been awarded to MillerCoors, Oilgear, Materials Recovery, Wisconsin Paperboard, and more.
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