There are currently billions of dollars on the table to support whole-home energy efficiency upgrades in the United States. Wisconsin received a $150 million cut and became the first state in the country to establish its Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) program, administered through Focus on Energy. Through the HOMES program, Wisconsin homeowners and renters can receive substantial rebates for energy efficiency upgrades, including insulation, HVAC, windows, and more. Host Rose Daily and guests Dylan Crye with Focus on Energy and Joe Pater with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin discuss program details, eligibility, and the process for applying, along with the positive impact this program is having on local contractors.

HOMES Program Overview: https://focusonenergy.com/ira-homes

Focus on Energy Rebate Finder: https://focusonenergy.com/get-started

IRA Registered Contractor List: https://www.clearesult.com/partner-hub/find-

contractor/17/263

IRA Registered Contractor Resources: https://focusonenergy.com/ira-registered-contractors

Department of Energy Home Energy Rebates map: https://www.energy.gov/save/rebates

(02:40) What is the HOMES program?

(04:08) $150 million to Wisconsin

(06:45) Focus on Energy as the program administrator

(07:23) Focus on Energy rebates vs HOMES rebates - what's the difference?

(10:31) Energy efficiency: a smart investment

(12:59) How contractors will benefit from HOMES.

(19:02) IRA registered contractors

(25:00) The process: income qualification, IRA registered contractor, energy assessment

(28:27) Why is an energy assessment required?

(29:36) Blower door test & infrared cameras

(33:36) Building shell first, core second, solar last

(38:54) Stacking rebates to save thousands

(47:31) What about renters?

(52:51) Home Energy Rebates in other states

(54:28) Everyone is eligible!

Curbside recycling has been around for over 30 years and has become a staple in our daily lives. We see those blue or green recycling bins everywhere – at home, in our schools, and at work. But even if recycling feels like second nature, there are some surprising facts that many of us might not know. In this episode, host Rose Daily and guest Todd Bollenbach discuss 6 things every consumer needs to know about recycling, including exploring the impact of wish cycling and revealing the meaning behind the small numbers on the bottom of plastic contains (news flash - they're not actually recycling numbers!).

Pellitteri Waste Systems: https://www.pellitteri.com/

The truth about recycling numbers: https://recyclesmartma.org/2023/05/recyclings-magic-numbers/#:~:text=The%20numbers%20on%20the%20bottom,indicate%20whether%20something%20is%20recyclable.

(02:04) "Recycling Numbers" are not what they seem!

(06:11) Which plastics are typically recyclable?

(08:30) Recycling contamination rates

(09:40) Wishcycling 101

(12:42) Top 7 wishcycled items nationally

(17:30) To crush or not to crush

(24:36) Hauler vs Processor vs Recycler

(26:46) Which materials are infinitely recyclable?

(30:10) Recycling & downcycling plastics

(35:38) Energy consumption of recycling

Have you ever picked up a product claiming to be eco-friendly, only to wonder if that green label was just a marketing gimmick? Do labels such as 'compostable,' 'cruelty-free,' and 'organic' actually hold meaning? What product labels can consumers trust? All of these questions and more will be answered in this episode where we dive deep into the deceptive world of greenwashing. Host Rose Daily and guest Kim Mintrone unravel how companies use clever but misleading tactics to appear environmentally friendly, while their actual impact remains questionable. Featured are real-life examples from large brands, such as Target, Shein, McDonalds, and H&M.

Greenwashed Brands Tool: https://greenwash.com/

Third-party verified product labels: https://www.ecocenter.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/updated_Factsheet%20Third-Party%20Certifications%20and%20Eco-Labels.pdf

Eco-labels to look for when shopping: https://www.ecowatch.com/eco-friendly-labels-1881939362.html

(02:28) The definition of greenwashing

(04:35) Our first encounters with greenwashing

(06:40) Corporate motivation to greenwash

(08:47) 58% of CEOs admitted to greenwashing

(10:54) Fashion, meat, and automobiles

(12:16) Using the color green & images of the earth

(13:32) Don't trust the labels!

(17:04) Third-party verified labels

(17:16) BPI certification for compostable products

(18:30) Green Seal cleaning products

(20:02) Non-GMO & USDA Organic

(23:28) Energy Star

(25:00) Cruelty free, sustainable forest, fair trade

(29:43) Target's "fair-trade" jeans

(31:41) Product recyclability

(35:30) H&M's clothing recycling program

(36:53) McDonald's recyclable straws

(39:18) Shein's appeal to eco-consumers

(40:26) Clothing made from recycled material

(42:08) Influencers' role in greenwashing

(46:10) Refillability: the double-edged sword

(49:03) Read the product labels!

(51:04) B-Corp: the label you can trust

(52:37) Product traceability

(55:10) Do your research before purchasing

(56:03) Every small action makes a difference!