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Harnessing the Sun: Battle Lake’s senior center finds a solar solution

January 2025

Story by Griffin Peck, climate resilience officer for West Central Initiative
Central, MN

On a blustery cold morning in Battle Lake, the thermometer outside the senior center and food shelf was pointing straight at zero degrees. But inside, the bingo ball machine was powered up, and the community room was warm at 72 degrees. The senior center struggled with its aging heating system a few months ago and needed a new solution fast before winter.  

Gene Smith, who volunteers for the Battle Lake Senior Citizen Center, remarked that the space is unique, housing both the senior center and the food shelf. He continued, “The kitchen in the front of the building used to be the old dairy parlor in town, the building has had so many uses and additions over the years that choosing a new heating and cooling system is much more difficult.” So, when it came time to explore a new system, they contacted the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs). 

Connecting with CERTs for Energy Expertise

CERTs are a trusted source of clean energy and energy efficiency knowledge in Minnesota. Its mission is to connect individuals and communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects. CERTs works with communities across the state and helps everyone from farmers and schools to utilities and tribal nations.  

Heidi Auel is a CERTs regional coordinator serving the central region of Minnesota, stretching from Wilkin County to Mille Lacs County. Auel said, “Gene contacted CERTs last spring about getting an energy audit for the space. The process started with connecting them to the Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (ReTAP) for an audit and then expanding on energy efficiency.”  

MN ReTAP is a program that works with skilled, retired environmental professionals to provide energy audits of public facilities in Minnesota. Through this audit process, the ReTAP report recommended a hybrid heating and cooling system with a high-efficiency gas furnace and a heat pump.

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Read the full story at West Central Initiative Foundation's website.

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