HUD Regional Director Joseph P. Galvan and Milwaukee Field Office Director Del Reynolds met with Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) Board Chair Willie Hines and Executive Director Tony Perez at the Highland Gardens HOPE VI development in Milwaukee on October 30, 2006, to promote energy efficiency and conservation as part of the ENERGY STAR� Change a Light, Change the World Campaign. Representatives of the City of Milwaukee's Green Initiative, WE Energies, and Wisconsin Focus on Energy also took part in the event.

Regional Director Joe Galvan and Milwaukee Field Office Director Del Reynolds presenting HACM Chair Willie Hines, Executive Director Tony Perez, and Construction Engineer Glen Radford with acknowledgement of HACM's efforts to save energy

The ENERGY STAR® Program is part of the Home Energy Efficiency Partnership of HUD, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Energy. The goal of the partnership is to reduce household energy costs by 10% over the next decade, while improving the nation's air quality. The emphasis of the Change a Light, Change the World campaign is to replace incandescent lights with ENERGY STAR® light bulbs, thereby conserving energy, becoming more energy efficient, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Utility bills are the second largest household expense for most renters and owners," said Galvan. "By reducing the amount spent on utility bills, we reduce the cost of living for low and moderate income families who often spend a disproportionately large share of their incomes on utilities. Using ENERGY STAR® in the construction of homes helps keep a house affordable over the long term while also helping our environment. The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee has once again demonstrated that they are at the forefront of energy efficient building design and cost savings for its tenants."

Energy saving "green roof" at Highland Gardens HOPE VI project - Pictured left to right are Milwaukee Field Office Director Del Reynolds, Greg Nahn representing Wisconsin Focus on Energy, HACM Construction Engineer Glen Radford, David Ciepluch representing WE Energies, and Regional Director Joe Galvan

Green technologies and energy efficiency are key elements of the Housing Authority's management and development responsibilities. These initiatives are accomplished with deconstruction and recycling of older buildings, integration of green building practices and energy efficient technologies into design and construction, universal design, and resident educational programs. Highland Gardens includes the largest residential green roof in the nation, two rain gardens totaling over 1,000 square feet for roof runoff, ENERGY STAR® appliances, and skylights in stairwells and central common area and large unit windows for natural lighting.