Preserving a historic building is no easy task, especially when you want sustainability at the forefront. This is exactly what Madeline Lau, general manager at the Wallowa Lake Lodge, is doing by making upgrades that will save the lodge thousands of dollars every year by reducing energy use.

Open since 1923, the Wallowa Lake Lodge is a treasure to the local community. When the lodge went up for auction in 2016, a group of community members came together to purchase the property, eventually leading to the lodge becoming shareholder owned. Shareholders of the Wallowa County community, along with the Nez Perce tribe, are committed to preserving the lodge and the surrounding land.

Lau is especially committed to incorporating sustainable practices throughout Wallowa Lake Lodge. This is why, after discovering a bat colony had damaged their attic insulation, she grew concerned. Lau knew that damaged insulation would lead to difficult temperature regulation, energy waste and higher utility costs. After an Energy Trust advisor assessed the lodge, Lau felt confident about the benefits of replacing the attic insulation with the help of cash incentives.

Wallowa Lake Lodge replaced 4,000 square feet of attic insulation and received $3,600 in cash incentives. This energy-efficient upgrade will save the lodge an estimated $5,800 in annual energy bills.