Necessity of innovative financing systems and marketing. Value of modelling education and utility leadership. In 1985 Iowa began an ambitious series of innovative legislative program and planning strategies aimed at improving the state's economy and decreasing its dependence on external energy resources.
Improvements range from caulking and weather-stripping to replacing boilers and chillers.
Traditionally, lack of capital has limited investments in energy efficiency. To overcome this problem, the State of Iowa has developed several innovative financing programs. Savings that result from these improvements go to meeting the lease payments. Additional enabling legislation, passed in 1987, allows all school districts to get the same low interest rate regardless of credit rating. Other legislation set up similar programs for hospitals, private colleges, and local governments.