by jboullion | Sep 22, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a media release from Wisconsin Public Power, Incorporated:
Homeowners looking to build or remodel in communities served by WPPI member utilities have an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint through WPPI’s GreenMax Home program. WPPI is now soliciting competitive proposals for grants to help fund the construction of up to three net zero energy homes within WPPI member utility service areas.
As part of WPPI’s overall efforts to encourage public and community support for renewable energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency, the GreenMax Home program will help customers build highly efficient, environmentally friendly homes. Grants will be awarded to cover part of the incremental cost of designing and building a GreenMax Home over the cost of constructing a conventional Upper Midwest house. Incremental costs will include the design elements and technologies directly related to reducing energy use or producing energy through renewable resources.
“We are pleased to present another opportunity for homeowners in WPPI member communities to build and live in homes with net zero energy use,” said Senior Vice President of Customer Services and Administration Tom Paque. “The GreenMax Home program allows homeowners to take advantage of renewable energy technologies and demonstrate practical approaches to the efficient use of energy.”
WPPI’s GreenMax Home program supports the design and lifestyle choices that move a home from “highly efficient” to “net zero.” Net zero homes combine state-of-the-art green and environmentally friendly technologies and practices with renewable energy technology to ensure that the homes produce as much energy as they consume. To the greatest extent possible, the energy consumption (heating, cooling and electrical) of the homes will be provided by renewable energy sources.
WPPI’s member utilities are
Alger Delta, MI
Algoma
Baraga, MI
Black River Falls
Boscobel
Brodhead
Cedarburg
Columbus
Cuba City
Eagle River
Evansville
Florence
Gladstone, MI
Hartford
Hustisford
Independence, IA
Jefferson
Juneau
Kaukauna
L’Anse, MI
Lake Mills
Lodi
Maquoketa, IA
Menasha
Mount Horeb
Muscoda
Negaunee, MI
New Glarus
New Holstein
New London
New Richmond
Norway, MI
Oconomowoc
Oconto Falls
Plymouth
Prairie du Sac
Reedsburg
Richland Center
River Falls
Slinger
Stoughton
Sturgeon Bay
Sun Prairie
Two Rivers
Waterloo
Waunakee
Waupun
Westby
Whitehall
by jboullion | Aug 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a story by Michael Seidel on OnMilwaukee.com:
“Now, when he has enough, he’ll stop,” Sister Janet Weyker says. She’s holding a baby robin; the bird chirp excitedly as Weyker feeds him worms out of a tin of compost and wild black raspberries from a cup. Since the robin’s mother disappeared, Weyker has taken over, tending to the fledling’s hunger at mealtimes.
This type of stewardship is precisely what motivated Weyker and several other sisters of the Racine Dominican order to found the Eco-Justice Center, a 15-acre learning center, farm and homestead located at 5635 Erie St. in Racine.
As a whole, the Racine Dominicans, a Catholic community of vowed women and lay associates, are committed to the ideas of education and justice. But back in 2000, the nuns saw a gap in their order’s efforts to extend those concepts to the environment.
“(We thought) the environment is in crisis and we should really do something,” Sister Janet says, “I didn’t want to just talk about it anymore, I really want to make that dream a reality. . . .”
“Fifty-five solar panels produce all the energy that we use in the summertime,” Weyker explains. Additionally, the house uses geothermal heating for its heating and air conditioning. “Geothermal is a system where there are pipes buried in the ground 9.5 feet deep, and there’s a constant temperature of 55 degrees. . . .”
by jboullion | Jul 31, 2008 | Uncategorized
From the Midwest Renewable Energy Association:
Interested in showcasing your new renewable energy installation at your home or business? Sign-up for the Wisconsin Solar Tour, October 3 & 4, 2008. Open your doors, and help others learn about renewable energy, green building and sustainable practices. Fill out the online application.
by jboullion | Jun 27, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a media release issued by Fields Neighborhood:
Interested in finding out what it would be like to life the green life you have imagined? Come experience living green at Fields Neighborhood’s Live a Green Life Day on Saturday, July 19, 11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
All are welcome to tour Fields Neighborhood’s award-winning green built housing and other innovative environmental solutions while talking with the visionary founder and architects.
Come dwell in possibility as you walk the miles of nature preserve trails, enjoy the open expanse of land on a hayride or tour the farm at neighboring Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, where you can pick your own flowers or produce. Discover straw bale building as demonstrated by renowned straw bale expert Michael Morgan and learn about biodynamic gardening with veteran garden expert Janet Gamble.
Come to relax. Come to breathe. Located at the corner of South and West Streets, this vibrant farming community in East Troy, Wisconsin, is nestled in the rolling hills of Southeast Wisconsin 30 minutes from Milwaukee and 90 minutes from Chicago.
“When we saw the destructive nature of most suburban sprawl, we wanted to introduce people to a type of community and way of living that was in tune with nature. This community serves as a model and educational reference on sustainability with award-winning green built cluster housing, community gardens, natural tranquility and open spaces in permanent land trusts,” said Fields Neighborhood visionary Christopher Mann.
by jboullion | May 30, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a story by Mary Louise Schumacher in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
From a coffeehouse with a green design to a gathering place in a former industrial wasteland, from a dynamic railway station to a new airport concourse, from a face lift for what’s now an upscale Cajun eatery to the restored roof of an old Polish church, 27 projects will be honored today by Mayor Tom Barrett for contributing to Milwaukee’s urban landscape.
Barrett will present the Mayor’s Urban Design Awards, for design excellence, and the Cream of the Cream City Awards, for smart preservation, at a reception at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning, 2131 E. Hartford Ave., at 5 p.m.
The design awards will go to projects completed by the end of 2007, including the Dr. Wesley L. Scott Senior Living Community, 2802 W. Wright St., for creating an environmentally sustainable building with a rooftop solar energy system (pictured above).
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