by jboullion | Apr 19, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Jeff Starck in the Wausau Daily Herald:
Central Wisconsin environmentalists say “green” is not as mainstream as it should be, but the movement has evolved from a rallying cry on the first Earth Day 39 years ago to a common practice today.
It’s hard to miss the push for green and environmentally friendly practices in the Wausau area. Downtown Grocery opened in July 2006, focusing on locally grown, organic foods. Virtually every grocery store and many other shops promote the use of cloth bags instead of plastic bags. Wausau residents recycled 1,959 tons of glass, plastic, aluminum and other items in 2008, an amount barely imagined in 1970 — two decades before the state enacted a mandatory recycling law.
Local government bodies have looked at ways to be more eco-friendly and explore alternative energy and conservation techniques. In November, Wausau School Board members voted in favor of installing two wind turbines on Wausau East High School property.
Much has changed in the decades since the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, but longtime activists are concerned that some people still don’t take environmental concerns seriously.
“Many people are ‘green’ on the surface, and do things that make them look good,” said Wausau business owner and resident Kari Bender-Burke. “They need ‘greenness’ throughout.”
Bender-Burke, 50, who owns The Needle Workshop and The Quilting Workshop, replaced 40traditional light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs when she moved the stores several years ago to the present location on First Avenue. The switch has saved her about $40a month on her electric bill. At home, Bender-Burke prides herself on collecting rainwater in a barrel for her large garden and compost pile.
Stevens Point architect Tom Brown, who specializes in environmentally sensitive and energy-conserving designs, said the green building boom in recent years is a direct response to consumer demand. As energy prices increased, businesses and homeowners wanted to find ways to reduce their energy use.
“It’s nothing new. These are old, basic design concepts and rediscovering basic principles that work,” said Brown, who participated in the first Earth Day. “This is more of a reaction to poor design than a new design concept.”
by jboullion | Apr 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Joe Knight in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram:
A national expert on sustainability who has met with Eau Claire city officials, UW-Eau Claire staff and Luther Midelfort staff says Eau Claire is taking the first steps toward being more efficient and environmentally friendly.
“I think there’s a real interest and excitement in Eau Claire … the hospital has been doing some great things, and the city and university,” Gips said.
Gips, president of Minnesota-based Sustainability Associates, will speak Monday at UW-Eau Claire to kick off a series of events the university and community groups are planning to commemorate Earth Day (April 22), which they have expanded to Earth Month.
“I’m going to share about this very exciting movement going on around the country, actually around the world, but especially in Wisconsin,” he said.
Wisconsin has more cities designated as “eco-municipalities”, which have agreed to use sustainable principals, he said. Washburn and Ashland were the first two. Madison, La Crosse, Menomonie, Dunn County and the city of Eau Claire are among more than 20 communities in the state that are either “eco-municipalities” already or are taking steps in that direction.
Gips advocates what he calls the “natural-step framework” for making companies, cities – even churches – more efficient and sustainable. The framework was developed in Sweden. IKEA was the first business to use it, but now many U.S. companies have adopted it, he said. The U.S. Army and Navy are also using the “natural-step framework.”
Over the past year, various Eau Claire city departments have been assessing sustainability, said city manager Mike Huggins.
“Specifically, they’re looking at energy, reducing waste streams and looking at the concept of sustainability through the ‘natural step’ process,” Huggins said.
by jboullion | Apr 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Liz Welter in the Marshfield News-Hearld:
Issues raised by the city’s Sustainable Marshfield Committee transcend political agendas, resulting in wide-spread community support, said Marty Anderson, chair of the committee and a former alderman.
“Sustainability is living and working in ways that don’t jeopardize our current and future social, environmental and economic resources,” he said.
“You can come at this from a lot of different angles. Whether it’s economic, the environment or health issues, there’s a wide-spread understanding we need to act,” said Anderson, adding that the committee recommends initiatives and tactics to the Common Council that will move the city towards achieving sustainability.
“When the city switched to LED lights in all the traffic lights, I think the savings is about $16,000 annually,” Anderson said.
Marshfield can be a model for what is pragmatically possible, he said. Two initiatives the committee recommended to the city have been approved. One was supporting the use of phosphate-free fertilizers and the other was to support state legislation to protect groundwater.
Through the committee, Marshfield’s city buildings and fleet vehicles will participate in a state-funded study. Wisconsin has a goal to reduce fossil fuel use by 25 percent by 2025. The committee will determine by December what the city would need to do to meet this goal.
“This could give us a road map for the future,” Anderson said.
To encourage the public’s use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, the committee purchased more than 1,500 to give away at various community events.
“We gave out about 1,000 during the Cultural Fair,” said committee member Sue Meyer, who talked at the fair about the energy needed to create electricity for an average four-person family house in one month.
“Most Wisconsin power plants use coal to generate electricity. It takes 162 pounds of coal to light the average home for one month using incandescent light bulbs,” Meyer said.
by jboullion | Apr 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Custer, WI:
Enjoy Earth Day with friends and help support the MREA! Move Some Earth Day brings together volunteers to help improve our demonstration site, so we can better promote and educate others about renewable energy and sustainable living.
We have a variety of projects and need a variety of skills. Bring tools such as rakes, shovels, chainsaws, etc. All volunteers should bring gloves.
We need help in the following areas:
• Cleaning the ReNew the Earth facility
• Landscaping and mowing
• Preparing the pond for spring
• Cleaning shower trailer at campground
• Turning compost & Many other projects!
Move Some Earth Day happens rain or shine.
by jboullion | Apr 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
The 2nd Sawyer County Earth Day Event of 2008 was listed as one of the top news stories in the Sawyer County Record’s Year in Review.
We didn’t need to read that the Celebration of Earth Day-local solutions to global problems- drew more than two hundred local people to the Sawyer County Fairgrounds We were there again bringing together organizations, businesses, schools, & people from our area exhibiting and speaking about renewable energy, composting, fuel efficiency, gardening, natural & locally produced foods, water quality, and many other displays
Sustainability is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The first & second Earth Day Events facilitated by the Sawyer County Democratic Party and Good Friends highlighted and informed the visitors as to what is available in our area to assist them in not only becoming more sustainable in their individual lives, but how our communities can work together to be sustainable.
Because we know you are a community leader and pioneer in the sustainability movement and have been working hard in assisting our county’s residents in understanding and incorporating green and healthy practices in their lives, we would like to invite you to participate in the 3rd Earth Day Event- Local Solutions to Global Issues, April 25, 10-4 pm at the Sawyer County Fairgrounds near Hayward.
There is no charge to you for table or space for displays. You will be responsible for whatever taxes or fees for any products that might be sold by you. You are encouraged to fill out the attached document and return it at your earliest convenience. This will help us to assist you with your needs and assure a space for you. Set up time will begin at 9am on the 25th.
This year instead of a separate area for speakers and presentations, we will provide a “roving mic” which will be available throughout the day in the exhibition hall for you to do a short presentation about your display to visitors and other participants if you wish.
Protecting the earth and living lives individually and as communities that ensure that our grandchildren & their grand children will enjoy the good sustainable life has never been a politically partisan goal. It is all of our goal. We all are responsible for leaving the earth in better shape than we inherited. We all need to work together, no matter our beliefs or political leanings.
Thank you for what you are already doing and providing to the people of Sawyer County and our region. And thank you for your consideration in being a participant in the 3rd Sawyer County Earth Day Event this year.
For more information, questions, comments, you can call Waldo at 715-354-7450 or email sawyerdemocrats@yahoo.com. You can also contact damzel02@gmail.com
