by jboullion | Feb 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Coulee Partners for Sustainability:
Local presenters are available to make 20-45 minute talks to groups, clubs, and organizations in the La Crosse area on a variety of issues that pertain to living sustainably. Please note that these presentations are not reviewed or formally approved by CPS.
Presentations
Burning Coal and Mercury in Fish: What’s the Connection?
In addition to releasing enormous quantities of carbon dioxide, coal-fired power plants have other significant impacts as well. Presenter: Mark Sandheinrich, UW-La Crosse.
Climate Change: Global Problem, Local Solutions
What do recent scientific findings show about global climate change and what can we do to address this problem? Presenter: Rob Tyser, UW-La Crosse.
Complete Streets
Complete Streets provide safe and accessible infrastructure for all transit choices: cars and trucks, busses, bicycles and pedestrians. It is about improving the quality of life for all residents of a community, as well as reducing our carbon footprint, reducing land used for roads and especially for parking, and improving individual health. Presenter: Charley Weeth, Liveable Neighborhoods and Wisconsin Walks.
Green Initiatives in the La Crosse Area
Learn about “green” projects that have been completed and others that are being planned. Presentation arranged by the City of La Crosse.
How Much Stuff is Enough?
How does what we value the most in life actually correspond to our spending habits? Presenter: Mark Sandheinrich, UW-La Crosse.
The La Crosse River Marsh: Its Role in Flooding and Water Retention
In addition to providing critical wetland habitat and outdoor recreational opportunities, the La Crosse River marsh plays an important role in flooding. Presenter: Cynthia Berlin, UW-La Crosse.
The “Natural Step”: What Is It? Why Use It?
Find out about the Natural Step framework and why municipalities, including the City and County of La Crosse, are using it. Presenter: Rob Tyser, UW-La Crosse.
Urban Sprawl in the La Crosse Region
What do images from Landsat satellites show about land use patterns in the La Crosse area? Presenter: Cynthia Berlin, UW-La Crosse.
by jboullion | Feb 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
Fomr an article by Samantha Marcus in the La Crosse Tribune:
The campaign to be La Crosse’s chief executive hasn’t strayed much so far from talking about the familiar troubles — property taxes, jobs and economic development.
La Crosse voters will go to the polls Feb. 17 to pare the city’s mayoral hopefuls from seven to two. Last week, the Tribune invited a dozen community members to a roundtable on what they wanted to hear from the candidates before primary day. . . .
This week the La Crosse Common Council will cast a vote on an aggressive and contentious city/county strategic plan for sustainability.
Lenard helped draft and introduce the plan, which she and Johnsrud called a significant investment in La Crosse’s future.
“It’s going to take some money, and some people are going to be reluctant to spend any money,” Johnsrud said.
Padesky, Richmond and council member Jim Bloedorn said they’re not willing to hire a full-time employee to tell the city to change its light bulbs and turn the heat down.
Some council members will support the plan because it’s “en vogue, but I care too much to foist another artificial bureaucracy on the city of La Crosse,” Bloedorn said.
Harter, Richmond and Lesky said they’d support sustainable practices so long as they’re economically justified.
by jboullion | Feb 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Debbie Griffin in the River Falls Journal:
For the first time ever, River Falls made the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of top 21 Green Power Communities in the country. The city made number 10 to be exact, with a 5% participation rate and deriving 15% of its energy from renewable sources.
Not only is it River Falls’ first time on the list, but also it’s the first city in Wisconsin or the Midwest to make it.
River Falls Municipal Utilities Communication Coordinator Chris Blasius said RFMU has been eyeing the list for years, waiting to apply for the status if and when River Falls ever met the EPA’s criteria. The city hit that magic mark this year.
Blasius said the main thing that landed the city on the list is how much it spends on renewable energy.
by jboullion | Feb 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement from Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI):
Grants are now available for both new construction and remodeling of existing homes that are targeting net zero energy use when completed.
Complete details can be found at www.GreenMaxHome.com. Click here to view the GreenMax Home RFP.
WPPI’s Web site explains the concept of a net zero energy home:
A net zero energy home is connected to the energy grid that supplies your local utility with power, but it is designed and constructed to produce at least as much energy as it consumes. The house supplies energy back to the grid in — at a minimum —an amount equal to the amount of power the homeowner purchases from the grid, resulting in a “net zero” impact on the nation’s energy supply. Any excess energy generated by the house is fed back into the grid.
This new concept combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems such as solar water heating and solar electricity. In many cases, the entire energy consumption — heating, cooling and appliances — of a net zero energy home can be provided by renewable energy sources.
Proposed homes must be built in a WPPI Energy member utility service area. 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 | Feb 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement from Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI):
Grants are now available for both new construction and remodeling of existing homes that are targeting net zero energy use when completed.
Complete details can be found at www.GreenMaxHome.com. Click here to view the GreenMax Home RFP.
WPPI’s Web site explains the concept of a net zero energy home:
A net zero energy home is connected to the energy grid that supplies your local utility with power, but it is designed and constructed to produce at least as much energy as it consumes. The house supplies energy back to the grid in — at a minimum —an amount equal to the amount of power the homeowner purchases from the grid, resulting in a “net zero” impact on the nation’s energy supply. Any excess energy generated by the house is fed back into the grid.
This new concept combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems such as solar water heating and solar electricity. In many cases, the entire energy consumption — heating, cooling and appliances — of a net zero energy home can be provided by renewable energy sources.
Proposed homes must be built in a WPPI Energy member utility service area. 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
