madison wisconsin living » Green Living Madison http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com by Jamie Miller Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:00:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 en Madison Green Living http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/madison-green-living/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/madison-green-living/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:29:47 +0000 Jamie Miller http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/madison-green-living/ Nicole Craig - Madison Green LivingAs a sustainability consultant for Madison Environmental Group, Inc. and and is the program manager for their sustainable living program, EnAct, Nicole Craig is a passionate about helping others take individual action to have a better impact on the environment. Check back weekly for more tips and actions from Nicole and EnAct to learn how to reduce your ecological footprint!

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]]> Nicole Craig - Madison Green LivingAs a sustainability consultant for Madison Environmental Group, Inc. and and is the program manager for their sustainable living program, EnAct, Nicole Craig is a passionate about helping others take individual action to have a better impact on the environment. Check back weekly for more tips and actions from Nicole and EnAct to learn how to reduce your ecological footprint!

RSS Feed of Madison Green Living

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/madison-green-living/feed/ BBQ for the Planet http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/bbq-for-the-planet/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/bbq-for-the-planet/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:00:53 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/bbq-for-the-planet/ Happy Almost Fourth of July! As we get ready to celebrate our nation, why not celebrate our environment as well? The food choices that you make for this holiday could reflect your patriotism by supporting the environment and the people who share your neighborhood. For example, you may choose to buy local beef, cheese, or tomatoes from a farmer in Dane County instead of from someone outside the U.S. Local produce travels a short distance to reach our table, thus causing less air pollution and using less fuel for transportation. The tomatoes can be harvested ripe, which means they will taste much better than tomatoes from far away and are often less expensive. The money you use to buy local produce goes directly to the farmer and helps support small family farms and the surrounding local economy. Ensuring that local farmers are profitable will keep our agricultural land in production, maintaining green space in urbanizing areas. If the Dane County farmer uses organic practices, your decision to buy their produce will have additional environmental benefits.

So, go ahead and celebrate the nation, but celebrate your local environment as well. Here are a few tips for purchasing your Fourth of July feast:

  • If you’ve decided to have the traditional July 4th BBQ, choose locally-raised meat and poultry, preferably pasture-raised and without antibiotics. These are available at farmers’ markets and grocery stores. Try adding a vegetarian option to your grill, like veggie kebabs or grilled tempeh, or an option of wild game.
  • Look for local “BGH-Free” cheeses. Many Wisconsin farmers are no longer using Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH) for health and cost reasons.
  • Local beers and wines are also available in most liquor stores.
  • Make your BBQ an in-season one by providing the veggies and fruits that are currently available in Dane County. July is a great time to focus on tasty in-season foods.
  • Minimize the packaging and waste generated by your party. Purchase produce that is sold loose, use tap (not bottled) water, use reusable plates, cups, and cutlery, and save your leftovers for lunch next week!

For more information on how to eat sustainably in Madison, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here in two weeks for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> Happy Almost Fourth of July! As we get ready to celebrate our nation, why not celebrate our environment as well? The food choices that you make for this holiday could reflect your patriotism by supporting the environment and the people who share your neighborhood. For example, you may choose to buy local beef, cheese, or tomatoes from a farmer in Dane County instead of from someone outside the U.S. Local produce travels a short distance to reach our table, thus causing less air pollution and using less fuel for transportation. The tomatoes can be harvested ripe, which means they will taste much better than tomatoes from far away and are often less expensive. The money you use to buy local produce goes directly to the farmer and helps support small family farms and the surrounding local economy. Ensuring that local farmers are profitable will keep our agricultural land in production, maintaining green space in urbanizing areas. If the Dane County farmer uses organic practices, your decision to buy their produce will have additional environmental benefits.

So, go ahead and celebrate the nation, but celebrate your local environment as well. Here are a few tips for purchasing your Fourth of July feast:

  • If you’ve decided to have the traditional July 4th BBQ, choose locally-raised meat and poultry, preferably pasture-raised and without antibiotics. These are available at farmers’ markets and grocery stores. Try adding a vegetarian option to your grill, like veggie kebabs or grilled tempeh, or an option of wild game.
  • Look for local “BGH-Free” cheeses. Many Wisconsin farmers are no longer using Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH) for health and cost reasons.
  • Local beers and wines are also available in most liquor stores.
  • Make your BBQ an in-season one by providing the veggies and fruits that are currently available in Dane County. July is a great time to focus on tasty in-season foods.
  • Minimize the packaging and waste generated by your party. Purchase produce that is sold loose, use tap (not bottled) water, use reusable plates, cups, and cutlery, and save your leftovers for lunch next week!

For more information on how to eat sustainably in Madison, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here in two weeks for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/bbq-for-the-planet/feed/ Cooling Without Warming http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/cooling-without-warming/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/cooling-without-warming/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:00:02 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/cooling-without-warming/ Official summer is almost here. As the temperatures continue to heat up, it’s time to consider the many different ways in which you can cool your home without heating up the planet. Here are a few tips for conserving energy while cooling your home:

  • Open windows and shades in the cool nighttime hours, and close them during the day. Use fans instead of air conditioning as much as possible. Use a ceiling fan to cool the room you’re using. Some turn off automatically when you leave!

  • If you feel that you must use an air conditioner, set the thermostat at 78 degrees for optimal comfort and energy efficiency and when you turn on the air conditioning, decrease the temperature incrementally rather than turning it to a very cold setting immediately. You could also install a timer for your room air conditioning (or use a programmable thermostat if you have central air) and set it to turn off when you are gone. It is also important to clean your air conditioner filters every month, clean outdoor fins annually, and keep your cooling system well tuned (have it professionally maintained).

  • A few outside projects can help keep your inside cooler. Planting deciduous trees on the southern and western sides of your house helps provide shade in summer. You could also install shutters, reflective shades or awnings on the southern and western sides of your house to prevent more of the sun’s heat from getting in. Trellises alongside homes are a beautiful way to provide shade and allow for air circulation.

For more information and ideas on how to conserve energy in your home, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here next week for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> Official summer is almost here. As the temperatures continue to heat up, it’s time to consider the many different ways in which you can cool your home without heating up the planet. Here are a few tips for conserving energy while cooling your home:

  • Open windows and shades in the cool nighttime hours, and close them during the day. Use fans instead of air conditioning as much as possible. Use a ceiling fan to cool the room you’re using. Some turn off automatically when you leave!

  • If you feel that you must use an air conditioner, set the thermostat at 78 degrees for optimal comfort and energy efficiency and when you turn on the air conditioning, decrease the temperature incrementally rather than turning it to a very cold setting immediately. You could also install a timer for your room air conditioning (or use a programmable thermostat if you have central air) and set it to turn off when you are gone. It is also important to clean your air conditioner filters every month, clean outdoor fins annually, and keep your cooling system well tuned (have it professionally maintained).

  • A few outside projects can help keep your inside cooler. Planting deciduous trees on the southern and western sides of your house helps provide shade in summer. You could also install shutters, reflective shades or awnings on the southern and western sides of your house to prevent more of the sun’s heat from getting in. Trellises alongside homes are a beautiful way to provide shade and allow for air circulation.

For more information and ideas on how to conserve energy in your home, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here next week for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/cooling-without-warming/feed/ Keeping Your Car Out of Our Lakes http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/keeping-your-car-out-of-our-lakes/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/keeping-your-car-out-of-our-lakes/#comments Fri, 30 May 2008 16:00:47 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/keeping-your-car-out-of-our-lakes/ We are lucky to live in a place surrounded by fresh water. But beyond enjoying the landscape we live in, we also have the responsibility to protect it. The water we drink originates from a deep sandstone aquifer that naturally filters some pollutants. However, actions we take on the land affect the quality of our lakes and rivers, and eventually the groundwater supply as well. Keep this in mind as you clean up your car after the long winter. Here are a few suggestions to make your care maintenance less harmful to the environment:

  • Wash your car on a grassy area so the water and detergents can soak through the soil before reaching the street gutters, and use a biodegradable detergent. Better yet, take your car to a commercial car wash where less water is used and the dirty water goes to a wastewater treatment plant where pollutants are removed.

  • Never pour oil down the street gutter (which drains directly to streams and lakes) or pour it on the ground, since it may seep to the groundwater. Used oil can be reprocessed and reused, so take used oil from your car to a recycling center or take your car to an oil-changing business where they will recycle it for you.
  • Antifreeze, brake fluid, and windshield wiper fluid can also pollute our water resources. Antifreeze in particular can be extremely poisonous. Never pour these fluids down the storm drain. Instead, check www.danecountycleanweep.com for a list of locations that will recycle them. Alternatively, change your fluids at a service station.
  • Return car batteries to the places you bought them. State law requires retailers to accept them. Leaking battery acid can leach through the soil and pollute groundwater.
  • Repair leaks in your car as soon as you notice them. Clean up car fluid stains on the driveway or street by using cat litter or other absorbent material and then sweep and dispose of it in a plastic bag in the garbage.

For more information and ideas on how to protect Madison’s water supply, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here in two weeks for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> We are lucky to live in a place surrounded by fresh water. But beyond enjoying the landscape we live in, we also have the responsibility to protect it. The water we drink originates from a deep sandstone aquifer that naturally filters some pollutants. However, actions we take on the land affect the quality of our lakes and rivers, and eventually the groundwater supply as well. Keep this in mind as you clean up your car after the long winter. Here are a few suggestions to make your care maintenance less harmful to the environment:

  • Wash your car on a grassy area so the water and detergents can soak through the soil before reaching the street gutters, and use a biodegradable detergent. Better yet, take your car to a commercial car wash where less water is used and the dirty water goes to a wastewater treatment plant where pollutants are removed.

  • Never pour oil down the street gutter (which drains directly to streams and lakes) or pour it on the ground, since it may seep to the groundwater. Used oil can be reprocessed and reused, so take used oil from your car to a recycling center or take your car to an oil-changing business where they will recycle it for you.
  • Antifreeze, brake fluid, and windshield wiper fluid can also pollute our water resources. Antifreeze in particular can be extremely poisonous. Never pour these fluids down the storm drain. Instead, check www.danecountycleanweep.com for a list of locations that will recycle them. Alternatively, change your fluids at a service station.
  • Return car batteries to the places you bought them. State law requires retailers to accept them. Leaking battery acid can leach through the soil and pollute groundwater.
  • Repair leaks in your car as soon as you notice them. Clean up car fluid stains on the driveway or street by using cat litter or other absorbent material and then sweep and dispose of it in a plastic bag in the garbage.

For more information and ideas on how to protect Madison’s water supply, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here in two weeks for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/keeping-your-car-out-of-our-lakes/feed/ Oil Those Chains, Dust Off Those Shoes http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/oil-those-chains-dust-off-those-shoes/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/oil-those-chains-dust-off-those-shoes/#comments Fri, 23 May 2008 17:24:57 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/oil-those-chains-dust-off-those-shoes/ It’s Memorial Day weekend - the perfect time to get your bikes out of the shed and put your snow-boots in the attic. What better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons than to toss your car keys into your mittens and say goodbye to your car for a few months? Reducing our use of automobiles is one of the most powerful actions we can take to alleviate local and global environmental problems. According to a comprehensive study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, driving cars causes more damage to the environment - in terms of air and water pollution, global warming, and habitat alteration - than any other consumer behavior. So put on your walking shoes and try a few of these suggestions to get your body moving:

  • Do an experiment and walk or bike somewhere you have not considered walking or biking to before: a friend’s house, a store, a doctor’s office, or a restaurant, for example. Or, make a commitment to bike or walk whenever the distance you are traveling is less than one or two miles.
  • Attach a rack, baskets, or pannier bags to your bicycle. Removing the weight from your back will make biking much more comfortable and you won’t be as sweaty when you arrive at your destination!
  • Find a bike buddy in your neighborhood–someone to commute with or go out with. You can support each other in your new habits.
  • Make an incentive for yourself: For example, if you live downtown and ride all the way to West Towne Mall, reward yourself with dinner at your favorite restaurant on the way back.

For more information and ideas on how to reduce the use of your car, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here weekly for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> It’s Memorial Day weekend - the perfect time to get your bikes out of the shed and put your snow-boots in the attic. What better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons than to toss your car keys into your mittens and say goodbye to your car for a few months? Reducing our use of automobiles is one of the most powerful actions we can take to alleviate local and global environmental problems. According to a comprehensive study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, driving cars causes more damage to the environment - in terms of air and water pollution, global warming, and habitat alteration - than any other consumer behavior. So put on your walking shoes and try a few of these suggestions to get your body moving:

  • Do an experiment and walk or bike somewhere you have not considered walking or biking to before: a friend’s house, a store, a doctor’s office, or a restaurant, for example. Or, make a commitment to bike or walk whenever the distance you are traveling is less than one or two miles.
  • Attach a rack, baskets, or pannier bags to your bicycle. Removing the weight from your back will make biking much more comfortable and you won’t be as sweaty when you arrive at your destination!
  • Find a bike buddy in your neighborhood–someone to commute with or go out with. You can support each other in your new habits.
  • Make an incentive for yourself: For example, if you live downtown and ride all the way to West Towne Mall, reward yourself with dinner at your favorite restaurant on the way back.

For more information and ideas on how to reduce the use of your car, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here weekly for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/oil-those-chains-dust-off-those-shoes/feed/ Out and About in the Spring Weather http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/out-and-about-in-the-spring-weather/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/out-and-about-in-the-spring-weather/#comments Fri, 16 May 2008 17:23:48 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/out-and-about-in-the-spring-weather/ Many of us try to recycle and be environmentally-conscious while we are at home, but an environmental ethic can be hard to follow once you walk out your front door. Running errands and eating out can result in piles of bags, take-out containers, water bottles and paper towels ending up in the trash can. As the weather warms and we begin to spend more time away from our houses, here are a few simple steps to follow that can lead to less trash being thrown into our local landfills:

  • Keep an extra cloth bag with you at work and in your car or bike basket for errands. Hang a few by your front door so that you remember to take them with you. If you are only purchasing a few items, let the cashier know that you don’t need a bag.
  • When eating out, bring containers with you to put your leftovers in. Stow reusable silverware, a napkin, and a mug in your glove-box or backpack so that you don’t need to use disposable ware at lunches and events.
  • Treat your co-workers to real silverware and a nice soft towel at your work place. Look for inexpensive second-hand utensils at thrift stores and bring them to work. Bring a couple of cloth towels to keep in your workplace bathroom. Be sure to take the towels home for frequent washing.
  • Recycle even when you’re away from home. Ask where to find a recycling bin and hold on to your recyclables until you find a place for them.

For more information and ideas on how to reduce solid waste, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here weekly for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> Many of us try to recycle and be environmentally-conscious while we are at home, but an environmental ethic can be hard to follow once you walk out your front door. Running errands and eating out can result in piles of bags, take-out containers, water bottles and paper towels ending up in the trash can. As the weather warms and we begin to spend more time away from our houses, here are a few simple steps to follow that can lead to less trash being thrown into our local landfills:

  • Keep an extra cloth bag with you at work and in your car or bike basket for errands. Hang a few by your front door so that you remember to take them with you. If you are only purchasing a few items, let the cashier know that you don’t need a bag.
  • When eating out, bring containers with you to put your leftovers in. Stow reusable silverware, a napkin, and a mug in your glove-box or backpack so that you don’t need to use disposable ware at lunches and events.
  • Treat your co-workers to real silverware and a nice soft towel at your work place. Look for inexpensive second-hand utensils at thrift stores and bring them to work. Bring a couple of cloth towels to keep in your workplace bathroom. Be sure to take the towels home for frequent washing.
  • Recycle even when you’re away from home. Ask where to find a recycling bin and hold on to your recyclables until you find a place for them.

For more information and ideas on how to reduce solid waste, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here weekly for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/out-and-about-in-the-spring-weather/feed/ Eating From Home http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/eating-from-home/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/eating-from-home/#comments Fri, 09 May 2008 16:00:40 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/eating-from-home/ How much do you think about the food on your breakfast table in the morning? What do you know about the chickens that laid your eggs, the grain that was processed to produce your cereal, or the cows that provided your milk? Knowing how and where your food is grown, harvested and processed is important for the health of your body, the natural environment, and the local and global economy.Living in Dane County provides you with numerous opportunities to enjoy affordable, high quality food. The Dane County Farmers’ Market in Madison is back outside now on the Capital Square. It is the largest producers-only farmers’ market in the United States and provides a fantastic opportunity for consumers to get to know the people who grow local food and to taste the freshness of local food. In addition to this downtown farmers’ market, there are fifteen other markets held around the city over the growing season. Beyond the markets, here are some other tips from the EnAct Participant Guide for eating local, sustainable foods.

  • Eat seasonally. Learn what fruits and vegetables are in season and available locally at different times of the year. Enjoy those foods at their peak, rather than choosing produce that is grown and shipped long distances. You can enjoy fresh, local food almost all year round, support local farmers, and save money.
  • Subscribe to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm and receive a box of seasonal fresh vegetables throughout the growing season. Contact Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition for more information (608) 226-0300 or www.macsac.org). If a whole box is too much for your household, you can share a membership with a neighbor or two!
  • Encourage and help others to buy local. Ask your favorite restaurant where they buy their produce. If they are not buying locally, ask them if they would consider buying a couple of items from local farms. Ask your grocery store to label the origin of produce. That way, you and others can choose to buy locally.

For more information and ideas on how to eat sustainably, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here weekly for new tips from EnAct to help you have a better impact on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> How much do you think about the food on your breakfast table in the morning? What do you know about the chickens that laid your eggs, the grain that was processed to produce your cereal, or the cows that provided your milk? Knowing how and where your food is grown, harvested and processed is important for the health of your body, the natural environment, and the local and global economy.Living in Dane County provides you with numerous opportunities to enjoy affordable, high quality food. The Dane County Farmers’ Market in Madison is back outside now on the Capital Square. It is the largest producers-only farmers’ market in the United States and provides a fantastic opportunity for consumers to get to know the people who grow local food and to taste the freshness of local food. In addition to this downtown farmers’ market, there are fifteen other markets held around the city over the growing season. Beyond the markets, here are some other tips from the EnAct Participant Guide for eating local, sustainable foods.

  • Eat seasonally. Learn what fruits and vegetables are in season and available locally at different times of the year. Enjoy those foods at their peak, rather than choosing produce that is grown and shipped long distances. You can enjoy fresh, local food almost all year round, support local farmers, and save money.
  • Subscribe to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm and receive a box of seasonal fresh vegetables throughout the growing season. Contact Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition for more information (608) 226-0300 or www.macsac.org). If a whole box is too much for your household, you can share a membership with a neighbor or two!
  • Encourage and help others to buy local. Ask your favorite restaurant where they buy their produce. If they are not buying locally, ask them if they would consider buying a couple of items from local farms. Ask your grocery store to label the origin of produce. That way, you and others can choose to buy locally.

For more information and ideas on how to eat sustainably, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here weekly for new tips from EnAct to help you have a better impact on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/eating-from-home/feed/ Upcoming Environmental Events http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/upcoming-environmental-events/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/upcoming-environmental-events/#comments Thu, 01 May 2008 14:28:43 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/upcoming-environmental-events/ Check out these great opportunities from EnAct sponsors and friends to get involved and have a better impact on the environment. For more information about EnAct, visit www.enactwi.org or call 608-204-2888.

Madison Gas and Electric:
Spring Landscaping and Cool Lighting Projects

Landscaping

Planning landscaping projects this spring? Well-placed plantings not only add to the beauty of your yard, but can save energy and improve your comfort as well. For example:

  • Deciduous trees can shade windows from the summer sun to keep your house cooler but still allow in the winter sun to help with heating.
  • Evergreen shrubs near the foundation and trees on the north and west sides of your yard can act as windbreaks to reduce winter heat losses.

For more ideas, visit the US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website.

MGE recommends that you plant the right tree in the right place to avoid future problems with overhead lines. For more information, visit their website.

When planting, be careful to avoid dangerous contact with underground utilities. Contact Diggers Hotline at 800-242-8511 at least three working days before digging to have pipes and wires marked on your property.

Cool Lighting

You know that switching to compact fluorescent lighting saves energy and money, but fluorescent bulbs also keep you cooler in the summer because they create a lot less heat than incandescent bulbs. Visit Focus on Energy for purchase information and available incentives on fluorescent bulbs.

And be sure to recycle old fluorescent bulbs to make sure the mercury needed to produce the light does not get into the environment. For more information and a list of businesses that accept used bulbs, see their website.

Home Compost Bin Sale

The City of Madison and Dane County will be sponsoring a home compost bin sale on Saturday, May 3 from 9am until 4pm at the Alliant Energy Center Olin Avenue parking lot. Earth Machine bins will be on sale for $39 plus tax, along with other composting supplies. The bins will be sold on a first come, first served basis. No advanced registration is necessary. Sale is by cash or check only. No credit cards will be accepted. For more information about the sale and composting resources, visit www.cityofmadison.com/streets.

Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District:
Dental Clinics Making Steady Progress in Capturing Waste Mercury

Silver fillings are composed of an amalgam (mixture) of silver, mercury, and other metals. When a silver filling is placed or removed, much of the waste amalgam is removed from the patient’s mouth by the vacuum system and discharged to the local sanitary sewer. MMSD has enacted a sewer use ordinance that requires general and pediatric dental clinics to implement amalgam waste “best management practices” and to install separation devices into their vacuum systems to capture amalgam debris before it reaches the sewerage system. At this half-way point in the implementation period, over 60% of the dental clinics in our service area have installed separation devices into their vacuum systems, and we have received commitments from the remaining clinics to install separators prior to the December 31, 2008 deadline. For more information related to the MMSD Mercury Pollutant Minimization Program visit http://www.madsewer.org.

MedDrop Drug Take-Back Program

Mark your calendars for June 7 for the next MedDrop event. This is a free service where unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications will be accepted and disposed of in the proper manner. The drop off point will be the city transfer station on Olin Avenue near the Alliant Energy Center and Goodman Pool. More information can be found at www.meddropdane.org.

Join Organic Valley at the Kickapoo Country Fair

Organic Valley’s 5th annual Kickapoo Country Fair will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27 on the grounds of Organic Valley’s headquarters in La Farge, Wisconsin, set in the ancient and beautiful hills of the Kickapoo River Valley.

This rural heritage and organic farming festival will be a showcase of rural cultural traditions, farm and garden exhibits, music, dance, arts, natural and organic foods and cooking, green housing and renewable energy, community health and education, environmental responsibility, and eco-development.

The all-weekend event will feature organic farm tours, farmers and farm animals, sustainability workshops, hiking, the Butter Churn Bike Tour, food and artisan vendors, not-for-profit exhibitors, family “farm-friendly” activities, all-day music and entertainment, and dancing!

For more information, visit www.kickapoocountryfair.org.

Take the Mpower Pledge

Are you ready to expand your action plans? Take the Madison-wide Mpower pledge and join over 2,500 individuals in a community commitment to reduce 100,000 tons in citywide emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2011. You can help double this number by Earth Day!

When you visit www.Mpoweringmadison.com, you can pledge to take further action in 6 areas to help Madison become the green, clean energy capital. Do you want to expand your action plan at work? Join over 20 Madison Businesses as an Mpower Business partner when your business takes the pledge.

Start spring off with a green thumb and plant trees in support of your pledge. Reduce car emissions by taking the bus or biking in the warm weather.

Buy renewable energy from MGE and make those extra energy efficiency investments for your home or office. Are you thinking about a solar panel? Take the leap and have the energy savings count towards this larger commitment!

To support water conservation with the Mpower campaign, Sustain Dane is promoting water saving kits. Each water kit saves an average of 1,500 kWh annually for homes with electric water heaters (or 86 therms of gas). This equates to almost 3,500 pounds (1,000 pounds for gas) of CO2 reduced per year! (Visit www.rainfordane.org for more information.)

For more information about the Mpower campaign, please contact the Mpower Coordinator at info@mpoweringmadison.com.

]]> Check out these great opportunities from EnAct sponsors and friends to get involved and have a better impact on the environment. For more information about EnAct, visit www.enactwi.org or call 608-204-2888.

Madison Gas and Electric:
Spring Landscaping and Cool Lighting Projects

Landscaping

Planning landscaping projects this spring? Well-placed plantings not only add to the beauty of your yard, but can save energy and improve your comfort as well. For example:

  • Deciduous trees can shade windows from the summer sun to keep your house cooler but still allow in the winter sun to help with heating.
  • Evergreen shrubs near the foundation and trees on the north and west sides of your yard can act as windbreaks to reduce winter heat losses.

For more ideas, visit the US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website.

MGE recommends that you plant the right tree in the right place to avoid future problems with overhead lines. For more information, visit their website.

When planting, be careful to avoid dangerous contact with underground utilities. Contact Diggers Hotline at 800-242-8511 at least three working days before digging to have pipes and wires marked on your property.

Cool Lighting

You know that switching to compact fluorescent lighting saves energy and money, but fluorescent bulbs also keep you cooler in the summer because they create a lot less heat than incandescent bulbs. Visit Focus on Energy for purchase information and available incentives on fluorescent bulbs.

And be sure to recycle old fluorescent bulbs to make sure the mercury needed to produce the light does not get into the environment. For more information and a list of businesses that accept used bulbs, see their website.

Home Compost Bin Sale

The City of Madison and Dane County will be sponsoring a home compost bin sale on Saturday, May 3 from 9am until 4pm at the Alliant Energy Center Olin Avenue parking lot. Earth Machine bins will be on sale for $39 plus tax, along with other composting supplies. The bins will be sold on a first come, first served basis. No advanced registration is necessary. Sale is by cash or check only. No credit cards will be accepted. For more information about the sale and composting resources, visit www.cityofmadison.com/streets.

Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District:
Dental Clinics Making Steady Progress in Capturing Waste Mercury

Silver fillings are composed of an amalgam (mixture) of silver, mercury, and other metals. When a silver filling is placed or removed, much of the waste amalgam is removed from the patient’s mouth by the vacuum system and discharged to the local sanitary sewer. MMSD has enacted a sewer use ordinance that requires general and pediatric dental clinics to implement amalgam waste “best management practices” and to install separation devices into their vacuum systems to capture amalgam debris before it reaches the sewerage system. At this half-way point in the implementation period, over 60% of the dental clinics in our service area have installed separation devices into their vacuum systems, and we have received commitments from the remaining clinics to install separators prior to the December 31, 2008 deadline. For more information related to the MMSD Mercury Pollutant Minimization Program visit http://www.madsewer.org.

MedDrop Drug Take-Back Program

Mark your calendars for June 7 for the next MedDrop event. This is a free service where unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications will be accepted and disposed of in the proper manner. The drop off point will be the city transfer station on Olin Avenue near the Alliant Energy Center and Goodman Pool. More information can be found at www.meddropdane.org.

Join Organic Valley at the Kickapoo Country Fair

Organic Valley’s 5th annual Kickapoo Country Fair will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27 on the grounds of Organic Valley’s headquarters in La Farge, Wisconsin, set in the ancient and beautiful hills of the Kickapoo River Valley.

This rural heritage and organic farming festival will be a showcase of rural cultural traditions, farm and garden exhibits, music, dance, arts, natural and organic foods and cooking, green housing and renewable energy, community health and education, environmental responsibility, and eco-development.

The all-weekend event will feature organic farm tours, farmers and farm animals, sustainability workshops, hiking, the Butter Churn Bike Tour, food and artisan vendors, not-for-profit exhibitors, family “farm-friendly” activities, all-day music and entertainment, and dancing!

For more information, visit www.kickapoocountryfair.org.

Take the Mpower Pledge

Are you ready to expand your action plans? Take the Madison-wide Mpower pledge and join over 2,500 individuals in a community commitment to reduce 100,000 tons in citywide emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2011. You can help double this number by Earth Day!

When you visit www.Mpoweringmadison.com, you can pledge to take further action in 6 areas to help Madison become the green, clean energy capital. Do you want to expand your action plan at work? Join over 20 Madison Businesses as an Mpower Business partner when your business takes the pledge.

Start spring off with a green thumb and plant trees in support of your pledge. Reduce car emissions by taking the bus or biking in the warm weather.

Buy renewable energy from MGE and make those extra energy efficiency investments for your home or office. Are you thinking about a solar panel? Take the leap and have the energy savings count towards this larger commitment!

To support water conservation with the Mpower campaign, Sustain Dane is promoting water saving kits. Each water kit saves an average of 1,500 kWh annually for homes with electric water heaters (or 86 therms of gas). This equates to almost 3,500 pounds (1,000 pounds for gas) of CO2 reduced per year! (Visit www.rainfordane.org for more information.)

For more information about the Mpower campaign, please contact the Mpower Coordinator at info@mpoweringmadison.com.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/upcoming-environmental-events/feed/ Earth Day is Every Day! http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/earth-day-is-every-day/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/earth-day-is-every-day/#comments Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:21:39 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/earth-day-is-every-day/

Join us at these local events to learn more about EnAct and continue your Earth Day celebrations.

Green Day Expo, April 26, 9am – 6pm
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, One John Nolen Drive, Madison
Check out the Community Car and EnAct displays and learn more about EnAct during the EnAct Steps to Greener Living presentation on Stage A from 2-2:30pm. For more information, visit www.thedailypage.com/green/.

EnAct Team Kickoff and Informational Meeting, April 29, 7 – 8:30pm
Madison Environmental Group, Inc. office, 25 N. Pinckney Street, 3rd floor, Madison
You are invited to be part of an EnAct team in our community. Together we will explore ways to save money, make our homes and workplaces safe and healthy, and live more environmentally sustainable lifestyles. We will also get to know each other and build a stronger sense of community.

We will have eight informal sessions, one every 2-3 weeks. We will learn from each other using the EnAct Participant Guide available free online at www.enactwi.org. Through EnAct, we will work together to reduce waste, conserve energy, protect water quality, choose healthy food, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will celebrate our accomplishments with a team potluck when we finish the program.

For more information about EnAct, email enact@madisonenvironmental.com or call (608) 204-2888 or (866) 953-6228.

]]>

Join us at these local events to learn more about EnAct and continue your Earth Day celebrations.

Green Day Expo, April 26, 9am – 6pm
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, One John Nolen Drive, Madison
Check out the Community Car and EnAct displays and learn more about EnAct during the EnAct Steps to Greener Living presentation on Stage A from 2-2:30pm. For more information, visit www.thedailypage.com/green/.

EnAct Team Kickoff and Informational Meeting, April 29, 7 – 8:30pm
Madison Environmental Group, Inc. office, 25 N. Pinckney Street, 3rd floor, Madison
You are invited to be part of an EnAct team in our community. Together we will explore ways to save money, make our homes and workplaces safe and healthy, and live more environmentally sustainable lifestyles. We will also get to know each other and build a stronger sense of community.

We will have eight informal sessions, one every 2-3 weeks. We will learn from each other using the EnAct Participant Guide available free online at www.enactwi.org. Through EnAct, we will work together to reduce waste, conserve energy, protect water quality, choose healthy food, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will celebrate our accomplishments with a team potluck when we finish the program.

For more information about EnAct, email enact@madisonenvironmental.com or call (608) 204-2888 or (866) 953-6228.

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/earth-day-is-every-day/feed/ Celebrate Earth Day with EnAct! http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/celebrate-earth-day-with-enact/ http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/celebrate-earth-day-with-enact/#comments Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:48:06 +0000 Nicole Craig http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/celebrate-earth-day-with-enact/ You’re invited to celebrate Earth Day with EnAct, Madison Environmental Group, Inc. and Community Car!

Earth Day Picnic
Tuesday, April 22 11am – 1:30pm
In front of our offices at 25 N. Pinckney (on the Capitol Square)

Bring your own sack lunch and we’ll provide the Organic Valley cheese and Café Soleil treats.

Community Car and the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program will share tips on reducing your carbon footprint, and we’ll offer tours of our third floor green offices at 11:15 and 1pm.

In case of rain, we’ll picnic on the third floor. We hope you’ll also join us at the Earth Day events listed below.

For more information, contact EnAct at 204-2888 or visit www.enactwi.org.

P.S. Community Car is also offering a special Earth Day promotion: Join Community Car for just $15 at our Earth Day Picnic or online before May 1. Visit www.communitycar.com and enter “Earth Day” in the promo code field at the bottom of the online application form.

*******************************************************************************

Free Film and Discussion: Story of Stuff, April 18, 7pm
Indigo Coffee & Tea, 300 S. Main Street, Verona
Get acquainted with the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program at this EnAct-sponsored event. For information: www.indigocoffeeandtea.com/IndigoCalendar.htm

Habitat ReStore Earth Day Celebration, April 19th, 12 – 4pm
Habitat Restore, 208 Cottage Grove Road, Madison
Meet our staff and learn about Community Car and the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program. For information: www.restoredane.org/news.cfm#66

Every Day is Earth Day at Happy Bambino, April 20, 3 – 4pm
Happy Bambino, 2045 Atwood Avenue, Madison
Attend a panel discussion including Community Car on how families can become more green. For information: www.happybambino.com

MATC Earth Day Event , April 21, 10am-2pm
MATC-Truax Campus, 3550 Anderson Street, Madison
Visit our EnAct display and catch a presentation by Nicole Craig, our EnAct Program Manager, on Steps to Greener Living at noon or 1pm. For information: 608.243.4593 MATC Volunteer Center

Design MMoCA, April 24 – 27
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), 227 State Street, Madison
Explore 16 one-of-a-kind room vignettes created by local and regional design teams, including Madison Environmental Group, Inc.’s own Fullcircle Design. April 26 at 11am, Sonya Newenhouse, our president, will present Climate Change and Residential Design: The Connection and Green Examples. A gallery talk, Fullcircle: A Green Retro-Fit, will be given April 27 at 1pm by Christi Weber, Fullcircle architectural designer. For information and tickets: www.mmoca.org.

Green Day Expo, April 26, 9am – 6pm
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, One John Nolen Drive, Madison
Check out the Community Car and EnAct displays and hear Nicole Craig, our EnAct Program Manager, speak on Stage A from 2-2:30. For information: www.thedailypage.com/green/

WISC-TV Going Green Special Program, April 28, 7pm and May 4, 6:30 pm
Anchored by News 3’s Susan Siman and Eric Franke, the special will show how we can all take steps toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Sonya Newenhouse, our president, will provide examples of how she lives green at home.

Going Green Wisconsin Expo, May 2 – May 4
Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison
Meet our staff and learn about Community Car and the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program. Sonya Newenhouse, our president, will present “Getting There Green,” a transportation talk, from 2:15-2:30 on May 3. For information: http://www.channel3000.com/mm-green-expo/index.html

]]> You’re invited to celebrate Earth Day with EnAct, Madison Environmental Group, Inc. and Community Car!

Earth Day Picnic
Tuesday, April 22 11am – 1:30pm
In front of our offices at 25 N. Pinckney (on the Capitol Square)

Bring your own sack lunch and we’ll provide the Organic Valley cheese and Café Soleil treats.

Community Car and the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program will share tips on reducing your carbon footprint, and we’ll offer tours of our third floor green offices at 11:15 and 1pm.

In case of rain, we’ll picnic on the third floor. We hope you’ll also join us at the Earth Day events listed below.

For more information, contact EnAct at 204-2888 or visit www.enactwi.org.

P.S. Community Car is also offering a special Earth Day promotion: Join Community Car for just $15 at our Earth Day Picnic or online before May 1. Visit www.communitycar.com and enter “Earth Day” in the promo code field at the bottom of the online application form.

*******************************************************************************

Free Film and Discussion: Story of Stuff, April 18, 7pm
Indigo Coffee & Tea, 300 S. Main Street, Verona
Get acquainted with the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program at this EnAct-sponsored event. For information: www.indigocoffeeandtea.com/IndigoCalendar.htm

Habitat ReStore Earth Day Celebration, April 19th, 12 – 4pm
Habitat Restore, 208 Cottage Grove Road, Madison
Meet our staff and learn about Community Car and the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program. For information: www.restoredane.org/news.cfm#66

Every Day is Earth Day at Happy Bambino, April 20, 3 – 4pm
Happy Bambino, 2045 Atwood Avenue, Madison
Attend a panel discussion including Community Car on how families can become more green. For information: www.happybambino.com

MATC Earth Day Event , April 21, 10am-2pm
MATC-Truax Campus, 3550 Anderson Street, Madison
Visit our EnAct display and catch a presentation by Nicole Craig, our EnAct Program Manager, on Steps to Greener Living at noon or 1pm. For information: 608.243.4593 MATC Volunteer Center

Design MMoCA, April 24 – 27
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), 227 State Street, Madison
Explore 16 one-of-a-kind room vignettes created by local and regional design teams, including Madison Environmental Group, Inc.’s own Fullcircle Design. April 26 at 11am, Sonya Newenhouse, our president, will present Climate Change and Residential Design: The Connection and Green Examples. A gallery talk, Fullcircle: A Green Retro-Fit, will be given April 27 at 1pm by Christi Weber, Fullcircle architectural designer. For information and tickets: www.mmoca.org.

Green Day Expo, April 26, 9am – 6pm
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, One John Nolen Drive, Madison
Check out the Community Car and EnAct displays and hear Nicole Craig, our EnAct Program Manager, speak on Stage A from 2-2:30. For information: www.thedailypage.com/green/

WISC-TV Going Green Special Program, April 28, 7pm and May 4, 6:30 pm
Anchored by News 3’s Susan Siman and Eric Franke, the special will show how we can all take steps toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Sonya Newenhouse, our president, will provide examples of how she lives green at home.

Going Green Wisconsin Expo, May 2 – May 4
Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison
Meet our staff and learn about Community Car and the EnAct Steps to Greener Living program. Sonya Newenhouse, our president, will present “Getting There Green,” a transportation talk, from 2:15-2:30 on May 3. For information: http://www.channel3000.com/mm-green-expo/index.html

]]> http://www.madisonwisconsinliving.com/celebrate-earth-day-with-enact/feed/