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ENERGY FROM THE EARTH ANDREA PAULSETH
A NEWLY POPULAR WAY TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON CAN ALSO KEEP OUR PLANTS GROWING by Eric Christenson Geothermal is exactly what it sounds like: heating using the ground. And it’s
becoming pretty trendy for new homes to utilize geothermal technology as a sustainable, green way to heat their homes and save on energy bills. But what you don’t typically see is what’s happening at Down to Earth Garden Center’s Eau Claire location: The greenhouse at Down to Earth isn’t that huge, but it’s a completely sustainable environment that take advantage of geothermal. They installed geothermal in 2010 in partnership with their neighbors Water Source, a water and heating company that specializes in geothermal. Ben Polzin, Down to Earth’s VP of retail operations said their system works in tandem with a little added insulation in the lower level and open ventilation on every side of the greenhouse to make for a completely sustainable way to grow plants efficiently with low energy costs. Whereas in a typical greenhouse, heaters are in the air heating downward, trapping a lot of rising heat near the top of the building, geothermal effectively heats from the ground up. “Heat rises, so if you’re starting half way up already, only x-amount of that heat is getting down where it’s usable,” Polzin said. “It’s heating as it goes up.” Basically the way geothermal works is it’s a self-contained unit deep underground that water gets pumped through. It goes through several loops under-
ground until it warms up to about 55 degrees, then gets pumped back into the unit, which then uses friction to heat it up further, and pushes it out under the floor of the greenhouse which radiates up through the greenhouse. But really, it’s the combination that makes the difference. Most greenhouse walls have twolayer polycarbonate walls, but Down to Earth’s has a third squished in there for the bottom three feet or so, which allows the heat from the ground to stabilize a bit before going up. Then instead of using fans, the greenhouse has giant ventilation doors on each side of the building, which allows natural
breeze to come through. “The ventilation is the big thing,” Polzin said. “There’s none of those big, huge, electricity-sucking fans, and the exhaust shutters — it’s all-natural. It’s quieter for the customers and yet we still get good airflow.” Without hard-and-fast insulation in the greenhouse, it makes sense to get your heat in the most efficient way possible so that you’re not sucking down energy to just release the heat into the air. And it actually keeps the plants pretty dry too, which is usually pretty essential. Sure, they have to modify the way they water, but it means that plants aren’t
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sitting in water all day, which isn’t great either. If there’s a drawback to geothermal, it’s the involved installation process. Basically, it’s costly — you have install an additional backup heater and tear up the ground — but Polzin said it’s worth it for how they use it. They luck out in the fact that’s not a huge greenhouse. They seem to be on the upswing of a trend, if not setting one themselves. “House-wise, I definitely see it as a trend,” he said. “A lot more people are putting it in their houses. It’s a very efficient way to heat a house. Greenhousewise, it’s not catching on yet.”
GO green QUICK NEWS
POPULARITY DOOMS YARD WASTE SITE Eau Claire County’s pilot program offering free disposal of yard waste has been popular – we mean really popular. Too popular, in fact. The program, which began in the spring, will end on Tuesday, July 29. That means if you’re reading this magazine hot off the press, you’ve only got two more chances to get your grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste over to the disposal site on the west side of Jeffers Road. (Collection times are 7-10:30am Tuesdays and 1-5pm Saturdays.) According to the Eau Claire County Recycling Program, the county can no longer afford to keep accepting such refuse. County recycling coordinator Amanda Haffele told the Leader-Telegram in June that the amount of yard waste that residents brought in far exceeded estimates, meaning in the end it will cost two to three times the $2,000 budgeted to haul it away. She added that the program will be re-evaluated for next year, and that the county may seek additional funding from grants or the city. It’s important to note that the July 29 cut-off only applies to yard waste: The Jeffers Road site and its counterpart on Highway Q in the town of Seymour will continue to accept brush – meaning big stuff like branches and stumps – through Nov. 8. To learn more about other yard waste disposal options, go to tinyurl.com/lkzmgrw.
MAYO EAU CLAIRE WINS ECO AWARD Mayo Clinic Health System is one of the biggest institutions in Eau Claire, and it produces some of the biggest – and most impressive – recycling figures as well. Mayo’s Eau Claire campus recycles 16 tons of glass, plastic, and aluminum; 700,000 pounds of paper; and 5,880 pounds of batteries annually. In addition, more than 45 tons of the facility’s food waste are composted each year. These recycling efforts – as well as the use of energy-efficient heating, cooling, and lighting – helped Mayo Clinic Health System win the 2014 Practice Greenhealth Emerald Award in June. According to Practice Greenhealth, an industry group, the highly competitive award “recognizes health care facilities that have achieved improvements in their mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling, and source reduction programs.” Mayo, it seems, is striving to keep both patients and the planet healthy.
LOCAL GROUP LOBBYS IN WASHINGTON The Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a national organization aimed to encourage lawmakers to take the environment into account with their legislation. Recently, a number of Wisconsin chapters have popped up, including one here in Eau Claire. Specifically, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby petitions for the “fee and dividend” or “revenue neutral carbon” tax. The tax would be placed on fossil fuels, proportionate to the emissions those fuels would expel when burned. A few locals made their way to Capitol Hill recently to lobby our legislators and others for the local chapter. You can learn more about the organization at CitizensClimateLobby.org.
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PROMOTING DIVERSITY UNDERFOOT USDA
society and civilization depend on soil, and we ignore this resource at our OWN peril by Eli Gottfried I am, by training and education, a professional soil scientist. I don’t,
however, feel much like a “scientist.” I lack the ability and the patience to be a scientist. A scientist can tease apart biological or chemical constructions into their components, analyze the data, then break apart those components until the systems unlock their secrets. No, I much prefer to look at constructs as a whole, call them “black boxes,” “webs,” “systems.” When I give presentations on soil health (my area of interest), I rarely refer to bacteria, fungi, or nematodes by individual species names. Instead, I talk about interactions among the groups. I stress the living, breathing co-dependence of all the creatures that make up the medium that most people see as inert. I don’t take the “system” we call “soil” apart, but I stress that what goes into the system doesn’t come out the same way. My approach is not unique or original. Yet, in spite of the fact that “a thriving community under our feet” is no secret, most people see the soil only as a means to an end: a place for plants to grow, a convenient foundation to anchor roots. And because the soil (or dirt, as many people refer to it) is only a convenient intermediary, it’s not worth much attention. The “health” of the soil means nothing. After all, it is inert – and how can you address the needs of a brick? In reality, the soil is anything but inert. It is teeming with micro- and macro-organisms, and the nutrients they make available to plants. But because the soil is not an obvious integral part of the health of the plants we grow, pesticide and herbicide application by gardeners and commercial growers is done freely. That’s not to say that people use these chemicals carelessly or indiscriminately. There is a great concern for environmental protection among the audiences I lecture to – of both surface water and groundwater. But when I talk about soil as a natural resource, one that we are losing at an alarming rate, most people tune out. “It will always be here,” so the reasoning goes. And if it disappears, there will be something to take its place. And there are countless books and websites devoted to growing plants without soil: hydroponically, in
hay bales, in raised beds composed of compost and cardboard. So even if we don’t have natural soil, we can always make it or find a substitute. Technology comes to the rescue. In spite of our ability to grow backyard vegetables in raised beds of cardboard, or in hay bales, or hydroponically, the fact is, as a civilization, we are dependent on the 6 to 12 inches of soil we have under our feet. In that 6 to 12 inches, we grow most (about 85 percent) of the food we consume in this world.
residues to their component nutrients, and to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It is the presence and the interaction of this world – the majority of which we cannot directly see – that makes it possible for us to grow our crops. These organisms, if active, minimize our dependence on commercial fertilizers, pesticides, and soil amendments. It is this diverse population, and the individual members performing in harmony, that gives the soil its structure, tilth, porosity, and plant-available nutrients.
In order to maintain these diverse populations of micro- and macro-organisms, we need to manage the soil and its inhabits, albeit indirectly. We need to diversify the crops we grow. We need to plant native plantings. We need to grow cover crops. We need to rotate the plantings we sow. We need to fallow our fields. We need to minimize soil disturbance. That makes life pretty tenuous. And for the foreseeable future, we need soil to grow the wheat, soybeans, corn, and cotton that we use for bread, cooking oil, sweetening agents, food stabilizers, and clothing. We also need that soil for grazing the animals destined for milking and eventual slaughter. So what constitutes healthy soil? A healthy soil is teeming with micro- and macro-organisms. There are trillions of bacteria in an acre, millions of fungi, thousands of nematodes, thousands of arachnids and worms. The interaction of these organisms with each other and with the environment, make it possible to break down plant
However, in order to maintain these diverse populations of micro- and macro-organisms, we need to manage the soil and its inhabitants, albeit indirectly. We need to diversify the crops we grow. We need to plant native plantings. We need to grow cover crops. We need to rotate the plantings we sow. We need to fallow our fields. We need to minimize soil disturbance. Cover cropping the land is not just for the large-scale commercial growers, and native planting is not just for the backyard gardener. Each type of planting can serve a different function. Some plantings extend their roots deeply into the soil, scavenging for
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nutrients (primarily nitrates) that have escaped the more shallow root zone. Some plantings help to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. Some outcompete or shade out weeds and therefore minimize the amount of pesticides we need to apply to our fields or backyards. Some plantings stabilize the soil so that it stays in place during harsh winters. Rotating crops minimizes the growth of soil pests (primarily fungi and nematodes) that we, as growers, construe as deleterious to our crops. Keep in mind that only a very small fraction of the soil biota are “pests.” The rest are essential for the proper functioning of soil and the growth of crops. Fallowing a field may not be economically feasible for many growers. In the long run, it benefits the soil biota and the following crops. But in the short run, it can be a financial hardship that cash-strapped farmers cannot afford. Minimal soil disturbance is always a balancing act. Primary tilling helps to create a well-aerated soil and good seed-to- soil contact, as well as causing a bacterial bloom. That bloom can encourage the breakdown of biomass in the soil, thus making more nutrients available to plants. However, bloom turns to bust as too much biomass may be broken down, eventually creating an environment devoid of the nutrients essential to plant life. In a perfect world, we don’t need to manage our soil. But we are a far cry from a perfect world. We have created this need to manage soil, much as we have created a need to manage the wildlife populations in our shrinking forests. By growing and harvesting crops, by applying pesticides, herbicides, commercial fertilizers, we have upset the delicate balance that soil biota have with their surroundings. It thus becomes necessary to manage what remains, lest we lose it. Can we afford to lose our soil resources? Yes, but not for long. Applying commercial fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides comes at a price – both in terms of manufacturing these products and in their application to the soil. The biological diversity we promote and sustain in our soil is as real as the cultural diversity we need to promote in our society. The lack of diversity on either level will eventually be our downfall. Eli Gottfried of Eau Claire is proprietor of Gottfried Environmental and a master gardner.
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GREEN GRADES OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITIES TAKE THE LEAD ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES by Tom Giffey
BLUE DEVILS ARE RECYCLING MANIACS UW-Stout takes recycling seriously – so seriously that it reduced the amount of waste it sent to the landfill by more than 43 tons during the 2013-14 school year. Overall, the campus recycled over half its waste – 52.8 percent, to be specific – putting it ahead of the 13 other Wisconsin colleges and universities that took part in the national Recyclemania contest. UW-Stout ranked 24th out of 474 campuses across the U.S. and Canada, nearly 100 spots higher than the previous year. Among the Blue Devils’ biggest achievements: UW-Stout now creates more compost (33 percent of its waste) than trash (31 percent). That’s a huge shift from the prior year, when 56 percent of waste was trashed and only 16 percent composted. One secret of UW-Stout’s success: Trash cans were removed from classrooms and meetings rooms on campus, and bins with slots for recyclables, compost, and trash were placed in hallways and at building entrances, forcing people to think before they throw. To learn more about the contest, go to recyclemaniacs.org.
UWEC RANKED AMONG GREENEST COLLEGES UW-Eau Claire is one of the greenest universities in the state, according to a guidebook published this spring. For the fourth straight year, UWEC was included in the Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges, which profiles 332 exemplary institutions of higher learning in the U.S. and Canada (only seven of which are in the Badger State) out of 832 schools that responded to a Princeton Review survey about sustainability. The guide cited several factors in ranking UWEC highly, including the Sustainability Fellowship program, which designates a liaison for sustainability issues on and off campus; the Clean Commute Initiative, which focuses on bike, pedestrian, and busing issues; the Campus Sustainability Network, which organizes efforts like the “Cardboard Corral” that keeps cardboard out of landfills on move-in day; as well as the students themselves, who voted to pay a $20-a-year fee to support the Student Office of Sustainability, which has worked on everything from a campus garden to e-waste recycling. To learn more, visit www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.
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DON’T STARE AT THE SUN CVTC IS HOSTING A CONFERENCE THAT’S ALL THINGS SOLAR ENERGY by Tyler Jennings Henderson Solar panels have come a long way since their invention in the United States by three American scientists in 1954. That panel had 6% energy
conservation, while today’s panels can have efficiency levels of up to 18%. The Chippewa Valley Affordable Solar aims to get more of those panels in area homes and businesses, as they host their Solar Power Wisconsin: Affordable Energy Conference this fall. On Nov. 8, Chippewa Valley Technical College will be the home of the conference that will feature vendors, breakout sessions, and guest speakers from around the state that will be sure to educate the public on the topic of solar energy, specifically photovoltaics (solar panels that generate electricity),
according to Chippewa Valley Affordable Solar group’s organizer, Steve Terwilliger. “This area in particular has had a lack of information on the actual costs (of solar power) and we’re trying to help people understand that solar power is very competitive right now,” Terwilliger said. The Chippewa Valley Affordable Solar, a group that is attached to Transition Chippewa Valley, is “a group of local citizens who are particularly interested in seeing more solar installations in the Chippewa Valley and Wisconsin.” Transition Chippewa Valley is a part of the US Transition Movement, a movement that seeks to build community resilience against environmental dangers. “I think the main focus of the conference is education, helping people become aware of the potential of solar power,” he said. “But a lot of it, we hope, will be networking with organizations and businesses that would be interested (in solar power).” The breakout session topics
include, but aren’t limited to, solar installations for homes, businesses and churches, as well as a utilities panel discussion with representatives from Xcel Energy, Eau Claire Energy Co-Op, and the St. Croix Electric Co-Op. Speaking at the conference is Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin, Tyler Huebner. Huebner,
Terwilliger sees the conference as an opportunity to educate, but also realizes the challenges in creating a solarpowered community in the future, calling photovoltaics a mainstream power source but expressing concerns with the amount of awareness on the topic. I think the main focus of the conference is education, helping people
“This area in particular has had a lack of information on the actual costs (of solar power) and we’re trying to help people understand that solar power is very competitive right now.” STEVE TERWILLINGER, CHIPPEWA VALLEY AFFORDABLE SOLAR a graduate of Stanford University, leading RENEW Wisconsin into the expansion of renewable energy in Wisconsin, specifically working to expand solar, wind, bio-based, and hydropower through businesses, organizations, local governments, and individual citizens.
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become aware of the potential of solar power,” he said. “But a lot of it, we hope, will be networking with organizations and businesses that would be interested (in solar power) in Wisconsin.” To learn more about the conference, email affordablesolarcv@gmail.com or visit renewwisconsin.org
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GREEN listings
The following programs, groups, and contractors are not the only ones in existence, but merely act as examples of resources available to wannabe greenies.
Green Groups
Chippewa Valley Alternative Energy Club (715) 271-1323 • slrobinson@clearwire.net This organization meets bi-monthly to discuss environmental topics with invited speakers as well as touring a variety of renewable energy sites and conferences. Chippewa Valley Master Gardeners Association
(715) 839-4712 • Erin.lafaive@ces.uwex.edu • www. eauclairemastergardeners.com The goal of this organization is to promote environmental stewardship in collaboration with UW Extension by developing an appreciation for and understanding of horticultural practices for all Master Gardeners and residents of the Chippewa Valley.
Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance (CVTA) Meets
monthly • (715) 835-4835 • chippewavalleytransitalliance@gmail.com • www.chippewavalleytransitalliance.com CVTA is a united voice for transit riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians in Eau Claire and neighboring counties of West Central Wisconsin.
Citizens Climate Lobby - Eau Claire Chapter Meets
the first Saturday of every month at 11:45am (see contact info for location) • (715) 829-8620 • eauclaire@citizensclimatelobby.org • www.citizensclimatelobby.org CCL is a non-profit, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change. We train and support volunteers to reclaim their democracy and engage elected officials and the media to generate the political will for solutions that will stabilize the Earth’s climate.
Eau Claire Area Master Gardeners occasional
events and meetings • (715) 839-4712 • Erin.lafaive@ces.uwex.edu • eauclairemastergardeners. weebly.com This UW Extension volunteer group provides horticultural education, community service and environmental stewardship. The Eau Claire Master Gardeners community invites you to join its efforts to educate and beautify the area. They organize several events, seminars, plant sales, garden tours and we manage public gardens for all to experience.
Eau Claire Climate Action Now (CAN) • 612-2201970 • eauclairecan@gmail.com • Find this group on Facebook CAN’s mission is to organize to fight climate change through education, advocacy, and bold proposals that sharply reduce fossil fuel extraction and emissions by fostering a clean energy economy and creating sustainable communities. CAN takes on the moral responsibility to use their collective power to influence the city, county, state, nation, and world to respond appropriately and end climate change. Eau Claire Garden Club Second Mondays, 7-9pm • First Baptist Church, 416 Niagara St., Eau Claire • (715) 855-7749 • Find this group on Facebook To educate members in all phases of gardening, promote civic beauty, and promote conservation of Natural Resources. Summer meetings consist of tours of local gardens. Foodlums foodlums@gmail.com • www.foodlums. blogspot.com The Foodlums make up UWEC’s new academic and social organization serving both the university and the broader Eau Claire community. The organization sponsors events such as public lectures, creates service learning opportunities for Eau Claire and beyond and raises awareness of sustainable, local and delicious foods. www.uwstout.orgsync.com/org/ greensense • Find this group on Facebook • GreenSense is UW-Stout’s student environmental organization since 1990. GreenSense clean up Galloway Creek, participate in an Adopt-a-Highway program, clean up the campus, and manage annual events at UW-Stout including RecycleMania, Earth Week events, a film festival, and they sponsor environmental speakers.
GreenSense
Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope (JONAH): Environmental Task Force • (715) 579-1186 • jo-
nahorganizer@gmail.com • jonah.wisdomwi.org JONAH’s Environmental Task Force aims to live
together in a mutually sustaining relationship with the Earth so the integrity for all is preserved and honored. They educate and inspire others to get involved in preserving our quality of life in the Chippewa Valley.
Lower Chippewa River Alliance (LCRA) Featuring
various programs, meetings, and work days • (715) 835-4829 • ellewolf1@hotmail.com LCRA was organized to support the conservation, preservation and stewardship of the Lower Chippewa River and Lower Chippewa River Basin extending from the Dells dam in the City of Eau Claire to the Mississippi River. LCRA organizes two educational opencar train rides into the Tiffany Bottoms each year.
River Country RC&D Various Dates • (715) 579-5229 • Info@RiverCountryRCD.org • rivercountryrcd.org River Country RC&D is known for collaboration and grassroots efforts among private citizens, landowners, government agencies and businesses. They work with land-owners to cut through red tape and implement programs that improve land-use, foster resource development, and enhance habitat value and beauty of the region. Sierra Club - Chippewa Valley Group Meets
7:30pm at Northstar Middle School (2711 Abbe Hill Dr., Eau Claire) first Wednesdays, October through May • (715) 235-9771 • wisconsin.sierraclub.org/ chippewa This is a local chapter of the international environmental group based in San Francisco. Programs vary from slide presentations of trips to talks about environmental issues and suggestions of actions members could take.
Sustainable Dunn Monthly events (see website for details) • lindawalsh45@hotmail.com • www.sustainabledunn.org This grassroots organization is devoted to promoting decisions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. Monthly programs are held covering a variety of sustainability topics. Its website includes “green” news, a discussion group, and loads of useful links. Tainter Menomin Lake Improvement Association, Inc. Meetings are second Tuesday of each month.
Check website for times and locations. • PO Box 185, Menomonie • rverdon@att.net • www.tmlia. org The Tainter/Menomin Lake Improvement Association is actively engaged in activities to promote Tainter Lake and Lake Menomin, along with those bodies of water which are immediate to the lake, namely the Red Cedar River and the Hay River. Their aim is to support the protection and improvement of Lake Menomin and Tainter Lake waters by providing educational information on water quality and environmental issues affecting these bodies of water and their corresponding watersheds.
The Prairie Enthusiasts: Chippewa Savannas Chapter stahland@centurytel.net • www.theprairieenthusiasts.org Chippewa Savannas is a chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts, a non-profit grassroots conservation organization. We work throughout Dunn, Eau Claire, and Pepin counties. We work to restore remnants of prairie ecosystems still remaining in the Chippewa Valley that have not already been lost to development or habitat degradation.
The UWEC Conservationists theconservationists@ uwec.edu • Find this group on Facebook The purpose of The Conservationists is to strengthen ecological awareness and environmental ethics in the community and campus. The primary goal is to work with the community and university in restoration, conservation, and management efforts. UW-Stout Sustainability Office (715) 232-5254 • rykals@uwstout.edu • www.uwstout.edu The mission of UW-Stout’s Sustainability Office is to fos-
Check out more green listings at:
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ter a culture of sustainability among the university community.
UWEC Student Office of Sustainability (715) 836-
4646 • stusen65@uwec.edu • www.uwec.edu The Student Office of Sustainability is a Student Senate commission responsible for allocation of the green fund. The green fund is comprised of student segregated fees for the purpose of improving sustainability at UW-Eau Claire.
UWEC Watershed Institute for Collaborative Environmental Studies (715) 836-4175 • watershed@
uwec.edu • www.uwec.edu The mission of WICES is to unite the efforts and expertise of faculty, staff and students across disciplines, enhancing the strong liberal arts experience offered at UW-Eau Claire by fostering interdisciplinary education, scholarship and community outreach. Its core goal is for UW-Eau Claire students to develop an increased environmental awareness, vital ecological literacy, a commitment to conservation and sustainability.
Wisconsin Bike Fed (414) 431-1798 • info@wis-
consinbikefed.org • www.wisconsinbikefed.org The Wisconsin Bike Fed, celebrating 26 years of bicycle advocacy in 2014, is a statewide organization representing thousands of members across Wisconsin and has staff based in Eau Claire. Its mission is to inspire, motivate, and unite a strong community of civic, business and political leaders, motorists and bicyclists to move bicycling forward in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Green Building Alliance (414) 224-
9422 • info@wgba.org • wgba.org This organization’s mission is to promote ecologically sustainable development practices and provides resources such as an annual conference, educational forums and site visits to demonstration projects.
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Eau Claire • (715) 225-3344 • info@conservationvot-
ers.org • www.conservationvoters.org A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders, holding decision makers accountable and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin’s public health and natural resources.
UPCOMING GREEN EVENTS & CLASSES Lake Fest 2014 Jul. 27, 11am-2:30pm • Lions’ Club Pavilion County Hwy M Holcombe, WI • All ages • 715-595-6236 5th Annual Lake Fest: Fish Fry Dinner with free pop & beer. ($20.00 each - limited amount of tickets available) Door prizes, games, rifle board, raffles, silent auction & cash raffle ($1000
grand prize) Active projects: Fish stocking, fish habitat improvement, water quality testing, ID erosion sites/planning and funding of shoreline erosion control by XCEL Energy, DNR & LHIA, continue to control Eurasian water Milfoil, on lake management planning.
LEED for Contractors: Part 1: Sustainable Sites & Indoor Environmental Quality Aug. 1, noon-
1:30pm • Hunzinger Construction Company, 21100 Enterprise Ave., Brookfield • $25 non-member; $10 member • wgba.shuttlepod.org Please join us in-person at Hunzinger Construction Company, or via webinar from your computer (select when you register). Get to know the roles and responsibilities of the contractor for Sustainable Sites (SS) and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) credits in this 1.5 hour course. We will review which SS and IEQ credits have primary responsibility with the contractor, provide a step-by-step action list for each credit, and share valuable tools for documenting and tracking. The course features hands-on LEED Online template tutorials, and helpful tips for implementation, tracking and documentation throughout. Great insight for all project team members.
Live Webinar Great Lakes Region Sustainability Plan 2020 Aug. 6, 2-3:30pm • Online webinar • $25
non-member; $10 member • wgba.shuttlepod.org Join us to learn about the GSA’s ambitious plan to reduce the environmental impact of the federal government and eliminate its own carbon footprint. The Great Lakes Region incorporates sustainable practices into the entire life-cycle of federally-owned and leased assets, from design and construction to building management, renovation, and disposal. Our goal is to share this plan with similar minded people to educate and encourage sustainable communities.
LEED for Contractors - Part 2: Materials and Resources Aug. 15, noon-1:30pm • Hunzinger
Construction Company, 21100 Enterprise Ave., Brookfield • $25 non-member; $10 member • wgba. shuttlepod.org Please join us in-person at Hunzinger Construction Company, or via webinar from your computer (select when you register). This 90 minute course continues exploring the role of the contractor and the specific Materials and Resources (MR) credits for which they are primarily responsible in this 1.5 hour audio course. We will provide a step-by-step action list for MR credits 3-7, and share valuable tools for documenting and tracking required data. The course features hands-on LEED Online template tutorials, and helpful tips for implementation, tracking and documentation throughout. Great insight for all project team members! (Participation in Part 1 is not required.)
Class: Worms Aug. 23, 9-10am • Tin Roof Garden,
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NICK MEYER
Wisconsin Bike Fed’s Bike To Work Week Kickoff
GO green NICK MEYER
5310 Friedeck Rd., Eau Claire • $5 • All ages • 715834-4232 • tinroofgarden.com Worms are extremely beneficial to your garden. Learn more about worms and get started on your own worm composting bin. Kids are welcome to attend all classes with an adult. Reservations may be made for any class at any time. Sign up early; most classes are limited to 10 participants. Classes may be subject to change.
Sustainable Future Festival Sep. 13, 8am-3pm •
Forest Street Community Gardens, Eau Claire • www.sustainablefuturefest.com Come enjoy a festival that hundreds of people attend and experience presenters, exhibitors, kid’s activities and meeting new people. The Chippewa Valley Sustainable Future Festival focuses on educating people about creating a more sustainable lifestyle through workshops and speakers.
Heritage Builders N6160 370th St., Menomonie •
(715) 235-7910 • info@heritagebuildersmenomonie.com • heritagebuildersmenomonie.com This home repair, remodel, and builder from Menomonie is dedicated to making homes more energy efficient. They also do drywall art.
Jim Erdman • (715) 235-8941 • jiminwis@yahoo. com A certified site assessor, Jim will survey your property to find out if wind or solar energy systems could work.
Eau Claire County Clean Sweep - Residential
Sep. 13 & Nov. 8, 8am-noon • WRR Environmental Services in Eau Claire, located at 5200 Ryder Rd. (about 1/4 mile south of Interstate 94) • www. co.eau-claire.wi.us Clean Sweep is an annual program sponsored by Eau Claire County for the safe disposal of hazardous household wastes generated in resident’s homes. With the exception of Very Small Quantity Generator business collections, Clean Sweep is a residential program. This means that hazardous wastes generated in a commercial enterprise, even if it is a home-based business, may not be brought to Clean Sweep. When you arrive, you will be asked to show proof of county residency and to complete a short registration form. If you have items for which there is a charge, you will pay at this point. After this, you will be directed to the actual drop-off location. WRR staff will unload the materials from your vehicle.
Green LifeXpo Energy Exposition Sep. 13, 9am4pm • Milt Lunda Memorial Arena, 388 Melrose St., Black River Falls • $2; FREE 17 & under • 715964-7155 • www.greenlifexpo.com/index.html Learn about renewable/alternative energy, recycling, conservation, and sustainable living with exhibits, tours, speakers, prizes, food, and workshops for kids.
cusonenergy.com • www.FocusOnEnergy.com Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.
MEP Associates 2720 Arbor Court, Eau Claire •
(715) 832-5680 • info@mepassociates.com • mepassociates.com This consulting firm specializes in designing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, medical gas, and geothermal systems.
Next Step Energy Systems 612 Wagner St, Eau Claire • (715) 830-9337 • info@nextstepenergy.com • nextstepenergy.com Specializes in designing and installing radiant heating and renewable energy applications such as solar and wind applications. Red Cedar Solar • (715) 379-6315 • Certified solar
Sustainable Future Fest
7th Annual Manufacturing Advantage Conference
Oct. 1-2 • UW-Stout Memorial Student Center, 302 10th Ave., Menomonie • 715-232-2793 • www.uwstout.edu This multiple day event provides a forum for manufacturers and industry experts to collaborate on the issues, opportunities and best practices in the market today and into the next generation. Participants will participate in a variety of learning experiences and exposed to resources in the areas of customer-focused innovation, workforce, process improvement, sustainability and global engagement. This program is being hosted by University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Professional Education Programs & Services and Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (SMOC).
Eau Claire County Clean Sweep - Farm and Business Nov. 3-7 • See contact info for location • 715-
834-9626 • www.co.eau-claire.wi.us VSQG refers to Very Small Quantity Generators. You are a VSQG business if you generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste in any month and you accumulate less than 2,205 pounds of hazardous waste in storage. Businesses classified as VSQGs are able to preregister and bring materials for disposal during the work week prior to the Saturday scheduled Clean Sweeps. Farms have the same fees as households: latex paint, fluorescent lamps, dry cell batteries, antifreeze and aerosol cans. You must pre-register with BJ Michalek at WRR Environmental Services by phone.
Local GREEN builders/ contractors
ADG: Architectural Design Group Banbury Place
Bldg D04 Suite 202, 800 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • 715-832-4848, 715-832-4850 • www.adg-architects. com With over 20 years of experience, Architectural Design Group (ADG) has grown to become a leader in architectural and sustainable design. Our studios specialize in business, energy & technology, government & public safety, health & wellness, learning, living, and spiritual facilities
site assessments.
AgOilPress - Cold Press Oil Extractors 3839 W
Folsom St., Eau Claire • (877) 645-7737 • sales@ agoilpress.com • agoilpress.com Our oil presses are ideal for anyone who desires to produce their own plant based oils for bio-fuels, culinary arts cooking or direct consumption. Extracts oil from: soybeans, sunflower seed, canola seed, sesame seed, groundnuts, poppyseed, inseed, flaxseed, peanut, mustard seed, cotton seed, and more! Produces 80-110 gal./ acre (with sunflower or canola).
Badger State Inc. 2507 Fortune Drive, Eau Claire • (715) 874-7777 • info@badgerstateinc.com • www. badgerstateinc.com/index.php This plumbing and heating contractor now offers residential and commercial solar water heating. Bubbling Springs Solar 408 Red Cedar St. #5, Menomonie • (715) 231-1885 • bss@wwt.net This family owned Menomonie business offers solar thermal collectors for hot water. Chippewa Valley Alternative Energy • (866) 4608656 • info@startsomewhere.co • www.startsomewhere.co/home.html Dedicated to lowering heating costs using solar thermal, waste oil heaters, and biomass pellets. CVAE services include Solar PV sales, design, accessories and installation, solar site assessments; used-oil heater parts, repair, troubleshooting, rebuilds and accessories; pellet mill sales, accessories and more. Energy Concepts 2349 Willis Miller Dr., Hudson • (715) 381-9977 • energyconcepts.us Energy Concepts provides turn-key commercial and residential solutions for all your renewable energy project needs—including wind, solar and high-efficiency Garn wood-burning boilers. Erin Designs, LLC 1741 Royal Ct., Eau Claire •
715-456-1850 • erin@erindesigns.com • www.ErinDesigns.com Sustainable, eco-friendly interior design consulting. Erin is committed to understanding the environmental impact of all her design projects. By incorporating “Green Building” practices, she helps clients create healthy places to live and work.
SDS Architects 7 S. Dewey Street, Eau Claire • (715) 832-1605 • info@sdsarch.com • sdsarch.com This LEED-certified architectural firm specializes in higher education, K-12 education, industrial, commercial, community, religious, health care, and government projects, while focusing on energy conservation and sustainable design. SpaceGrower Menomonie, WI 54751 • (715) 2316174 • info@spacegrower.com • www.spacegrower. com Providing sustainable residential design. Tetra Tech 1837 County Highway OO, Chippewa
Falls • (715) 832-0282 • www.tetratech.com Providing environmental engineering and consulting services addressing complex water contamination, cultural resource management, and other environmental concerns.
Tiry Engineering 220 1/2 North Bridge St. (P.O. Box 44) Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-6777, (866) 944-6777 • contact@tiryengineering.com • www. tiryengineering.com Among other services, Tiry Engineering provide clients with conservation designs that take the environment into careful consideration. Services include dams, erosion control, water supply, wetland delineation and restoration, air dispersion modeling, and anaerobic digestion services. Water Source Heating & Cooling 3650 Greenway Street, Eau Claire • (715) 833-9001 • watersourcegeothermal.com Providing geothermal heating and cooling systems to the Eau Claire area.
WRR Environmental Services 5200 Ryder Rd., Eau Claire • 800-727-8760 • wrrstaff@wrres.com • www. wrres.com Serving the community and the environment with services including solvent recycling, fuel blending, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste collection, hazardous material spill response, site remediation, chemical processing and more.
Focus On Energy • 800-762-7077 • Focusinfo@fo-
(715)
VolumeOne.org 42 July 24, 2014
CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT
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ResponsibleByNature.com © 2014 Xcel Energy Inc.
VolumeOne.org 43 July 24, 2014