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S O L A R F OR M A DE S IGN ’ S S O L A R S CU L P T U R E S P U T A N A R T F U L E M P H A S I S ON R E N E WA B L E E N E R GY BY
ART, HEART, AND DATA :
That’s somewhat of a mantra for Greg Johnson, the owner of Artisan Forge Metalworks in Eau Claire. It’s a vision he’s carrying into his new company, Solar Forma Design, which looks to combine large-scale sculpture (the art) with renewable solar energy (the data) to inspire communities all over the world to make course-altering solar investments in unique, artful, beautiful, and intentional ways (that’s the heart). While Solar Forma is still in its very early stages, already there’s some serious traction behind Johnson’s big idea, which is to move beyond simple utilitarian solar arrays toward artful solar-generating sculptures that actually enhance their surroundings. “Solar arrays, they’re a primary generator, but they’re space-taking. They take space, right? What we want to do is create solar products that are place-making,” Johnson said. “To me, that’s pressing the limits of design and moving in a direction that the world is moving in. And I think we got something here.” One of the main projects Solar Forma is focused on are 22-foot tall solar “trees,” a design they acquired from London-based industrial designer Sam Wilkinson. Inspired by acacia trees of the African savannah, the trees are capable of producing 4.5 kilowatts of power. Johnson says three of these solar trees could take two houses off the
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grid. And aesthetically, they look and feel much more futuristic and artistic than a field full of panels. While a prototype has yet to be built – that’s coming in early fall, Johnson says – the last two years have found Solar Forma (which includes Johnson, business manager Brian Graff, and consultant/liaison Patrick Ritchie) spreading the word, making connections around the globe, and building hype for what could be the next big evolution in solar. They’ve met with landscape architects, city officials, energy companies, and secured some big investments. A company in Dubai even expressed interest in building a whole forest of these things. Public spaces, private homes, parking lots, schools, ski resorts, boat landings, parks, golf courses, crosswalks, bus stops, trails, malls, roundabouts … the possibilities of what kind of spaces could benefit from a solar tree are endless. “We can put ’em in a bazillion other places,” Johnson said. A particularly cool thing about this project is its collaboration with Johnson’s other company, Artisan Forge Metalworks. With the space and talent of his metalworking crew, they can design, manufacture, and fabricate the trees top-to-bottom right here in Eau Claire. And Johnson’s projections show that if things go according to plan, he could add roughly 30 jobs JULY 22, 2020
here in the next 12-18 months. “Let’s do some wild stuff,” he said. “Let’s have fun. Let’s push the envelope. Let’s build products that nobody else is building, and let’s do it right here in Eau Claire.” It’s not just trees, either. There could be car ports, solar pods, even building wraps that generate solar energy. Johnson’s vision is to get creative with the way we harness renewable energy, build beautiful things, make aesthetically pleasing spaces, and save the planet at the same time. But there’s another message that Solar Forma hopes to send with its designs: When and if you see a solar tree, Johnson hopes it makes a visual impact.
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“Our products are meant to stand out and really make a statement about the investment that a community is making in the future. That’s really exciting,” he said. “You put one of these out in a park, that’s a statement that says this community is committed to a renewable future. It’s an indicator of its intentions, goals, and promises.” You’ll be hearing more about Solar Forma in the coming years as the company starts to really get going. The possibilities are endless, the opportunity is huge, and the future is now. “We’ll be making a splash this year yet,” Johnson said. “I hope the city embraces it.” To learn more about Solar Forma Design, visit solarformadesign.com.
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE LAWN
ON B E IN G A ‘ R E S P ON S IB L E S NO W F L A K E ’ IN T H E FA CE OF E N V IR ON M E N TA L D A M A GE BY “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.” –Stanisław Jerzy Lec
I’VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I’M ONE OF THESE SNOWFL AKES. I may not be single-handedly destroying the Earth, but the avalanche I’m riding certainly is. So I’ve resolved to become a Responsible Snowflake. My resolution led me to the website of JONAH (Joining Our Neighbors Advancing Hope), a grassroots organization whose mission is “to build a healthier and fairer community for us all.” (The website, if you’re curious, is jonahjustice.org.) This, I thought, was an excellent place to start. Following a link to JONAH’s Environmental Task Force led me to Kathy Reid Walker, the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, who initiated a Sustainable Lawns Task Force. “When I walk around my neighborhood,” she said, “I frequently need to hold my breath due to the strong smell of chemical lawn treatments. As I’ve read more about the hazards to our health, children, animals, pollinators, and water supply, I felt that I needed to work towards changing this ongoing problem.” Joining us are Nancy Coffey, Eau Claire County Board supervisor, and Molly Larson, a voting member of UWEau Claire’s Student Office of Sustainability. “I would like to see people understand the need for sustainable
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lawn care,” Larson said. “Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers have major environmental ramifications.” We’ve learned a lot by reading the “Activist’s Toolkit” from the IPM Institute of North America and Midwest Grows Green (available at midwestgrowsgreen.org). The collective impact of lawn treatment is enormous: According to the “Toolkit,” turf grass covers about 40 million acres nationwide, and households use four times as many fertilizers per square foot as farmers. Fertilizer runoff degrades water quality by promoting the growth of oxygendepleting aquatic vegetation. In addition, research links pesticides to cancer, asthma, and birth defects as well as neurological, behavioral, reproductive, hormonal, and immune system disorders. Although these facts are alarming, there is hope: A few changes in individual lawn care practices can result in a powerful collective impact on the environment. These are just some of the tips we found in the “Activist’s Toolkit”: 1. Water your lawn deeply, infrequently, and early in the morning to reduce water usage. 2. Mow at least 3 inches high and keep mower blades sharp since clean cuts will reduce stress on the grass. 3. Leave lawn clippings on the grass to act as a natural fertilizer.
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4. Use organic, slow-release fertilizer to minimize nitrogen runoff. 5. Apply corn gluten meal in early spring for natural weed control. Larson added her own advice: “I would encourage people to use less yard space on grass and more on native plants, bee gardens, and vegetable gardens. Native plants need less water because they’re adapted to the area. Bee gardens help pollinators, and vegetable
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gardens are a sustainable way to grow your own food!” “Someday, perfectly manicured, chemically treated lawns will be a thing of the past,” Coffey added. “Health, food, water, and the environment are more important.” With the help of Walker, Coffey, Larson, and millions of Responsible Snowflakes like them, we can stop this avalanche.
KILLING WEEDS THE GREEN WAY HO T WAT E R , NON T OX IC F O A M CON T R O L U N WA N T E D P L A N T S AT U W- S T OU T BY
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UW-STOUT GROUNDS DEPARTMENT IS KEEPING THE CAMPUS LOOKING BEAUTIFUL WHILE USING A NONTOXIC METHOD TO KILL WEEDS thanks, in part, to the Stout Student Association Sustainability Council helping to fund a Foamstream L12 machine. The alternative to herbicide uses 200-degree water and a biodegradable foaming agent made of a blend of coconut and palm kernel oils certified through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, rapeseed oil, glucose, polysaccharides derived from the natural fermentation of glucose, and glutamic acid derived from sugar beets. “The water temperature is hot enough to kill weeds,” said Mike Smith, of Menomonie, UW-Stout’s grounds supervisor. “The foam holds the heat in long enough to penetrate the soil to kill the crown of the plant. The water temperature will also kill weed seeds sitting on the soil surface. No synthetic chemicals are being applied.” Smith first saw the unit at the Green Industry Expo last year. The machine cost about $26,000. The Stout Student Association Sustainability Council used segregated green fees to pay half the cost of a machine that is expected to last about 20 years. Students pay a Green Fee to promote and improve sustainability practices at UW-Stout The machine, made by Weedingtech of London, England, has been used on campus since early May, Smith said. “So far it appears to be working as well as I expected it to,” he said. “I am happy we have it. Everyone in the green industry is looking for alternative weed control measures. I cannot say this is the wave of the future, but this machine is the most effective I have seen so far.” Abrina Leonhard, who graduated on May with a degree in business administration and was the Stout Student Association Senator of Sustainable Development, said Foamstream machines are more commonly used in Europe. “It’s all-natural,” she said. “The grounds crew doesn’t have to breathe in chemicals. It’s about changing the way we treat and kill weeds. It’s user-friendly and exposes students to
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fewer chemicals, too. This machine is eco-friendly, has a long life and is good for the campus.” Traditional products that use glyphosate – a common synthetic herbicide – have been linked to severe health conditions through long-term repeated exposure via ingestion or inhalation, Leonhard said. UW-Stout is believed to be one of the first, if not the first UW System campus, to use a Foamstream machine, Leonhard said. It also is believed to be the first campus in the UW System to use a student fee to help pay for the machine. Foamstream saves labor costs. Smith anticipates that the grounds department will only have to treat weeds twice a year. The only protection staff have to wear is gloves from the heat, he added. “We are very excited to start using more sustainable methods for effectively controlling weeds on our campus,” said UW-Stout Sustainability Manager Sarah Rykal. “The move away from synthetic
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“THE MOVE AWAY FROM SYNTHETIC HERBICIDES WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CAMPUS LOOK GREAT BUT ALSO PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND.” -Sarah Rykal, UW-Stout sustainability manager herbicides will continue to make the campus look great but also provide peace of mind for students, employees and visitors who prefer a more natural approach to weed control.” Princeton Review named UW-Stout
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one of the top “green” colleges in 2018. The education services company’s “Guide to 399 Green Colleges” profiles schools that are the most committed to sustainability. The schools were selected based on their academic offerings, campus policies, initiatives, activities, and career preparation for students. UW-Stout offers campus-wide recycling and compost collection helping to divert food waste, napkins, and more. These items are composted into organic fertilizer to help build soil. Campus dining facilities offer the Green to Go program. Students and staff can purchase reusable to-go containers and use them any time they visit a dining facility. UW-Stout’s Green Fee has funded a number of other projects, including solar panels on the roof of Merle M. Price Commons, LED lighting in numerous buildings, bike fix stations around campus, interior recycling and compost bins, exterior recycling bins and a bike shelter, as well as sustainability kiosks in the Memorial Student Center and Price Commons. The kiosks showcase sustainability initiatives and goals at UW-Stout. Learn more at the Sustainable Stout website (www.uwstout.edu/life-stout/ sustainability-stout/sustainability-office).
DAWN IS NEAR FOR SCHOOL SOLAR E C S CHOO L B O A R D S L AT E D T O O K BID T O IN S TA L L PA N E L S ON HIGH S CHOO L S BY
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THE EAU CL AIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS MOVING EVER CLOSER TO PUTTING SOL AR PANELS ON THE ROOFS OF NORTH AND MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOLS BY THE END OF THE SUMMER. The panels are expected to save the school district about $20,000 in utility costs as well as provide educational opportunities for the schools’ students, says the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation, which has been working on the project since December. On Monday, July 20 – the day this issue of Volume One went to press – the Eau Claire school board was scheduled to consider approving a bid for installing two solar arrays featuring 360 panels each on the city’s two public high schools. Assuming the bid is approved, installation of the panels was expected to be on track for late summer. The project won’t cost district taxpayers a dime: It’s entirely funded through donations to the Solar on Eau Claire Schools Fund, which was launched by the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation. Half of the solar panels will be donated by the Couillard Solar Foundation, which was created by Memorial alumnus Cal Couillard to help promote solar energy in Wisconsin. The other 360 panels will be paid for by an anonymous donor, contingent upon the installation bid being awarded. In addition, the Solar on Eau Claire Schools project set out to raise between $250,000 and $275,000 – the estimated cost of installing, racking, and maintaining the solar panels. (As of earlier this summer, private fundraising was close to this figure, although the exact amount
needed was uncertain until the bid was approved.) To celebrate Earth Day in April, the Eau Claire-based Pablo Foundation offered to give $45,000 toward the project if other donors matched that amount, which they did; An additional $25,000 pledge from the Pablo Foundation was also matched to the tune to $26,464 by June 5 – the official end of the school year. Other donations, large and small, have also helped the project: During May and early June, Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor’s Cash for a Cause project – funded by tips from customers – raised more than $1,400 for Solar on Eau Claire Schools. “We are so grateful for the partnerships of Pablo Foundation and Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor. Their investment inspired and encouraged more community involvement in the solar project, and we are thrilled to be on track for installation,” said Sarah
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French, the executive director of the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation. “Donors will have an incredible impact for our students!”
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Learn more about the project and how you can make a donation by going to www.ecpsfound.org and searching for “Solar on Eau Claire Schools Fund.”
UW-EAU CLAIRE PHOTO
SHEDDING LIGHT ON SUSTAINABILITY R E S IDE NCE H A L L S IL L U MIN AT E D W I T H R E T R OF I T S F R O M S U S TA IN A B L E ‘ GR E E N F U N D ’ DO L L A R S BY
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A TRA JECTORY TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSIT Y CAMPUS CONTINUES THROUGH UW-EAU CL AIRE’S NEXT GREEN IMPROVEMENT: EFFICIENT LIGHT FIXTURES. The Student Office of
last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting, according to the United States Department of Energy. Anthony Rongstad, the associate director of the Facilities Department, Sustainability currently leads a projsaid the lamps are currently being ect to install new lighting systems in installed by the department’s sustainnon-academic buildings across campus ability interns, Austen Fairbanks and in partnership with UWEC’s Facilities, Gwen Kieffer. Housing, and Administration offices. Alongside the SOS, the interns work The latest LED lighting retrofits will alongside the Xcel Energy: Energy Inbe installed in six locations: the Ade ternship program through the university. Olsen Addition to the McPhee Center, Lauren Becker, director of the SOS, Chancellors Hall, saw the studentMurray Hall, driven initiative Sutherland Hall, toward fiscal Oakridge Hall, and sustainability, the Crest Wellness which led to the Center. execution of lightFunding ing retrofits. “We toward the project answer to students is provided by the and students -Lauren Becker Student Office of alone,” Becker Sustainability’s said. “Right now, “Green Fund,” which contains approxistudents are concerned about the resilmately $185,000 sourced from student iency of our structures and systems in segregated fees. the face of changing climate and social The specific retrofit lighting utilizes injustice.” LED-based technology, as their financial The lighting is set to be completed payback period is short, while drastifirst in Sutherland Hall by the fall secally increasing energy efficiency during mester. use. More information about future Each LED retrofit – provided by the sustainable projects on campus can be Student Office of Sustainability – will found online at www.uwec.edu/sos. use a minimum of 75% less energy and
“STUDENTS ARE CONCERNED.”
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JULY 22, 2020
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BLUGOLDS, BLUE DEVILS ... BOTH GREEN CH AT T IN G W I T H S U S TA IN A BIL I T Y L E A DE R S AT U W E C, U W- S T OU T BY
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LAUREN BECKER, STUDENT OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY – UW-EAU CLAIRE Volume One: Can you tell us about the role of the Student Office of Sustainability? What kind of work do you do? Lauren Becker: The Student Office of Sustainability is a completely studentrun, student-funded commission within the UW-Eau Claire Student Senate. We were founded through a student-wide referendum in 2011 when our campus community called for action to increase the resiliency of our institution and take steps toward mitigating the climate crisis. Our purpose is to allocate our “Green Fund” budget of approximately $185,000 in student segregated fees toward sustainable initiatives that benefit our students. This involves incredible collaboration with all sectors of our campus, including but not limited to our tremendous partners in Facilities, the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, and upper-level administration. We answer to students and students alone, and right now students are concerned about the resiliency of our structures and systems in the face of changing climate and social injustice. Our office recognizes sustainability to be the intersection of community wellbeing, prosperity, and our relationship with the resources that sustain us. Therefore, our work spans projects focused on education, carbonreduction strategies, communication efforts, long-term planning, high-impact experiences for students, culture-building, and services to our student body. What are some of your goals for this year? Although no one can predict where we’ll be in even a month, our office will continue our work to the best of our abilities this fall through primarily virtual formats. Our goals this coming year include: Continued partnership with the UW-Eau Claire Foundation on our new Special Projects Sustainability Fund, scholarship creation, and internship
T H E ‘ GR E E N R OO F ’ O N U W E C ’ S D AV IE S CE N T E R creation. This allows the institution to fund sustainable initiatives outside of the scope that student segregated fees should be allocated towards. Continued partnership with Blugold Dining to explore low-waste dining options and increase proper post-consumer waste disposal. This is particularly important due to our university’s movement toward to-go meals during this pandemic. Continued partnership with Facilities and University Centers as we re-examine the scaffolding and funding streams we set up this past fall for campus-wide composting and make adjustments according to the pandemic; examine student-funded spaces still in need of LED lighting retrofits; this past term we passed allocations to conduct five non-academic building LED lighting retrofits, saving students a total of $15,786 annually; explore opportunities to improve our E-waste Disposal Program; continue fiscal support for our campus arboretum, maintaining our Tree Campus USA Status to the tune of $13,500; and continue (to) explore expanding our fiscal support for carbon JULY 22, 2020
reduction strategies through our Renewable Connect Offsets to the tune of $21,344. Our most exciting update is our plan to unveil the first look at the UW-Eau Claire Student Office of Sustainability’s Energy Dashboard, which has been in design and production for a little over two years now in terrific partnership with the UW-Eau Claire Student Senate Information and Technology Commission’s Innovation Labs. In addition, our office has received an invitation into the University of Wisconsin System-wide Divestment Coalition. This coalition is focused on the strategic and fiscally responsible goals of the UW System becoming fully transparent about endowment investments, divesting from the top 200 coal and oil companies, and reinvesting in companies promoting a sustainable future, within the next five years. The Student Office of Sustainability will explore involvement this coming fall as a full body, though two statements can be made with certainty: The Student Office of Sustainability supports divestment from fossil fuels and investment in renewables; the Student Office of Sustainability also supports divestment from the Wisconsin prison industrial complex and are not willing to pursue divestment from one but not the other.
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How can people be cognizant of their environmental impact today, when taking care of the planet sometimes feels less important than focusing on the pandemic? The most beautiful thing about the concept of sustainability is that it’s an intersection; that means that when we apply a sustainable lens to something as overwhelming as our current public health crisis – we don’t shift our focus. We simply get deeper into it. For example, why is it that so many Tribal Nations, such as the Navajo, and Black communities are being hit harder by COVID-19? One component is the disproportionate underlying and prior conditions these communities face as a result of health hazards being stored, disposed of, and built within their region far prior to our current pandemic. Sustainability is focused on people and care for one another, on systems and how we make them better – making it so much more than an environmental movement. In my experience, I’ve found that it’s easier to focus on sustainable initiatives once I realized it’s not solely environmental concerns. It’s not even primarily environmental concerns! This is a social movement. Because why do we care about the environment that we’re a part of? Because we care for one another.
SARAH RYKAL, SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE – UW-STOUT Volume One: Can you tell us about the role of the Sustainability Office? What kind of work do you do? Sarah Rykal: Our office works to infuse sustainability into our campus operations and campus curriculum with the goal of reducing our campus’ greenhouse gas emissions. We signed a Carbon Commitment in 2007, committing our campus to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. So much of our daily work is in buildings and energy, waste, transportation, landscaping, food, and curriculum, working to make these areas of our campus more sustainable. We also provide training and education to our students, faculty, and staff on sustainability topics. We do in-person training/education and create videos. We assess our greenhouse gas emissions annually, to know how we’re doing and where we can improve. We believe that we can’t manage what we don’t measure, so tracking metrics on a consistent basis is important in meeting our goals. Also, our campus has a number of sustainability committees that I lead, co-lead, or advise. We have a lot of student, faculty, and staff involvement in making UWStout more sustainable.
• Sustainability Steering Committee which manages our Campus Sustainability Action Plan and guides our sustainable development. • Waste Reduction Work Group which works to reduce our landfilled waste and increase composting, recycling, and reuse options. • Campus-Wide Energy Committee which works to reduce our energy consumption and make our campus more energy efficient. • Stout Student Association’s Sustainability Council, our student government’s committee for implementing Green Fee projects. What are some of your goals for this year? Each year, we have a lot of projects to infuse sustainability into our campus more and more. We use our Campus Sustainability Action Plan as our roadmap for sustainable development and we pull projects from this plan to implement. This year: • We’re looking at implementing EV charging stations on campus and working with Dunn County Transit to add to electric buses to their fleet. • We’re adding more LED lighting to campus with the goal of moving to LED campus wide. • We are installing $150,000 in solar PV on the roof of Merle Price Commons, which was a project funded by the Stout Student Association. • We are creating a dedicated transportation plan to enhance sustainable transportation (biking/walking, busing, ridesharing, etc.). • We will be implementing a new procedure for incorporating more green building aspects into our renovation and construction processes.
• We plan to audit our campus waste collection stations in each building. All collection stations currently have compost, recycling, and trash bins, and we want to keep monitoring these stations to ensure they are intuitive and convenient for people to use. • We are looking at implementing a sustainable residence hall program to encourage students who want to live more sustainably. How can people be cognizant of their environmental impact today, when taking care of the planet sometimes feels less important than focusing on the pandemic? There is very likely more waste generation in our daily lives right now, with the use of disposable gloves and disposable masks, and shying away from reusable bags at the store. At the same time, a lot of us are traveling less and telecommuting, which is cutting down on travel-related emissions and pollution. In many ways, being sustainable and focusing on the pandemic can go hand-in-hand. Staying at home can be trying for many people, so getting outdoors is a nice reprieve. Riding your bike or going for a walk or hike while physical distancing is one way to do something fun and be sustainable. Growing your own food in a backyard garden or a physically distant community garden is a sustainable activity that can help limit the need for trips to the grocery store. Opting for washable cloth face coverings instead of disposable masks can reduce waste. This pandemic is giving many of us the time to be in nature and forge a better relationship with our neighbors. Those connections with our planet and our community can really help us to understand the importance of living more sustainably and interdependently.
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GO GREEN & KEEP GOING!
E V E N T S + GR OU P S + P R O J E C T S + P R OGR A M S + B UIL DE R S K E E P IN G T H E VA L L E Y S U S TA IN A B L E L I STIN G S
GREEN BUILDING
Badger State Inc. (715) 874-7777 • info@badger-
stateinc.com • badgerstateinc.com This plumbing and heating contractor now offers residential and commercial solar water heating, low water pressure solutions, high efficiency HVAC systems, and more for your green construction needs.
Energy Concepts Hudson • (715) 381-9977 • energy-
concepts.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.
Heritage Builders Menomonie • (715) 235-7910 •
info@heritagebuildersmenomonie.com • heritagebuildersmenomonie.com Projects include home repair and new construction and green services include insulation, heat recovery, passive solar, locally supplied wood and rock, programmable thermostats, planted solar shading, green flooring, low-emissions windows and storms, and more.
MEP Associates (715) 832-5680 • info@mepassoci-
ates.com • mepassociates.com This consulting firm specializes in designing sustainable mechanical, electrical, plumbing, medical gas, and geothermal systems for commercial and industrial purposes.
Next Energy Solutions Shell Lake • (715) 416-3022 •
nextenergysolution.com Offering cost effective solar systems with expandable future options, quick payback plans, and strong, modular designs with a 50+ life expectancy engineered for homes, businesses, farms, and cabins.
Next Step Energy Systems Eau Claire • (715) 830-
9337 • nextstepenergy.com A full service installer of renewable energy, high efficiency radiant heating systems and more recently urban design. Specializes in consultation, creative design and installation of solar electric, solar thermal and unique heating systems.
Red Cedar Steel Menomonie • (715) 235-0618 •
redcedarsteel.com/project/solar Red Cedar Steel does solar power assessments as well as installations across the Midwest.
SDS Architects Eau Claire • (715) 832-1605 • info@
sdsarch.com • sdsarch.com This LEED-certified architectural firm offers consulting, design, and construction management services and specializes in buildings for school districts, universities, government facilities, and private businesses.
Solar Chippewa Valley (715) 720-5825 • solarchip-
pewavalley.com Designs personalized solar solutions based off of your property, budget, and energy usage. Offers free analysis.
SpaceGrower Menomonie • (715) 231-6174 • info@
spacegrower.com • spacegrower.com Provides interior and architectural green design services. Interior services include furniture, recommendations, lighting, and layout. Architectural services include drawing, modeling, site layout, space programming, design, documentation, sustainable material research, and more.
Water Source Heating & Cooling Eau Claire • (715)
833-9001 • watersourcegeothermal.com Services include geothermal heat pumps, radiant floor heating, solar PV systems, geothermal loop systems, and ductwork, air filters, and humidifiers.
GREEN INTEREST GROUPS
Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance (CVTA) (715) 835-
4835 • chippewavalleytransitalliance@gmail.com • facebook.com/chippewavalleytransitalliance CVTA is a united voice for transit riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians in Eau Claire and neighboring counties of West Central Wisconsin. Meets monthly.
Citizens Climate Lobby - Eau Claire Chapter (715)
829-8620 • eauclaire@citizensclimatelobby.org • citizensclimatelobby.org A non-profit, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to
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address climate change. Trains and supports 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.
Clean Wisconsin (608) 251-7020 • info@cleanwiscon-
sin.org • cleanwisconsin.org Clean Wisconsin protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and polluters accountable. Find Clean Wisconsin on Facebook.
Eau Claire Area Master Gardeners Association (715)
839-4712 • Erin.LaFaive@co.eau-claire.wi.us • 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 manage public gardens for all to experience.
Eau Claire Climate Action Now (CAN) (612) 220-1970
• eauclairecan@gmail.com • facebook.com/EauClaireClimateActionNowcan 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.
about environmental issues, guest speakers & seminars, and suggestions & campaigns for action.
Sustainable Dunn 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 more.
Eau Claire Garden Club facebook.com/ecgarden-
club The objectives of the Club are to educate members in all phases of gardening and to promote the enjoyment of gardening among its members and other people in the community Organizes plant sales, garden tours, guest speakers, and more.
Tainter Menomin Lake Improvement Association, Inc. rverdon@att.net • tmlia.org Atively 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.
GreenSense connect.uwstout.edu/greensense/
home/ UW-Stout’s student environmental organization since 1990. GreenSense cleans up Galloway Creek, participates in an Adopt-a-Highway program, cleans up the campus, and manages annual events at UW-Stout including RecycleMania, Earth Week events, a film festival, and they sponsor environmental speakers.
UW-Stout Sustainability Office (715) 232-5254 •
sustainability@uwstout.edu • uwstout.edu/sustainability/ Fosters a community of sustainability at UW-Stout. Coordinates the campus’s sustainability priorities &initiatives, works with local, regional, and national organizations, and promotes UW-Stouts efforts in the area of sustainability. Oversees the UW-Sprout campus garden, CSA market garden, and Volunteers for Veggies program. Makes weekly donations to the Stepping Stones pantry.
Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope (JONAH): Environmental Task Force jonahjustice.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) (715)
835-4829 • ellewolf1@hotmail.com • wisconsinrivers.org Supports 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 open-car train rides into the Tiffany Bottoms each year, the proceeds from which are donated to prairie and oak savanna restoration, invasive species eradication, and scientific research projects.
The UWEC Conservationists Club uwec.c.club@
gmail.com • facebook.com/uwec.c.club 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.
UWEC Student Office of Sustainability (715) 836-4646 • sos@uwec.edu • uwec.edu A Student Senate commission responsible for allocation of the UWEC “green fund” to make UWEC a more sustainable campus. Funds projects, programs, and events addressing the various sustainability areas of transportation, energy, waste, climate change, water, food systems, campus ecology, education, and outreach.
The Prairie Enthusiasts: Chippewa Savannas Chapter stahland@centurytel.net • theprairieenthusiasts.org/ chippewa_savannas A chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts, a non-profit grassroots conservation organization. Works throughout Dunn, Eau Claire, and Pepin counties, to restore remnants of prairie ecosystems still remaining in the Chippewa Valley that have not already been lost to development or habitat degradation.
Wisconsin Bike Fed info@wisconsinbikefed.org • wis-
consinbikefed.org The Wisconsin Bike Fed, celebrating 27 years of bicycle advocacy in 2015, 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.
River Country RC&D (715) 579-5229 • Info@River-
CountryRCD.org • rivercountryrcd.org A Non-Profit Organization that brings people and resources together to address issues and opportunities in order to conserve our natural resources, provide sustainability and improve the quality of life for the people who live and work in the River Country Area.
Wisconsin Green Building Alliance (414) 224-9422
• info@wgba.org • usgbc.org/usgbc-wisconsin 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.
Sierra Club - Chippewa Valley Group (608) 256-0565
• john.muir.chapter@sierraclub.org • wisconsin.sierraclub.org/chippewa This is a local chapter of the international environmental group based in San Francisco. Programs include slide presentations of trips, talks
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Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Eau Claire (715) 225-3344 • info@conservationvoters.
org • 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.
Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice (608) 250-
9240 • info@wnpj.org • wnpj.org Founded in 1991 as a coalition of activist groups and citizens of conscience within Wisconsin. WNPJ facilitates activities, cooperation and communication among Wisconsin organizations and individuals working toward the creation of a sustainable world.
GREEN ENERGY
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative ecec.com A locally
operated, energy efficient, member owned cooperative. Provides renewable energy in the form of solar, wind, and geothermal to its members.
Energy Audits xcelenergy.com Xcel Energy offers a Community Conservation Program in which small businesses and area residents can audit buildings to check heating, air conditioning, lighting, windows, doors, and air filtration for energy efficiency.
Focus On Energy 800-762-7077 • Focusinfo@
focusonenergy.com • FocusOnEnergy.com 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 the environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.
COMMUNITY GARDENS
Chippewa County Community Garden (715) 726-
7950, ext. 5 • chippewafalls-wi.gov The Chippewa Falls community garden is at Marshall Park with a $20 (for residents) fee. Must sign-up by April 1st to guarantee a plot.
Eau Claire Community Gardens eauclairecommunitygardens.com The city of Eau Claire has 5 community gardens: Forest Street Gardens, Lakeshore Gardens, Jeffers Road Gardens, Demmler Gardens, and South Side Gardens.
Menomonie Community Garden Menomonie • (715)
232-1328 • MenomonieCommunityGardens.com Located on the southside of Menomonie on 9th street east. Rents for $30 per plot and half plot $15.
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