June eMail Update

Saving Water is Saving Energy

According to city statistics for 2003, the Madison water utility used over twice as much electricity as the next-most consumptive department (Traffic Engineering - including streetlights) and 3 times more than the average of all other departments. Why is water use so expensive in terms of electricity? Madison’s water source is an aquifer with wells between 700 and 1100 feet in depth. Electricity powers pumps at the wells, pulling the water up from the aquifer and pumping it to storage facilities and then to the water main pipes and connects smaller water service line pipes to homes and businesses. Why should we worry about conserving water? Besides reducing carbon emissions from the large pumping and heating needs of water, water is a limited resource – less than 1% of the Earth’s water is available for human use. Learn more about Madison Water Utility’s effort to develop a comprehensive water conservation program for the city. My Water allows you to check past water usage and sign up for electronic (paperless) bills!

Summer Saving Water Tip: water the lawn only when needed. Step on the grass; if it springs back up when you move your foot, it does not need water. We know it is hard to imagine watering anything right now - but Madison's aquifers are a limited resource and later in the summer sprinklers will be removed from storage. Find out more about outdoor water conservation tips

Mpower partner Closeup: Sustain Dane

Typical households use 40% of their water outdoors; therfore you can cut your load on the municipal water system almost in half if you use harvested rainwater for all outdoor uses. If you combine it with water efficiency or an Eco kit in the home, you might cut your city water usage in half. Sustain Dane’s RainReserveTM Rain Barrels are a practical and environmentally sound addition to any yard or garden. In addition to offering others an opportunity to meet their pledge, Sustain Dane moved offices in May, reducing the greatest contributor to their total carbon footprint, transportation. Sustain Dane is now located next door to where they house rain barrels – eliminating transportation for barrel preparation and distribution.

You've taken the pledge, now learn how to turn your pledge into action!

Demonstrations and presentations to answer your building and home improvement questions. There will be an “Ask the Expert” section from 12 – 1:15pm. After a short presentation, your questions about home improvement will be discussed. Feel free to bring photos of your specific problems. “How To” Demonstrations will be running all day: Insulation, Air Sealing, Lighting, Exhaust fan display and much more!

Date: Saturday June 28th, 2008

Time: 11 am – 3 pm

Location: 211 S. Paterson Street, Madison, WI

Rain or shine in the parking lot behind the building with the large metal birds on the bike path.

Keep a lookout for your invitation to this informative event.

Business takes action: Good For Business



Good For Business, a Madison-based communications company dedicated to creating cause-based messages for noble businesses, took the Mpower pledge in October 2007. Their pledge coincided with moving to a new office location, allowing the company to become even more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Only nontoxic paints were used during renovation work on their new office last fall, and no unsustainable carpeting was installed on the floors. Recycled materials were utilized in the building's new roof. This is in addition to eco-friendly habits already in place at Good for Business: Avoiding printing and paper use when possible, stocking 100% recycled paper and bio-plastic tableware in the break room, and encouraging employee commuting on foot or by bicycle.

In January GFB began purchasing 100% green energy through MGE’s Green Power Tomorrow program. By next January they will have offset 19 tons of carbon dioxide and more than 13,000 pounds of coal! They also recently installed a RainReserve rain barrel to collect rainwater for watering plants and are installing an efficient Energy Star refrigerator in the break room. Most importantly, they are committed to doing their share for the Earth through their Mpower pledge, and have plans to continue improving the efficiency of their 100-year-old building.