September 09 eMail update


You are invited to join an important effort to help the City of Madison develop it's Sustainability Plan


As an Mpower pledge, you’ve shown our community that you want your efforts to be counted. It’s time to share your ideas with City officials who are ready to listen. To ensure you don’t have to travel too far from your home, their are three opportunities to join in this conversation:

East Side: 10.22.09 at Goodman Community Center, 6 - 8:30 pm
Central:  10.29.09 at Overture Center, Wisconsin Studio, 5:30 - 8 pm
West Side:  11.5.09 at Sequoya Library, 5:30 - 8 pm

Click here for complete details.

LEEDing by example: Green Roof installed on Fire station #12


In case you have not heard, The City of Madison's Fire Station #12  had it’s grand opening on August 24th and was built to LEED standards. A platinum certification is anticipated. Among the noteworthy design elements:
  • A geo exchange system that is the sole source for heating and cooling the building
  • A green roof with vegetation in place of conventional roofing materials
  • Solar heating panels for the building’s hot water needs
  • Landscaping using native plants with low watering needs, or xeriscaping - 69 points if used on a Scrabble triple play - reduces the required lawn-maintenance
  • A storm water collection system for general non-potable water use

Inspiring Sustainability Speaker Line up


Madison has a stellar line up of sustainability speakers this fall.  If you were not one of the 8,000 audience members at the Kohl Center to listen to Michael Pollan state he believed that American farmers held the key to solving three of the major crises facing our society today: the health care crises, the cliamte crisis, and the energy crisis, you can read about it here and join in one of the upcoming community  conversation about the future of our food systems.

Consider using one of the following events to introduce a friend or co-worker to a sustainability discussion:

Wendell Berry
Sunday, October 11th  @ 4:00pm
Overture Hall at Overture Center for the Arts - Free tickets required

Majora Carter -One of many speakers for Tales from Planet Earth Film Festival
Friday, November 6 @ 7:00 pm
Wisconsin Union Theater

The Nelson Institute Community Environmental Forum
All forums take place from 5:45 - 7 pm @ 1106 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue
September 29 - Potential Impacts of Changes in Wisconsin's Precipitation Patterns
October 13 -- Adaptation in Agriculture and Forestry
October 27 - Climate Change and Our Sense of Place
November 10 - Decision Making Under Risk
November 24 - Working Towards a Positive Future

Mpower Business ChaMpion receives air time

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz welcomes Jessie Lerner from Sustain Dane, Dan Knickmeir, VP from Webcrafters and Warren Gaskill with Rapid Improvement Associates to discuss the Mpower ChaMpions Program in the September 09 episode of the Mayors Report.

In July, WKOW highlighted the Mpower ChaMpion Program and Mpower Business ChaMpion Sergenian's Floor Coverings. To view both of these 2.5 minute video's, click here and follow the video links.

Mark your calendar: November 29th


Close to Home: Arboretum Local Products Expo Celebrating Sustainability, Recycling and Locally Produced Goods

The University of Wisconsin -Madison Arboretum is celebrating 75 years of restoring the land, advancing restoration ecology and fostering Aldo Leopold's land ethic. As part of the anniversary events they will be hosting a Recycled Art and Locally Produced Goods Expo. Not only will this be a great event for community members, but it will offer vendors another venue to sell their products as well as become a new Arboretum partner. Sustain Dane Rain Barrels (always reclaimed barrels) will be available for purchase.

Contact Jennifer Skolaski  for more info: jskolaski@uwarb.wisc.edu or 608-890-2555.