Red Eye Brewing includes solar hot water to meet sustainability goals

From a news release issued by Kolbe Windows and Doors:

Wausau, Wis. (July 2011) – Located in Wausau, Wis., Red Eye Brewing Company produces and sells craft beers complimented by dishes made from home-grown ingredients. The owners' preference for locally-sourced, environmentally-responsible materials, their attention to detail and their appreciation for quality, contributed to their selection of Kolbe's windows and doors.

"Red Eye truly believes that our success as a business is measured through our commitment to the community and the environment, paired with sound economic practices," says co-owner Brett Danke. . . .

Bringing this systematic, sustainable, whole building design to life, S.D. Ellenbecker served as a hands-on general contractor, including the installation of Kolbe's windows and doors. Opened in 2008, the 6,000-square-foot space's other green building features include:

• location is a quick walk for downtown shoppers, near a designated bike route and one block from the bus terminal;
• reclaimed Redwood fence, planed by hand, and re-used as wood trim;
• waterless urinals, which save a combined 90,000 gallons of water per year;
• spent grain from the brewing process is provided to a local farmer, which he uses as a supplement for his cattle, eliminating it from the landfill;
• wood burning oven is fired with locally-sourced hardwoods, a renewable source of energy, which avoids the consumption of natural gas and electricity for primary cooking needs;
• solar water heat, which further reduces the consumption of natural gas and electrical power, equating to nearly 35 years of "free hot water" for use in the brewery and its restaurant.

Central Waters Brewing gains recognition for renewable energy and sustainability

From an article by B. C. Kowalski in the Wausau Daily Herald:

AMHERST -- Green beer can be quite common during St. Patrick's Day -- but the owners of Central Waters Brewing Co. had a different kind of green in mind when they began 13 years ago.

Central Waters was recognized for those green practices Friday as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources named the company to its Green Tier program, which celebrates environmentally friendly businesses in Wisconsin. It is the first brewery in the state to be added to the program.

The DNR presented the business with a plaque and welcomed it to the program in front of about 50 people at the brewery in Amherst.

Entry into the program came after an application and a public comment period in which residents could say whether they thought the brewery should be added to the program.

Not a single person said it shouldn't be added, co-owner Anello Mollica said.

The facility runs on radiant floor heat, and water is heated by 1,000 square feet of solar panels.

"It's a steep upfront ticket, but the payoff is remarkable," said Paul Graham, Central Waters co-owner.

Job openings likely in sustainable industries for executives, trades, scientists, engineers, planners

From an article by Cara Spoto in the Stevens Point Journal:

Two years ago, Stevens Point resident Rob Peck decided to make a career change.

"My kids were grown ... and I thought I would really like to do something different," Peck, 50, said. "I wanted to get into something that would be good for the community and society in general."

So, after years of working in manufacturing and real estate sales, Peck applied to Mid-State Technical College to become a renewable energy specialist and energy-efficiency technician.

Now a design consultant at Northwind Renewable Energy in Stevens Point, which specializes in designing and installing renewable energy systems, Peck helps customers engineer the perfect solar energy system for their home or business.

Hired about a year ago, Peck was one of two MSTC students who interned with Northwind last summer. Josh Stolzenberg, one of Northwind's owners, said the business plans to take on three new interns this summer. If things work out with the interns, Stolzenberg and his partner, Craig Buttke, plan to hire two of them.

Peck is one of many Wisconsinites looking toward sustainable technologies to shape his next career move. According to Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Chief Labor Economist Dennis Winters, sustainable industries and technologies have and will continue to play a key role in current and emerging job markets in Wisconsin.

The DWD projects that by the year 2018 "professional, scientific, and technical services" industry will be among the top 10 employers in the state.

"'Green,' as it were, actually permeates all industries and occupations," Winters said.

Amherst's Artha Bed and Breakfast earns green recognition from state

From an article by Nick Paulson in the Stevens Point Journal:

AMHERST -- Since 1971, Marguerite Ramlow and her husband, Bob, have renovated their rural property seven miles south of the village of Amherst, making it more sustainable and eco-friendly with every step.

And since they opened Artha Bed and Breakfast almost four years ago, that process has accelerated.

Solar panels provide electricity and heat water. The wood paneling comes from maple trees felled in a windstorm. Even the sheets, towels and cleaning products are organic.

"We want to show people they can live sustainably and be very comfortable," said Marguerite, who, along with Bob, runs the Artha Sustainable Living Center, which includes the bed and breakfast.

This week, the couple were rewarded for their commitment. Artha, 9784 County Road K, was named honorable mention on a list of the top "eco-elegant" B&Bs by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

The department's Travel Green program showcases top destinations for ecotourism, and being featured so prominently should be a boon to an already sound business.

"Just having our name out there will make people aware there is a place like this nearby," Marguerite said.

A blurb by Travel Green describing the center mentioned the renovated farmhouse, solar heat and other information the center offers B&B guests.

"Guests come for the hands-on workshops and retreats on solar water heating, gardening and yoga," the blurb states.

Dining services feature meatless Mondays

From an article by Nate Enwald in The Pointer, Stevens Point, WI:

Students at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point are in for a few changes in their dining routines at DeBot Dining Center; some may have noticed a change in the Oct. 11 Monday menu and what it served, or lack thereof.

The University Dining Services department has taken to the “Meatless Monday” movement that has been a spreading trend in other schools across the country. The new meatless menu that began on Oct. 11 is scheduled to take effect for the Mondays of Nov. 8, Feb. 7, and April 11.

The Monday Campaigns originally started the “Meatless Monday” movement in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health, with the goal of reducing the consumption of meat by 15 percent. This movement hopes to ultimately better public health and reduce the carbon footprint left by the production, transportation and cooking of meats.

“We are doing this [Meatless Monday] to raise awareness about the program and the benefits of lowering meat consumption,” said Kathleen Gould, the Public Relations representative and Marketing Coordinator of University Dining Services.

At meatlessmonday.com, the organization promotes going meatless at least once a week to aid in efforts of reducing the public health issues of cancer, diabetes and obesity along with the inevitable ecological benefits that go with a meatless diet.

Stevens Point's environmentalism impresses visitors from Russia

From an article by B.C. Kowalski in the Stevens Point Journal:

As visitors from Stevens Point's Russian sister city, Rostov Veliky, leave today, they'll take with them a message of environmentalism.

That was the focus of a weeklong stay for Rostov Veliky Mayor Yuri Aleksandrovitch Boiko and four others as they traveled through Stevens Point.

Boiko said Stevens Point could serve as a good example of environmental consciousness for Rostov Veliky.

"The one thing that is really unique is the way Stevens Point residents respect nature, the way they relate to the environment," Boiko said through an interpreter. "What is really cool is that everyone seems to care about nature, from the young and old."

The Rostov Veliky delegation met with various groups related to the environment, including Trout Unlimited, a number of farms, a lake management roundtable and a watershed group from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Boiko said he will take a number of environmental ideas back to Rostov Veliky. Of the 14 he listed in his journal, Boiko mentioned installing a solar panel at Liberty Park, buying an electric car for Rostov Veliky's stadium and creating an environmental youth group that would focus on Nero Lake.

Plastic bottles expelled from UWSP campus

From an article by Nick Paulson in the Stevens Point Journal:

If you want a drink of water on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus this fall, don't expect to find any bottles for sale.

The university's new vending contract, which will go into effect before the school year starts in September, bans bottled water sales in campus vending machines. The 30 or so beverage machines also will switch to aluminum cans for soft drinks, cutting additional use of plastic. Only beverages which don't come in other materials, such as sports drinks, still will be sold in plastic bottles.

UWSP bids its vending contract every five years. When Jerry Lineberger, associate director of University Centers, and other staff members asked for student input on this issue, the biggest call was to get rid of plastics, especially bottled water. The Student Government Association even passed a resolution asking for a reduction.

"If you want water, we have lots of water fountains on campus," said Lineberger, who put together the new contract. "You can bring your own water bottle and fill it for free."

Eliminating bottled water and switching to aluminum will cut, possibly by half, the amount of plastic the campus uses. The switch fits in with UWSP's commitment to sustainability and image as a "green" campus.
But it also has a practical side. Recycling all the plastic costs the university money, but it can make money by selling the aluminum cans.

Energy Fair to host renowned author, June 19

From an article by Nicole Strittmater in the Wausau Daily Herald:

An environmental superstar will visit Custer this week to help inspire central Wisconsin residents to go greener.

Bill McKibben, who wrote the first book about global warming 21 years ago and recently created an international campaign called 350.org to solve the climate crisis, is a keynote speaker for the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair on Saturday.

"I very much wanted to come, particularly because the kind of people who will be at the fair are the kind of people we need to reach," said McKibben, 49, from his home in Ripton, Vt.

He spends the majority of his time traveling the world promoting his 350.org campaign, which draws its name from the parts per million of carbon that can safely be in the atmosphere. His focus is to get the planet from 392 parts per million of carbon, where it is currently, to 350 by encouraging people to take on environmentally conscious projects.

"We want all kinds of people who are good at doing practical things -- putting up solar panels, community gardens, starting bike programs," he said.

In 2009, he and his 350.org team coordinated 5,200 rallies and demonstrations in 181 countries in one day, which news outlets dubbed the largest globally coordinated rally of any kind.

This October, he's organizing a global work party. He wants people worldwide to do environmentally friendly projects, such as putting up solar panels Oct. 10.

Green teams work at work

Workshops, keynoters, and all the other details set for Enrgy Fair, June 18-20

Each year the MREA Energy Fair transforms rural Central Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Energy Fair brings over 20,000 people from nearly every state in the U.S. and several countries around the world to learn, connect with others and ready them for action at home. The Energy Fair is the nation's longest running energy education event of its kind.

The Energy Fair features:

•Over 275 exhibitors - sustainable living and energy products
•Over 200 workshops - from introductory level to advanced hands-on education
•Clean Energy Car Show - demonstration vehicles and workshops
•Green Home Pavilion - focused on building and remodeling in a sustainable way
•Green Building Demso - see sustainable building techniques in action
•Sustainable Tables - workshops, chef demos, and a farmers' market bringing sustainability to your dinner table
•Inspirational keynotes, lively entertainment, great food, and local beer.
The Energy Fair is held in Custer, WI just seven miles east of Stevens Point. Join us for the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010. For more information about the Fair, contact the Midwest Renewable Energy Association at 715-592-6595.

Get a flavor of the MREA Energy Fair

Join us for the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010.

Each year the MREA Energy Fair transforms rural Central Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Energy Fair brings over 20,000 people from nearly every state in the U.S. and several countries around the world to learn, connect with others and ready them for action at home. The Energy Fair is the nation's longest running energy education event of its kind.

Advance Energy Fair tickets and Reservations for Back 40 Camping will be available starting April 1st.

The Energy Fair features:

•Over 275 exhibitors - sustainable living and energy products
•Over 200 workshops - from introductory level to hands-on education
•Clean Energy Car Show - demonstration vehicles and workshops
•Green Home Pavilion – focused on building and remodeling in a sustainable way
•Sustainable Tables – workshops, chef demos, and a farmers market bringing sustainability to your dinner table
•Inspirational keynotes, lively entertainment, great food, and local beer.
The Energy Fair is held in Custer, WI just seven miles east of Stevens Point. Join us for the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010. For more information about the Fair, contact the Midwest Renewable Energy Association at 715-592-6595 or visit the website: www.the-mrea.org.

Sustainable communities roundtable and forum, Februrary and March

From an announcement of community roundtables by the University of Wisconsin System:

Six regional Sustainable Communities Roundtables — in Central Wisconsin, De Pere, Waukesha, Chequamegon Bay, Rhinelander, and Chippewa Valley — begin in late February and lead up to the March 25-26 Sustainable Communities Public Policy Forum. The two- to three-hour sessions will open with an overview of sustainability efforts in the state and conclude with a facilitated process to identify sustainability policy issues, barriers, strengths, and possibilities.

Central Wisconsin Roundtable
Date: Feb. 26, 9 a.m.-noon
Location: Travel Guard, 3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point
Contact: Center for Land Use Education, 715-346-3783

Rhinelander Roundtable
Date: March 5, 9-11 a.m.
Location: University Transfer Center, Room 200, Nicolet College, 5364 College Drive, Rhinelander
Contact: Daniel Kuzlik, dan.kuzlik@ces.uwex.edu, 715-365-2750

The Sustainable Communities Public Policy Forum is the third in a series of forums designed to focus University of Wisconsin System resources on Wisconsin's most vexing social, environmental, and economic challenges. These forums inform the debate around selected current issues confronting Wisconsin residents by bringing objective, research-based information to the dialogue. Forums utilize experts to cover issues impacting the state of Wisconsin.

Sustainable Communities Policy Forum
March 25-26, 2010
University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
Communication Arts Center
1478 Midway Road, Menasha

Movie and discussion to focus on energy depletion and climate change

From an announcement published in the Stevens Point Journal:

A more proactive approach to the pending challenges of energy depletion and climate change will be the focus of a movie and panel discussion at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The program will be held Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Dreyfus University Center Theater. Sponsored by the Students for Sustainable Communities, the event is open and free to the public.

The film, “The Great Squeeze,” discusses modern society’s over consumption of resources and the implications for the future of humankind and the Earth as a whole. Eric Olson, instructor and land use specialist in the College of Natural Resources, and Samantha Kaplan, assistant professor of geography, will lead the panel discussion and share their vision of a sustainable future.

Tours of green, renewable homes coming this weekend

From an article in the Wausau Daily Herald:

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is sponsoring its annual Wisconsin Solar Tour this weekend.

The tour showcases businesses and homes that are energy efficient, sustainable or are powered with renewable energies.

Organizers expect a big turnout this year as more and more people are looking to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes and look to alternative energy. On top of normal grants given out by Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is giving additional tax incentives — typically up to 30 percent — to people doing such projects.

There are several Marathon County businesses and homes participating in the tour. For a complete list visit the-mrea.org.

The business portion of the tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Home tours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

If you’re in the Stevens Point area this weekend, Wisconsin Public Service, in conjunction with MREA, is sponsoring guided bus tours of local solar homes and businesses as part of the annual Wisconsin Solar Tour.

More information and registration details here.

Interest in sustainable-energy buildings grows

From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:

Sustainable building techniques are becoming increasingly popular in central Wisconsin and across the state, industry leaders say.

Most recently, the Mead Wildlife Area Education & Visitor Center near Milladore became the second new building in Wisconsin to receive LEED Platinum Green Building Certification, the highest possible level for sustainable-energy design.

"I believe the trend has been going up for the building of LEED-certified buildings in general," said Sue Loomans, executive director of the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance. "People are seeing the importance of sustainable building."

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationwide energy-efficiency program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and overseen by the Green Building Certification Institute.

The Mead building joins the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center near Baraboo, the renovated Hunzinger Construction Offices in Milwaukee and a private home in Madison in carrying the LEED Platinum rating.

We Energies plans biomass plant at Rothschild mill site

From a news release issued by We Energies:

ROTHSCHILD, Wis. – We Energies announced today the proposed construction of a $250 million biomass-fueled power plant at Domtar Corporation’s Rothschild, Wisconsin paper mill site. Wood, waste wood and sawdust will be used to produce 50 megawatts of electricity and will also support Domtar’s sustainable papermaking operations. The project would be funded by We Energies.

The partnership between We Energies and Domtar will result in a highly efficient use of resources and will add another technology to We Energies’ renewable energy portfolio.

That portfolio includes the state’s largest wind development -- the 145 megawatt Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac County and the proposed 162 megawatt Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County. Together, these three projects will be capable of delivering nearly 360 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to supply approximately 120,000 homes. . . .

Under Wisconsin law, utilities statewide must use renewable energy to meet 10 percent of the electricity needs of retail customers by the year 2015.

The project is expected to create approximately 400 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs in the surrounding community, including independent wood suppliers and haulers from northern and central Wisconsin who will secure waste wood for the project.

Highlights of the 20th Annual Energy Fair

Madison Gas & Electric followed Madison residences from when they boarded the bus in the capital city to the fair and back again.

Central Rivers Farmshed

From the Web site of a new organization:

A farmshed is the network of people, businesses, organizations, and productive lands that create a local food economy.

Central Rivers Farmshed is a growing movement in Central Wisconsin to build and strengthen relationships between local farms, restaurants, retailers, and consumers.

To get involved, visit our wiki page at www.farmshed.pbwiki.com.

The site lists farmers' markets and other food related events.

Marshfield green reputation growing

From an article by Liz Welter in the Marshfield News-Herald:

The Sustainable Marshfield Committee is well on its way to bringing the city to the fore of communities in Wisconsin developing environment-friendly initiatives and programs, said Brian Driscoll, community development director at the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence.

The amount accomplished and current plans of the committee is impressive for a city of Marshfield's size, Driscoll said at a recent meeting of the Sustainable Marshfield Committee.

Through the committee's efforts, Marshfield was awarded a state 25x25 grant in January. The city is one of 23 communities to begin developing plans demonstrating the potential to reduce fuel consumption and use alternative fuels to reach the governor's goal of generating 25 percent of the state's electricity and transportation fuels from renewable resources by the year 2025.

As a result of the grant and other work completed by the Sustainable Committee, a contingent from Waupaca toured the city in the spring as they formulate plans for their own sustainablity committee.

"It's impressive that Waupaca would come here to learn from Marshfield," Driscoll said.

A sustainable energy checklist for green communities

From a brief guide published by Focus on Energy:

Cities and towns across Wisconsin are seeking ways to address concerns about global climate change while improving the environment and their local quality of life.

Environmentally-friendly or “green” options for communities have long included programs to encourage recycling and the purchase of recycled products, improving public transportation and developing new zoning ordinances that reduce urban sprawl.

Recently, many communities have begun to seek strategies for achieving carbon reduction goals as a way of becoming greener. Because fossil energy use is the primary source of carbon emissions, communities are turning to energy efficiency and
renewable energy to make their energy production and use more sustainable.

The guide answers the following questions:
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE ENERGY?
HOW DOES SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PLANNING FIT
INTO OTHER GREEN COMMUNITY GOALS?
HOW DO COMMUNITIES GET STARTED?
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES