A Sustainable Living forum sponsored by City of Manitowoc and the League of Women Voters was hosted May 23, 2007. Greg David, a Jefferson County Supervisor and Organic Farmer, and Paul Moderacki, the Johnson Creek Village Administrator gave an excellent and enlightening presentation on Sustainable Living and Eco-Municipalities. Both have traveled to Sweden to study the Swedish model. They graciously agreed to come to the City of Manitowoc to make their presentation regarding the Natural Step. As of June 18, 2007, 10 municipalities in the state of Wisconsin (Sweden has 76) have passed resolutions confirming their commitment to sustainable living.
Sustainable community: treating all with respect - in a fiscally,
socially and ecologically responsible manner.
Mssrs. David and Moderacki gave an insightful 
presentation about "The Natural Step" approach to sustainable living and sustainable development, and the fact that it is best for the economy. The misconception is that folks think living green is not economical, when in fact it is just the opposite. The three aspects of sustainability: Ecology, society and economy. The purpose of sustainability is permanence....meeting the needs of the present but continuing to meet the needs into the future and indefinitely. Sweden, a country plagued with air and water pollution in the 50's and 60's, aggressively pursued the Natural Step principles for sustainable living and will be off of fossil fuel by 2020. The City of Falkenberg, Sweden will be off fossil fuel by 2015. That's incredible. It's not some distant, future, sci-fi wish....that's only 8 years from now!
presentation about "The Natural Step" approach to sustainable living and sustainable development, and the fact that it is best for the economy. The misconception is that folks think living green is not economical, when in fact it is just the opposite. The three aspects of sustainability: Ecology, society and economy. The purpose of sustainability is permanence....meeting the needs of the present but continuing to meet the needs into the future and indefinitely. Sweden, a country plagued with air and water pollution in the 50's and 60's, aggressively pursued the Natural Step principles for sustainable living and will be off of fossil fuel by 2020. The City of Falkenberg, Sweden will be off fossil fuel by 2015. That's incredible. It's not some distant, future, sci-fi wish....that's only 8 years from now! "Problems cannot be solved by the same means of thinking that created them." -Einstein
They presented an example of a green campus that strived to be zero emissions. Located on the campus (in addition to other things) was a McDonald's, a Ford auto facility and an educational building. By using the used oil from the McD's fryers, the Ford auto facility created fuel. The heat from the McD's fryers was used to heat the adjacent educational building. The roofs of the facilities were designed as green roofs. Reduction in external input energy for heating: 60%. Reduction in electricity consumption: 60%. Reduction of external energy for cooling: 100%.
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