Webbased Clearinghouse for Sustainability and Eco-Municipality Related Information

Great news!!
It is now that much easier to locate information about the ongoing statewide sustainability efforts.
Thanks to the UW Extension Sustainability Team, they have just launched a web-based Sustainable Communities Capacity Center at http://www2.uwsuper.edu/sustainability/index.htm. While it is still a work in progress, it promises to be a valuable collective resource.

Here is the launch message:


The University of Wisconsin-Extension Sustainability Team announces the launch of its "Sustainable Communities Capacity Center" website. The intent of this website, by providing access to educational materials and resources, is to expand the capacity of communities to explore, understand, create, implement, evaluate, and share sustainability strategies.

The web link is: http://www2.uwsuper.edu/sustainability/.

While the capacity center is a work in progress, one topic that received priority emphasis is the "Eco-Municipality" portion of the site. To date, twenty-one local governments in Wisconsin have passed "eco-municipality" resolutions. In these resolutions, they endorse the Natural Step framework, which is a systems- and science-based sustainability planning and decision-making guide, and they agree to apply it, whenever possible, to their planning, policy making, and municipal practices.

Wisconsin has the largest concentration of such "eco-municipalities" of any state in the country. They are located throughout the state and range in size from small towns to larger cities and counties. During two gatherings in April of this year, representatives from these communities and others interested in community sustainability encouraged the Sustainability Team and UW-Extension to provide a resource or capacity center to document and support these efforts. This site is a response to that request.
The team is fully engaged in efforts to expand the content of the capacity center and encourages you to check back regularly. All feedback and content suggestions are appreciated.

Feel free to contact either of the team co-chairs.
Jerry Hembd, Team Co-chair, jhembd@uwsuper.edu
Jay Moynihan, Team Co-chair, jay.moynihan@ces.uwex.edu

World Bottle: A Brick that Holds Beer

An eco-design well ahead of its time. A beer bottle designed in the shape of an interlocking brick to reduce waste and provide building materials. Drink Heineken, build with the empties. How this concept never managed to take off, is beyond me. With any luck more companies will consider reusable packaging that benefits the earth.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/11/heineken-wobo-the-brick-that-holds-beer/

Check out this article at Vestal Designs: http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/07/heineken-beer-bricks/

A 1950s design for stackable beer bottles was the brainchild of Alfred Heineken, of beer fame.
As the story goes, Heineken was strolling along by the sea in Jamaica, and was shocked at the number of beer bottles littering the beach. He was also concerned with the lack of cheap building materials, and at the resulting living conditions for the poor. Putting two and two together, he envisioned a “World Bottle” which would be imported for drinking but kept for construction.
A 10’ x 10’ shack would take approximately 1000 bottles to build, but the Jamaican tourist industry would likely supply plenty. In addition, glass (and air) are good insulators, though the humid and hot Jamaican climate may not require insulation per se. A unique feature was that the short bottle neck would fit into a depression in the bottom of each bottle. Ultimately though, the idea was either (according to different accounts) voted down by the Heineken board, or vetoed by the bottle companies and the customers. Not much information is available on the World Bottle today, but there have been other attempts to make interlocking “bottle bricks”, even of plastic.

Here's more commentary, "Legos for Adults"!! http://www.designverb.com/2007/11/10/heineken-world-bottle-beer-to-bricks/

Sister-State Chiba Prefrecture's Green Effort

Gaylord Nelson Quotes

If we continue to address the issue of the environment where we live as though we're the only species that lives here, we'll create a disaster for ourselves.

In the state of Wisconsin it's mandated that teachers in the social sciences and hard sciences have to start giving environmental education by the first grade, through high school.

Loads of chemicals and hazardous wastes have been introduced into the atmosphere that didn't even exist in 1948. The environmental condition of the planet is far worse than it was 42 years ago.

The most important environmental issue is one that is rarely mentioned, and that is the lack of a conservation ethic in our culture.

We must recognize that we're all part of a web of life around the world. Anytime you extinguish a species, the consequences are serious.

If we eat the goose that lays the golden eggs, there will be no gold in the future.

FOR MORE GREAT QUOTES ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT: http://www.epa.gov/Region2/library/quotes.htm

We Can Be the Change the World Needs -- Paul Linzmeyer

At a recent Great Lake Gatherings http://www.gatheringwaters.org/wilandtrusts_greatlakegatherings.php Paul Linzmeyer gave an insightful presentation regarding the importance of sustainability right now, every day. He talked about the troika of sustainability PEOPLE - PLANET - PROFITS.

PEOPLE: Happiness~over the past 30 years happiness levels have decreased even though amount of possessions (stuff) has increased. A spiritual relationship with the land is essential to happiness.

PLANET: Clean air and water are essential. How do our actions affect other parts of the system? What are we doing to contribute to society? Places to recreate, relax and reconnect with nature are paramount. "Never forget our true relationship with nature." - Linzmeyer

PROFITS: Strong economies are built on a diverse population of talented people. We must learn as a society to live within our means and resist the temptation of over-consumption. Business - Government - NGO together will drive the change to sustainability. Recognize the value in collaboration. Great Lakes Region excels at manufacturing and is home to excellent educational institutions. Incubate water technolgoy and green tech jobs.

WE CAN BE THE CHANGE THE WORLD NEEDS.


The late, great Paul Newman said, "Too often it's about winning and not the moral, ethical action."

KOHL's - Manitowoc

Happy to report that KOHL's Manitowoc located in HarborTown is now OPEN and the new store is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, illustrating Kohl's commitment to environmental, green initiatives!