GreenBiz: California exec creating green retreat in Kickapoo Valley

From an article by Gregg Hoffman on WisBusiness.com:

Tom Lukens has been to a lot of places over his long career in horticulture and business. Now, the president emeritus of Golden State Bulb Growers is creating “a beautiful place to simply be” along the West Fork in the Kickapoo Valley.

“I believe human beings are motivated by sharing experiences,” said Lukens, who continues to serve as a senior sales rep and technical consultant for the Moss Landing, California, Golden State Bulbs company, and has started Nature Nooks Retreat.

“That motivates me here. I believe this place gives you a sense of belonging which is good for us. We’ve built the buildings to not only be energy efficient as possible, but to bring the outside to you when you are inside. . . ."

Driftless Area Project head Jeff Hastings, Trout Unlimited, UW-Madison researchers and others have helped Lukens in his development of Nature Nooks and have embraced his bio-diversity approach to stream restoration.

The green construction starts with Lukens’ home, a 1,440 sq. ft. structure that resembles Frank Lloyd Wright designs and is intended to make as small a carbon footprint as possible.

Through the use of passive and active solar, hydronic heat in the floors, energy efficient windows and materials and a little bit of wood, Lukens was able to operate the home without “a drop of petroleum” last winter.

He estimates the solar part of his system cost about $34,000 more than conventional heat systems would, but he received an $18,000 tax credit and will recover any additional costs through energy efficiency.

Lukens also has worked with local contractors and has used local materials whenever possible.

“It starts by not building a home with more space than you need,” Lukens said. “This space is plenty for our purposes. By using local materials and labor, you also save costs, contribute to the community economically and leave less of a footprint because of transportation.”

Viroqua Earth Day Celebration, April 22

Viroqua NewenHouse Earth Day OpenHouse

On Earth Day, Friday April 22, Madison Environmental Group, Inc. will be celebrating in Viroqua, WI at the Newenhouse kit home under construction. There will be tours of the home every hour, cake, old time music, and good times. This is a family friendly FREE event, from 2-6pm. NewenHouse kit homes will provide super insulated, small, sustainable homes for people who want to live lightly on the earth. The homes are designed to be Passive House and LEED Platinum certified. NewenHouses will not need a furnace, even in Wisconsin winters. You can follow Sonya's BLOG about the building process on the website of Natural Home Magazine or view an article about the project here.

We will be serving the Driftless region’s infamous Maple Lattes with Kickapoo Coffee, Maple Valley Syrup and Organic Valley cream! Combine this event with an afternoon in Viroqua to visit the Main Street local shops, the Viroqua food coop, and eat at the Driftless Café. Directions to the Newenhouse OpenHouse 422 Hickory Street (2 hours NW of Madison). RSVP's appreciated.

7th Annual Kickapoo Country Fair, July 24-25, 2010

Now in its seventh year, the Kickapoo Country Fair is the Midwest's largest organic food and sustainability festival. In La Farge, Wisconsin, nestled among the ancient hills of the Kickapoo Valley, the fair serves up a generous helping of fun for all in celebration of family, culture, and community, all the while looking toward a healthy, sustainable future.

Held July 24-25, 2010, on the grounds of Organic Valley headquarters Kickapoo Country Fair will bring together thousands of attendees for two fun-packed days of food, music, bike and farm tours, cooking demonstrations, theater, kids' activities, dancing, author readings, and speakers—all offered at an affordable price for families.

*Authors, activists and innovators including Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human
*Live music all weekend on two stages
*Musical headliner Miles Nielsen — Good ol' heartland rock 'n' roll, main stage, Saturday night
*Wisconsin Author Michael Perry reading from his latest book Coop and performing with his band, the Long Beds
*"Green Village," green building and lifestyle workshops
*Delicious local and organic food
*Farmers market
*Farm tours and exhibits
*Vendors and artisans
*Fourth-annual Butter Churn Bike Tour
*Children’s activities
*Stiltwalkers and other surprises!

LaCrosse County debates LEED’s green merits

From an article by Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:

La Crosse County will pay for a greenish jail, but the price tag for LEED honors might be too steep.

“I’m willing to spend money for energy conservation,” said County Supervisor John Medinger.

“But I’m not sure what we get for LEED certification at about $200,000.

“If it’s just a plaque that says, ‘Nice job, now give us $200,000,’ I’m going to lean against it.”

The La Crosse County Board last week approved a $29.5 million expansion for the county jail in La Crosse, but members delayed a vote on seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification or adding green features that were not in the original bid package.

County Administrator Steve O’Malley said the board has until the second week in December to decide on certification, which he said would cost $166,000, or an alternate package of green features, such as a solar hot water system, a retention pond and a heat-reclaiming system.

“From what I can tell, the board is really on the fence about it right now,” O’Malley said. “Some green features are already built into the project, but I think they’ll go for additional energy-saving features if they can see the payback.”

The county estimated the alternate package of green elements would add $500,000 to $600,000 to the project cost. Medinger said some projects related to the jail expansion, including a probation center, could be delayed to free up the money.

County officials owe it to their constituents to find a way to achieve the greenest possible jail, said County Supervisor Maureen Freedland, who chairs the La Crosse County Law Enforcement Center Construction Committee.

“We’re looking for more than just efficiency,” she said. “It’s the societal factor, what it means to the area, and what we’re saying to the community.”

Freedland said LEED certification is an important part of that package.

“There are people on the committee that think it’s just a plaque or a piece of paper,” she said. “But that money gets you site visits to make sure programs and features are set up and running properly.”

Gundersen Lutheran 'Going Green'

From a story by Mark McPherson on WKBT, La Crosse:

Every day, Gundersen Lutheran works to help patients get better. Now through a new initiative they are working to help the enviroment as well.

Gundersen Lutheran's Going Green program is something they say makes sense for everyone. "We can improve our enviroment and reduce the cost of our operation at the same time," said Gundersen Lutheran Senior V.P. of Business Services Jerry Arndt. Arndt feels it's especially important for a hospital to try and save energy considering how much they consume. "Hospitals use 2 1/2 times more energy than a commercial office building would for example," said Arndt.

The program will include small changes like turning off lights and computers, but includes bigger initiatives like solar panels on the new parking ramp and using methane emissions from the City Brewery to create electricity.

Businesses and residences open for solar tour, Oct. 3-4

Many solar-powered and energy-efficient businesses and homes around Wisconsin, including southwestern Wisconsin, will be open to the public during the Wisconsin Solar Tour on October 3 and 4.

The tour demonstrates that renewable energy is practical, reliable and a realistic choice for home and business owners. Tour sites are owned, lived in, and worked in by ordinary people. They are helping others open the door to renewable energy.

Although it is officially called the Wisconsin Solar Tour, sites include all sorts of renewable energy technologies and other innovative features. On the Wisconsin Solar Tour you can see:

Wind and solar (PV) electric systems
Solar thermal and solar water heating systems
Green building construction and passive solar design
Energy efficient heating technologies
Energy efficient appliances
Environmentally friendly landscaping
And more!

WPPI wants to fund zero energy homes

From a media release from Wisconsin Public Power, Incorporated:

Homeowners looking to build or remodel in communities served by WPPI member utilities have an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint through WPPI’s GreenMax Home program. WPPI is now soliciting competitive proposals for grants to help fund the construction of up to three net zero energy homes within WPPI member utility service areas.

As part of WPPI’s overall efforts to encourage public and community support for renewable energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency, the GreenMax Home program will help customers build highly efficient, environmentally friendly homes. Grants will be awarded to cover part of the incremental cost of designing and building a GreenMax Home over the cost of constructing a conventional Upper Midwest house. Incremental costs will include the design elements and technologies directly related to reducing energy use or producing energy through renewable resources.

“We are pleased to present another opportunity for homeowners in WPPI member communities to build and live in homes with net zero energy use,” said Senior Vice President of Customer Services and Administration Tom Paque. “The GreenMax Home program allows homeowners to take advantage of renewable energy technologies and demonstrate practical approaches to the efficient use of energy.”

WPPI’s GreenMax Home program supports the design and lifestyle choices that move a home from “highly efficient” to “net zero.” Net zero homes combine state-of-the-art green and environmentally friendly technologies and practices with renewable energy technology to ensure that the homes produce as much energy as they consume. To the greatest extent possible, the energy consumption (heating, cooling and electrical) of the homes will be provided by renewable energy sources.

WPPI's member utilities are
Alger Delta, MI
Algoma
Baraga, MI
Black River Falls
Boscobel
Brodhead
Cedarburg
Columbus
Cuba City
Eagle River
Evansville
Florence
Gladstone, MI
Hartford
Hustisford
Independence, IA
Jefferson
Juneau
Kaukauna
L'Anse, MI
Lake Mills
Lodi
Maquoketa, IA
Menasha
Mount Horeb
Muscoda
Negaunee, MI
New Glarus
New Holstein
New London
New Richmond
Norway, MI
Oconomowoc
Oconto Falls
Plymouth
Prairie du Sac
Reedsburg
Richland Center
River Falls
Slinger
Stoughton
Sturgeon Bay
Sun Prairie
Two Rivers
Waterloo
Waunakee
Waupun
Westby
Whitehall