Sustainability3

This toolkit provides ideas and descriptions of specific actions that a local government can take to transform itself into a model of sustainable practices. These are practices that can result in cost savings and increased employment, as well as enhance environmental quality and community well-being. Toward a Sustainable Community will help communities thrive today while preserving the ability of future generations to have quality of life as well. The toolkit describes fundamental steps a municipality can take to initiate a government can lead by example in the areas of energy, buildings transportation, procurement, investments and human resources.

Upcoming Events
June 18, 2008 6:00 p.m. Appleton Public Library	Come to hear the authors of The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices and invite a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker ... The movement toward sustainable communities is gaining momentum. Not about "green" per se, but about the whole system of our lives in our communities. Click here for more information.

Sustain Your Home

Focus on Energy - works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Cooperative Extension - Housing for Families and Communities - offers useful information on home maintenance and repair, as well as providing other helpful home ownership advice.

	In the News!
	New Book Highlights Wisconsin’s Vibrant Rural Areas Renewing the Countryside—Wisconsin: tells the stories of 39 people, organizations and businesses that are leading the nation in forward-looking, sustainable solutions to the challenges facing today’s rural economy and communities.

Communities and Businesses		Home and Family
The Natural Step System - Guidelines for creating sustainable communities and businesses		Focus on Energy - Energy efficient choices to help families save on their energy bill
NE-Wisconsin Sustainability - A citizen, business, academic group interested in sustainable development		Tried and True Recipes for a Less Hazardous Home - Cleanup with simple, less hazardous remedies (PDF)
1000 Friends of Wisconsin - Land user's resources for achieving "Eco-Municipality" designation		Mold and Moisture Control - Keep household moisture and mold under control (PDF)

Farms and Land Use		Lawn and Garden
Farmland Conservation Choices - This guide presents and explains 26 conservation practice and how they helps improve a farm, lists things to think about when considering the practices, and points out basic maintenance needs.		Creating an Environmentally Safe Lawn - Simple steps to create a lawn that is healthy for kids, pets, wildlife and water quality
Experimenting with Pasture Plant Species - On-farm demonstrations and educational outreach show benefits of pasture improvement and more managed grazing and pasture systems		Rethinking Lawn Care - Discusses issues related to environmentally sound yard care; stresses thinking about environmental consequences rather than convenience
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education SARE has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program		Plants and Landscaping - Describes the benefits of natural landscaping in place of lawns along shorelines and stream banks, and provides an extensive list of trees, shrubs and ground layer plants suitable for lands bordering streams and lakes in Wisconsin
C.L.U.E. Website -Center for Land Use Education - creates learning opportunities for communities to help them make sound land use decisions that result in a sustainable Wisconsin		Sustainable Landscapes - Describes how you an use aesthetic, functional and environmentally sound design principles to create a sustainable landscape (PDF)
Protecting Your Waterfront Investment - Ten simple shoreline stewardship practices (PDF)		Rain Gardens - A how-to manual for homeowners A detailed manual that covers rain garden sizing and site, construction details and planting and maintenance

Building and Construction		Other Resources
Green Building - The use of environmentally sensitive planning, design, specification, labor management, construction, and commissioning processes and technologies results in a holistic building strategy that should result in more sustainable communities		Calculate your Carbon Footprint - A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide
Wisconsin Green Building Alliance - facilitates and promotes the development and use of ecologically sustainable materials and practices		POWER Initiative - State of Wisconsin's groundbreaking research and developing technologies to make alternative energies more affordable and available to all Wisconsin citizens
Valley Home Builders Association - Valley Home Builders Association (VHBA) created a Green Building Task Force to educate its members, the public and local officials about environmentally sustainable residential development, construction and remodeling.		ERC - The Environmental Resources Center (ERC) promotes informed decision making on natural resource issues in Wisconsin and nationwide by working in partnership with individuals, community leaders, and resource professionals to develop and deliver research-based educational programs and materials.