University of Wisconsin - Extension

Pollution Prevention (P2) Week in Wisconsin, Sept. 17-23, will feature green building, with a theme of ¿Get Comfortable with Green Building and Save.¿

¿Green building is the use of building design, land use and construction strategies to create buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work,¿ explains Sherrie Gruder, University of Wisconsin-Extension source reduction and recycling specialist. ¿Green building considers the life of the building from beginning to end, including its site to improve its energy, resource and water efficiency, and indoor air and environmental quality,¿ she adds.

¿Pollution Prevention Week provides a valuable opportunity for government agencies, business groups, and community organizations to work together to highlight the importance of pollution prevention¿the design, manufacture, purchase or use of products to conserve resources and reduce their toxicity,¿ adds Gruder.

Partners organizing activities for green building include the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Department of Administration; UW-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center; the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp.; Wisconsin Green Building Alliance; WasteCap Wisconsin; Wisconsin Green Built Home Program; Wisconsin Environmental Initiative Design Coalition; and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Pollution Prevention Week will feature tours, open houses and learning sessions throughout the state. A call-in radio program on Green Building on Wisconsin Public Radio will be featured at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, with Larry Meiller. Tours will include two building materials reuse centers: HomeSource in Milwaukee, Sept. 20 and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Sept. 22, celebrating their grand opening, in Madison.

Tours of green buildings will include the UW-Green Bay Mary Ann Cofrin Hall on Sept. 20 with renewable energy and other green features, and Don Simon Homes Valley Ridge subdivision in Madison on September 23.

Presentations will include the following:

-- Sustainable forest products from Menominee Tribal Enterprises.

-- Sustainable redevelopment of the Munich Airport, presented in Green Bay on Sept. 19, in Milwaukee on Sept. 20 and in Madison on Sept. 21.

-- Salvage for reuse and deconstruction by the Overture Project performing arts district in Madison.

If you would like to participate or want more information, please contact: Kathy Oppegard, DNR at (608) 264-6286 or log on to the P2 Week web site. The web site includes more information about green building and specific dates and times of events during Pollution Prevention Week: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cea/projects/pollution/p2/index.htm">www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cea/projects/pollution/p2/ The site will be updated often, so please check back in.