Blog entries for GreenerMilwaukee

Twestival 2009

GreenerMilwaukee — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:59:39 GMT

On 12 February 2009 175+ cities (including Milwaukee!) around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

Join us by:

Help generate buzz and Attend the 1st Twestival
Uploading or buying music at Twestival.fm.
Taking part in the t-shirt design competition.
Donating to charity: water. (CLICK ON LINK BELOW!)

The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to supportcharity: water projects.

History

In September 2008, a group of Twitterers based in London UK decided to organize an event where the local Twitter community could socialize offline; meet the faces behind the avatars, enjoy some entertainment, have a few drinks and tie this in with a food drive and fundraising effort for a local homeless charity.

The bulk of the event was organized in under two weeks, via Twitter and utilized the talents and financial support of the local Twittersphere to make this happen.

Around the world similar stories started appearing of local Twitter communities coming together and taking action for a great cause. Twestival was born out of the idea that if cities were able to collaborate on an international scale, but working from a local level, it could have a spectacular impact.

In Milwaukee we have ONE week to pull this off. Let's do it. How can you help? Suggest a venue, let's secure a venue, then get some music in their and then tally up what we can!

The Milwaukee chapter is being organized by Greener Milwaukee and the people of Twitter, "ma tweeps" so to speak. So if you want to donate - or attend - or help out, PLEASE DO! - Milwaukee is counting on you to throw this little get together and whatever money we raise is enough because it came from the heart. :)

Happy Birthday Milwaukee! A Freshwater Future.

GreenerMilwaukee — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:56:46 GMT

This years event is being hosted by Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin.
Admission is $25 and includes:

Food stations from Bartolotta Catering Company
Complimentary beer from Milwaukee Brewing Company
Soda from Sprecher
Birthday cake
Cash bar
Live entertainment by We Six, Milwaukee's all-star jazz group

Water Contest Winner Revealed
Water is an essential resource for Milwaukee. To celebrate this resource, the Milwaukee Press Club is producing a limited supply of commemorative bottled water that will be available to party attendees and to Press Club members. The Press Club Members and party attendees will help brand this invaluable resource by developing a name and tagline for the bottled water that reflects the importance of fresh water to our region. At 6:15 p.m. the program will include the reveal of the Milwaukee Press Club's commemorative bottled water contest winner.

Tue, January 27, 2009
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 Person

Honorary Party Hosts
Please join honorary party hosts in wishing the City a happy birthday...

Mayor Tom Barrett
Common Council President Willie Hines
Alderman Bob Donovan Alderman Willie Wade
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs Alderman Robert Puente
Alderman Joe Dudzik Alderman Robert Bauman
Alderman Nik Kovac Alderman Joe Davis
Alderman Tony Zielinski Supervisor Theodore Lipscomb
Supervisor Chris Larson Supervisor Willie Johnson, Jr.
State Rep. Josh Zepnick State Rep. Fred Kessler
State Sen. Spencer Coggs State Rep. Annette Williams
Alderman Michael Murphy State Sen. Alberta Darling

Win Prizes
At the party make sure to visit our sponsorship tables to enter a drawing to win local prizes, including a private Summerfest party suite for 25 guests.

Rain Barrel Project
Also, don't forget to stop by the rain barrel auction to bid on one of eight beautifully painted barrels from the Milwaukee artists. Eight barrels, donated by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, are being painted and decorated by local artists. The barrels will be weatherproofed and ready for installation to your downspouts when the spring thaw comes.
For more information about the rain barrels click here>

Green Tech: Bring your bike lane with you!

GreenerMilwaukee — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:55:29 GMT

It's given that life in the city will bring mishaps, theft, tickets... even accidents. Some of the worst accidents are bike accidents due to the fact that a driver doesn't see a bicyclist, or even realize that they are hogging the bike lane. To it's credit Milwaukee has taken some effort to make the city streets safer and create bike lanes in areas where it it possible to do so. They have a long way to go and really considering they are skimping on salt this winter due to cost, i don't think they are going to go apey over more manhours (or womanhours) to increase city budgets.

Even less than a year ago, current county executive thought that $80,000 to install bike racks on city buses. Has this guy ever visited another urban area? Bike racks are heavily used, work, and save cities money...

That is not my quest to comment on that today however (although you can feel free) It is my intention to bring to you attention a space-age, green-tech device that creates a bike lane around you. Yes, a virtual force field called the LightLane.

The LightLane is a concept design that uses lasers to project an illuminated bike lane all around you wherever you go. It keeps you visible to cars and it keeps you safe.

Find out more about this device and bicycle safety measures at Greener Milwaukee,

Fuel Press: Cheap Diesel

GreenerMilwaukee — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:39:11 GMT

Last post I wrote about the spike in fuel prices and people in the community added their thoughts and views regarding my post.

This post is going to be about strictly diesel and hopefully just as inviting to comments and contribution. So here goes!

Do you drive a diesel car or truck?
If so what are the benefits of it?
Do you mind paying more for this type of fuel?
How does your diesel vehicle operate in the cold?
Would you be interested in a Bio-Diesel fill-up station?

Thanks for your consideration, now reap the benefits of the cheapest Diesel in the City!

Cheapest Diesel in the City:

$2.29 as of 1/12/2009

BP Service Station 2023 S Kinnickinnic AveCross: E Becher StMilwaukee - South, WI, 53207

Fuel Press: Gas Prices Skyrocketing

GreenerMilwaukee — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:50:27 GMT

$1.89 is the average price per gallon in the Milwaukee area as of this week.

Did you know it was just $1.68, a week ago?

What gives? Oh yea... Geopolitical instability.

The powers that be (Exxon, OPEC, and the usual suspects) cite "Tension in the Middle East" as the cause gas prices jumped over 10% in one week.

That's a new one There is trouble there, really? I wonder what could be going on? Whatever it is, my wallet took a hit this week just when I thought i could fill 'er up with a 10 spot and be on my merry way.

Well, the holidays are over and with it the season of charity and good cheer.

This Middle East thing strikes me as an excuse as many political analyst actually saw it coming for a few reasons:

A. It was inevitable

B. It was inevitable

C. The American presidential post and it's power are in flux. Many people predicted this behavior and certainly could have hedged fuel production accordingly. However, that would have been a responsible thing to do hence bucking the system of record corporate greed and political stalemate that worked so well for us in 2008.

See you in the bike lanes come winter thaw.

Green Revolution Resolutions

GreenerMilwaukee — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:11:55 GMT

Do you have a green resolution this year?

Here are some things you could consider:

walk more punk
get those funky light bulbs
get a Bart Simpson lawn mower
quit smoking & chucking your butts
recycle your bottles and cans
drive less, think more
curtail your grocery bag addiction
help pitch in for a Greener Milwaukee

Any ideas are welcome, of course there are plenty more I'll talk about in 2009, but until that time comes. Get Greener, Cleaner, and keep it real.

How to build an igloo!

GreenerMilwaukee — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:51:26 GMT

I thought it might be fun for readers to find out how to build an igloo. They provide shelter and retain heat when frigid temperatures threaten human safety. Here is how:

Step 1. Cut blocks from dry, hard, hard snow, using a snow saw or large knife. Each block should be about 3 ft. (1m) long, 15 in. (40cm) high, and 8 in. (20cm) deep.

Step 2. Form a circle with blocks around the hole created where you cut the blocks. Cut the circle in a spiral from the top of the last block to the ground ahead of the first block. This will make it easy to construct a dome.

Step 3. Build up walls, overlapping the blocks and shaping them so that they lean inward. Cut a hole under the wall for the cold sink and entrance. Put several blocks along one wall as a sleeping platform

Step 4. The last block must initially be larger than the hole. Place the block on top of the igloo, then, from inside, shape and wiggle it to slot exactly into the hole

Step 5. Hot air from your body and stove rises and is trapped inside the dome. Cold air falls into the sink and flows away to the outside. It is essential to cut ventilation holes in the walls with an ice axe.

Finished Igloo

With warmth inside the igloo, the surface of the walls will melt and freeze over, to form a smooth, airtight ice surface. The roof over entrance tunnel prevents snow from blowing into igloo.

That was fun! Feel free to join us online at Greener Milwaukee! Happy Holidays!

Holiday Gift Guide 2008: Give Green to Save Green

GreenerMilwaukee — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:18:02 GMT

Treehugger is a pretty nifty site for those exploring Green living solutions on an international scale. They have amasses a 2008 green gift guide that may be worth checking out if you are into the Green Movement here in Milwaukee.

According to them, they have,

"From energy-saving gadgets for the green geek to toys for the little ones, we have more than 100 green gift ideas in 12 categories (navigate using the red buttons below) that will help you consume wisely and still bring lots of holiday cheer."

Check out Greener guides in your area by clicking on the link below, happy holidays!

Revolving Solutions.

GreenerMilwaukee — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:28:10 GMT

Good Clean Tech is of the best kind. And while it isn't cheap to install it eventually pays for iteself and them some. imagine if every Marquette, Bucks, and Bradley Event had revoloving doors hooked up to power the place. Now think about the rest of the city? Cool, huh?

You probably come across revolving doors almost on a daily basis, but I bet this is the first one you've ever heard of that can actually harness kinetic energy. In the Natuurcafé La Port coffee shop in Netherlands, a special revolving door was built that could harness the kinetic energy generated by the people passing through it. The door is equipped with an energy generator that produces the power stored in a set of supercapacitators. People passing through could clearly see the mechanism through the transparent glass on the ceiling.

Energy generated admittedly isn't anything jaw-dropping but still total to around 4600 kWh per year. Most of that is used to power the LED light at the top of the structure for illumination as well as to control the door's revolving speed to avoid accidents. There's a visible light scale at the inside to indicate energy harnessed - red or orange for low energy from slow entries through the doors and green for high energy harnessed brought about by fast-paced entries. The energy-harnessing revolving door is part of a refurbishment process of the railway station where the café is located...

Be a green machine and $hovel.

GreenerMilwaukee — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:49:16 GMT

Want to make yourself useful this winter? Read This...

Ok, So do you know the story of John Henry? The one with the folkoric hero who beat a shoveling machine with his brawn and enduring human spirt?

Well, you can emulate that dude without the tragic consequences this winter and fly your green card in the process... well depending who you are.

How?

With all this snow and and the ability to shovel, do you have to ask?

Snow shoveling is almost as green as it gets as; it's A. Good for you B. it's healthier for air quality than a snow blower, (or "thrower" as retail chains are now calling them) C. It's nice to do for a neighbor orelderly person that may need a helping hand. D. You could make some scratch with that hard work.

So grab your shovel and start shoveling, shucks, check the link below there is even a demand for it... Apparently you can make around $32,000 shoveling snow according to Simply Hired.

So just don't site there reading all day, get out there and help make a Greener Milwaukee today.

Renewable is doable - Wind Turbines on the Great Lakes!

GreenerMilwaukee — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:26:27 GMT

FYI, I hoard a collection of wind power reference books in a small library in newly cleaned apartment. Of them, my favorites are usually by author is Paul Gipe, a man who has dedicated his life to the art and education of selling renewable energy systems to the masses. "Wind Energy Basics" was on my current reading list and finished it up just yesterday with the intention of posting about it today.

I challenge you to pick up one of his books via the Milwaukee Public Library system as it is cheaper than purchasing them and will save you space in the long haul in case you don't think of these books as an investment such as I do. Click on the link below to see Paul Gipe speak about the Great Lakes and just remember to insert the word "Milwaukee" every-time he mentions "Ontario."

Would you be bothered by huge wind turbines at least 60 meters tall and a few 100 meters off our Lake Michigan coastline?

Green Car Tips for Winter Blues #2

GreenerMilwaukee — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:17:36 GMT

Oh the Joy! Here is real 411 concerning Greener cars and Greener Milwaukee tips that are a good way to start the weekend off right. #1 use your turn signals "ahead" of time...

Maintenance Tips

Keep your tires properly inflated. Tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended for your vehicle; this information is often printed inside the door frame or in your owner's manual. For every 3 pounds below recommended pressure, fuel economy goes down by about 1 percent. Tires can lose about 1 pound of pressure in a month, so check the air pressure regularly and always before going on a long trip or carrying heavy loads. Underinflated tires can also detract from handling, safety, and how long the tires will last.
Buy low-rolling-resistance (LRR) replacement tires. Switching to a typical set of replacement tires lowers a vehicle's fuel economy as much as 4 percent. LRR tires, on the other hand, are specially designed to improve a vehicle's fuel economy. Most major tire manufacturers now produce LRR models, so when it comes time to replace your tires, seek out a set of LRRs.
Check your own fuel economy every few weeks. If you notice it slipping, that could mean you have a minor problem with the engine or your brakes. Using this advance warning, you can fix problems before you have a breakdown on the road.
Get a tune-up. Whether you do it yourself or go to a mechanic, a tune-up can increase your fuel economy. Follow owner's manual guidelines. Be sure to check for worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, and low transmission fluid; have your wheels aligned and tires rotated; and replace the air filter if needed. Make sure all used vehicle fluids are recycled or disposed of safely.
Change the oil. In addition to making your car or truck last longer, replacing the oil and oil filter regularly will also help fuel economy. Check your owner's manual for specific recommendations about how often to change. Ask the service station if they recycle used oil, or if you do it yourself, take your old oil to someplace that does recycle. Ask for recycled oil as a replacement.
Have your vehicle's emission control system checked periodically. Take it in for service if an instrument panel warning light comes on.

...and remember, keep air in those tires for better mileage and better traction in the snow!

Green Car Tips for Winter Blues

GreenerMilwaukee — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:05:26 GMT

Face it, it is going to snow today. It's going to snow and you are going to have to drive through the stuff. So how can you do it without spinning your tires, getting stuck, or burning to much carbon in your chariot of fuel? Greener cars and Greener Milwaukee tips are a good way to start. #1 Drive carefully.

Here are a few more...

Buying green is just the first step in reducing the environmental impacts of automobile use. Your choice of vehicle is most important, but how you drive and how well you maintain your car, van, or light truck will also make a difference.

Avoid "jack rabbit" starts and aggressive driving. Flooring the gas pedal not only wastes gas, it leads to drastically higher pollution rates. One second of high-powered driving can produce nearly the same volume of carbon monoxide emissions as a half hour of normal driving.

Think ahead. Try to anticipate stops and let your vehicle coast down as much as possible. Avoid the increased pollution, wasted gas, and wear on your brakes created by accelerating hard and braking hard.

Follow the speed limit! Driving 75 mph instead of 65 mph will lower your fuel economy by about 10 percent, and can dramatically increase tailpipe pollution in many vehicles.

When possible, plan your trips to avoid rush hour. Stop-and-go driving burns gas and increases emissions of smog-forming pollutants.

Combine trips. Warmed-up engines and catalysts generate much less air pollution, so combining several short trips into one can make a big difference.

Take a load off. Carrying around an extra 100 pounds reduces fuel economy by about 1 percent. Take a few moments to unload your cargo area.

If your vehicle has it, use overdrive gear at cruising speeds. When driving a manual transmission, shift up as soon as possible. Running in a higher gear decreases the rpm and will decrease fuel use and engine wear.

Try using the vents and opening windows to cool off before you turn on the air conditioner. Air conditioner use increases fuel consumption, increases NOx emissions in some vehicles, and involves environmentally damaging fluids.

Unlike many older cars and trucks, modern vehicles don't need to warm up and they have automatic chokes, so you don't need to step on the gas pedal before starting the engine

...and keep air in those tires for better mileage and better traction in the snow!

(Photo: neils breve)

Eco Interviews: Eco-Hatchery

GreenerMilwaukee — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:13:22 GMT

I conducted a short interview on a local business owner, Adam Borut and his partner's start-up called, Eco-hatchery. Their focus is on Green gift packs that could come in handy this holiday season... what do you think?

0. Who are you?

Eco Hatchery is a Milwaukee based company dedicated to helping homeowners reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

1. How did you get started with this Hatchery business?

My business partner and I were discussing the challenge of moving from environmental consciousness to action. In talking with friends and family, we found most were environmentally conscious, but had done little in their personal lives to take action. They were overwhelmed by information, and short on time. We sought to develop a collection of tools that would enable homeowners to have the greatest impact in a single weekend. Along the way, we realized this was not enough. People needed to see in economic and environmental terms the size of opportunities, and the impact of their actions. They also wanted a clear and personalized roadmap for moving forward. We therefore married our Eco Starter Kit with on-line programs we developed to identify, prioritize and track impact of opportunities.

2. How long have you been into the green movement?

I lived for over eight years in Asia, which brought personal focus to the immediate dangers of environmental neglect. I worked for many years in consumer products. I have been 100% focused on this business for the past 2 years.

3. Where are you living? I live in Milwaukee.

4. Where do you see you and the company going?

Our hope is to have a national impact through continuing to educate and provide tools to homeowners to transform the way they live.

5. What makes your product unique, what is it and why should people care about it?

The product marries physical tools, easy step-by-step instructions with on-line tools to maximize peoples impact on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the shortest time with the least resources.

Thanks EH for helping making this city a greener Milwaukee.

Winterize Your House & Be Green!

GreenerMilwaukee — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:20:24 GMT

As the first real snowfall covers the ground this morning on this post-Thanksgiving December dawn, we now all have to turn our attention to the next season at hand... the red and green one.

This involves buying gifts for those that you love & those you don't, this is either the most wonderful time of the year, or if you have bad insulation in your rented apartment, the most feared. So this year, I decided to take action instead of cowering in candlelight over a dusty Charles Dickens novel. I decided to educate myself with some simple tips to be green, save money, and gift the gift of giving green instead of spending it.

1. Know the Facts – The average family spends $1,400 a year on energy bills, with nearly half of that spent on heating and cooling. Energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment, sized and installed correctly, with properly sealed ducts, can save homeowners as much as 20 percent on their annual energy costs.

2. Keep it Clean – A dirty air filter can increase your energy costs and lead to early equipment failure. Clean or change the air filter in your heating and cooling system monthly. Some filters only need to be changed every 3 months. Also, have your equipment checked seasonally to make sure it’s operating efficiently and safely – check-ups can identify problems early. Dirt and neglect are the #1 causes of system failure.

3. Bundle Up Your Home – Hidden gaps and cracks in a home can add up to as much airflow as an open window. The more heat that escapes, the more cold air enters, causing your system to work harder and use more energy. Home Sealing can improve your home “envelope” – the outer walls, ceiling, windows and floors -- and can save up to 10 percent in energy costs. Start by sealing air leaks and adding insulation—pay special attention to your attic and basement, where the biggest gaps and cracks are often found. If replacing windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified ones.

4.Tighten Your Ducts – If you have a forced air furnace or heat pump, then a duct system is responsible for circulating warm air throughout your home. Leaky ducts can reduce your system’s overall efficiency by 20 percent. Sealing your ducts can save up to $140 annually on energy bills and help you consistently heat every room.

5. Don’t Oversize – If you’re replacing old equipment, make sure your new equipment is properly sized for your home -- bigger isn’t always better. An oversized system will cost more to buy and operate and will cycle on and off too frequently, reducing your comfort and leading to early system failures and repair costs. Correct size and proper airflow will ensure that your equipment works efficiently, saves you money, and helps protect our environment.

6. Put Your Home to the Test – Doing a home improvement project this fall or winter? ENERGY STAR has online tools to evaluate your home’s energy performance and offer solutions to increase comfort and energy efficiency. Visit www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement. Have your utility bills handy for savings calculations.

7. Consult a Professional – Find an experienced, licensed contractor before embarking on any heating and cooling overhaul. Visit http://www.natex.org/ to find a contractor whose technicians are certified by NATE (North American Technician Excellence), the leading industry-supported testing and certification program. Your contractor should properly size your equipment, test airflow, and perform a quality installation.

So if you are interested in more funky, fun facts, feel free to join the Greener milwaukee community online. Until then, stay warm and be green.

(Photo: JDCow, St. Francis, Wisconsin)