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- Sustainable Middleton July 2018
Sustainable Middleton July 2018
In this issue:
Free Native Plants for School and Community Projects
FIVE TIPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE SUMMER
FREE Paper Shredding Event
WHERE: Middleton Recycling Center
4330 Parmenter St.
Middleton, WI 53562
WHEN: July 14th, 2018, 8am-10am
The Middleton Sustainability Committee and Pellitteri Waste Systems are sponsoring a FREE Paper Shredding event! Bring up to three small boxes or five paper grocery bags (equivalent to 50 pounds) of paper to the Middleton Recycling Center for confidential shredding. Staples, rubber bands, and paper clips do not need to be removed.
*NOT ACCEPTED: three-ring binders, hanging file folders, credit cards, plastics, media items (CDs, tapes, x-rays, etc.), photos, or other non-paper products.
Free Native Plants for School and Community Projects
Free Native Plants for School and Community Projects
The Dane County Land and Water Resources Department has a limited supply of free native plants available for school and community projects. These plants are grown by local volunteers who want to make an impact in their communities. School and community groups interested in receiving free plants can fill out an application on the Dane County Office of Lakes and Watersheds website and submit it by July 22. Plants will be available in August 2018.
Native plants have tremendous benefits for water quality. In natural, native plant-covered landscapes, rain soaks gradually into the ground. However, today much of the land is covered by impervious surfaces – such as streets, parking lots, roofs, compacted lawns, and heavily tilled agricultural fields – where the water cannot soak into the ground. Instead, water runs off over the land, picking up pollutants, sediment, and nutrients along the way and transporting them to local streams, rivers, and lakes. The deep root systems of native plants help decrease soil compaction and infiltrate water back into the ground, reducing stormwater runoff and protecting nearby water bodies.
Win an Outdoors Getaway
Whether you’re biking the trails or going for a run through the beautifully pristine Pheasant Branch Conservancy, it’s easy to see why it’s greener here in Middleton. Enter the “Roll into Summer Sweepstakes” and you could win $100 to Wheel & Sprocket, good for bike rentals & accessories, $100 for outdoor rec gear at Endurance House, $100 to dine al fresco at Villa Dolce and an overnight stay at Madison Marriott West.
Enter now
MGE's Hot Summer EVents
If you missed the EV 101 Event at the Middleton Library, Check out these other Hot Summer Events and learn about electric vehicles (EVs) from MGE's energy experts.
https://www.energy2030together.com/evrider/hot-summer-events.htm
Other MGE EV Resources:
- MGE EVRider Blog: https://www.energy2030together.com/evrider/
- MGE "Charge@Home" program: www.mge.com/chargeathome
- MGE EV information: www.mge.com/ev
- EPRI 2018 EV Guide: https://www.epri.com/#/pages/product/3002012521/?lang=en
FIVE TIPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE SUMMER
From the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability:
FIVE TIPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE SUMMER
- Eat Seasonally & Locally (& Go Heavy on the Veggies)
Show seasonal produce some love! Treat yourself to nutritious vegetables and fruits that benefit your health, while also supporting local Wisconsin farmers and the planet. Find out what’s currently being harvested at any time of the year using this seasonal availability guide. The Dane County Farmers’ Market, America’s largest producers-only farmers’ market, is open every Saturday from 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Capitol Square during the summer! Can’t make it on the weekend or don’t want to join the big crowds? There is also a smaller Wednesday market from 8:30am to 1:45pm. - Unplug
Get outside! Breathe in some fresh air and enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin. Go for a bike ride to Picnic Point, walk the Lakeshore Path, listen to live music at the terrace, or even take a camping trip with friends. Whatever you do, put down your electronics for a while every day and engage with your natural surroundings. Before you leave the house, remember to defeat phantom energy by making sure chargers, adapters, and small appliances are unplugged. - Stay Hydrated with A Reusable Bottle
Hot summer days can get quite dehydrating, especially after a long hike or bike ride. Make sure to quench your thirst using a reusable water bottle rather than a disposable one. We recommend a BPA-free reusable water bottle or even a mason jar. While you’re at it, consider using reusable containers and utensils for picnics and barbecues, too! - Sun-Dried Savings
Take advantage of the sunny skies and warm breezes by air drying your laundry outside on a clothesline. Simply string up a line between two trees or two posts outside your house in the sun, get some clothes pins, and pin wet laundry to the line. It’ll save energy as well as money on your next electric bill. - Close Your Shades
Temperatures are getting warmer and air conditioners are constantly on—but that doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Before you spring for the AC, consider a more sustainable option. You can keep the temperature down in your home by opening windows at night to let in the cooler air, then closing them first thing in the morning and lowering your shades to block the hot sun and take advantage of your house’s insulation. If your house is not well insulated, you can crack the windows during the day to create a cross-breeze.