MONROE - A 2010 Green County Leaders team is challenging area students, businesses and governmental employees to think about how they can make a difference in Green County on Earth Day, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary Thursday.
The leaders' team of Steve Borowski from the Monroe Clinic, Dan Berg from the Swiss Colony and Cathy Cryor Burgweger from Sugar River Crossing Realty landed on a class project to increase awareness of "green" initiatives in our county.
"We sent out just under 1,000 e-mails asking what people and organizations are doing this year to commemorate Earth Day," Burgweger said.
Art Bartsch was the first to respond. Monroe's Super 8 is a Wisconsin Travel Green partner and Bartsch is celebrating his third year of commitment to green business practices in Green County. His business is a national award winner. Art is offering free tours all day Earth Day to showcase his green business, as well as sitting down with any area residents interested in learning more about Wisconsin's Travel Green tourism program.
Sheila Berrey from The Swiss Colony said they have several green practices in place - from switching over to energy efficient lighting to an extensive recycling program throughout the facility. They're also hosting a "bring your sons and daughters to work" on Earth Day. The theme is "Going Green - How to Reduce your Carbon Footprint" with activities and speakers throughout the day.
Borowski, director of Facility Services at Monroe Clinic said that they began their green effort several years ago as well. In 2008, Monroe Clinic installed cooling equipment that uses 50 percent less energy than prior equipment.
Minhas Craft Brewery President Gary Olson said they will have two initiatives in place. They are installing two new drive units in their bottling process to minimize the large system electrical surge requirement, thus reducing energy use. The brewery has a 2010 goal of reducing waste water flow and discharge load by installing new filtering equipment. This will reduce the waste that is sent to Monroe's treatment plant.
Three Green County businesses also sent in their "green" initiatives - Creative Photography, Green County Spotlight and Life Time Lumber. Check out www.greencountyspotlight.com for more information on this paperless Green County forum that is bringing incredible value to our community.
The "green" team plans to spend Earth Day at the Monroe Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy and the Albany Middle School talking with hundreds of students and parents about the benefits of programmable thermostats, CFL/LED lighting and reducing the use of plastic water bottles.
Thanks to program sponsors, these leaders were able to buy 500 reusable water bottles that will be given away on Earth Day to students, businesses and others that are making a difference in Green County.
For more information about Green County green initiatives, e-mail Makinggreencountygreen@yahoo.com.
The leaders' team of Steve Borowski from the Monroe Clinic, Dan Berg from the Swiss Colony and Cathy Cryor Burgweger from Sugar River Crossing Realty landed on a class project to increase awareness of "green" initiatives in our county.
"We sent out just under 1,000 e-mails asking what people and organizations are doing this year to commemorate Earth Day," Burgweger said.
Art Bartsch was the first to respond. Monroe's Super 8 is a Wisconsin Travel Green partner and Bartsch is celebrating his third year of commitment to green business practices in Green County. His business is a national award winner. Art is offering free tours all day Earth Day to showcase his green business, as well as sitting down with any area residents interested in learning more about Wisconsin's Travel Green tourism program.
Sheila Berrey from The Swiss Colony said they have several green practices in place - from switching over to energy efficient lighting to an extensive recycling program throughout the facility. They're also hosting a "bring your sons and daughters to work" on Earth Day. The theme is "Going Green - How to Reduce your Carbon Footprint" with activities and speakers throughout the day.
Borowski, director of Facility Services at Monroe Clinic said that they began their green effort several years ago as well. In 2008, Monroe Clinic installed cooling equipment that uses 50 percent less energy than prior equipment.
Minhas Craft Brewery President Gary Olson said they will have two initiatives in place. They are installing two new drive units in their bottling process to minimize the large system electrical surge requirement, thus reducing energy use. The brewery has a 2010 goal of reducing waste water flow and discharge load by installing new filtering equipment. This will reduce the waste that is sent to Monroe's treatment plant.
Three Green County businesses also sent in their "green" initiatives - Creative Photography, Green County Spotlight and Life Time Lumber. Check out www.greencountyspotlight.com for more information on this paperless Green County forum that is bringing incredible value to our community.
The "green" team plans to spend Earth Day at the Monroe Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy and the Albany Middle School talking with hundreds of students and parents about the benefits of programmable thermostats, CFL/LED lighting and reducing the use of plastic water bottles.
Thanks to program sponsors, these leaders were able to buy 500 reusable water bottles that will be given away on Earth Day to students, businesses and others that are making a difference in Green County.
For more information about Green County green initiatives, e-mail Makinggreencountygreen@yahoo.com.