Sustainability Examples

Many people and many places are living examples of sustainable practices. For ideas on what's happening in your commuity of Madison, of Dane county and beyond check out the variety of links listed on this page. Additionally, individuals have submitted personal journeys and stories of sustainabiliy. In Individuals follow the experience of Heidi as she participates in the Master's program for Leadership for Sustainabilty in Sweden.

What does cheese, computers, clean laundry and finaces have in common. Four area businesses found ways to reduce their business footprint. In Businesses read more on the featured four.

Madison Area

Arbor House - an environmental inn | Case Study
An inn renovated and operated by sustainable principles

Cedar Grove Cheese Factory
A leading company in the biologically innovative techniques to clean its waste

Community Car
Member-based car-sharing program

Dane County Justice Center (1.3MB PDF)
Green building project including LEED certification, roof garden and recycled deconstruction materials

Design Coalition Projects
'Green' building case studies from the Design Coalition

Edgewood College Rain Gardens
Rain gardens located throughout the Edgewood campus increase the infiltration of rainwater into the ground and remove potentially harmful pollutants.

Inn Serendipity
A bed and breakfast that is a showcase for energy conservation and sustainable living.

Madison Hours
A community based, time currency system based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Madison Labor Temple
The first union hall in Wisconsin to use solar energy for generating electricity.

Town of Dunn Land Trust Program
The successful land trust and "purchase of development rights" program instituted by the Town of Dunn in Dane County.

The Uplands
A 140-unit affordable, energy-efficient housing development that is designed to conserve open space and protect surrounding wetlands.

Troy Gardens
An urban multi-purpose sustainable land development including a large community garden, a kids' garden, handicapped accessible gardens, a community farm, woodland and prairie restoration, nature trails, and 24-30 units of affordable housing.

UW-Arboretum Building Addition
An addition to the Arboretum visitor center using a range of sustainable building principles.

Willy Street Co-op
A member-owned cooperative that offers local, fair trade and organic food in their energy efficient building.

Wisconsin Home Grown Lunch
A program to introduce fresh, nutritious, local and sustainably grown food to the City of Madison elementary school meals.

Regional

Fields Neighborhood Eco-Village
An Eco-Village in progress that will include the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, a kindergarten, an organic bakery, and a community building. Town of Vernon , Waukasha County.

Door County Green Fund
An organization established to contribute to the permanent protection of a variety of open spaces and, therefore, the unique quality of life treasured by Door County residents and visitors.

Greater Racine Indicators of Sustainability (3.14MB PDF)
Social equity, economic, and environmental indicators for the Racine area.

Menominee Valley Partners
A broad group of partners is working to restore the neglected river valley at the very heart of Milwaukee.

Menominee Sustainable Forestry | 2 | 3
Successful forest management since the 1850s.

Midwest Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair
The world's largest venue to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living.

Milwaukee Green Map
Shows environmentally significant sites throughout Milwaukee County.

Northland College - Environmental  Living and Learning Center
One of the most environmentally advanced residence halls in the world, located in Ashland, Wisconsin.

River Crossing Environmental Charter School
A unique and innovative educational program with an environmental theme-based integrated curriculum to learners in grades 7 and 8.

Urban Ecology Center
A neighborhood based, non-profit community center used as a living laboratory located in Milwaukee's historic Riverside Park.

National

Burlington Wavefront Project - doc file
A sustainable mixed-income rental housing on the waterfront in Burlington, Vermont.


The Edible Schoolyard Project
School kids growing their own organic food in Berkeley, California.

Ithaca EcoVillage
A way of housing ourselves that increases quality of life while minimizing our ecological footprint in Ithaca, New York.

Top 10 Green Building Projects 2001
From the American Institute of Architects.

International

Other Listings

Agenda 21
From the UN - success stories from countries implementing Agenda 21.

Best Practices
Database of urban sustainability examples from around the world.

Geothermal Success Stories
Midwest case studies of use of geothermal energy.

ICLEI
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - with examples.

Local Sustainability
From the European Good Practice Information Service.

World Institute for a Sustainable Humanity
Community sustainability examples from around the world.