In a state that Forbes magazine recently ranked at the nation's 16th greenest state, its capital city, Madison, is ranked in the Top 25 Green Cities list. The communities of Baraboo, Beloit, Johnson Creek, Madison, Spring Green, and Waterloo have all taken official action to become eco-municipalities.
These strong sustainability trends in our region and state have lead to strong growth in the eco-tourism market, bringing a new stream of business and tourism potential to the region. Even our international airport has received environmental awards. The trends have also sparked great opportunities for the growing bioeconomy in this region.
Sustainable business growth is about the triple bottom line - people, planet, and profit. The green tradition in the Madison Region opens up a wealth of possibilities for development.
From the Madison Region's Assets and Opportunities Initiative: assets in green building and sustainability, including LEED buildings and eco-municipalities
Bioeconomy
The bioeconomy has been in the news a lot over the last decade, but it is still in its infancy. Whether it's ethanol, new energy sources, or biobased plastics and materials, we are globally transitioning from a non-renewable petroleum-based economy to a renewable bio-based economy.
The bioeconomy is the new economic paradigm, and the Madison Region is taking the opportunity to be at the forefront - to advance technologies, and
develop and produce new products.
The Madison Region has:
The bioeconomy is the new economic paradigm, and the Madison Region is taking the opportunity to be at the forefront - to advance technologies, and
develop and produce new products.
The Madison Region has:
- One of three federal Bioenergy Research Facilities - the Great Lakes
Bioenergy Research Center at the UW-Madison - A rich diversity of biomass feedstocks available - wood, fiber, grain from which to build new energy sources and biobased products, such as
bioplastics - Biofuels production and research facilities
- Regional energy providers who are actively engaging new solar, wind and biomass technologies
- Papermills - big bioprocressors - to the north that may produce energy, new bio-based chemicals and materials in the future as technology advances
- Strong clusters with the opportunity to embrace bio-based products to
generate greener products (e.g., plastics cluster in Sauk and
Columbia County, solar panel production in Mazomanie) - Regional skill sets in manufacturing, processing, metal fabrication and plant sciences that can be applied to new bioeconomy businesses
Stewardship in Sauk County:
Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospitals & Clinics
"We have a committee at Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital & Clinics called the 'Eco Friends' that has similar environmentally friendly, ecologically responsible, and energy efficient goals to Sustain Sauk County. I am an active member of this committee.
The Nutrition Services Department has made great strides towards being more eco-friendly this year. We have eliminated disposable service-ware in catered meetings, using only reusable dishes and silverware. We offer discounts for customers who bring in their own mugs and cups to the cafe. An energy efficient water cooler has been installed in the main meeting room so bottled water is no longer necessary. Also, we are looking forward to purchasing fresh produce from local suppliers this season.
Our facilities department has been changing out florescent light fixtures as bulbs need replacing to the more energy efficient ballasts. And they have installed low flow automatic faucets in our hand wash sinks as well as automatic towel dispensers for reducing water and paper towel usage and better infection control. It's fabulous!"
--Amy Miller, Director, Nutrition Services, Sauk Prairie Memorial
Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospitals & Clinics
"We have a committee at Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital & Clinics called the 'Eco Friends' that has similar environmentally friendly, ecologically responsible, and energy efficient goals to Sustain Sauk County. I am an active member of this committee.
The Nutrition Services Department has made great strides towards being more eco-friendly this year. We have eliminated disposable service-ware in catered meetings, using only reusable dishes and silverware. We offer discounts for customers who bring in their own mugs and cups to the cafe. An energy efficient water cooler has been installed in the main meeting room so bottled water is no longer necessary. Also, we are looking forward to purchasing fresh produce from local suppliers this season.
Our facilities department has been changing out florescent light fixtures as bulbs need replacing to the more energy efficient ballasts. And they have installed low flow automatic faucets in our hand wash sinks as well as automatic towel dispensers for reducing water and paper towel usage and better infection control. It's fabulous!"
--Amy Miller, Director, Nutrition Services, Sauk Prairie Memorial