Have you ever been behind the Wells Towers, and seen the large prairie down the road?  Have you ever wondered what it is, or why it is there? What that area actually is, is a nature preserve where the campus is making efforts to restore native prairie species.

About 15,000 years ago, two small glacial formations (Drumlins) formed there and created the 110 acre area that you see today.  There are lots of trails you can hike, but the area in and of itself is quite interesting.  Each week, staff and students go into the prairie and collect seeds from the native species.  Before winter, those seeds are spread out to areas where we hope to expand the prairie to, and to promote biodiversity.

The area has grown rapidly since the restoration project began, and the prairie is thriving.  It is not only plant species that this restoration benefits either!  Pictured below is the Upland Plover. This rare bird is one of 8 species currently being considered for “endangered” status by the state of Wisconsin.  However, one of these birds was recently spotted in the prairie, and this has gained attention from the state Department of Natural Resources.

Below, you can see the bird, as well as several of the plant species that are commonly found in the prairie.  Don’t forget, you can always help! The UW-Whitewater Earth Initiative, SAGE, and other orgs come to help collect seeds every Friday morning at 10am, and you can too!  Not only is it fun and sustainable, but you can get volunteer hours for your efforts!

Check out this video below, which shows what one of these prairie seed collections looks like, and provides some more insights as to the purpose of collecting and seeding the prairie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3f9LB-_zQA

Pictured (left to right): Upland Plover, Rattlesnake Master, Showy Goldenrod

When many students hear “sustainability” they probably think “recycling” or maybe even just turning off the lights when they leave a room.  While those things are sustainable acts, sustainability encompasses much more.  Many campuses around the country, including UW-Whitewater, are starting measures to become sustainable.  Even better, they are doing so in creative ways.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy, for example, thought outside of the solar panel when it came to producing renewable energy on campus.  While many campuses have at least some solar panels producing energy for their students, this school has taken to installing wind turbines on campus.  Currently, the school saves over $160,000 per year in energy costs due to the wind turbine energy output, and that was just from their first turbine!  They plan to install many more in the future.

Wisconsin’s own Ripon College found another creative solution to the burning of fossil fuels.  Due to concerns about the pollution of students with cars (and parking concerns) Ripon College instituted a brand new program where incoming college freshman get a free bike, bike lock, and helmet if they pledge to use them instead of driving to class!  The College even received donations from local businesses so that it costs the school little to nothing.

Many colleges, including UW-Whitewater, are strongly supporting ride-share programs as well!  These can be as simple as a web page organized by the school, where commuting students (or those who are just going home for the weekend) post where they need to go, where they are already driving, and how many open seats they have.  Not only does this drastically cut down on the number of cars and the roads, and therefor emissions, but it also gives everyone somebody to talk to on those long, boring drives back home!

As you can see, there is much more to sustainability than just recycling.  These are just a few of the creative ways that some schools are encourages their students to protect the Earth for future generations.

-David

Filabot: Changing Plastics

Have you heard of 3D printing?  Basically, it works much in the same way as an inkjet printer.  However, instead of ink it uses plastic, and obviously prints in 3 dimensions.  This offers the average person endless opportunities.  The amateur inventor no longer has to look for a manufacturer to make their prototype.  They can simply print it out on their desk.

3D printing also offers exciting opportunities for society as a whole.  Some suggest that in the future, whole houses could be 3D printed in under 20 hours!  3D modular homes could be used to replace rundown slums in inner cities.  Medical products have been made available to poor areas because of the inexpensive 3D manufacturing process as well.

A new product, called the Filabot, is looking to make 3D printing look like an even more enticing option.  This product allows you to take your recyclable plastics (numbers 1-7) and melt them down right in your own home.  The device fits on a desktop, and produces the plastic filament used in the 3D printing process.  In theory, one could take their old milk jugs, turn them into an exciting new product, and melt the result down again if you aren’t satisfied.

The project, which is run by a 20 year old entrepreneur, is still in its infancy.  The first consumer units are now shipping, and new models are in development that increase convenience and efficiency.  In the future, it is entirely possibly that all of our recyclables can be reused in the home to make other needed items around the house.

This device allows you to take your ideas and turn them into reality using resources you otherwise were just putting in the recycling bin.

Here is a video of a small prototype in action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=712nrXmdkIg

-David

It’s that time of the year again! The crisp smell of fall in the air; orange, yellow, red, and brown are becoming the primary colors. Now that you have gotten into the groove of school and work, it’s time to get a breath of fresh air and clear your mind before midterms come barreling in.
Where do I go? What do I do?
Well, let me tell you!
The Kettle Moraine State Forest has over 22,000 acres of hills, valleys, ponds, and lakes that are open for you to explore. It’s a great place that is always changing with the seasons!
This enchanting state park begins in Walworth County and extends through Kewaunee County. Created by the Greenbay Lobe and the Lake Michigan Lobe of the glacier, the Kettle Moraine has unique features that many other states do not have. These unique features include valleys ranging from three to 200 feet in depth, small ponds, large lakes, and hills up to 300 feet high.
The DNR has given you 160 miles of trails that allow you to see these wonderful features. One of the many nature trails include a short half mile trail up to one of the highest points in Jefferson County.

Not only that, but the Bald Bluff Nature Trail also used to be a former Native American signal hill. You can grab your horse and ride it around the Kettle Moraine for 87 miles also. Finally, don’t forget the beautiful Ice Age Trail!  If backpacking or hiking is your thing, then this trail is the premier destination for you! It stretches throughout Wisconsin for more than 1,000 miles, and goes right past Whitewater!

If neither of these peak your interests, don’t worry! Go ahead and canoe, go boating, fish, kayak, hunt and trap, practice target shooting, and go camping. Once the fluffy white snow begins to fall and the temperature drops, break out your cross-country skis, snow shoes, snowmobile, and ice fishing gear and head on over to the Kettle Moraine.

Go and make some memories today!

-Katie Barker

It’s that time of year again where the warm weather days are far and few between and the wonderfully chilly Wisconsin autumn weather begins to creep in.  If there is one thing we Wisconsinites know, it is that winter’s knock is fast approaching. That got me thinking: what are some ways I can continue to be sustainable as the colder weather moves in?

During the warm summer months, it is easy for us to go for a swim, ride a bike through the breeze, or grab a Popsicle to cool down instead of running the air conditioning or fans all day. However, during the winter months, we often forget that we can still be “green” even when the landscape outside is not. Here are just a few simple tips that can help us reduce energy costs.

• Check for any gaps in your windows and doors and get them filled or covered. Heat from you building or apartment can escape through these cracks, and cold air can blow in.
• Cover your windows with blinds or thick curtains. Doing this can reduce the amount of heat that escapes or the amount of cool air that blows in.
• Wear layers to trap heat close to your body.
• Try warming up by exercising, drinking a cup of warm soup, or wrapping yourself in a blanket. Wool is an especially good insulator.
• A major source of heat loss on your body is through your feet. Wearing slippers or thick socks can keep you from feeling the bite of the cold weather.
• The most fun way to stay warm is to invite friends over to play board games, eat dinner, or do homework.  The body heat being given off by other people in close proximity will keep the whole group warm.

As always, no matter what time of year it is, properly recycling disposables, reusing and repurposing products, and reducing the amount of waste produced are great ways to decrease our impact. With these tips, we can be sustainable year-round and show that living better is always in season.

-Ethan Wilke

It’s October already?  I guess what they say really is true; time flies when you’re being sustainable.  It’s a good thing you checked into the Conservation Conversation when you did.  In the upcoming weeks of October, there will be numerous events for you to take part in and enjoy.

“Get set for good food and lots of fun with carnival games, prizes, professional family photos with Willie Warhawk, face painting, music, and more!”  On Saturday, October 12, UW-Whitewater will be hosting Family Fest, an interactive and fun-filled event that is sure to bring enjoyment to all who attend.

Family Fest events will be held in the Kachel Field House from 11:30AM to 2:00PM.  Costs to attend events are as follows:

• Adult Ticket: $12.75
• Children under 10: $4.50 (3 and under are free)
• Warhawks without a meal plan: $8.75
• Warhawks with a meal plan: No Cost! (Students must present HawkCard at event to use their meal plan)

After Family Fest has concluded, you can watch your UW-Whitewater Warhawks take the field to battle UW-Stout Blue Devils at Perkins Stadium.  Kickoff will be at 2:30PM, so come and show your support for the Warhawks.

Following Family Fest, on Wednesday, October 23, UW-Whitewater will be celebrating Campus Sustainability Day.  There will be multiple events around campus for you to participate in.  In particular, the UW-Whitewater Earth Initiative will be hosting a table in the University Center asking for your participation in a plastic bag collection.  This event asks you to bring in 20 plastic shopping bags and in return you can receive a FREE reusable Sentry grocery bag.  Did I mention it’s FREE and REUSABLE?

As time continues to fly, make sure to take some time to enjoy your October by attending Family Fest and Campus Sustainability Day.  Feel free to let us know what you thought about either or both events on Facebook or Twitter.

-Michael

Facebook: Sustainability at UW-Whitewater

Twitter: @sustainable_uww