1) Conserve Water! - Use an energy saving shower head and remember to turn the water off while you brush your teeth.

2) Save Energy! - Replace the lightbulbs in your house with CFLs and turn off lights when you leave the room. Also remember "vampire" electronics that use energy even if they are simply plugged in. Sitting down and thinking about your energy usage can help save you money in 2009!

3) Reduce Waste! - Ditch the bottled water and switch to a BPA-Free reusable bottle. Also bring a reusable shopping bag with you to the grocery store -- a lot of stores now offer a discount if you bring your own bag.

What other green resolutions can you come up with?

Check out this article from Earth911.com about Macy's green efforts at their famous Thanksgiving Day Parade. The full article can be found at http://earth911.com/blog/2008/11/27/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-to-recycle-helium/ 

This year marked the second year that the helium used in some of the over-sized balloons will be recovered and recycled.

Linde North America is the provider of the helium used to inflate and lift the giant balloons, which include the likes of Snoopy, Buzz Lightyear, Kermit the Frog and Shrek. They will also lead the recovery and recycling effort of the helium from the balloons, focusing on the 31 medium-sized novelty balloons in the parade.

After a two and a half year campaign and three vetos by the County Executive, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors includes a Bike Racks on Buses program in County Budget in a vote of 16-3. As a result, Milwaukee County Transit System expects to have bike racks on buses this spring.

By including the Bike Racks on Buses program in this budget cycle, Milwaukee County Transit System was able to leverage Transit Enhancement dollars made available by the Federal Transit Administration. The Federal Transit Administration, which administers the Transit Enhancement program, typically reimburses projects requiring a 20% local match, yet in an effort to update all bus fleets nation-wide, they have lowered the local match to 5% for all Bike Rack on Bus programs! Thus, by including the Bike Rack on Bus program in the budget, MCTS is able to implement the program this spring for only 5% of the total cost, $32,500.

Roger Doiron has a plan... he wants President-elect Obama to replant a large organic victory garden on the lawn of the White House to supply food for the White House kitchen as well as local food pantries...

Check out the rest of our newest article in the At Home section by clicking here.

The transition office of President-elect Obama has posted the administration's Energy and Environmental Agenda. Take a look at the agenda on the transition website at http://change.gov/agenda/energy_and_environment_agenda/ . Make sure to check out the "Submit Your Ideas" link to provide your input on the administration's policies.

The City of Milwaukee recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking developers interested in buying and developing a vacant 5.6-acre site at 2372 S. Logan Ave. in the Bay View neighborhood. The property was formerly used as a U.S. Army Reserve site.

The city's asking price for the property is about $2 million. The RFP for the property is due on Jan. 17.

City officials want to see a "net zero energy development" on the site with a mix of single family, townhouse and multi-family residential units on the site. The city wants between 75 and 150 residential units built on the property.

A "net zero energy development" must create enough energy through on-site renewable energy resources annually that is equal or greater than the amount of energy that is consumed annually.

Alderman Tony Zielinski said the future residential units at the site will most likely be powered entirely by solar energy and wind power.

Visit our environmental holiday tips under the At Home section or click on the following link: http://milwaukee.1thingus.com/at-home/tips-the-holiday-season

Also check out the Hannukah Gift Guide! http://milwaukee.1thingus.com/at-home/hannukah-gift-guide

Will Allen, former professional basketball player and founder of Growing Power, an organization who's goal is to grow food, grow minds, and grow community has been awarded a $500,000 "genius grant" by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation.

According to the foundation, "Will Allen is an urban farmer who is transforming the cultivation, production, and delivery of healthy foods to underserved, urban populations ... Allen is experimenting with new and creative ways to improve the diet and health of the urban poor." 

For more information on the grant click here. To find out more about Growing Power, click here.

Miwaukee moved from 16th most sustainable city to 12th according to SustainLane.com. SustainLane.com is an online group dedicated to sustainable, healthy living.

Each year, the website ranks the country's 50 largest cities. The city rankings show which cities are increasingly self-sufficient, prepared for the unexpected and taking steps toward preserving quality of life.

The rankings figure in each city's ability to maintain healthy air, drinking water, parks and public transit systems, as well as a sustainable local economy. The rankings measure cumulative performance on 16 economic and quality-of-life categories.

Here's what is said about Milwaukee:

Menomonee Falls-based Kohl's Department Stores has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star label for 50 of its stores. The company says that is the largest group of non-supermarket retail buildings to earn the label in Energy Star history.

The Energy Star program designates commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency. Kohl's stores earning the Energy Star designation are located in Colorado (7), Illinois (14), Minnesota (8), New York (12), Utah (4) and Wisconsin (5), the company said.

Kohl's says it incorporates energy efficient systems and practices into all of its buildings. Those features include: centralized energy management control systems; occupancy sensor lighting for stockrooms, break rooms and offices; high-efficiency lighting; and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.