Oct. 5, 2021
Test your energy efficiency know-how!
How many of these energy efficiency tips do you already do?

1. Cook with lids on your pots.

2. Line dry your clothes—a wooden rack in a furnace room is perfect. If you do use a dryer, try wool dryer balls instead of plastic dryer sheets.

3. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

4. Put outdoor lights on motion sensors—the moths will thank you (they're important pollinators).

5. Clean and change your furnace filters regularly.

6. Open curtains in west-facing windows to save 2% to 12% of heating costs in winter.

7. Seal the leaks, especially around chimneys and recessed lighting.

8. Slide draft guards under your doors.

9. Wash clothes on cold. Modern detergents are designed to work with cold water cycles. A washing machine uses 90% of its energy to heat water.

10. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
How much money will you save?

Just sealing and caulking can reduce heating costs by 20%. Leaving the leaks is like leaving a 3x3-foot window open.
"Energy efficiency could meet 1/3 of the U.S.'s expected electricity generation needs by 2030."
--EnergyEffieciencyDay.org
66% of Madison's Carbon Footprint Comes from the Built Environment—this includes electricity and natural gas used by home owners and businesses for heating, cooling, cooking, lighting and running appliances.
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Textile Recycling Drop-Off at the DPW
Donate Clothing, Shoes & Linens, Even the Worn and Torn
Madison recycling options are growing with the new Green Tree Textiles recycling bin at the Department of Public Works (DPW) Madison Recycling Center on Station Road.

The drop-off bin accepts unwanted textile items in any condition, including clothing, shoes, handbags, fabric accessories and linens. So don't throw away those well-worn socks and sneakers - bring them to the Madison Recycling Center textile bin!

Green Tree Textiles is a non-profit whose mission is to reduce waste and help communities by partnering with charities and eco-friendly designers to repurpose clothing that is in wearable condition. Textiles in poor condition are recycled into rags and insulation material.   
MEC Green Tree Textiles
The textile drop-off bin is accessible to all residents during regular Recycling Center hours: Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Fall Foliage at the Drew Forest
Sign and share the petition to Save the Drew Forest. We're almost at 10,000 signatures and need your help!

As the leaves start changing, it's a great time to take your family on a self-guided biodiversity tour to see why this 53-acre Forest is a vital biodiversity hotspot. The Drew Forest has a rare and irreplaceable understory of native plants and trees with a flourishing population of pollinators, birds and wildlife.

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