In today's world with social media, virtual meetings, and online petitions, advocating has become easier than ever. But it's also brought with it a multitude of advocacy outlets, making it challenging to know where to start. Join host Rose Daily and guests Kim Mintrone and Eneida Hysi for a discussion on the most effective strategies for driving change and ensuring your voice is heard. Through the framework of inform, engage, and lead, this episode provides the tools needed to become an changemaker.

(02:33) Meaning of advocacy

(03:39) Choice paralysis & other challenges

(05:44) Framework: objective, audience, action

(13:48) Powers held by local governments

(22:44) Inform: newsletters, events, council meetings, social media

(27:48) Engage: surveys, public comment, input sessions

(32:42) Lead: run for office, commission, committee

(35:05) School boards - important even if you don't have kids

(41:07) State level advocacy & powers

(45:00) Track a bill, town meetings, press conferences

(48:50) Don't get discouraged!

(53:14) Engaging with the federal government??

Join host Rose Daily and guest Michael Allen for a deep dive into some of the most promising renewable energy sources and exploring their potential to power the United States. A special focus will be given to utility-scale solar farms and what it take to bring these large energy generation systems to life. This episode will also touch on whether or not fossil fuels can be phased out completely, as well as how the new federal administration is impacting the clean energy future of our country.

Energy Law Wisconsin: https://energylawwisconsin.com/

Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credits: https://www.irs.gov/credits-and-deductions-under-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022

(02:57) A shortage of power in Wisconsin?

(04:45) Renewable energy potential of the U.S.

(08:20) Factors to consider when developing clean energy farms

(10:04) 70% of clean energy comes from utility-scale systems

(12:21) Will fossil fuels be phased out completely?

(19:08) Financing energy generation projects

(22:58) Bringing a solar farm to life

(29:23) Tariffs & permitting

(31:00) Who owns energy generation systems?

(36:30) Maintaining large scale solar farms

(38:43) The new federal administration: energy emergency, boycotting windfarms, & increasing drilling

(43:07) Impacts to the Inflation Reduction Act

The cold winters in Wisconsin always bring with them temperatures in the single digits, snowfall, and icy roads. Wisconsinites respond by applying a liberal amount of salt to roads and sidewalks to prevent people and vehicles from slipping. But once the ice is melted, where does the salt go? Host Rose Daily and guest Allison Madison explore the negative impacts of salt on our built world, natural environment, and human health, as well as what we can do to fight salt pollution.

(03:05) Should we be concerned about salt?

(04:07) Salt damages infrastructure

(06:53) Zooplankton, algae, and biogeochemistry

(11:34) Salt levels are rising in rivers

(12:26) We're consuming too much salt

(14:27) What about our dogs and cats?

(15:47) Shovel more, salt less

(20:51) Salt brine as a proactive approach

(23:14) Beet juice, pickle juice, molasses

(28:09) Use your voice

(32:48) The role municipalities play in salt solutions

(36:16) Salt use policies

(38:43) Heated streets & salt takeback programs

(41:43) Statewide action?

(44:55) Salt pollution advocacy

Hoping to reduce your carbon footprint this year? Looking for resolution ideas that are good for you AND the planet? This episode has you covered! Host Rose Daily and guest Lorenza Zebell share 25 sustainable resolution ideas for 2025 that anyone can adopt - no matter where they are on their sustainability journey. From small daily shifts to impactful changes in energy use and consumption, they cover easy-to-implement ideas like subscribing to climate friendly social media accounts, testing your soil, and switching to time of use electricity rates. Plus, they discuss practical tips for achieving your resolutions throughout the new year.

A summarized list of the 25 sustainable resolution ideas can be accessed here: /DocumentCenter/View/15880/SSP-Episode-15-Summary-List

Sustain Dane: https://sustaindane.org/

Invest Your Values tool: https://investyourvalues.org/

(02:42) Our 2024 & 2025 resolutions

(05:31) Softball resolutions: zero-waste products & reusable grocery bags

(08:06) Fair trade grocery items

(09:07) Subscribe to social media climate accounts

(10:21) Choose glass over plastic

(11:42) The most impactful resolution on emissions

(13:32) Resolutions for your wallet

(14:26) Time of use rate

(16:01) Conduct a lightbulb inventory

(17:10) Hang dry laundry

(18:00) Reduce fashion consumption

(20:14) Invest in an kilowatt meter

(21:43) Review your investments!

(22:59) Water softeners

(23:47) Green energy program

(24:48) Resolutions for your lawn

(27:45) Start a green team at your place of work

(30:01) Have more conversations about climate change

(31:32) How to achieve your resolutions this year

There are currently billions of dollars on the table to support whole-home energy efficiency upgrades in the United States. Wisconsin received a $150 million cut and became the first state in the country to establish its Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) program, administered through Focus on Energy. Through the HOMES program, Wisconsin homeowners and renters can receive substantial rebates for energy efficiency upgrades, including insulation, HVAC, windows, and more. Host Rose Daily and guests Dylan Crye with Focus on Energy and Joe Pater with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin discuss program details, eligibility, and the process for applying, along with the positive impact this program is having on local contractors.

HOMES Program Overview: https://focusonenergy.com/ira-homes

Focus on Energy Rebate Finder: https://focusonenergy.com/get-started

IRA Registered Contractor List: https://www.clearesult.com/partner-hub/find-

contractor/17/263

IRA Registered Contractor Resources: https://focusonenergy.com/ira-registered-contractors

Department of Energy Home Energy Rebates map: https://www.energy.gov/save/rebates

(02:40) What is the HOMES program?

(04:08) $150 million to Wisconsin

(06:45) Focus on Energy as the program administrator

(07:23) Focus on Energy rebates vs HOMES rebates - what's the difference?

(10:31) Energy efficiency: a smart investment

(12:59) How contractors will benefit from HOMES.

(19:02) IRA registered contractors

(25:00) The process: income qualification, IRA registered contractor, energy assessment

(28:27) Why is an energy assessment required?

(29:36) Blower door test & infrared cameras

(33:36) Building shell first, core second, solar last

(38:54) Stacking rebates to save thousands

(47:31) What about renters?

(52:51) Home Energy Rebates in other states

(54:28) Everyone is eligible!

Curbside recycling has been around for over 30 years and has become a staple in our daily lives. We see those blue or green recycling bins everywhere – at home, in our schools, and at work. But even if recycling feels like second nature, there are some surprising facts that many of us might not know. In this episode, host Rose Daily and guest Todd Bollenbach discuss 6 things every consumer needs to know about recycling, including exploring the impact of wish cycling and revealing the meaning behind the small numbers on the bottom of plastic contains (news flash - they're not actually recycling numbers!).

Pellitteri Waste Systems: https://www.pellitteri.com/

The truth about recycling numbers: https://recyclesmartma.org/2023/05/recyclings-magic-numbers/#:~:text=The%20numbers%20on%20the%20bottom,indicate%20whether%20something%20is%20recyclable.

(02:04) "Recycling Numbers" are not what they seem!

(06:11) Which plastics are typically recyclable?

(08:30) Recycling contamination rates

(09:40) Wishcycling 101

(12:42) Top 7 wishcycled items nationally

(17:30) To crush or not to crush

(24:36) Hauler vs Processor vs Recycler

(26:46) Which materials are infinitely recyclable?

(30:10) Recycling & downcycling plastics

(35:38) Energy consumption of recycling

Have you ever picked up a product claiming to be eco-friendly, only to wonder if that green label was just a marketing gimmick? Do labels such as 'compostable,' 'cruelty-free,' and 'organic' actually hold meaning? What product labels can consumers trust? All of these questions and more will be answered in this episode where we dive deep into the deceptive world of greenwashing. Host Rose Daily and guest Kim Mintrone unravel how companies use clever but misleading tactics to appear environmentally friendly, while their actual impact remains questionable. Featured are real-life examples from large brands, such as Target, Shein, McDonalds, and H&M.

Greenwashed Brands Tool: https://greenwash.com/

Third-party verified product labels: https://www.ecocenter.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/updated_Factsheet%20Third-Party%20Certifications%20and%20Eco-Labels.pdf

Eco-labels to look for when shopping: https://www.ecowatch.com/eco-friendly-labels-1881939362.html

(02:28) The definition of greenwashing

(04:35) Our first encounters with greenwashing

(06:40) Corporate motivation to greenwash

(08:47) 58% of CEOs admitted to greenwashing

(10:54) Fashion, meat, and automobiles

(12:16) Using the color green & images of the earth

(13:32) Don't trust the labels!

(17:04) Third-party verified labels

(17:16) BPI certification for compostable products

(18:30) Green Seal cleaning products

(20:02) Non-GMO & USDA Organic

(23:28) Energy Star

(25:00) Cruelty free, sustainable forest, fair trade

(29:43) Target's "fair-trade" jeans

(31:41) Product recyclability

(35:30) H&M's clothing recycling program

(36:53) McDonald's recyclable straws

(39:18) Shein's appeal to eco-consumers

(40:26) Clothing made from recycled material

(42:08) Influencers' role in greenwashing

(46:10) Refillability: the double-edged sword

(49:03) Read the product labels!

(51:04) B-Corp: the label you can trust

(52:37) Product traceability

(55:10) Do your research before purchasing

(56:03) Every small action makes a difference!

What does it take to create a sustainable school? Join us as we discuss this question with Kevin Splain, Sustainability Manager for Sun Prairie School District, and two passionate student activists who have recently graduated from local high schools. Together, they uncover the current state of sustainability initiatives within schools, illuminating the essential shifts needed to make schools greener. From student-led advocacy groups to impactful policy reforms, discover the actionable steps paving the way for greener schools of tomorrow.

(02:48) Geothermal systems, solar, and LEDs in our schools

(05:05) The role of a dedicated school energy manager

(05:45) Start with an energy audit!

(06:57) Making sustainability visible

(11:00) Is school sustainability important to students?

(13:36) Wisconsin's first net-zero school!

(15:59) What does it take to maintain a net-zero school?

(18:48) Resolutions drive sustainable change

(22:23) Students, teachers, staff - who drives change?

(26:21) Tolerating discomfort to reduce energy demand

(27:55) Do students have a voice?

(31:54) Sustainability coordinators for schools

(35:59) Student Line 5 protest

(40:22) vegan food options, natural light, and reusable lunch plates

(46:54) Our dream sustainable school