Sustainability Stories
Sustain Dane’s Sustainability Stories platform amplifies the voices of people from different backgrounds, races, ages, genders, and geographies that are working on and want to inspire others to build a more sustainable and inclusive community. Read sustainability stories from Madison, Dane County, and beyond.
Sustain Dane Summit: Attic Angel Recap & Reflection
The 2025 Summit was a day full of connection, inspiration, and community-driven sustainability. The day started with our keynote and workshop by Arielle V. King, who introduced the concept of Radical Imagination: the practice of envisioning bold, long-term...
Ask Sustain Dane: Sustainability and Weddings
Q: I’m planning my wedding, and I want to make it as sustainable as possible. Do you have any tips? A: Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It’s a wonderful occasion, and wanting to make it sustainable is a beautiful way to celebrate your commitment to each...
Ask Sustain Dane: Food Waste
By: Lorenza Zebell Q: How can I reduce food waste and prevent it from ending up in the landfill? A: According to the Wisconsin DNR, our landfills consist of 14.5% food that would be traditionally edible, and 6% “food scraps” (like peels). This makes food the largest...
Climate Action Story- Clothing
Guest Blog By: Thamyres Costa (Bucky PR Student) From my earliest memories, my family ingrained the importance of reusing and donating clothes in me. As a child, I remember awaiting the bags of hand-me-down clothes from older cousins and family friends. This simple...
Ask Sustain Dane: Sustainable Coffee/Tea
By: Lorenza Zebell Q: I love my morning coffee but sometimes wonder about its environmental impact. How can I prioritize sustainability when choosing coffee? A:I’m a big fan of caffeine, in both coffee and tea form, so I’ve thought about this quite a bit! There are...
Climate Action Story- Energy
Guest Blog By: Bruce Javenkoski My interest in making sustainable changes to our house and my life accelerated when we moved here in 1999. The house was built for passive solar and it really worked. It could be a sunny, winter day of 15 - 20 degrees and the furnace...
Ask Sustain Dane: Biking to Work
By: Lorenza Zebell Q: I’d like to start biking to work. Where do I start? A: I’m so glad you’re interested in bike commuting to work. Our region is known as a great place to bike – we're lucky to have an extensive network of beautiful bike lanes, trails, and bike...
Sergenian’s Floor Covering Sustainability Story
By: Samantha Worden Sergenian's Floor Coverings, a family-owned enterprise established in 1930, stands as an example of eco-consciousness in the flooring sector. Recently, Sustain Dane staff met with Nick Sergenian, a key figure in preserving his family's legacy...
Ask Sustain Dane: Sustainable Investments
By: Lorenza Zebell Sustain Dane is a resource for your sustainability-related questions. Businesses and individuals often email our team. This year we are adding a new article section where we will share questions that have come from the Sustain Dane community...
Ask Sustain Dane: Sustainable Lifestyle Change
By: Lorenza Zebell Q: I want to make a sustainable lifestyle change in honor of Earth Day this year but can’t decide what to do – do you have any recommendations? A: I’m so happy you’re thinking about taking action for Earth Day! At Sustain Dane we call these...
Ask Sustain Dane: Sustainable Yards
By Lorenza Zebell Sustain Dane is a resource for your sustainability-related questions. Businesses and individuals often email our team. This year we are adding a new article section where we will share questions that have come from the Sustain Dane community (and the...
T.L. Luke Interactive Art- Sustain Dane Summit 2023
By Adam Blust One of the centerpieces of the 2023 Sustain Dane Summit was a collaborative art project celebrating the diversity and sustainability of Dane County. Designed by activist, illustrator and muralist T.L. Luke, the piece is a panoramic landscape that moves...