Location:
160 S. Macy Street
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935

The amount of coal we burn in Wisconsin has almost doubled since 1975.
The state pays $944 million a year to import coal and burns 90 percent
of it to generate electricity. Burning coal – while cleaner than in
the past – still releases chemicals into the air that lead to
fine-particle pollution and ground-level ozone. This kind of air
pollution is especially distressing for sufferers of asthma and other
respiratory conditions.

So we can reduce pollution by reducing the amount of electricity we
use. How? Unplug appliances. Turn down or turn off lights. Unplug cell
phone chargers. Turn off the computer when it’s not in use. Seal
drafts around windows and doors (an insulated home has lower energy
bills). With less demand, less coal is burned, and air quality
improves. The Focus on Energy program and local utility companies
provide good information for residential and commercial customers who
want to save on energy bills.

Another solution? We can use fuels that are easier on the lungs.
Believe it or not, manure, sewage and garbage – when turned into
methane – can help solve air-quality problems, as can natural gas,
wind and solar energy. All of these fuels are generating energy in
Fond du Lac County, providing alternatives to coal.

The public will have a chance to visit businesses that are generating
energy or using it efficiently on Thursday, October 8, from 3 p.m. to
6:30 p.m. at the Local Energy Tour, sponsored by the Fond du Lac Area
Association of Commerce and UW-Extension. The tour will feature nine
sites that are examples of how area businesses are going greener. More
information on the tour is available at www.fdlhealthyair.com.

The Healthy Air Tip is a project of the NEW Air Coalition, a group of
representatives from Fond du Lac County government, business and
education working together to improve air quality and the health of
county residents. Share your air quality best practices and learn more
about countywide efforts at www.fdlhealthyair.com.