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October is Energy Action Month!

Here are some handy resources to help you get involved:

• About Energy Action Month
• Office, Home & Facility checklists to save energy.
• Energy-themed social media graphics. See below & share!
• Follow Cooll Choices on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to get tips for energy saving actions!

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Cool Choices welcomes hundreds of Follett Corporation team members as they prepare to kick off their 6-week game-based sustainability program designed to create a buzz around being green at work and at home.

Follett team members will form teams of 6 and compete to take the greatest number of sustainable actions. Starting October 24^th, participants at Follett will earn points for their teams and win prizes by reporting their daily sustainable actions online, including saving fuel and energy, recycling, choosing meatless meals and conserving water.

Founded in 1873, Follett currently works with 70,000 PreK-12 schools and higher education institutions as a leading provider of education technology, services and print and digital content. Follett demonstrates a strong commitment to the communities they serve and to various corporate social responsibility initiatives. For example, Follett promotes good in global communities through its campus store partnerships with Alta Gracia, a clothing brand known for its implementation of a living wage in the Dominican Republic, and the Thirst Project, a water non-profit founded and fueled by students. Additionally, Follett promotes educational innovation and a love of learning through its partnership with Reading is Fundamental and annual hosting of the Follett Challenge.

Once again, the Cool Choices team sends out a warm welcome to Follett team members!

Cool Choices alumni continue to inspire us with the sustainability actions they’ve taken since taking part in our program. This month we were impressed by Kristin’s story about her volunteer work at a local nature preserve.

What green activities have you been up to since taking part in the Cool Choices program?

I planted native plants around the edges of a wood, pulled invasive species and mulched trails to prevent run off from rain.

Do you have any tips for others trying to be sustainable?

Look into volunteer opportunities with your local nature preserve!

Kristin took part in the Madison, WI city-wide Cool Choices online sustainability game in 2015.

We extend our congratulations to UW Health employees on completing their customized Cool Choices employee engagement program!

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Check out how employees boosted sustainability efforts at UW Health!

• Nearly 180 teams of employees from UW Health participated in the Cool Choices sustainability and wellness program.
• Over 60 UW Health locations competed. They formed teams of 5 to log their sustainable actions online every day for 8 weeks.
• UW Health participants worked together to take more than 44,400 sustainable actions that save money and help the environment.

In their game, UW Health employees achieved estimated savings of $253,365. The participants logged actions that will save 3,498,037 gallons (5 Olympic sized swimming pools) of water annually and avoid 2,613,589 lbs (1,034 car trips from LA to NYC) of CO2.

During the game UW Health employees shared 1,725 sustainable ideas. These suggestions can be implemented to save money and energy.

“By adopting sustainable practices UW Health employees save money at work and at home while improving their personal wellness and reducing environmental impacts,” noted Kathy Kuntz, Executive Director at Cool Choices.

Thanks UW Health employees, your engagement and dedication are very inspiring!

Emily plants a peach tree in Madison for her business, Emily Plants, LLC.

Past players of the Cool Choices game-based sustainability program continue to make green choices in their everyday lives even after the program ends. We are always impressed to learn how participating in Cool Choices impacts individuals and their decisions to take further sustainable actions. This month we were inspired by Emily’s story!

What green activities have you been up to since taking part in the Cool Choices program?

I have started my own edible landscaping business. I am encouraging people to plant more pollinator-friendly, edible, and native plants.

What tips do you have for others trying to be sustainable?

Just plant something! The best way to learn is by doing, so get growing!

Emily took part in the 2015 City Wide Cool Choices game in Madison, WI.

Cool Choices is delighted to partner with the City of Tallahassee, a leader in community-level sustainability, as evidenced by their GreenPrint plan for sustainability.

Tallahassee city employees will utilize a customized version of the Cool Choices platform to accelerate progress on their sustainability objectives. For 8 weeks, participants will compete and interact online by reporting daily actions that reduce resource consumption, protect the environment and make city operations more efficient.

The Cool Choices online platform allows our partners to create a branded experience that meets specific sustainability objectives. We collaborated with Tallahassee officials to customize the platform so that it mirrors the existing Tallahassee GreenPrint framework. Daily actions in the Cool Choices game reflect the priorities Tallahassee set in its plan, which maximizes engagement in and awareness of existing Tallahassee GreenPrint sustainability initiatives.

“The game-based approach engages staff around sustainability goals, but also allows the City of Tallahassee to track and measure savings and engagement results. Tallahassee’s efforts are consistent with how private industry is engaging employees; numerous studies show that engaged employees deliver value and facilitate innovation,” said Kathy Kuntz, Executive Director of Cool Choices.

Welcome City of Tallahassee staff! We can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make during your 8-week customized Cool Choices sustainability program.

Cool Choices alumni are always inspiring us with how they continue to take sustainable actions after participating in our online sustainability program. This month we were impressed by the awesome things Tara is doing at work and at home.

What green activities have you been up to since taking part in the Cool Choices program?

Personally, I now carry a stainless steel coffee cup and a plastic tumbler with a lid and a straw in my car so that when I get a cup of coffee or a fountain drink I do not have to use a disposable cup. All gas stations accept it and fast food restaurants are okay with it if you don’t go through the drive-thru. Sometime I get funny looks, especially at fast food restaurants, but I am comfortable with my decision to eliminate the use of bottles and cups that are going to be thrown away.

Professionally, I have been able to get a recycling receptacle in our R&D test kitchen. 100% of the waste generated in the kitchen is now sorted properly. I have found that we had to make it easier than just throwing everything in the trash.

Do you have any tips for others trying to be sustainable?

Look at your kids and determine if the world you leave for them is the world you want them to have.

Tara took part in the Cool Choices online sustainability game in 2014 with West Liberty Foods. Inspired by Tara’s story? Remember, you can make a difference!

Cool Choices alumni continue to take sustainable actions that inspire their work, home, and community. We were impressed by the cool things Sarah has been up to since taking part in our online sustainability program.

What green activities have you been up to since taking part in the Cool Choices program?

Since the game, I’ve continued commuting to work by bus every day, using compact fluorescent light bulbs (looking into LEDs), and using a reusable water bottle. It’s got BB-8 on it, and I’m thrilled — if you’re going to be using one every day why not make it fun? I’m also planning on starting an herb garden in my apartment, something I can use on a regular basis and something my cat will also enjoy (I’m hoping to find some peppermint plants at the farmer’s market).

What tips do you have for others trying to be sustainable?

My tip is to start small; don’t try to make a ton of changes at once or you’ll drive yourself crazy. Pick one thing, get adjusted to it, and then make another change.

Sarah took part in the 2015 city wide Cool Choices game in Madison, WI.

Kenosha County is the southeastern most county in Wisconsin with a history of a strong commitment to advancing county-­wide sustainability goals. Cool Choices was a natural fit and the results are impressive.

With the support of County Executive Jim Kreuser, Kenosha County staff recently wrapped up their 6­-week implementation of the Cool Choices online sustainability game; they made significant and inspiring impacts during their program. Teams of 8 earned points and won prizes for reporting their daily sustainable actions, including recycling, carpooling, saving fuel, choosing meatless meals, and conserving water.

In their game, participants from Kenosha County reported over 7,400 sustainable actions and achieved estimated savings of over $67,000.

Cool Choices inspired our office to start a worm compost project! – Tedi W.

The game also prompted some employees to start a worm compost project! How cool is that?!

“Kenosha County wants to help employees save money and live more sustainably. At Cool Choices we also recognize the changes staff make at the municipal level have the potential to impact all of southeast Wisconsin. Cool Choices is excited about this partnership with Kenosha County because of the positive change it has inspired in employees and residents of the region,” noted Raj Shukla, Director of Programs at Cool Choices.

Once again, the Cool Choices team sends our congrats to Kenosha County employees!

Photo courtesy of Monica S. – 2016

Cool Choices alumni take their sustainable actions seriously, and that means they continue to inspire us with their sustainability stories even after the program is over. This month we were impressed with Monica’s story about how she has made cool choices within her community!

What green activities have you been up to since taking part in the Cool Choices program?

The 4th grade boy next door, Matthew, and I are going to plant a tree together. His family’s landlord doesn’t want a tree planted on his lot, so Matthew and I will decide on a spot in my yard that is lonely for a tree. Temporarily the sapling is in a pot filled with dirt and compost from my compost maker (which I share with his family for their vegetable garden).

Talk about inspiring community engagement around sustainability! Monica took part in the Cool Choices online sustainability game in 2016 with Outpost Natural Foods.