Many people assume food waste naturally breaks down in landfills. In reality, landfills are designed to keep waste isolated from the environment, meaning organic materials often decompose without oxygen and produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Since nearly 30% of what we throw away is organic material, composting food scraps instead helps reduce landfill waste,…
I’m Tobias Buening, an energy engineering student from FH Münster University of Applied Sciences in Germany. As the 2025 Energy Engineering Intern at West Central Initiative, I’ve been studying how our geothermal system performs by looking at its energy use and cost savings as part of my bachelor’s thesis. After analyzing more than a year’s worth…
Centuries ago, more than 18 million acres of native prairie stretched across parts of Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, only about one percent remains today, largely due to agriculture and development. Yet prairie ecosystems are vital—they provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife, and act like sponges to absorb rainwater and reduce…
Did you know that just one-tenth of an inch of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof can fill a 55-gallon rain barrel? If you’re looking for a way to conserve water and live more sustainably, rain barrels are an easy and impactful place to start. We recently connected with two residents already using rain…
Thanks to new federal tax credits, using solar panels to power our homes, businesses, and other buildings has become more attractive than ever. These tax credits are available to communities looking to install solar to reduce energy costs and be more sustainable, and rebate and grant programs can further reduce the cost. Want to…
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