Sustainable Initiatives

Leed Certification

Did you know our Albert Cook-Fuller Nature Center was the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building in Door County? LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement in building design, construction, and operation developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

According to their website, LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key area of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The LEED Rating System was created to transform the built environment to sustainability by providing the building industry with consistent, credible standards for what constitutes a green building.

We are pleased to report that we received a Gold level rating, having accumulated ___? points out of 100. Some of the components that went into our rating include high-efficiency flush fixtures and low-flow fixtures for water efficiency, saving an estimated 44,800 gallons of water per year and reducing our water use by 55.8% as compared to similar buildings. Construction materials, office furnishings, restroom separators, and cabinetry are all recyclable or contain recycled content. Whenever possible, locally harvested and manufactured materials were selected. Natural light illuminates the center wherever possible, while occupancy sensors have been installed to turn off the high-performance and low-energy lighting when an area is not in use. Windows are also accessorized with window film to prevent bird strikes and conserve energy.

Geothermal Heating & Cooling

Geothermal systems use the naturally renewable temperature of the earth – approximately 55 degrees — to heat and cool the building. Our system is a closed loop vertical system which is ideal for areas where space is limited or where rock is very close to the surface.

Our Nature Center’s system consists of 3 residential heat pumps with a___? ton heating/cooling capacity. There are 10 wells buried at 300 feet and___? loops totaling ___? in length. The system runs by circulating fluid through the underground loops. In the winter months, the fluid absorbs the heat from the earth and circulates it back to the building where it passes through a heat pump that converts and distributes the heat through the building. During the summer, the heat from the building is absorbed by the fluid and pumped through the loops where the earth absorbs the heat and cools the fluid in the system.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems use 25 – 50% less electricity than conventional methods and require less surface area. Our total energy savings is projected at 48% with the highest return coming from the geothermal system and increased insulation. While the upfront cost of geothermal systems is higher than conventional methods, their life span can be as long as 50 years.

We’re Going Solar!

Residential System – Public dashboard

End of Year Report

Happy New Year! After going live in the middle of December, it looks like our panels managed to capture some of the sun’s energy. That’s right – even in the middle of a Wisconsin winter! According to our Enphase dashboard, we produced 364.7 kWh of energy this month (equivalent to removing 583.5 pounds of carbon dioxide, planting four trees, or charging 31,000 phones!). We’re looking forward to seeing that number continue to climb as the days get longer and brighter.

12/15/25 – Solar Went Live!

10/13/25 – Solar Installation Began

The cacophony of booms, bangs, and brrrrs echoing down from our Nature Center’s rooftop may have been a temporary distraction (especially for the staff directly underneath them), but they were also the noises heralding the start of our solar installation!

This project was made possible by generous donors like you in addition to grant funding from Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation and their Solar Moonshot Program. We are thrilled about this opportunity and the progress that has been made so far. Thank you!

9/25/25 – Campaign Update

This community is amazing! We met and exceeded our initial goal of $30,000 with a matching $15,000 contribution, thanks to you!

We are so grateful to see the outpouring of support for this project. It has reaffirmed how this initiative is just as important to our greater community as it is to us. Right now, 75% of our total costs for the solar installation is funded. This leaves the remaining 25% to secure. Our funding strategy for this project was a collection of community support, grant funding, and internal investment. Continued support ensures that we not only fund this important project but that we can also direct internal funds to our key mission areas of Preservation, Education, and Research.

To learn more about the solar project, continue reading below. Once again, thank you for your generosity.

9/12/25 – Campaign Launch

Thanks to the hard work of our staff, board, and partners, we were able to join in on the group buy currently taking place in Door County, coordinated by the Climate Change Coalition of Door County, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and Eland Electric. 

While participating in the group buy allows us to take advantage of significant discounts, we NEED YOUR HELP! To receive the 30% federal tax credit while it is still valid, our solar installation must be completed by December 31, 2025.  

To accomplish this goal, we are looking to raise a total of $30,000 by October 1 to help cover the costs of installation. Thanks to a generous donor, we have a matching gift that will match your donation dollar for dollar up to $15,000 from now through the end of the month.  

Generating all our power from solar energy will not happen overnight (literally 😉)! Our new planned solar array will have 70 solar panels, generating 44kW at peak power and displacing 75% of our utility power – of which 80% is currently supplied by coal and natural gas. This will result in saving $500 per month and $6,000 per year in utility fees. Then we can reallocate those savings back into our mission pillars of Preservation, Education, and Research.  

This is a perfect opportunity for those who were considering the switch to solar, who were unable to join based on their current situation, to support the renewable energy effort – or to simply support our organizational sustainability. We see it as an investment in our future, both environmentally and fiscally.   

Please consider donating to help us in our efforts. Your gift helps to make us “greener” immediately and allows us to dedicate more of our resources towards implementing our mission.  

Thank you in advance for your generosity, which ensures that The Ridges Sanctuary continues to shine!