With the understanding that everything is interconnected, Inn Serendipity strives toward selecting building materials, technologies, and products that fall under an umbrella of energy conservation, the responsible stewardship of our natural resources, and bioregionalism (purchasing products as close to home as possible). We see things cumulatively and long-term; like most people, we recognize financial limitations and have moved forward with projects as they become financially viable. The adage--reduce, reuse, recycle--has been incorporated into our day-to-day operating decisions. Our decision to remodel, rather than build anew, reflects this philosophy.

The following companies (and products) have helped our journey toward living in a way that is more energy-conserving, sustainable, restorative, healthy and self-sufficient. Since beginning these changes in 1997, we have cut our annual energy use almost in half. As of March, 2001, Inn Serendipity uses 100-percent of its energy from renewable sources.

• Gaiam Real Goods
  Serving as one of Real Goods' "demonstration homes," the Inn features a solar water heating system, compact fluorescent lights, halogen lamps (for spot lighting needs), fluorescent light fixtures (used in the renovated bathrooms), and low-energy nightlights. The Gaiam Real Goods, through the products they sell and their expert support staff, made our move to energy independence less daunting. From inverters to compact fluorescent bulbs, call (800-919-2400) their renewable energy experts about system questions or to locate energy efficient appliances you might not easily find locally.

• Sustainable Woods Cooperative
  Both Inn Serendipity and Inn Serendipity Woods feature beautiful hardwood flooring (Red Oak and Red Elm) from the Sustainable Woods Cooperative, the nation's first cooperative to offer FSC-certified, sustainably harvested wood and wood products.

• Kickapoo Woods Cooperative
  Practicing ecologically-sound forestry -- or silviculture -- at our cabin property led us to joining the Kickapoo Woods Cooperative, a forest management cooperative that provides sustainable forestry education, management and marketing services to landowners like us who have woodlands in the Kickapoo Valley and neighboring watersheds. We're working with them on the sustainable harvest of timber as a part of our participation in the Management Forest Law of Wisconsin (private designation) and the American Tree Farm System.

• Alliant Energy
  A leader in working with their utility customer base to achieve greater energy conservation, Alliant Energy has offered us numerous rebates and technical assistance through their "Bright Ideas" program, including a complimentary home energy audit. The Inn is an Earth Steward participant in the Alliant Energy Second Nature program, deriving 100-percent of its energy from renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and biomass.

• Artha Renewable Energy
  Our three 4' by 8' solar water collectors were reused from the dismantled system at Packerland in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Bob Ramlow of Artha Renewable Energy, specializing in renewable energy systems and their design and construction, assisted us with the installation of the solar hot water heater system. Artha Renewable Energy can be contacted at 9784 County K, Amherst WI 54406, Tel: 715-824-3463, E-mail: artha@wi-net.com.

• Urban Renewal
  Urban Renewal's owner, Paul Urban, doesn't mince words when discussing options that reflect quality workmanship and stunning end results. His guidance, care and fine wood craftmanship has helped us remodel bathrooms, add a woodstove, tile floors with recycled tile, finish off a super-energy-efficient attic space, lay FSC-certified hardwood kitchen floor, upgrade our windows--among numerous other smaller projects. He's also been our eyes and ears for the procurement of the area's abandoned materials (including windows, a storm door, and dimensional lumber). Working out of Monroe, Wisconsin, Paul can be contacted at 715-824-3463, usually in the early evenings. Cookies (and other home-made goodies) help energize his efforts.

• Sun Frost Company
  Serving as one of Sun Frost's "demonstration homes," the Inn features their super low-energy refrigerator, RF-19. The Sun Frost Company offers both refrigerators and freezers that are not only super-energy efficient, but their units operate at a whisper and are designed to help keep our fruits and vegetables fresher for a longer time (because of the high humidity of the compartments).

• Lopi Endeavor Woodstove
  Independently rated as America's No.1 Woodstove, our Lopi Endeavor (installed Fall, 1998) offers the cleanest non-catalytic burn, high efficiency and uses a renewable resource, wood (biomass), to help us heat our home during the chilly winter months. Our chimney system was designed by the expert staff at SnowBelt Fireplace & Stove, 1200A Wildwood Dr., Stevens Point WI 54481, tel: 715-341-4328; fax 715-341-4573; ask for Adrian Albrecht or e-mail him at albrecht1@charter.net. In 2002, a similar woodstove liner, a Lopi Revere, was added to the Inn Serendipity Woods cabin in Vernon County.

• Safe Building Solutions: Providing products for non-toxic environments.
  The E.P.A. estimates that indoor air pollution kills 11,400 people each year; of the 50,000 most common chemicals, there's NO toxicity data for 4 out of every 5 of them. Why gamble with your life, when you have safe choices. So, for our renovated kitchen floor, we selected a no-volatile organic compound (no-VOC) stain and sealer. For our wood stain, we used AFM Safecoat Durostain, following it with AFM's Lock-In Wood Sealer, and for a beautiful, durable finish, our incredibly talented contractor, Paul Urban of Urban Renewal, applied two coats of gloss and one coat of satin (best to mask stratches) Safecoat Polyureseal BP to protect the stained wood. It's magnificent. Ask for Andy Pace (800-697-5371) at Safe Building Solutions or e-mail him at andy@safebuildingsolutions.com. After all, it's a lot cheaper then spending your golden years in the hospital from bio-accumulated toxins.

• Native Earth Construction
  The straw bale greenhouse on the farm was guided by Matt Sterling, owner of Native Earth Construction. Whether for energy conservation or for using up a waste material in an environmentally-responsible way, straw bale construction is viable, local and beautiful.

• Energy Star Small Business
  Inn Serendipity is among the nation's 2,500 small businesses that have joined EPA's ENERGY STAR Small Business, a free, voluntary program that helps small business owners cut their energy costs and reduce the impact that energy generation has on the environment. Energy Star designated Hewlett Packard LaserJet 2100M printer and Sony Trinitron monitor are both used in our home office.

• Andersen Windows
  For our attic remodeling, super energy-efficient casement Andersen Windows were selected. The High-Performance, Low emissivity (Low E), gas-filled windows are designed to allow light in (for daylighting of the attic) and retain solar heat gain (low U-factor and high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient). In 2001, we replaced our leaky single-pane windows throughout the house with similar "low E" windows ("glazing" is the term construction folks call them).

• Maytag Neptune Clothes Washer
  The Maytag Neptune clothes washer was added in 2000 to help conserve water and minimize our hot water waste. The front-loading Neptune also received the EPA's Energy Star for energy efficiency.

• Arctic Glass & Window Outlet
  For our south-facing greenhouse windows, tempered insulated stock clear double pane glass was purchased from family-owned Arctic Glass. Offering dizzyingly reasonable prices on stock glass, Artic Glass is worth a call for their latest pricing at 800-428-9276. Based in Hammond, Wisconsin.

• John Golke Construction
  For our dairy barn and strawbale greenhouse replacement roofs, we added a durable (and recyclable) steel roof, custom-made by the experienced 4-person crew with John Gokle Construction. Included in their excellent work were the addition of eight clear skylights in the greenhouse. Based in Waupaca, Wisconsin; telephone: 608-258-8690.

• The Glidden Company/ICI Paints
  Lifemaster 2000 (Spred 2000), a high quality paint with no VOCs, low odor and nearly no solvents from The Glidden Company, was used throughout the house.

• Stoneware Tile Company, Terra Green Technologies
  Procured locally through Zersen Flooring, Inc. the remodeled bathrooms are tiled with Traffic Tile made from about seventy percent recycled automobile windshield glass, manufactured by the Stoneware Tile Company.

• Wildrose Farm
  Some of our organic guestroom towels come from Wildrose Farm in Breezy Point, Minnesota.

• Satara: Home and Baby Store
  Satara in Madison, Wisconsin celebrates our planet by offering earth-friendly alternatives for the bedroom, bathroom and nursery.

• Phil's Granite Pieced-together Countertops
  Leave it to our B&B guests, Dave and Karen, to help beautify the Inn. Working with a granite specialist, named Phil, and our guests, we were able to upgrade our old farmhouse Formica countertop with a magnificent granite one, pieced together with ... well, we'll let you see if you can count the various pieces. Like with our metal barn roofs and other projects, we strive to do it well and make it last. Dave, a tile-man by profession, is happy to explore other "pieced together" jobs. Contact the Inn for a referral. Our granite countertop cost as much as a new Formica one, using scavenged scraps from larger jobs.

• Sun-Mar Composting Toilet
  The Sun-Mar Excel Composting Toilet was added in 2004 to help conserve water and minimize our waste (it is used personally by us). UL listed.

• Verlo Mattress Company, Inc.
  The mattresses at the Inn are comfortable, high quality sets individually crafted at a nearby factory outlet of the Verlo Mattress Company. Verlo collects old mattresses and tries to find a new home for them other than in the landfill.

• Other Products
  

  * Citristrip, citrus-based furniture refinisher (non-toxic) used on our reused ash dining room table and chairs as well as our antique lawyer's bookcase.

  * Water faucet aerators.

  * Hot water heater wrap and pipe insulation.

  * Window sealers, as well as paintable caulks for sealing cracks around our windows.

  * Reusable coffee filters.

  * Kapak Pillows or Eco Pure pillows made from 100% recycled content (35% post-consumer waste); they're also hypo-allergenic.

  * Coyuchi 100% organic cotton bed linens. Frenchtex towels and Fieldcrest linens made from all-natural, unbleached cottons. Satara in Madison, WI, retails many of these socially and environmentally responsible products.

  * Seventh Generation or Trader Joe's toilet paper, dishwasher and clothes washer detergent (we dry our clothes in the sun...and breeze)

  * Recycled paper for all printed materials; 100% post-consumer waste when possible and usually available through FEDEX Kinko's Copies.

  * Under the counter compost bin, with charcoal filter to prevent odors.

  * Lawn Boy electric lawn mower.
  

  Non-Profit Notes:

  Inn Serendipity is a member of the Co-op America Business Network and was featured by Co-op America as "One of 15 Green Businesses Every Community Needs." Co-op America is a national non-profit organization offering information to people on how to use their buying power to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. They produce the National Green Pages--the Yellow Pages for People and the Planet.

  

  
  

  
  

  
  In 1998, Inn Serendipity was a Wisconsin sponsor of America Recycles Day.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  A percentage of profits are earmarked for various non-profit organizations including the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Cooperative Enterprise Program with the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Gathering Waters and the Green County Conservation League (from which we get our seedlings that we plant every spring).

  Inn Serendipity is a member of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Monroe Arts Center.

  ---

  Features | Rooms | Area Attractions | Calendar of Events | Partnering Organizations | Keeping it Local | Directions | Guest and Media Comments | Meet the Owners | Meet some of the Guests | Inn Serendipity B & B | Home
  Inn Serendipity
  7843 County P
  Browntown WI 53522
  Tel: 608-329-7056
  E-mail: info@innserendipity.com
  Website: www.innserendipity.com

  ---

  Copyright © Inn Serendipity. All rights reserved. Please read our legal pages before using this site.
  Website designed by Globetrotter Creations