University of Wisconsin–Madison
On the Office of Sustainability’s 11th birthday, looking back to the first decade—and forward to the next. By Marek Makowski Fifteen years ago, the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus was covered in statistics about recycled tons of bottles, cans, and paper; images of the planet earth; and the logo, or plea, repeated on the facades of …
In 2020, the UW–Madison Physical Plant allocated $3.2 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to be spent in fiscal year 2021. Ellen Agnew, the Building & Grounds Superintendent, had recently purchased battery-powered hedgers and blowers, and wanted to replace a majority of her aging mower fleet. “The mowers weren’t unusable,” she said, “but …
At the inaugural UW–Madison Sustainability Symposium, Josh Arnold presented a major pilot project that could allow UW–Madison to generate more renewable energy. “Our students, staff, faculty, and alumni—including many in this room—are demanding bold climate action now,” said Arnold, the Campus Energy Advisor for the Office of Sustainability. “Producing electricity using renewable energy such as …
At the start of the summer, the Supreme Court delivered a blow to the EPA’s ability to limit greenhouse gas emissions. By August, however, Congress swung back. UW–Madison students and professors process the back-and-forth and look to what it means for future climate action in the city and state. 350 Wisconsin, a Madison-based organization that …
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has earned the Bee Campus USA Certification, making it one of 140 Bee Campus Affiliates nationwide. Bee Campus USA, an initiative of the Xerces Society, “…provides a framework for campus communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the …
The Midwest Climate Collaborative (MCC), which launched in January 2022 with UW–Madison as a founding member, is a cross-sector organization that aims to advance climate action in the region. The MCC seeks to develop a Midwest-wide Research Agenda to identify knowledge gaps between research and practice in the climate change research space. Organizers are seeking …
UW–Madison campus laboratories can apply to participate in the Lab Certification Program from My Green Lab, a globally recognized leader in laboratory sustainability. The program will be offered for free to the first 10 labs that apply. Labs can use this form to apply; the final deadline for applications is September 30th, 2022. Apply Here About …
As of August 2022, UW–Madison has relaunched a food waste collection program on a trial-run basis. After receiving tremendous support from the campus community following the cessation of the previous composting program, the UW Zero Waste team convened members from participating facilities, haulers, and a processor in order to find a solution to the composting …
On August 4th, 2021, the Office of Sustainability informed campus users of changes to the UW–Madison food waste collection program. As part of the announcement, a survey was circulated to assess the thoughts, opinions, and ideas of the UW–Madison community. The following graphic and article describes survey responses, background details, and next steps. Final …
A documentary of the F. H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture. Paintings that address food waste and incorporate paint made from food scraps. A wood-burned map that describes the impact of land use change on trout streams. A hand-drawn guide to foraging. These are all projects that students have created in Geography 309: People, Land …