Living Report

Organized around the domains of Culture, Purpose, and Practice the priorities defined by the SAC form the strategy and actions needed to make UW-Madison a leader in sustainability.

 

Our Culture

Make sustainability principles part of our day-to-day interactions, operations, and decision-making.

  • Integrate sustainability
  • Center social sustainability to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access
  • Recognize UW-Madison as a leader in sustainability
  • COMPLETED:
  • IN PROGRESS:
    • Define institutional structures and/or staffing to advance the priorities defined by the SAC
    • Deliver sustainability orientation presentation during SOAR, graduate student orientation, and employee onboarding
    • Develop and deliver regular schools / college / division / department (S/C/D) level sustainability progress reports and workshops
  • ON-GOING:
    • Lead partnerships with other institutes of higher education that connects student sustainability leaders to share best practices and enable collaboration
    • Advise the State’s Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy and Department of Administration on impacts of sustainability policies on UW-Madison and UW System
    • Engage external advisory boards on sustainability priorities (e.g., Unions, WFAA, etc.)

Our Purpose

Elevate sustainability as a discipline, support collaborative research, and expand learning opportunities.

  • Expand sustainability learning opportunities and collaborations
  • Establish a distinctive home for sustainability research, education, and operations
  • Champion sustainability research

Our Practice

“Walk the talk” with policies, procedures, and systems that build a sustainable university.

  • Plan and design for a sustainable and regenerative university
  • Pursue carbon neutrality
  • Achieve zero waste
  • Build and operate a sustainable campus
  • COMPLETED:
  • IN PROGRESS:
    • Complete analysis of fleet vehicle electrification needs
    • Complete campus electric vehicle charging infrastructure plan
    • Complete Campus Zero Waste Assessment (stage 2)
    • Develop retrocommissioning team (internal + external)
    • Establish an institutional definition of local food and plan for increasing procurement
    • Implement an integrated pest management program
    • Implement Ingraham Hall Bin Infrastructure Pilot study
    • Install additional steam and chilled water building meters
    • Install solar + smart bus shelters
    • Install variable frequency drives at Elizabeth Waters Residence Hall
    • Plan and manage campus landscapes with native plantings
  • PLANNING:
    • Complete Energy Advanced Plan (Renewable energy feasibility and energy needs analysis)
    • Deploy solar electric vehicle chargers
    • Execute a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement
    • Install a solar canopy on the Linden Parking Facility
    • Install solar charging kiosks

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about the Sustainability Advisory Council, please email sac@sustainability.wisc.edu.