University of Wisconsin–Madison
The new UW–Madison campus sustainability map enables viewers to explore sustainability initiatives from the comfort of their computer. The map, which was built using Google Maps, includes over 300 features organized across ten layers. The map was created with a broad audience in mind. While some viewers may be new to campus, others may have …
If you had to guess the consumer material that causes the biggest sustainability headaches, what would you pick? For most, the answer would probably be plastic, and for good reason. Plastic is literally everywhere: on the highest mountains, in the deepest ocean trenches, in the atmosphere, even in your table salt. And because of the …
In 2017, University of Wisconsin–Madison graduate student Johnny Uelmen applied for the Green Fund—a program of the Office of Sustainability that awards money to student-developed projects that reduce the environmental impact and operating costs of campus buildings. Uelman was awarded close to $6,000 to support the installation of low-flow toilets in the University Housing Tripp …
For about two weeks in the middle of May, you can find University Housing Sustainability Coordinator Breana Nehls behind the wheel of an F-250 pickup truck, rumbling through narrow service driveways and parking alongside Move Out collection points at residence halls across campus. At each stop, she hops out to greet her volunteers, inspect their …
What does environmental injustice mean, and how does it manifest in Madison? How does one create an activist campaign to address climate change? Let’s say you tear your favorite jeans—how do you stitch them up and avoid sending them to the landfill? Or say you’re a new student at UW–Madison—how do you get involved in …
As spring returns to campus, UW–Madison has another reason to look forward to sunny weather. Following a year of research, project development, partnership building, and coordination, the Gordon Dining & Event Center now features a solar array on its roof that is projected to produce 42,800 kWh of electricity a year, or the energy use …
Food systems are one of the cornerstones of sustainability. That word “systems” is key: the food we eat is part of a vast, interconnected web. To make food sustainable, then, we have to pay attention to its whole lifespan: from production, to consumption, and beyond. Food waste is a big piece of that “beyond.” It’s …
On a chilly, windy afternoon in late September, a total of 28 student orgs, campus offices and units, and community partners set up tables in a grand circle on Gordon lawn to share their respective approaches to sustainability. Organized by University Housing, Sustain-a-Bash’s purpose is to inform, inspire, provide resources, and cultivate a sustainability …
“The University of Wisconsin–Madison will be a living model for sustainability, exemplifying values and actions that demonstrate our commitment to stewardship of resources, respect for place and the health and well-being of the broader community, now and for the future.” UW–Madison Sustainability Initiative Task Force Final Report (2010) Of the guiding lights for sustainability at …
Reusable water bottles are more and more visible on the UW–Madison campus. They peek out from backpacks and balance on Terrace tables. They bear scrapes, scuffs, and stickers from all over the world. And with the proliferation of upgraded water fountains in university buildings, it’s easier than ever to refill one’s bottle with cold, filtered …