Dane County Recognizes 32 New Climate Champions

August 29, 2024
Kathy Kuntz, 608.238.1477
County Executive

Entities Across Dane County Lead by Example

 

MADISON - Today, Dane County Executive Jamie Kuhn and the Office of Energy and Climate Change (OECC) recognized 32 local entities for leading on climate action through the Dane County Climate Champions program. The Climate Champions program recognizes the leadership of local entities that take significant action to reduce carbon emissions.

 

“The participation of community residents, businesses, faith organizations, nonprofits, schools and local governments are crucial to meeting the ambitious goals set forth in the Dane County Climate Action Plan,” said Kuhn. “I am proud to recognize this impressive class of new Climate Champions, representing so many different sectors.” The objective of the Dane County Climate Action Plan is to cut countywide emissions in half by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

 

The OECC Climate Champions program recognizes achievements across ten categories. This year, OECC is presenting 32 Climate Champions awards to 20 entities.

 

“This year’s Climate Champions are a showcase of what can be done locally to reduce emissions,” said Kuhn. “We thank them for their leadership, a true embodiment of Dane County’s commitment to leading by example.”

 

The full list of 2024 Climate Champions:

  • 350 Wisconsin - 350 Wisconsin achieved 2024 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their grassroots efforts advocating for a shift away from fossil fuels.
  • Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) - The CMC achieved 2024 Climate Champion (2 stars/Sustainable Land Use) status for their no till agricultural practices, which increase production and decrease erosion.
  • Cave of the Mounds - Cave of the Mounds achieved 2024 Climate Champion (2 stars/Energy Use) status for their reduced energy usage; the facility installed a solar array last year, reducing their energy usage.
  • Centro Hispano of Dane County - Centro Hispano achieved 2024 Climate Champion status (3 stars/Building Design) for their new building which features geothermal heat pumps, rooftop solar, and a rainwater recovery system. J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc. was the general project contractor for the new facility working with architect EUA, HVAC design/build Hooper Corporation, and electrical design/build – Westphal & Company, Inc.
  • The City of Sun Prairie achieved 2024 Climate Champion (Other) status for two initiatives:
    • The City of Sun Prairie Wastewater Treatment Plant installed a 403 kW-DC solar PV array. This is the first municipal facility in Sun Prairie that is run off of 100% renewable electricity, and this 403 kW solar PV array is the largest municipal array deployed in Sun Prairie to date.
    • City of Sun Prairie-Green Box Partnership - The City of Sun Prairie established a partnership with Greenbox, a local composting initiative. This effort has been successful in diverting paper towels from the landfill in municipal buildings, and providing a carbon source for composting.
  • Daily Harvest Designs - Daily Harvest Designs achieved 2024 Climate Champion Status (2 stars/Sustainable Land Use) for their no till practices, vegetative cover, nitrogen use efficiency, and stormwater management.
  • Dane County Public Works - Dane County Public Works achieved 2024 Climate Champion (3 stars/Fleet Operations) status for their clean-fuel vehicle fleet; of the 5 Public Works vehicles, 4 are battery electric and one runs on compressed natural gas.
  • Dane County Youth Environmental Committee (DCYEC) - The DCYEC achieved 2024 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for bringing high school students together to take action on climate in their schools and local communities.
  • Elise Couillard LLC - Elise Coulliard, LLC achieved 2024 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their educational work surrounding solar conservation and environmental services.
  • Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Gunderson Funeral & Cremation Care achieved 2024 Climate Champion status (2 Stars/Building Energy Use) for its Mount Horeb facility, which features solar and uses about half as much electricity as a comparable building.
  • HGA - Middleton Office - HGA (Middleton Office) achieved 2024 Climate Champion status (2 stars/Employee Commuting) for their efforts to support green commuting options; over half of their employees choose to telecommute or bike to work.
  • Holy Wisdom Monastery - Holy Wisdom Monastery achieved 2024 Climate Champion Status (4 stars/Building Design) for achieving net-zero energy across both the Monastery and Retreat and Guest House. The facilities feature geothermal heat pumps and solar arrays. The Monastery worked with Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Inc.; James F. Yerges, Ph.D., PE; Czarnecki Engineering; XRG Analytics, LLC; Sustainable Engineering Group; and River Valley Testing on this project.   
  • Madison College achieved 2024 Climate Champion status in three academic buildings:
    • Early Learning Campus - The Early Learning Campus (3 stars/Building Energy Use) uses less than a quarter of the energy of a comparable building. The 140kW solar array on the facility produces more electricity than the facility uses on an annual basis.
    • Health Education Building - The Health Education Building (3 stars/Energy Use) uses about a quarter of the energy of a comparable building. 
    • Protective Services Building - The Protective Services Building (3 stars/Building Energy Use) uses about a quarter of the energy of a comparable building.
  • Madison Home Performance - Madison Home Performance achieved 2024 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their efforts to help consumers make energy improvements that will have lasting impacts in the comfort, health, safety, and efficiency of their homes.
  • Madison Metro Transit - Madison Metro Transit achieved 2024 Climate Champion (1 star/Fleet Operations) status for their efforts to upgrade the bus fleet with the addition of 62 New Flyer all electric buses. Metro’s current buses use approximately 5,658 gallons diesel each year, so electric buses are expected to conserve nearly a quarter million gallons of fuel annually.
  • The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District achieved 2024 Climate Champion status for 10 schools:
    • Early Learning Center - Early Learning Center earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half us much energy as a typical elementary school.
    • Elm Lawn Elementary School - Elm Lawn Elementary earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half us much energy as a typical elementary school.
    • Glacier Creek Middle School - Glacier Creek Middle School earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half as much energy as a typical middle school.
    • Kromrey Middle School - Kromrey Middle School earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half as much energy as a typical middle school.
    • Middleton High School - Middleton High School earned 1 Star (Building Energy Use) and uses about 25% less energy than a typical high school.
    • Northside Elementary School - Northside Elementary School earned 1 Star (Building Energy Use) and uses 25% less energy than a typical elementary school.
    • Pope Farm Elementary School - Pope Farm Elementary School earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half as much energy as a typical elementary school.
    • Sauk Trail Elementary School - Sauk Trail Elementary School earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half as much energy as a typical elementary school.
    • Sunset Ridge Elementary School - Sunset Ridge Elementary School earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half as much energy as a typical elementary school.
    • West Middleton Elementary School - West Middleton Elementary School earned 2 Stars (Building Energy Use) and uses about half as much energy as a typical elementary school.
  • OPN Architects - OPN Architects achieved 2024 Climate Champion (2 stars/Energy Use) for their building solar usage, which is about half a comparable facility.
  • Overture Center for the Arts - The Overture Center for the Arts achieved 2024 Climate Champion (1 star/Water Saving Practices) status for a variety of water conservation practices, including their use of efficient water softeners and conservative salt usage.
  • Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce - The Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce achieved 2024 Climate Champion (1 star/Building Design) status for their building retrofit, which includes rooftop solar, energy efficiency improvements to the building shell and lighting upgrades. The building is expected to use about 25% less energy than a comparable facility. The Chamber worked with Interiors by JW, Kontext and Midwest Solar Power on their renovation.
  • Sun Prairie Public Library - The Sun Prairie Public Library achieved 2024 Climate Champion status (3 stars/Building Design) for their all-electric facility which will feature battery storage, geothermal heat pumps and solar. The facility will be a LEED certified building. Supporting this design work was FEH Design; Design Engineers; and Snyder and Associates.

 

To learn more about the 2024 Climate Champions, visit the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change website and the related Climate Champions map.