Madison College was recognized as a 2024 Climate Champion by Dane County earlier this semester. This program honors organizations that are taking action to reduce carbon emissions. There were 32 organizations recognized as Climate Champions for 2024.
The college received the Dane County Climate Champion Award status for three buildings in the building energy use category. Madison College was rated as Three Star Climate Champions for the Early Learning Campus, Health Education Building and the Protective Services Building. The Early Larning Campus uses less than 25% of the energy of a comparable building and the 140-kilowatt solar array on the facility produces more electricity than the facility uses on an annual basis. The Health Education Building and Protective Services Building uses about 25% of the energy of a comparable building.
The school installed its first solar system in 2002. In November of 2010, the college asked voters and received approval from voters for a $134 million dollar facilities referendum. Part of that facility plan included implementing efficient energy conservation designs into the facilities. This was when geothermal heating and cooling systems in the buildings went in place.
Madison College received a grant from Madison Gas and Electric to complete the 1400-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system on the rooftop of the Truax Campus in 2017. In 2018, the solar project on the Truax Main Campus roof was installed. It is the largest rooftop PVB solar panel system in the state of Wisconsin.
The college has expanded the model to buildings across the district. There are solar panels on the North Building, Early Learning Campus and the regional campuses. There have been boiler and chiller replacements. The facilities switched out old lighting to LED lighting. The restrooms use touchless faucets, low flush toilets and waterless urinals. There are occupancy sensors in rooms that control lighting and temperature based on the season. Last summer an ice chiller system was installed at the Commercial Avenue Campus, and it creates ice at night and during the day the ice is used to cool the building for air conditioning.
“The college has been very dedicated to sustainability,” said Lynn Dahlgren, Madison College facilities project coordinator. “We’ve done a lot of projects large and small to take a dent in our carbon footprint.”
Dahlgren attended the recognition ceremony along with VP of Finance & Administration Sylvia Ramirez, Interim President Dr. Tim Casper, Science, Engineering and Clean Energy Instructor Ken Waltz, Student Senate President Kai Brito, Facilities Project Coordinator Lynn Dahlgren, Budget Director (former Capital Planning & Sustainability Manager) Cody White, Director Office of Energy & Climate Change Dane County Kathy Kuntz and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard.
The Protective Services Building will start another solar project in April for a ground mounted solar system and it will have battery storage. This will be the first battery storage system at Madison College.
Madison College Interim President Dr. Tim Casper said, “It was great to be recognized by Dane County for the commitment that we have made to clean energy, to reduce energy cost through conservation efforts. So really appreciate that recognition, really appreciate working with our students who helped take a lead in preparing that application for that recognition and for the students ongoing interest in making sure our campus does what we can to conserve energy, be more efficient, make yourself different renewable energy products ” Madison College has also recently received a partnership in a decarbonization academy. Madison College Vice President of Finance & Administration Sylvia Ramirez will be chairing that group with Instructor Ken Waltz, Lynn Dahlgren, a budget team member, and a student senator.
The Dane County Climate Change Program started in 2020. The program has recognized more than 180 entities as Climate Champions in Dane County. Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said, “We are really proud of Dane County and how it is that we continue to lead when it comes to addressing climate concerns in our region and how other counties look to us in a way that they can take action as well.”
Agard enjoys going out to meet the people behind all the projects in Dane County. Agard said, “Here in Dane County, we know that our friends and neighbors very much value a healthy and clean environment and leadership when it comes to climate action. It is woven into the fabric of how it is that we lead internally as a county and our partnerships across the county.”
If you know of a business or organization that might be a great candidate for this award, you can go to the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change website to learn more information at https://daneclimateaction.org/initiatives/Climate-Champions.