The University of Wisconsin recently achieved STARS Gold Status, completing the second of its five environmental sustainability goals. These goals were established by UW Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin in February 2024 to make the campus more environmentally conscious.
The first goal completed was creating the Sustainable Research Hub, which was established in 2024 right after Mnookin announced the environmental sustainability goals in February.
UW’s Sustainable Research Hub aims to take on problems that are too big for one organization or research group to solve and get people to work together. Staff at the research hub work on building and supporting projects through the UW community and the rest of the state, according to Dean of the Nelson Institute Paul Robbins.
“The hub is designed to get people from across campus to work together on very large projects,” Robbins said.
The second of the environmental sustainability goals completed by UW was to achieve STARS Gold certification by 2025. STARS gives out ratings of gold, silver and bronze to organizations for their sustainability efforts in sections such as daily operations, community engagement, student academics and administration of sustainable policies.
UW received silver and bronze ratings in all of the sections of STARS in past years. The university moving up to gold status is a large accomplishment as STARS metrics increase every single year, according to UW Director of Sustainability Missy Nergard.
“We want to achieve our goal, and that’s important because the metrics for the next iteration of STARS [have] more rigor,” Nergard said.
The completion of two of the environmental sustainability goals will affect Wisconsinites living on and off campus.
Achieving the goals will create healthier living and learning environments on campus, according to Nergard.
With the Lakeshore Nature Preserve making up 300 acres of the UW campus, about a third of its total acreage — taking care of this area is crucial for learning and well being, according to Nergard.
“The Lakeshore Nature Preserve — it’s a natural area,” Nergard said. “Having that kind of connection and opportunity to get out into nature helps with learning and well being.”
Two goals have been achieved in a year and half. To reach zero waste on campus by UW’s 200th birthday, there is still work to be done.
UW produced over 8,500 tons of waste in 2024. While that is a high amount of waste, the university is increasing efficiency in their diversion rate, and is doing a much better job than schools similar to UW, according to Nergard.
“The diversion rate includes recycling, composting and reuse,” Nergard said. “We are [diverting] 39% which is significantly better than the higher education average, which is 24%. We are making really good gains in that regard.”
In addition to achieving zero waste by 2048, the university is striving to operate on 100% renewable energy by 2040. This action mirrors what Alliant Energy and Madison Gas and Electric, the two biggest providers in the Madison area have done.
The university is still in the early phases of completing the zero waste goal. UW is conducting an energy study to explore pathways to reach the target, factoring in existing infrastructure as well as current and future technology. The university currently sources 34% of its energy from renewables, with projects planned to increase that share, according to Nergard.
“We are working with our utility partner, which is Madison Gas and Electric, and Alliant Energy is one of our other partners,” Nergard said. “They are also trying to green their mix. We [also] just partnered on a community solar project in Janesville.”
All of these goals aim to make an impact on the lives of people when they are on campus. The final goal of the environmental sustainability goals aims to empower students to make change in their communities by having access to sustainability educational experiences, Nergard said.
There are a multitude of ways for students to get these opportunities, according to Robbins.
In the classroom, students can tie their field of interest with sustainability such as going into business and having a well-rounded education in sustainability, he said.
Students can also partake in sustainability outside of the classrooms. There are many student organizations with an environmental or sustainable aspect like The People’s Farm.
Additionally, the Green Fund in the Office for Sustainability is dedicated to supporting student ideas in sustainability and wants to continue growing and taking on more proposals, according to Robbins.
“[The Nelson Institute] will connect [students] with people and facilities to help them solve problems,” Robbins said. “That green fund is very exciting.”
UW has completed two of their five environmental sustainability goals with strong foundations in place for the three that have yet to be achieved. When Chancellor Mnookin introduced these goals, the hope was to improve campus and the state both now and in the future, according to Robbins.
One thing remains clear as UW progresses through their goals, students are the driving force of the work on all things sustainability related on campus, according to Robbins.
“This is about [students’] future,” Robbins said. “They are really clear about what they want.”
