Chippewa Valley Times

For its collaboration and commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency in multiple campus-wide initiatives over the past two decades, UW-Stout has received an Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program.

UW-Stout was the only university among ten Wisconsin businesses and government entities awarded this year. The nomination came from Xcel Energy, which partners with other state utilities for the award.

Since 2007, UW-Stout’s partnerships with Focus on Energy, Xcel Energy, and the City of Menomonie have facilitated numerous energy savings projects. These collaborations have provided the university access to state and federal program funds. UW-Stout participates in Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Program.

An award ceremony took place on June 26 at UW-Stout’s Memorial Student Center. Chancellor Katherine Frank and Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel accepted the award, presented by Focus on Energy Business Portfolio Manager Mike Plunkett.

“Thank you to Focus on Energy for this recognition and to all who have supported these projects. It truly is an honor,” Frank said. “As Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, UW-Stout has a unique opportunity to do more than simply implement energy efficiency projects within our facilities. Everything we do must be applied, and everything we do must positively impact our students."

Utpadel expressed appreciation for the recognition: “This award isn’t just a recognition of one person’s work or one stand-alone project but a demonstration of a shared, ongoing commitment to sustainability projects and initiatives from multiple people, committees, and organizations.”

Also present were UW-Stout's Sustainability Manager Kadi Wright; Facilities Management Associate Director Zenon Smolarek; Trades Supervisor Matt Herum; Engineering Specialist Josh Kohnke; Campus Planner Michael Higgins; as well as Focus on Energy representatives David Voss, Erin Soman, Casey Davidson; Xcel Energy Adviser Michael Yates; and State Rep. Clint Moses of Menomonie.

The award marks UW-Stout’s second major sustainability recognition this year. It was named a national Green Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education earlier this spring.

Focus on Energy has partnered with 107 electric and gas utilities across Wisconsin since 2001, helping 2.8 million residents save over $730 million through incentives for energy efficiency efforts. Since 2017, UW-Stout has completed 79 energy-saving projects on campus, earning more than $272,000 in incentives from Focus on Energy.

The university’s Focus2030 goal aims to strengthen its financial, social, and environmental outlook systematically through its University Long-Range Plan focused on infrastructure improvements aligned with sustainability priorities.

David Voss noted his long-term collaboration with the university: “Stout has correctly positioned itself for the benefit of its students, staff and Menomonie community... We look forward to continuing working with Stout in the future.”

Campuswide projects include installing rooftop solar panels, weatherization improvements of buildings, switching from coal to natural gas for campus energy needs in 2020 to reduce emissions, maintaining an outdoor classroom with natural habitat, operating a campus garden (UW-Sprout), implementing waste reduction systems with recycling and composting bins, promoting sustainable transportation options such as bike rentals (earning a national Bike Friendly campus rating), reusing surplus items saving material from landfills, and planning electric vehicle charging stations installations.

UW-Stout's sustainability efforts are overseen by its Sustainability Office alongside seven committees that address every aspect of operations involving students in various capacities since signing the Second Nature Carbon Commitment in 2007 aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Since 2011 Focus on Energy has delivered significant economic benefits exceeding $1 billion across Wisconsin through measurable energy savings programs.

Among other recipients recognized were BiOrigin Specialty Products (Ladysmith), Kaysun (Manitowoc), Kerry Group (Jackson), Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (Keshena), PMI Manufacturing Inc. (Bloomer), Automated Energy Solutions Inc., Badger State Lighting LLC (Marshfield), Ethos Green Power Cooperative (Viroqua), Roberts Irrigation Company (Plover).

Xcel Energy is also part of UW-Stout’s Career Services Partnership Program connecting employers with students through biannual career conferences.

UW-Stout can officially add "green" to its identity after being named a national Green Ribbon school based on long-term sustainability efforts infused into operations creating a culture advancing environmental initiatives. This distinction will be celebrated at a ceremony at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency William Ruckelshaus Conference Center in Washington D.C., attended by Chancellor Frank along with Wright & Smolarek.

Erik Guenard remarked: “This was possible due to our students’ investments... faculty who incorporate sustainability into their curriculum...and staff who plan implement practice sustainability daily.”