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State and Local Climate and Energy Program

Mpower ChaMpions: A Pioneering Clean Energy Campaign

Madison, Wisconsin

Federal Funding: $499,496
Project Timeline: February 2011 – February 2014

Project Summary

Mobilizing the Business Community and the School District to work with the City of Madison in a Unified Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

Latest Update.
The City of Madison continues to work with local businesses to reduce greenhouse gases from the commercial sector under the Mpower ChaMpions program. The City completed the 2011 ChaMpion Program, and is in the process of kicking off the second year of the program during 2012. The greenhouse gas reduction efforts of the 19 participating businesses were showcased in three documentary shorts, which were screened at a sustainability conference. Additionally, three “Lunch and Learns” about employee engagement for sustainability, sustainable food choices, and “project sharing” have been held. The City has also geared up for the launch of a People.Power.Planet Campaign in the Madison Metropolitan School District through recruitment of Energy Champions and media outreach.

Madison launched Mpower ChaMpions in 2007 to raise widespread community awareness and mobilize the commercial sector of the community to join the city in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving on-going climate mitigation. With the Climate Showcase Community grant, the City of Madison will implement and expand the Mpower ChaMpions Program from the original pilot group of 15 businesses. Mpower ChaMpions was developed to achieve commercial participation and help businesses negotiate the multitude of free resources available to them, to take precise measurements of their baseline emissions, increase their energy efficiency, incorporate renewable energy, mobilize their employees to make changes at work and at home, and track their overall progress. Madison will exponentially grow and improve the program, using the following five steps as a guide:

  • Expand the program to reach 106 businesses over three years
  • Mobilize the Madison Metropolitan School District to join the program
  • Create a Green Business & School Partnership
  • Increase overall level of sustainability and commercial economic competitiveness
  • Document and communicate the program

Madison will help the Energy Advocates, who assist the ChaMpions one-on-one, to be more efficient, increasing the number of businesses a single Energy Advocate can work with, and establishing permanent staff that will be able to accommodate 60 businesses per year and coordinate the partnerships involved. To improve efficiency, Madison will develop standardized toolkits for tracking data, which will also be helpful to replicate the program in other entities. Madison will also partner with the Madison Metropolitan School District by launching a School Climate Challenge that will bring climate change engagement and learning to 50 percent of Madison elementary, middle, and high school students over three years.

Madison will facilitate the growth of a Green Business & School Partnership for businesses and schools who have completed the Mpower program to share best practices and unexpected benefits. This partnership will also help to inspire and engage the broader community and develop an ongoing greenhouse gas reduction report to track progress. Madison will increase the complementary and synergistic activities encouraged by the program that improve other environmental, public health, and social conditions. Madison will partner more extensively with the Dane County Clean Air Coalition to strengthen the focus on reducing vehicle miles travelled and establish a partnership with the Madison Water Utility.

Finally, Madison will increase the communication of program case studies through print, television and online media, public outreach, and networking events. This program documentation will facilitate the growth and spread of the program, by helping other entities to replicate it.

The program will have many co-benefits, including:

  • greenhouse gas reductions
  • reduction of other pollutants like VOCs, NOx, and particulate matter
  • improved public health
  • economic and competitive benefits including decreased expenses, money savings, green and sustainable alignment, increased employee retention, and improved employee health
  • increased awareness and use of alternative transportation
  • increased awareness and consumption of organic, local food options
  • increased recycling efforts, and
  • decreased water use.

Community Characteristics

Population: 229,051
Area: 68 square miles
Government Type: City
Community Type: Urban
Median Household Income: $51,288

Program Results/Estimated Results

Expected GHG Reductions: 54,048 metric tons CO2e annually
Expected Additional Businesses: 106
Expected Student Engagement: 50%

Project Websites

Media Coverage

Photo and Video

Photo of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at Leopold Elementary School.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Visits Leopold Elementary School

Click to play this video.

Going Sustainable

The Mpower Business ChaMpions program is the first in South-Central Wisconsin that ensures businesses “go green” effectively and efficiently. Over the span of one year, we work with participating businesses and help them both develop and roll out a sustainability strategy that will enable them to achieve measurable results. Exit Disclaimer

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