Dane County aims to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2030.
A national leader in combating climate change, Dane County in Wisconsin is on the path to reducing carbon emissions to zero. HGA was selected to perform comprehensive energy and carbon emissions assessment, auditing and energy modeling the highest impact county facilities, identifying ways to save energy and carbon emissions while also improving resiliency, and reducing the cost associated with energy use. The assessment will address energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, and water conservation opportunities in county facilities supporting Dane County’s goal to be carbon neutral in its facilities, fleet and land conservation efforts by 2030.
“Dane County has been a national leader combating climate change by reducing energy use and using renewable energy in our facilities for more than a decade,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “This assessment will identify the next set of opportunities to green our facilities, giving us a roadmap to our 2030 net-zero carbon goal.”
Dane County currently obtains approximately 45% of its electricity from renewable energy sources and has a plan to achieve 100% renewable electricity in early 2023, two years ahead of their 2025 goal. In 2022 Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced the County’s updated carbon neutrality goal. HGA’s assessment will drive the County towards achieving its net-zero carbon goal.
In addition to leading by example in its own operations, the County developed a countywide climate action plan in 2020, providing direction in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through an ambitious set of climate goals. The plan focuses on programs, policies and projects that will be most effective in meeting those goals.
The audit encompasses a variety of buildings including the Dane County Courthouse, the City County Building in downtown Madison as well as other office buildings, multiple highway department garages, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, and several buildings at the Henry Vilas Zoo.
HGA will conduct on-site audits and energy modeling of county facilities and develop a prioritized list of energy savings and emission-reducing opportunities, including opportunities for increased energy efficiency, demand response, renewable energy, and beneficial electrification.
HGA’s Madison office has worked with Dane County for over 10 years on a variety of projects, including commissioning services for the Alliant Energy Center, a sustainability plan for the airport and updates to the City County Building and the Public Safety Building. An interdisciplinary firm, HGA brings expertise with energy modeling and designing high-performance energy systems, including electrification, geothermal, passive heating, daylight harvesting, energy recovery and variable refrigerant volume (VRV) systems, and more. The team selected to work with Dane County is comprised of experts who have led many of the first applications of energy innovations, such as the first recognized Living Building Challenge Building in the World, the first Net Zero School in the Midwest and the first Chilled Beam application for a State of Wisconsin Facility.
“An up-front investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy will pay for itself again and again in lower energy bills,” Parisi said. “I am excited to see what technologies and strategies emerge from this analysis to reduce our carbon footprint.”
The Comprehensive Energy Assessment was introduced by County Executive Parisi in his 2022 budget and has been implemented by the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change. The assessment will benchmark energy use in county facilities, review potential upgrades for energy savings and reduced emissions, and rank upgrade opportunities based on savings.
HGA will partner with Dane County to develop a plan that can be implemented in a way that creates true value for taxpayers and helps the county to be a leader in holistic, government owned facility decarbonization.
Learn more about HGA’s Energy & Infrastructure expertise here.
About HGA
HGA is a national interdisciplinary design firm committed to making a positive, lasting impact for our clients and communities through research-based, holistic solutions. We believe that great design requires a sense of curiosity—forming deep insight into our clients, their contexts, and the human condition. We are a collective of over 1,000 architects, engineers, interior designers, planners, researchers, and strategists. Our practice spans multiple markets, including corporate, cultural, education, local and federal government, healthcare, and science and technology. Visit HGA.com or follow on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.