Resources
Check out these resources to help empower you to accelerate sustainability.
Learn from Success of 100+ Organizations (MPower Champions Program)
Through the MPower Champions Program 110 organizations in Dane County completed over 570 sustainability projects, resulting in over 60 million lbs of CO2 emissions avoided and over 2 million dollars saved annually. MPower was a year-long training program that gave organizations the tools and resources needed to reduce their environmental impact while saving costs and creating a healthier and more engaging workplace and community. The success of this program lives on in our Accelerate Sustainability Workshops.

MPower 10-Year Anniversary Case Studies
“Union Cab has added solar on two of our buildings and converted our sedans to gas electric hybrids which has had a dramatic effect on our carbon footprint. These actions were directly related to the MPower program and the contacts we developed from it.” —Butch Hanson, Union Cab of Madison Co-op Board President
Defining Sustainability
The definition of sustainability is broad and evolving. In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustain Dane’s holistic definition of sustainability includes a healthy environment, a just economy, and equity and well-being for all.
We base our definition on The Natural Step Framework’s system conditions. A sustainable society recognizes that the earth’s natural resources are limited and exist in a ecological balance. A sustainable society will only take from and add to the earth at a rate that the earth can replenish its resources. And finally, in a sustainable society, people have the capacity to meet their basic needs to achieve wellbeing.
Statement of Solidarity for Racial Justice
Sustain Dane cares deeply about equity and anti-racism in all areas, including environmental justice, that is essential for our work with the community. Our vision and mission require us to support inclusive communities because all must have well-being to achieve sustainable communities. It is everyone’s social responsibility to ensure the Madison region is inclusive, fair, and just for all. Sustain Dane works to bring this forward in our holistic approach to sustainability and our programs. Additional statements specific to George Floyd and StopAAIPHate.
Past Program Impact
Sustain Dane has launched many programs that are interwoven in the fabric of Dane County sustainability. We encourage you to connect with us about these resources and others.
Connecting Working from Home & Sustainability
In 2021 we conducted a scoping study on telework in partnership with the Greater Madison MPO and made possible by Dane County’s Office of Energy and Climate Change’s Clean Energy Economic Development Grant Program. The study worked to understand the opportunities and challenges of long-term teleworking options as an important component of reducing vehicle miles traveled in Dane County. The Dane County Climate Action Plan targets a 15% reduction in vehicle miles traveled by 2050. Working with a cohort of local businesses, organizations, and individuals, we’re identifying teleworking best practices, equity considerations, and available tools for entities implementing telework and telecommuting policies.

Outdoor Classrooms
Comprised of diverse local educators, parents, volunteers, and district leaders, the Outdoor Learning Network works to expand our local classrooms outside. The network connects educators to resources in the community to create meaningful outdoor learning experiences. Wisconsin Green Schools took over this program in 2019, follow them on facebook.
Yahara Watershed Academy
The Yahara Watershed Academy is a training and leadership-development experience that aims to empower a regional network of leaders for the Yahara River Watershed by supporting the creation of locally led initiatives benefiting our watershed. Clean Lakes Alliance now owns this program, learn more.
Step Up: Equity Matters
Step Up: Equity Matters has been working for a just economy since 2014 through facilitating learning, dialogue, and self-reflection at public workshops, private trainings, and speaking events. Step Up is now run by previous program partner Latino Professionals Association.
Sustainability Snapshot
Sustainability Snapshot was a resource to understand the state of sustainability in the Greater Madison Region in 2015. By measuring indicators of sustainability, this innovative tool illustrated the connections within our community, economy, and environment and helped inspire actions toward a more sustainable future. Learn about the Snapshot’s findings.
Ho-Chunk Resident Panels for Imagine Madison
In 2017, Sustain Dane and Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison facilitated panels to provide an opportunity for Ho-Chunk residents of Madison to influence city planning through the participatory process Imagine Madison. Read Imagine Madison’s report.
Rain Barrels
From 2005 to 2011, Sustain Dane helped to sell thousands of rain barrels in Dane County and nationally. The program increased awareness about the power of individual action for the health of our lakes. Sustain Dane no longer sells or installs rain barrels.
Our newsletter covers the latest sustainability news and events in Dane County and beyond. Check out our past issues:
Community Resources
We work in a community with a documented commitment to growing more sustainable together. Take a look at these resources to learn more about Madison, Dane County, and Wisconsin-wide environmental initiatives.
Sustainability Stories
Sustain Dane’s Sustainability Stories platform amplifies the voices of people from different backgrounds, races, ages, genders and geographies that are working on and want to inspire others to build a more sustainable and inclusive community. We invite you to share your sustainability stories with us.
Climate Action Story—Ripple Effect
We had solar panels installed on our garage -- in 2021, we produced just over 5 MWh of electricity! We also live right on...
Climate Action Story—Food
At the Summit, I made a climate commitment to food. What this means for me is reducing my meat and dairy intake, reducing...
Everlight Solar Sustainability Story
Sustain Dane recently met with team members from Everlight Solar to hear their sustainability story. Everlight Solar...
Artisan Dental Sustainability Story
Artisan Dental was founded in 2014 with sustainability as one of their core objectives. They are delivering on that promise...
Reducing the Energy Burden in Affordable Rental Housing
By Adam Blust Collaboration. That’s the key to bringing energy efficiency to affordable housing in Dane County and beyond....
Numbers 4 Nonprofits Sustainability Story
Since nonprofits often run-on tight budgets, it is often difficult to recruit a full-time finance position on staff....
Older Posts
Climate Action Story—Ripple Effect
We had solar panels installed on our garage -- in 2021, we produced just over 5 MWh of electricity! We also live right on...
Climate Action Story—Food
At the Summit, I made a climate commitment to food. What this means for me is reducing my meat and dairy intake, reducing...
Everlight Solar Sustainability Story
Sustain Dane recently met with team members from Everlight Solar to hear their sustainability story. Everlight Solar...
Artisan Dental Sustainability Story
Artisan Dental was founded in 2014 with sustainability as one of their core objectives. They are delivering on that promise...
Reducing the Energy Burden in Affordable Rental Housing
By Adam Blust Collaboration. That’s the key to bringing energy efficiency to affordable housing in Dane County and beyond....
Numbers 4 Nonprofits Sustainability Story
Since nonprofits often run-on tight budgets, it is often difficult to recruit a full-time finance position on staff....
Climate Action Story—Food
Our green team met in February of 2020 with plenty of lofty goals, one of which was to start an office compost. Not long...
Mundo Esperanza Sustainability Story
In May of 2022 Sustain Dane staff met with members of Mundo Esperanza to discuss their sustainability story. Among the...
Climate Action Story
Most college students are on tight budgets and don’t have a lot of time to work on their wardrobe outside of all the time...
Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison Sustainability Story
We sat down with Laura LaMere, the Environmental Services Manager at Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison to talk sustainability. In...
Climate Action Story—Food
I was pleased and encouraged to learn that switching to a more plant-based diet would have such a positive impact on...
Climate Action Story—Food
I made a commitment to eat less meat, which in all honesty, wasn't a huge commitment in many ways because I only eat meat...