DANE COUNTY – Dane County Executive Melissa Agard today announced that the new Sherman Middle School and Shabazz High School and Black Hawk Middle School and Gompers Elementary School construction projects in the Madison Metropolitan School District have each been recognized as 4-Star Climate Champions for Building Design by the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change.
The 4-star designation is the highest award given by the county, recognizing facilities designed to achieve exceptional energy efficiency and long-term sustainability.
“We are delighted to recognize these projects as 4-Star Climate Champions,” said County Executive Agard. “These projects represent the very best of what is possible when we invest in our community’s future. They are not only spaces for learning, but powerful examples of climate leadership in action that our students will experience first-hand.”
The new school facilities are designed with fully electric systems, incorporating super-efficient geothermal heat pumps and rooftop solar panels. The building is expected to use less than one-third of the energy of a typical Wisconsin school. In addition to operational efficiency, the district prioritized low-carbon building materials, reducing embodied emissions. These projects are among the first in the region to take such a comprehensive approach to sustainable design.
“Schools, like county facilities, serve communities for decades,” said Agard. “These efficiency investments will deliver benefits year after year, from lower operating costs to healthier, more comfortable learning environments.”
Kathy Kuntz, Director of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change, emphasized the broader impact of the projects.
“These schools are setting a new standard for what sustainable building design can look like in our region,” said Kuntz. “By combining all-electric systems, geothermal technology, solar energy, and low-carbon materials, these projects show that we can significantly reduce emissions while creating better spaces for students and educators.”
Dane County also recognized the partners who made these projects possible, including OPN Architects, IMEG, Findorff, and Vogel Bros. Building Co.
For more information about the Climate Champion Awards and Dane County’s climate initiatives, visit the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change.
