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Office of Sustainability

Equitable, Healthy & Resilient Milwaukee County Operations

Our Mission

The Office of Sustainability is responsible for coordinating Milwaukee County's environmental sustainability program. As part of the Department of Administration, Facilities Management Division, we promote environmental stewardship in county government operations, infrastructure and services to enhance community equity, health and resilience.

Contact Us

Want more information about Sustainability? Contact us!

Grant Helle, Director
633 W Wisconsin Ave, Ste 1023A
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 278-4877
[email protected]
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Energy Dashboard

Do you know that roughly 64% of Milwaukee County government's carbon emissions are from building operations? We recently published an Energy Dashboard to share information about Milwaukee County's building energy use and carbon emissions. This tool provides energy-related data for 300+ county properties including transit garages. 

Sustainability Update Newsletter

The latest Sustainability Update features news about the Milwaukee County's Climate Action 2050 Plan, including how county residents can help shape the plan. The newsletter highlights findings from a recent climate change vulnerability assessment, and describes efforts to reduce emissions from the new Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center. 

Climate Vulnerability FAQs

In June 2023, Climate Action 2050 Plan consultants prepared a climate change vulnerability assessment for Milwaukee County. The consultants identified three primary climate hazards in Milwaukee County: heat waves, flooding, and poor air quality. Moreover, with climate change, avg. temperatures in the County could match St. Louis, Missouri by 2100.

Programs & Services

Solar array on rooftop of Milwaukee County Fleet Management building

Energy & Climate

Milwaukee County is committed to supporting the Paris Climate Agreement and achieving zero net carbon emissions by 2050. The Office of Sustainability is actively working to reduce energy use and carbon emissions from Milwaukee County government operations. Although much work remains to be done, energy conservation, efficiency, and switching to cleaner energy have lowered the County's emissions by approximately 44% since 2005.

In 2020, the Office of Sustainability completed the first-ever inventories of Milwaukee County government emissions and communitywide emissions, and we launched a retro-commissioning program to improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort in county buildings. During 2022, we secured federal ARPA funding to develop the Climate Action 2050 Plan for county operations, currently underway.

View Milwaukee County's Energy Dashboard

County Executive with workers

Green Jobs

The Office of Sustainability is excited about the recent launch of an innovative, $1.9 million ARPA-funded program to improve the efficiency of Milwaukee County buildings while creating career pathways for area youth. Started in January 2024, the Lighting Jobs Program is providing training and on-site job experiences for Milwaukee County high school students who are interested in careers in the skilled trades. Students selected for the program work closely with Milwaukee County staff and contractor Allcon, LLC to assist with interior lighting upgrade in county buildings. The program aims to not only save energy and reduce emissions, but also to dismantle barriers to entering the trades - particularly for low- to moderate-income households, women, and Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

View October 2024 Project Update

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Wisconsin

Economic Development

In 2018, Milwaukee County joined PACE Wisconsin, a statewide program that helps commercial property owners to obtain low-cost, long-term, private loans for energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements. Administered through the Wisconsin PACE Commission, the voluntary program helps boost the efficiency and sustainability of commercial buildings at no cost to taxpayers. As of October 2023, the program has provided $14,963,032 in private financing to a variety of development projects in Milwaukee County. In addition to boosting property values, these projects have created around 225 jobs and provide a lifetime environmental benefit equivalent to removing 6,000 passenger vehicles from the road for a year.

Recycling bin in a Milwaukee County park.

Resource Management

Solid waste diversion conserves natural resources, reduces pollution, and supports approximately 97,000 jobs in Wisconsin (source: Recycle More Wisconsin). The Office of Sustainability strives to reduce, reuse, or recycle solid waste generated from Milwaukee County operations. We work with Architecture, Engineering, and Environmental Services to achieve 50 percent or greater waste diversion for the County’s new construction and major renovation projects. During 2019, we coordinated development of a waste minimization plan for Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. In 2022, per the County Board's request, we developed a new administrative policy to reduce and eliminate single-use plastic products and polystyrene from Milwaukee County properties. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, all new or renewed county contracts incorporate contract language that requires vendors to adhere to this policy. 

Aerial view of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport terminals.

Strategic Planning

The Office of Sustainability collaborates with Milwaukee County departments to incorporate economic, social and environmental sustainability into their planning. In 2016, we helped the Milwaukee County Zoo develop a Clean Energy Plan. The plan sets goals and provides actions the Zoo can take to reduce its energy and water use while increasing its use of renewable energy. We serve as a resource to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport as it implements a Sustainability Management Plan for airport operations. The plan supports the "quadruple-bottom line" of the airport: economic viability, operational efficiency, natural resource conservation and social responsibility.

Milwaukee County vehicle electrification guide

Resources

View Milwaukee County's Vehicle Electrification Guidebook

In order to achieve carbon neutral operations, Milwaukee County will likely need to transition its fleet to low- to no-emission vehicles by 2050. The County aims to reflect this growth of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, not only from county-owned vehicles but also from the growing number of residential EV users, through apt electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) implementation. The Office of Sustainability has created a comprehensive Vehicle Electrification Guidebook to serve as a roadmap for Milwaukee County and other local organizations, offering insights into various facets of vehicle electrification.

View Milwaukee County's Solar Photovoltaic Feasibility Study

In 2024, the Office of Sustainability published a comprehensive county-wide solar feasibility study. The feasibility study included a detailed assessment of 38  county properties including the Mitchell International Airport, law enforcement buildings, museum, community centers and recreational spaces as well as the zoo, totaling more than 13 million sq.ft. The study recommends the implementation of 22 solar systems across 17 county sites. Implementation of the solar feasibility study could result in significant community impacts including over 200,000 tons of carbon offset by solar production as well as 28% project cost  savings on average in IRA funding.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Milwaukee County Courthouse
901 N. 9th St., Room 308
Milwaukee, WI 53233

(414) 278-5353 (Voice), 711 (TRS)

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