The USGBC Green Schools Campaign aims to green all of our nation’s schools within a generation. To help accomplish that, WGBA along with other USGBC Chapters and Affiliates have formed a Green Schools Committee to advance the program in Wisconsin.
The WGBA Green Schools Committee for 2013:
The WGBA Green Schools Committee is working to bring information & resources for increasing the sustainability of schools to schools districts, the public, and local and state leaders. 2013 Members include:
Justin Yotter
jmyotter@gmail.com
Justin joined the committee in 2010. His areas of expertise include LEED certification, energy modeling, and energy assessments. Possessing a strong passion for creating healthy learning environments that positively impact people’s lives, Justin has been invited to speak on sustainability by various organizations.
Leah Samson-Samuel
Madison Environmental Group
leah.samson-samuel@madisonenvironmental.com
Leah joined the committee in 2010 and is currently the committee chair. As President of Madison Environmental Group, LLC, Leah engages clients to implement sustainability in their business practices, buildings, and life styles. Her degree in Mechanical Engineering and Certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison bridges the gap between technology, business and sustainability. In addition, She dedicates her time to these ideals and community involvement as Co-director of the International Facility Management Association -Madison (IFMA-Madison) Sustainability Committee and member of Willy Street Coop’s Sustainability Committee.
Andrew Brophy
E3 Group
abrophy@e-3group.com
Andrew joined the committee in 2011. He is a young engineer looking to expand upon his knowledge by working with more experienced professionals. He is primarily focused on assisting schools with building commissioning, energy modeling and energy auditing.
Melissa Rickert
Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA), Region 10
mrickert@cesa10.k12.wi.us
Melissa joined the committee in 2010. She is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Sustainability Specialist working with K-12 schools statewide. Her background of civil engineering, resource management, and environmental education helps her work with school communities to reduce their environmental impact, strengthening community relationships, and saving money on resources.
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John Albanese
Environmental Systems, Inc.
John.albanese@thinkesi.com
John joined the committee in 2012, he has been supporting facilities in Wisconsin for 14 years and through a combination of technology, services and expertise provides schools with an “Easy” button to reduce the energy and operating expenses of their facilities. His background includes Energy Assessment Services, Managed Facility Services and Energy Education.
Meighan Forrer
Transwestern Sustainability Services
meighan.forrer@transwestern.net
Meighan joined the committee in 2011 to improve the building operations and maintenance for Wisconsin schools. She is a Certification Analyst for Transwestern Sustainability Services in Milwaukee, which completes existing building and new construction energy auditing and LEED certifications across the country. Meighan focuses on improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality for schools, as well as helping schools to implement recycling programs, sustainable products purchasing and low impact green cleaning and pest management programs.
Victoria Rydberg
Department of Public Instruction
victoria.rydberg@dpi.wi.gov
Victoria joined the committee in 2011 and is the coordinator for the Programs & Partnerships Subcommittee. She is the state Environmental Education Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Victoria was also a co-founder of the Wisconsin Green Schools Network as well as River Crossing Environmental Charter School where she taught seventh and eighth grade. Working with community partners, Victoria developed an environmental project-based education model with a focus on hands-on restoration projects.
Jon Evans
Sustainable Engineering Group
jevans@sustaineng.com
Jon joined the committee in 2010 and is the coordinator of the Communication Subcommittee. He is a professional engineer and LEED AP dedicated to helping school building’s become more environmentally sustainable with a focus on energy efficiency. His background includes assisting schools with geothermal design, renewable energy system design, commissioning, retro commissioning, energy modeling, energy star certification and LEED certification.
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Theresa Lehman
Miron Construction Co., Inc.
theresa.lehman@miron-construction.com
Theresa joined the committee in 2008. Working on over 70 LEED projects, she has dedicated her entire career to green design and construction. Since becoming the director of sustainable services for Miron Construction Co., Inc. in 2008, Theresa has served as the LEED Project Administrator on three notable LEED for School certified projects including the Silver LEED certified Paul J. Olson Elementary School located in Madison, WI, the Gold LEED certified Hillcrest Primary School located in Shawano, WI and the first Platinum LEED certified public school in the nation, the Lake Mills Middle School, which was honored by USGBC and the Center for Schools as the 2011 Greenest School in the World Award. Theresa is a LEED AP-BD+C and the only USGBC LEED Faculty member in Wisconsin.
Julie Murphy Agnew
Target Commercial Interiors
Julie.MurphyAgnew@targetinteriors.com
Julie joined the committee in 2013. Julie graduated from UW-Madison in 2004 with a B.S. in Interior Design. She worked as an interior designer in Chicago and Pittsburgh before moving back to Madison in 2007. She has been with Target Commercial Interiors since 2007 as an interior designer. She passed the NCIDQ in 2009 and became a LEED Green Associate in 2011. Julie likes to spend her free time traveling and training for & racing triathlons with her husband.
Todd Bushmaker
Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc.
tbushmaker@hoffman.net
Todd joined the committee in 2013. In his role as a Hoffman project architect, Todd is adept at balancing his clients’ aesthetic, functional, and budgetary needs. With over 20 years experience in the design and construction profession with projects ranging from religious-based to educational to skilled/assisted living, Todd works diligently to educate clients on the benefits of integrating sustainability into the design and construction process and the importance of community involvement to ensure the ideal outcome for all stakeholders.
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Kate Nelson
Chief Sustainability Office of UW Milwaukee
WGBA Board Member
knelson6@uwm.edu
Kate joined the committee in 2013. She is the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator of UW-Milwaukee for the past five years. She is responsible for building the program to address campus energy conservation strategies, stormwater management, expansive recycling programs, sustainable purchasing and urban gardening. Previously, Kate was a GIS specialist and project assistant for The Conservation Fund, and worked to preserve and restore critical land areas for MMSD's Greenseams program. Kate holds a BA in Conservation and Environmental Science from UW-Milwaukee as well as a previous BA in Theatre and Writing from Cardinal Stritch University. She is active in AASHE as well as its STARS program.
Aims of the WGBA Green Schools Committee:
- Every student in Wisconsin in one generation will be in a green school environment
- Provide resources to school districts, local and state leadership so that they understand the benefits of green schools and utilize resources in Wisconsin to achieve them
NEWS
May 2013: The Green Schools Committee would like to congratulate the Four WI schools and one WI school district which acheived 2013 GreenRibbonSchools awards.
July 2012: The Green Schools Committee was recently awarded a grant from the USGBC's Center for Green Schools. The grant will be used to help "Grow Green and Healthy Schools in WI". Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about the grant.
CASE STUDIES
REQUEST A PRESENTATION
The Green Schools Committee is available to make presentations to groups (such as school boards, administrators or facilities personnel). We have the latest information on "LEED for Schools" and other strategies to include benefits and opportunities in various greening efforts. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a presentation.
GREEN SCHOOL RESOURCES
Presentation available for download: Environmental Building in the Education Sector.
School Building Energy Efficiency Education Course through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Know the flow of energy in your school building! The Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) offers a graduate-credit course that focuses on evaluating the energy use in school buildings and guiding K-12 teachers towards utilizing the school building as a learning tool for energy education. Take an informative tour of a school building's energy systems and learn how you and your students can make a difference on your school's utility bill. Participants in the course will develop action plans or unit plans highlighting opportunities in energy efficiency and conservation in their schools. If you are interested in having a School Building Energy Efficiency Education (NRES 734) course in your district, please complete the NRES 734 Course Request Form found on the KEEP Web site under Professional Development.
CONTACT:
For more information, e-mail education@wgba.org or call our office at 414.224.9422
