We are a committee of students who work to make our campus more sustainable.
What does the SSA Sustainability Council do?
- Work with the Sustainability Office to promote and implement sustainability projects on campus
- Manage allocations and projects from the Green Fee, a segregated fee for implementing sustainability-related projects on campus
- Plan events for Campus Sustainability Day, Earth Week, and other times of the year
- Work with campus departments to infuse sustainability into their operations and processes
Any UW-Stout student can join this committee. It is chaired by Trent Charpentier, SSA's Sustainability Director. Vice Chair is Bergen Haag, SSA Senator. Advisor is Kadi Wright, UW-Stout's Sustainability Manager.
![SSA Sustainability Council](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2020-07/_dsc7535.jpeg?h=2fea4418&itok=Qtv6ZB8h)
Green Fee Projects
Since 2014, the SSA Sustainability Council has allocated funds toward a number of sustainability projects. Check out some of these projects below.
![Solar Panels on Price Commons](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2020-07/dsc00647.jpeg?itok=JkqrbzsH)
Renewable Energy
SSA began with a 10.8 kW solar PV pilot project (32 solar panels) at Merle Price Commons and has continually added on to this project. Altogether, they've allocated just over $200,000 toward solar panels. These panels help to reduce electricity costs for this student-funded building, thereby saving money for students and reducing emissions.
![Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2017-12/img_0358_0.jpg?itok=qPBcxg1s)
Bike Shelter
SSA funded a bike shelter located near the Robert Swanson Library. This shelter is for students to park their bike during inclement weather.
![icon](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2020-07/led_lighting_project.jpeg?itok=Uo7hRN8n)
LED Lighting
SSA has funded and co-funded a number of LED lighting projects to make our buildings more energy efficient. These include complete retrofits of Wigen Hall and Antrim-Froggatt Halls, retrofit of the 2nd floor of Merle Price Commons, and retrofit of the MSC Ballrooms.
![StoutBikes Bike Rental Program](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2020-07/stoutbikes.jpeg?h=78199b97&itok=CTXl9JJB)
StoutBikes Bike Rentals
SSA allocated funds for a new bike rental program for students, for new bicycles, helmets, safety lights, and locks. Students can rent an outfitted bike for a small fee from Stout Adventures and the funds generated from the program go back to SSA's transportation funds.
![Sports & Fitness Compost Bin](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2020-07/compost_sports_fitness.jpeg?itok=q_rAr15j)
Waste Collection Stations
SSA has funded or co-funded compost and recycling bins for a number of locations on campus including Sports & Fitness Center, Sorensen Hall, Heritage Hall, and in outdoor locations.
![Sustainability Wall](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2020-07/img_7892.jpeg?h=f079feba&itok=saMRIH-H)
MSC's Sustainability Wall
SSA funded the sustainability wall in the Memorial Student Center, to educate students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors on what UW-Stout is doing to be more sustainable and what others can do to live a more environmentally friendly life.
![icon](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/2020-07/foamstream.png?itok=wphe4A9y)
Foamstream Weed Mitigation Machine
SSA co-funded a weed mitigation machine that uses high temperature steam and non-toxic ingredients like coconut oil and beet juice to kill weeds on our campus grounds. This has replaced the use of glyphosate by our Grounds Department.