In the twenty-first century we are faced with the urgent implications of increasing globalization and environmental change.  At the forefront of these concerns are energy resources.  Scientists at UW-Madison and around the globe are currently reporting the negative effects of fossil fuels, which contribute to toxic pollution and increase global warming. These fuels are also nonrenewable and unreliable future energy providers.

The government on both the federal and state levels is not taking action on this issue.  It is time for the University of Wisconsin to take the lead in the fight to reduce global warming.  UW should serve as a model for the state and the nation by demonstrating the path for a cleaner and healthier future.  The University is a setting where research and innovation are highly valued, and given that leading scientists have illuminated the need to change our current policies, our academic institutions need to respond.

Right now, the University of Wisconsin uses more energy than necessary and gets this energy from dirty sources that cause pollution and global warming.  The Big Red Go Green campaign was created seven years ago when the University exceeded the energy budget by millions of dollars and passed some of those costs along to students.

In response, WISPIRG is working to increase energy efficiency in many different ways.  Through our energy efficiency programs at UW Madison, we work to implement changes that are good for the environment and also save students money.