Strategies to Meet the City of Monona’s Sustainability Goals

The City of Monona, a suburb of Madison with over 8,600 residents, partnered with EAP students Ali Mammadov, Jayant Singh, Cameron Towne, and Maha Ziadeh to develop actionable strategies for achieving the city’s ambitious goal of net-zero emissions and a 50% reduction in energy use by 2040. Focusing on the Monona Community Center and Pool Complex, the team conducted a detailed greenhouse gas emissions analysis and evaluated renewable energy and heating and cooling solutions. Their top recommendation—installing rooftop and parking lot solar panels, a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) for the community center, and an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) for the pool—would reduce emissions by 99.4%, nearly eliminating fossil fuel reliance. The report also assessed operational changes like remote work, HVAC adjustments, and a sustainable purchasing policy, concluding that while some offer modest benefits, the most impactful path forward lies in renewable and HVAC infrastructure investment.