Designed with sustainability in mind
You can find reminders throughout the city of how Madison champions sustainability. Frank Lloyd Wright's Monona Terrace is a LEED Platinum Level certified convention center with an incredible view of Lake Monona, making it a star on our iconic skyline. The City of Madison had the first all-electric fire truck in the U.S. and Madison Metro introduced three all-electric buses into its fleet in summer 2022.
As 1 of only 5 Platinum-Level Bike-Friendly Communities in the U.S., Madison embraces biking as more than a hobby. Our city has made it easy to access bikes, with help from 80 BCycle stations that host a fleet of 500 rentable electric bikes.
In 2022, riders took 327,845 trips on BCycle e-bikes, which offset more than 869,749 pounds of carbon emissions. That’s the equivalent of 1,351,091 miles driven by an average gas-powered car or 106 homes’ electricity use for one year. It's easy for visitors to reduce their carbon footprint and support sustainability in Madison.
Shop, sip and savor with a purpose
Sustainable living in Madison goes beyond nature. Our community has embraced taking care of the Earth, and each other, by baking sustainability into our shopping and dining experiences.
Take for instance, the more than 100 thrift shops, flea markets, antique stores and more that inspire secondhand shopping. Or the largest producer-only farmers' market in the country that provides locally-grown food to the masses every weekend. And the grain-to-glass mentality of several of our craft beverage makers that ensures locally-produced ingredients don't go to waste.
