Sherrie Gruder Biography

Sherrie Gruder is a Sustainable Design Specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Based in Madison, Sherrie provides statewide education and technical assistance on green building, sustainable development, energy conservation and renewable energy. Sherrie is working on many fronts to promote sustainable development and create an infrastructure to facilitate it in Wisconsin. She works with state and local government, architects, engineers, contractors, haulers, renewable energy providers, suppliers and the public. Sherrie also coordinates the state public benefits energy program - Focus on Energy - for UW-Extensionʼs statewide network of agents.

Sherrie is a LEED™Accredited Professional by the US Green Building Council and is serving a second term on its Government Core Committee. She is on the MTS committee that developed the National Sustainable Product Standard. Sherrie has served six years on the education and advocacy committee of the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance. She served on the advisory council for the Habitat ReStore and on the technical advisory committee of the Wisconsin Green Built Home Program.

Sherrie is trained in The Natural Step and is a founding member of the North American EcoMunicipality Network. Sherrie chairs the City of Madison Sustainable Design & Energy Committee, co-chaired the Madison Mayorʼs Energy Task Force and co-authored the blueprint to make Madison a green capital city with sustainable design and energy supporting its economic vitality. In that role she has organized trainings for city staff on commissioning and retro-commissioning, The Natural Step and energy conservation, drafted resolutions on topics from renewable energy purchase to green building, organized a clean energy challenge campaign with city wide partners, served on the LEED-EB Monona Terrace design team, and helped obtain two US DOE grants to make Madison a solar city.

Some statewide outreach includes consulting on the Governorʼs Green Building Executive Order (April 2006), serving on the Milwaukee Mayorʼs Green Team, providing technical assistance and education to the Sustainable Marshfield Committee, working on comprehensive energy planning for the Lac de Flambeau Tribe and green business park development for the Oneida County Economic Development Consortium. Sherrie works in an advisory capacity on several LEED green commercial building projects in Wisconsin. She does a green building show on WI Public Radio and leads the annual Wisconsin Tour of Solar Businesses in Madison.