Sustainability News

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018


Historical Timeline: UWRF Sustainability

  • 2018
    • Received STARS® Gold rating from AASHE
  • 2015
    • Held 5th Sustainability Curriculum Workshop, renamed as "The Kinnickinnick Project" UWRF Faculty present Kinnickinnick Project assessment research at AASHE in Minneapolis.
    • Lighting retrofit project in Wyman Education Building
    • LED lighting conversion project for South Hall
    • MetaSys Control replacement project to optimize Hvac control in the University Center.
    • Connection of North Hall to the central chilled water plant. Replaces an energy inefficient, 40 year old air conditioning unit
    • Ionized water cleaning system implemented in academic buildings.
    • Ag Sci 331 green wall installed
    • Kleinpell Fine Arts window replacement project.
    • Green cleaning policy implemented for academic buildings.
    • Hvac optimization project through centralized room reservation software
  • 2014
    • Held 4th Sustainability Curriculum Workshop.
    • Received STARS® Silver Rating from AASHE
    • MAMAC energy monitoring systems installed in Grimm and McMillan Halls
    • Falcon Center Phase 1 project includes LED site lighting
    • LED lighting conversion project for South Hall
    • UWRF tops list of "System" universities for energy efficiency
    • MetaSys Control replacement project to optimize Hvac control in the University Center.
    • Delamping projects in Rodli, Chalmer Davee library, Hagestad
    • Ionized water cleaning system implemented in residence life.
    • Falcon Center retention/detention basins created.
    • LED light installation in Wyman Education Building and South Hall stairwells
  • 2013
    • Held 3rd Sustainability Curriculum Workshop.
    • Received STARS® Silver Rating from AASHE
    • Hagestad Active learning classroom:  reutilization of previously unused space
    • Installed 14.8 KW capacity of Photovoltaic Panels
    • UWRF tops list of "System" universities for energy efficiency
    • Delamping projects in Rodli, Chalmer Davee library, Hagestad
    • Monthly surplus sales and regular online auctions begin.
  • 2012
    • Received STARS® Silver Rating from AASHE
    • Passed Sustainability Proclamation with City and School District
    • Co-hosted regional food hub workshop
    • Developed definitions of Sustainability and Sustainability Research for campus
    • Second solar panel installed on RDI building
    • Held second "Sustainability in the Curriculum" workshop for faculty
    • Rain gardens installed around South Fork Suites
    • Completed drafts of Climate Action Plan and Sustainable Campus~Community Plan
    • Received LEED gold in Jesse H. Ames Suites (opened in 2012)
    • Installation of 16 – 4'x10' solar thermal panels for domestic water heating in Jesse H. Ames Suites
    • New Campus Data Center incorporates free winter cooling with hot aisle/in row cooling design
    • Cascade Ave and Q lot lighting, includes LED light street and parking lot fixtures.
    • UWRF tops list of "System" universities for energy efficiency
    • Delamping projects in Rodli, Chalmer Davee library, Hagestad
    • McMillan and Parker residence hall mirror light replacements
  • 2011
    • Three new SCISCD Fellows working on campus and community projects
    • Hosted first regional faculty leadership in sustainability workshop
    • Earth Week activities held
    • Hosted campus faculty workshop: "Sustainability Across the Curriculum"
    • Thermal solar panel installed on RDI building
    • UWRF tops list of "System" universities for energy efficiency
    • LEED Silver certified construction began on new residence hall
    • Sustainability Working Group moved from ad hoc to university committee status
    • UWRF tops list of "System" universities for energy efficiency
  • 2010
    • Hosted Institutional Food Market informational meeting at RF Public Library
    • Hosted Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) Biennial Conference
    • Student participation in national Recyclemania contest
    • Rain Barrel installed
    • Earth Day events held
    • First students enrolled in SCISCD Fellows Program
    • Held SWG workshop for completion of campus sustainability plans
    • Draft of Climate Action Plan
    • Draft of Sustainable Campus~Community Plan
    • iRock Living Learning Community begins in May Hall
    • Wind energy feasibility study launched
    • UWRF receives A- on Green Report Card
    • Steam distribution optimization, replaced poorly insulated sections of steam distribution piping.
    • High Bay lighting retrofit project in Hunt
  • 2009
    • Student participation in national Recyclemania contest
    • Switch to compostable food service items
    • Earth Day/Week events held around campus
    • Held first Local Food Fair
    • Rain Garden designed and installed by students
    • Purchased electric vehicle for campus mail delivery
    • University Center receives a Facility Design Award of Excellence
    • Offered online Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Management
    • Held Comprehensive Campus Sustainability Plan workshop
    • Campus Solar Site Assessment
    • Hosted regional Campus Climate Action Plan workshop
    • Completion of ACUPCC carbon footprint inventory
    • Campus reaches 15% energy reduction goal set by State
    • Launch of Green Careers Corner on Career Services Website
    • Events and programs held for Campus Sustainability Day
    • Students participated in 350.org International Day of Action
    • Chancellor charged SWG to create CAP and SCCP
    • High Bay lighting retrofit project in Knowles
  • 2008
    • Participant in the pilot phase of STARS, a rating system for sustainability in higher education developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
    • Campus-Wide Energy Education Campaign
    • Focus the Nation events
    • Coordinated a hospitality and tourism industry luncheon held in Stillwater, MN to expand ongoing sustainability discussions in the St. Croix valley
    • Student participation in national Recyclemania contest
    • Hosted Synergy Green Communities Conference
    • Received grant for pilot project for the UW System for composting food waste
    • Launch of SCISCD website
    • Presented SCUP Campus Sustainability Day webcast
    • Facilitated and supported formation of the Western Wisconsin Initiative for Sustainable Communities (WWISC)
    • First biomass test in campus heating plant
    • Switch to trayless food service in UC
    • UWRF reps assist in RFMU in forming community-wide Powerful Choices group
    • Replacement ceiling panels in KFA building made with recycled materials
    • Completion of AASHE STARS Pilot Program
    • Construction of state-of-the-art Dairy Learning Center with environmentally friendly bedding and composting system
    • New chillers installed to increase AC efficiency
    • Purchase of electric vehicle for Student Affairs/UC
    • Switch to Envirox “green” chemical cleaning products
    • First issue of “Green Living Newsletter” by Res. Life
  • 2007
    • University Center opens
    • Strategic plan lists sustainability goal and associated tasks
    • Founded the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development
    • Chancellor signs ACUPCC
    • Received grant from the USDA for a sustainable agriculture project
    • First student participation in national Recyclemania contest
    • Seat on board of the Western Wisconsin Intergovernmental Collaborative
    • Formation of Sustainability Working Group made up of faculty, staff and students to accomplish tasks of sustainability goal
    • Green kiosk opens in UC (WPPI and UC funds)
    • West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency Inc. (West CAP) sought the university's expertise to capitalize on the region's wealth—from gasification, ethanol production and construction materials to alternative home-heating fuels
    • Ag. Engineering students and faculty convert food service waste vegetable oil to biodiesel for use in campus vehicles
  • 2006
    • Governor James Doyle targets UWRF campus to go “off the grid by 2012”
    • Signed an agreement with Wisconsin Public Power, Inc., and River Falls Municipal Utilities to purchase “green blocks” of energy
    • Energy conservation programs for students
    • CAFES offers sustainable agriculture option within crops & soils major and Masters in SCD
    • Campus Sustainability Council formed
    • Dairy manure composting project begun
  • 2004
    • Collaboration with The Phipps Center for the Arts for formation of a series of lectures and discussions that morphed into an expansive debate on the qualities that comprise a sustainable community
  • 2001
    • Students make presentation on the benefits of sustainable architectural design which balances social, environmental and economic issues.
  • 1999
    • Campus-wide comprehensive environmental audit (first in UW System)
    • Second Performance Contract for electrical and water efficiency
  • 1995
    • Student Voice printed with soy ink and recycled paper
  • 1990
    • Dairy manure compost project started
  • 1989
    • All paper purchased for copy machines has high post-consumer recycled content
    • Began purchasing remanufactured laser toner printer cartridges
  • 1988
    • First Performance Contract for energy efficiency
    • Social Ecology course (now Environmental Sociology) added to Sociology curriculum
  • 1975
    • Energy efficiency monitoring (ongoing)
  • 1970
    • New academic majors in Conservation, Land Use Planning, and Parks & Recreation
    • First Earth Day activities
    • All paper purchased for copy machines has high post-consumer recycled content
    • Began purchasing remanufactured laser toner printer cartridges

Related Links:

Sustainability

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410 S. 3rd St.
River Falls, WI 54022

sustainability@uwrf.edu

715-425-4333