Past projects
A page within Sustainability
2024
2023
Wentz Hall Steam Trap Replacement
This $18,000.00 large grant passed in Fall 2023 covers the material cost to replace the steam traps in Wentz Hall. This is a joint project between Residence Life and Facilities Management and will be installed over the summer of 2024. Replacing the steam traps reduces the chance of leakage/breakage of the current system, which is due for an update. The steam that runs through these traps heats the residence hall.
Robin Wall Kimmerer Extended Funding
This $1,500.00 mini grant passed in Fall 2023 covers an unexpected funding need to bring Robin Wall Kimmerer to campus in Spring 2024. The Joint Committee on Environmental Science (JCES) decided to delegate extra funding to give the planning committee more opportunity to expand student-focused events when Dr. Kimmerer is on campus.
Covered Bike Storage
This $4,999.99 mini grant passed in Spring 2023 funds the installation and material costs of a covered bike rack. This rack was installed in the summer of 2023 in the Parking Ramp on campus. This offers students a safer way to store their bikes on campus, especially during the winter months.
2022
Sustainable Supplies for Students
This $3,399.34 mini Green Fund grant passed in the Fall of 2022 and funds sustainable supplies for UWL students. The supplies include period products (diva cups, period liners), wool dryer balls, mesh produce bags, and bamboo toothbrushes. These supplies will be available to students through the UWL Food Pantry!
Sustainability Social Media Employment
This $3,000.00 mini Green Fund grant passed in the Fall of 2022 funds a student employment position. This position is dedicated to social media/marketing for UWL Sustainability (including the Green Fund).
Prairie Springs Lecture Series - Jonathan Foley
This $2,000.00 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Fall of 2022 and funds bringing Jonathan Foley to campus. Jonathan has made a career as a climate scientist, sustainability expert, and public speaker. He has had a distinguished academic career and since 2018 he has served as the Executive Director of Project Drawdown, "The World's Leading Resource for Climate Solutions." Jonathan spoke on campus on April 11th.
Prairie Springs Lecture Series - Robin Wall Kimmerer
This $2,000.00 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Fall of 2022 and will be added to a multi-departmentally funded pool of money to bring Robin Wall Kimmerer to campus in the Spring of 2024! Kimmerer is an American Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental and Forest Biology; and the Director for the Center of Native Peoples and the Environment at the University of New York. At UWL, multiple departments use Kimmerer's famous book 'Braiding Sweetgrass' as part of their curriculum, making this a great interdisciplinary speaker!
Sustainability Program Manager
This $30,000-$35,000 large Green Fund Grant passed in Spring of 2022 and will repeat for 3 years (totaling between $90,000-$105,000). For years, UWL students and faculty have wanted to hire a full-time staff member whose sole role is to increase UWL's environmentally sustainable initiatives, reduce carbon emissions, and overall create a holistic culture around sustainability at UWL. The Green Fund will be paying 50% of this positions salary (including fringe benefits and raises) with Administration & Finance covering the other 50%. The Sustainability Program Manager will be an advisor to both the Green Fund Coordinator as well as Students for Sustainability (an environmentally focused organization on campus).
Green Bike Program Funding
This $13,200 large Green Fund Grant passed in Spring of 2022 covers the funding of UWL's long-standing Green Bike Program. The Green Bike Program is an extremely popular program on campus, with most bikes being rented out to students before classes even begin in the fall! Through this program students can rent a refurbished bicycle for a small fee and security deposit (depending on the quality of the bicycle they choose). They can then keep their bike for as long as they please (a semester, a year, even their entire UWL career!) and return the bike for another student to use. This program is great for increasing students accessibility to sustainable transportation, reducing carbon emissions through using said transportation, and giving students on campus the ability to work for the Green Bike Program and learn hands on skills as Bike Mechanics. To rent a bike or find more information, check out the Green Bike Program website.
2021
Drift Share Bike Program
This $5,400 large Green Fund Grant passed in Fall 2021 funds the one-year pilot program for Drift Share on the UWL campus. This includes a 10-space rack and 5 shared bikes. The rack and bikes are be located between the Union and Prairie Springs Science Center. This program will increase the accessibility of sustainable transportation on campus for students while reducing gas emissions. The other $5,000 for this project was funded by the La Crosse MTU.
Esports and Outdoor Connection Renovation LED Lighting
This $67,000 large Green Fund Grant passed in Fall 2021 covers the cost of replacing the lighting in the Rec Outdoor Connections with more efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting as well as installing new LED lights in the Rec Esports Center. This project will save approximately 41,113 kWh of energy a year, 64,234 lbs of CO2 a year, and save $4,112 in energy a year. LED lighting is safer for students and creates a more welcoming environment in both centers.
Tower Gardens Lead to Healthier Outcomes
This $3,500 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Fall 2021 covers the cost of two years worth of supplies for the preexisting Tower Gardens. This includes 6 gardens of seedlings, 28 plants, and covers the cost for planting cycles (which occur four times a year). These aeroponic growing systems recycle 100% of the water used, produce 30% more vegetables/fruit, and three times faster, than regular farming, and only use 10% of the land/water used by traditional farming.
This project is managed by the Physical, Adapted, and School Health Students’ (PASHE) to improve the health and wellbeing of students by providing them with access to fresh vegetables and fruits, which is a struggle for most college students. The product will be available to students at campus farmers’ markets that will be advertised via social media. The Tower Gardens can be found in the COVE, which is on the 2nd floor of the Student Union.
Coate Hall Steam Traps
This $41,533 large Green Fund Grant passed in Spring 2021 covers the cost of materials and labor necessary to replace all steam traps in Coate Hall. Steam Trap replacement reduces leakage of steam used to heat buildings. An added bonus for students is the reduction in the banging of pipes that can be heard in the traditional dorms over the winter.
Union Sensor Faucets
This $19,622 large Green Fund Grant passed in Spring 2021 will replace 51 manual water faucets throughout the Student Union. The main benefit is the reduction in water usage, the touchless faucets also reduced shared surfaces. Sensor Faucets can be found throughout campus, including the REC and Centennial Hall.
Green Bikes
This $3,592 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Spring 2021 supports the long-standing Green Bike Program. The Green Bike Program provides semester or year-long bike rental to students at a low price. This funding also supports a Green Bike Mechanic position that is filled by a student. To rent a bike or find more information, check out the Green Bike Program website.
Electronic Waste Recycling
This $2,360 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Spring 2021 creates a new program on campus to help student dispose of their E-Waste properly and for FREE. Students can drop off their E-Waste at the Information Center in the Student Union.
Whitney Composting
This $1,440 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Spring 2021 will continue pre-consumer composting that has been occurring for the last 1.5 years. Diverting organic waste from going to the landfill conserves space and prevents methane gas emission.
Reusable Period Pantry Products
This $2,375.25 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Spring 2021 provides various reusable period products including: Panty Liners, Mini and Maxi Pads, and small/large Menstrual Cups. These products will be available for students in the Food Pantry, located in the COVE. To sign up or find out more about the Food Pantry check out their website!
Reusable Bags (With Student Print Design)
This $4,999 mini Green Fund Grant passed in Spring 2021 provided funding to purchase over 2,000 reusable bags. Funding was split with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) who contributed an additional $2,500. Students were able to submit art designs for the bag, with the winner receiving $75. The photo below highlights the bag design and the student who designed it!
2020
Student Union OZZI System
A $25,348 Green Fund Grant passed in the Spring of 2020 was to purchase an OZZI Machine, containers, tokens, and more. The OZZI is intended to reduce UWL's reliance on single-use to-go containers. Students are able to use the OZZI System by purchasing a token at the info center, the token can be given to dining employees during the ordering process. Food will then be given in an OZZI container, which can be returned to the OZZI machine in the Union for the next token.
Laux Hall Steam Traps
This $13,299.75 Green Fund Grant passed in the Spring of 2020 was to replace the inefficient and old steam traps in Laux Hall. The cost of this project was shared between the Green Fund and Res Life (paid for labor). Inefficient steam traps can release 20% of the steam, resulting additional steam generation which uses more electricity.
Green Energy Surcharge
This $14,397 Green Fund Grant passed in the Spring of 2020 was to assist Res Life and University Centers whose budgets were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The State of Wisconsin requires all State buildings to get a certain amount of electricity from clean energy. To ensure this, clean energy vouchers can be purchased.
Pre-Consumer Composting at Whitney
This $1,440 Green Fund Grant passed in the Spring of 2020 was to continue Pre-Consumer Composting at Whitney. Compostable waste produced by the Whitney Dining Center prior to being served to students is taken to a composting container. Once filled it is taken by Hilltopper Refuse & Recycling Service Inc.
Whitney Center OZZI System
This $25,078 Green Fund Grant passed in the Fall of 2020, will extend efforts to reduce the use of single use to-go containers in dining services. Single use containers in dining services increased due to safety precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This project is intended to work as a pilot program, as it COVID-19 has prevented dining services from a full transition to reusable containers.
Stadium Walkway LED Lights
This $55,860 Green Fund Grant was passed in the fall of 2020 was to upgrade exterior lighting near the Veteran Memorial from High Pressure Sodium to LED Lights. The cost of this project is shared between the Green Fund and Facilities Planning & Management (labor cost). This project is expected to save roughly 5300 kWH per year and require less frequent replacement with LED lights lasting nearly 7 times longer than high pressure sodium.
2019
Portable Event Lighting
REC High Bay LED
Laux Hall LED
"Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story" Film Screening
Reusable Smoothie Cups
Plastic Straw Alternatives
Pre-Consumer Composting
Sustainability Brochure
2018
Solar Powered Charging Tables
These tables rest just outside of the Student Union during warm seasons. Using energy from the sun, students can pick from a USB port or outlet to charge their devices while studying or eating at the tables. The tables provide a unique outdoor space for students while encouraging them to think critically about sustainable energy sources.
Oktoberfest Cleanup
Every year, Oktoberfest festivities leave the streets of La Crosse filled with many clean up opportunities. This Fall, members of Students for Sustainability along with other clubs and community members were able to use biodegradable garbage bags to help make the campus and surrounding area clean again.
2017
Bike Lights at Bike Event
Green Fund Water Bottles
Lock it Up: U-Lock Giveaway
In order to increase bike theft awareness on campus, a Geography student (pictured above) held an event where he first, demonstrated how to properly lock a bike, and secondly, handed out free U-locks to students who pledged to ride their bikes more instead of driving. By working with a local bike shop, Bikes Limited, 70 students were able to receive a bike lock.
Farmers Market Bags
Every Fall, the Farmer's Market takes place right here on campus for students to obtain fresh produce without having to travel anywhere. This Fall, Students for Sustainability paired up with Wellness and Health Advocacy to decrease the amount of plastic bags being used by giving away a free Farmer's Market tote bag to anyone who spent $10.00 or over. This event increased Farmer's Market awareness and reduced plastic waste.
Oktoberfest Clean Up
Every year, Oktoberfest festivities leave the streets of La Crosse filled with many clean up opportunities. This Fall, members of Students for Sustainability were able to use biodegradable garbage bags to help make the campus and surrounding area clean again. Over 50 pounds of aluminum cans were recycled, and over 100 pounds of trash were collected!
Fashion Week Speaker Dr. Anupama Pasricha
Fashion Week was held during the week of October 23-27 and was very successful in raising awareness of sustainability in the fashion industry through many of the events that took place. Through this discussion lead by Dr. Anupama (Chair of the Department of Apparel Merchandising and Design at St. Catherine), students were provided with information regarding how to be responsible shoppers with sustainability in mind.
"Be it fashion industry or another, fast fashion or sow fashion, sustainability is imperative in today's business model. We need to engage in purposeful business decisions based on shared values." - Dr. Anupama Pasricha
2016
Enterprise Carshare Program
REC Addition Solar Panels
This proposal funded the design and installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy system. The system was integrated into the project to construct a student-approved 38,501 square foot, two-story addition on the southwest corner of the Recreational Eagle Center (REC). The proposed 1,875 square foot system is capable of generating approximately 30,000 watts. This project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Putting this into familiar terms, this is equivalent to annually saving 2,035 gallons of gasoline or recycling 13,000 pounds of trash.
Variable Frequency Drives at The REC
Variable frequency drives (VFD’s) reduce electrical energy consumption by adjusting a motor’s speed to match the required load. Many electric motors do not need to run at 100-percent capacity all of the time. VFD’s control motors that power fans and pumps used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and other systems were motor speeds can vary. Prior to VFD’s, motor speed had only two options: on or off. Variable frequency drives allow us to adjust motor speed to save considerable amounts of energy.
The amount of energy saved with VFD’s depends upon the application of the motor. Consider a 25 horsepower fan motor operating for 24 hours a day. It is unlikely that the fan needs to run at full capacity for the full 24 hours. For example, if the unit runs at full capacity for two hours, 75-percent capacity for eight hours, 67 percent for eight hours and 50 percent for six hours, a VFD would reduce energy use by 32 percent.
During the academic year, the REC is open 18 hours Monday-Friday, 14 hours Saturday and 11 hours on Sunday. During semester breaks, spring break, and summer sessions our hours of operation are much less. In fact, we are closed on every Sunday during the summer and university breaks. The installation of the VFD’s allows us to match the speed of the motors to the needs of the building, which has now saved us significant electrical costs.
Tower Gardens
The tower gardens are a vertical, aeroponic growing system that enables us to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are not only used in the kitchens of the Student Union but throughout the dining locations on campus. These systems use only 2% of the water of a traditional garden while yielding 30% more produce. Because of the vertical, compact design, they are perfect for small, sunny spaces such as the ones found in The U.
2015
Earth Week Speaker
Earth Week Film Festival
Solar for Students
Reusable Detergent Bottles
Green Bike Program
Implemented by UWL Outdoor Connection, the Green Bike program recycles and refurbishes old bicycles and rents them out to students for a very low cost. This program promotes better health, reduces CO2 emissions, and keeps bikes out of our landfills! This program was started in 2004 by the Environmental Council (now known as Students for Sustainability). Today, the program has fixed and rented out over 200 bikes and recycled more than 40,000 pounds of metal. To rent a bike or find more information, check out the Green Bike Program website.
2014
Solar for Students
Uhaul Car Share Program
Earth Week Programs
UW-L Campus Community Garden Interns
Resident Life LED Lighting and Water Fountains
Bike Repair Stations
These stations promote alternative transportation by providing both students and community members with a means to properly care for their personal bikes. Amenities include a bike pump, Allen wrench set, and other tools that might be useful when your bike is in need of a quick tune up.
Shower Timers/Low Flow Shower Heads at the REC
This project saves energy by reducing the flow of water in showers. The low flow shower heads installed in the REC matched the style installed by Residence Life in all campus residence halls. Residence Life sought input from students to assure the chosen shower heads provided a good shower. These shower heads impact our campus' footprint by reducing the amount of salt used for softening hot water, the amount of steam used to heat the water, the consumption of fossil fuels and water consumption from 2.5 gallons per minute to 1.5 gallons per minute. We have seen a reduction of water usage from showers by 40%.
2013
Dumpster Diversion Project
Light Bulb Exchange
Water Bottle Giveaway
Green Cleaning Supplies
REC Automatic Motion Sensor Faucets
REC Drinking Fountains
REC Air Handling Equipment Sensors
Freshman Water Bottle Giveaway
REC Automatic Hand Dryers
Student Center (The U) LED LIghting
2012
Drinking Fountains
Along with the benefit of convenience, these water bottle filling stations prevent thousands of one-use plastic water bottles from entering landfills every year. Not only are there less plastic bottles in the environment, but this also eliminates the energy expenditure put into making the bottles leading to a positive environmental impact.
LED Lighting
Low Flow Shower Heads
2011
LED Lighting in Whitney Center
ESS Lighting
Hydration Stations
Steam Traps
Recycle Bins in the Sports Complex
2010
Bicycle Powered Concert
Electric Truck
Recycle Bins
LED Lighting
Composting
REC Lighting
Low Flow Shower Heads
2009
Steam Meters
Bike Powered Electricity