University News

Solar-powered charging station umbrellas will be available for students and others to use soon on the WIU-Macomb campus.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

Close up of the solar-powered charging station on the WIU-Macomb campus.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

Bicycle repair station located near Grote Hall on the WIU-Macomb campus.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

Approximately 94 percent of the debris from the demolition of Wetzel Hall in 2012 was diverted from the landfill, according to Mandi Green, facilities sustainability and safety coordinator at WIU Facilities Management.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU Named a Finalist for the 2015 Governor's Sustainability Award

September 16, 2015

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University has been named a finalist for the 2015 Governor's Sustainability Award, the nation's longest-running state award for excellence in environmental performance.

According to the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center's website, the Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award has recognized private and public Illinois organizations since 1987. Award finalists include organizations that have implemented outstanding and innovative sustainable techniques or technologies, demonstrating a commitment to sustaining environmental, social and economic health.

According to Mandi Green, facilities sustainability and safety coordinator, WIU Facilities Management staff submitted an application for the competition based on the sustainability-related projects staff members at the unit have undertaken and completed in recent years.

"We applied for the Governor's Sustainability Award this year for Facilities Management as a whole, as a significant goal for our unit on WIU's campus is to help facilitate a culture change toward sustainability and to integrate it into all of our projects and programs," she explained.

Green added that some of the highlighted projects in the award application included the removal and disposal of debris from the demolition (in 2012) of Wetzel Hall.

"Approximately 94 percent of the debris from the demolition of Wetzel Hall was diverted from the landfill," Green said. "Additionally, our recently installed solar-powered charging station umbrellas, which we were able to obtain via grant funding, can be used to charge individuals' cell phones, laptops or other electronic devices while they're enjoying the outdoors. We have also installed one bicycle repair station, just to the north of Grote Hall, and we have another installation in the works, north of the University Union. These stations enable students to hang their bikes for easy access, and tools and an air pump are also provided at each station."

The 2015 Governor's Sustainability Awards Ceremony is set for Tuesday, Oct. 27 in Chicago. For more information about the award program, see www.istc.illinois.edu/info/govs_awards.cfm.

Follow Western's sustainability initiatives on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RockySustainsWIU and WIU Facilities Management on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wiufm.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing