Winona County, the City of Winona, Winona State University, Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and the Winona Area Public Schools announce a groundbreaking cooperative venture, “Sustain Winona – A Community Sustainability Collaboration,” a partnership that promotes energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy development and other sustainability initiatives within their organizations.

The signing earlier in the year of Climate Protection Proclamation by leaders of those institutions – Winona Mayor Jerry Miller, WSU President Judith Ramaley and the Winona County Board of Commissioners – paved the way for the initiative.

Each of the member institutions has made an independent commitment to promote environmental sustainability. Mayor Jerry Miller signed the Mayor’s Proclamation early in 2007, committing the City of Winona to “change current practices to positively affect the environment.”

The Winona County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by promoting and implementing energy efficient practices county-wide.

WSU President Judith Ramaley signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. Along with more than 434 signatories, Winona State University has pledged to address the climate challenge by reducing global warming emissions and by integrating sustainability into its curriculum.
The Board of the Winona Area Public Schools has decided to incorporate environmental sustainability into its on-going operations.

Upcoming events include a half-day workshop in December, hosted by Xcel Energy at St. Mary’s University, on LEED certification for buildings, and a one-day conference in February, hosted by Winona State University, entitled “Green Buildings/Green Communities.”

Workshops on small and large wind energy, along with winter workshops on solar, thermal and PV systems will further inform residents on how to lead the way on local renewable energy.

The ISO 14001 certification process will unfold through a series of four community meetings. The overall aim of internationally recognized program is to support substantive environmental protection and prevention of pollution in balance with socio-economic needs.

Facilitated by Purdue University’s Clean Manufacturing Technology Institute, the workshops will assist the Winona community in establishing a structure and process for continual environmental improvement. Gap analyses and review processes will follow to ensure that objective measures demonstrate improved overall performance.

For more information on Sustain Winona visit: www.sustainwinona.org.

– WSU –