{"id":1474,"date":"2025-04-07T16:14:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T21:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/about\/?page_id=1474"},"modified":"2025-04-07T16:14:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T21:14:20","slug":"sustainability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/about\/mission\/sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sustainability<\/h1>
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Winona State University is committed to building and supporting a sustainable society. From the President\u2019s Climate Commitment to our\u00a0<\/span>campus infrastructure,\u00a0<\/span>course and program offerings, and student housing, we are working to practice and promote sustainable living.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n

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WSU prioritizes giving our students the chance to learn about complex sustainability issues. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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We provide these opportunities through a variety of classes and activities, allowing students to explore solutions and cultivate change themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We integrate community work, research, learning and living in our efforts to build pathways toward a livable future for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Green Campus<\/div>\n
Since our first all-university committee on sustainability was formed in 2007, we have worked together to understand the issues related to developing a sustainable future, and to build an infrastructure and curriculum to meet that need.<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n
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Sustainability in Practice<\/div>\n
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Renewable Energy<\/div>\n

Winona State\u2019s recently installed on-campus Solar PV arrays will produce 1,700,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. WSU also purchases 4,800,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year from Xcel Energy\u2019s Renewable Connect program.<\/p>\n

This is about 60% of our annual electricity consumption coming from renewable sources. WSU\u2019s use of renewable energy is enough to power 600 average U.S. homes.<\/p>\n

Participation in Renewable Connect supports an increase in renewable energy generation and takes advantage of abundant natural resources (wind and solar) with no greenhouse gas emissions while helping WSU meet its sustainability goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Water<\/div>\n

Winona State recently replaced 1,490 toilets, shower heads, urinals, and faucet aerators with water-saving fixtures and installed smart irrigation controls that use real time weather data to adjust the sprinkler cycles.
\nTogether, these improvements reduced WSU\u2019s water usage by over 9,000,000 gallons.<\/p>\n

WSU\u2019s water savings is equivalent to the average water use of 30,000 average U.S. homes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Dining<\/div>\n

Chartwells Dining Services continues to lead the way in sustainable food practices. Every year, Chartwells increases their efforts to positively influence the global food supply chain. <\/p>\n

They serve cage-free eggs, Fair Trade Certified coffee and tea, rBGH-free milk, plant-based milk alternatives, as well as vegan and\/or vegetarian options at every meal. They also offer reusable to go containers.<\/p>\n

Every spring Chartwells holds a \u201cLove Food, Not Waste\u201d event, along with several other events throughout the year, to build student awareness of food waste. <\/p>\n

Tower Gardens, our indoor planting systems, provides food used in various menu items, mainly in retail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Recycling<\/div>\n

Recycling is required by Minnesota Law and is one of the easiest ways you can help the university be a good environmental steward. <\/p>\n

We reduce the waste we produce by choosing materials wisely, reuse what we have already by considering new roles for unwanted material, recycle what must be thrown away.<\/p>\n

In this way we minimize material bound for the landfill and increase our landfill diversion rate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Transportation<\/div>\n

Today’s volume of transportation emits significant carbon into the atmosphere. <\/p>\n

WSU offers a free shuttle and bikes so that students have options for travel that help lessen harmful emissions.<\/p>\n

WSU has designated parking spots for low-emission vehicles, and has installed charging stations for electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n

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Sustainability Through Education<\/div>\n
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WSU offers a\u00a0Sustainability Minor<\/a>,\u00a0designed to educate students to be efficient and resourceful with today’s precious resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Environmental Science Program is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the\u00a0Biology,\u00a0Chemistry\u00a0and\u00a0Geoscience\u00a0departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This broadly-based program is composed of: <\/p>\n\n\n\n