UWRF Wins Statewide Sustainability Challenge

University of Wisconsin-River Falls students and staff worked hard in recent months to spread the word about the importance of sustainable practices, and their effort has resulted in a first-place designation in a statewide competition. 

UW-River Falls won the Higher Education Kit Challenge, a competition sponsored by Focus on Energy. A total of 11 colleges and universities in Wisconsin participated in the competition that took place from July 1 through Oct. 31.

Focus on Energy officials presented UW-River Falls with the award during a ceremony Thursday. 

Students with the Sustainability Office combined forces with university faculty and staff to give 140 kits – which were free to receive – containing various items intended to reduce energy usage in off-campus housing where students live. That figure was compared to the number of off-campus students at UW-River Falls. UW-River Falls wound up with the highest percentage compared to competing schools. 

The award includes $5,000 from Focus on Energy that UW-River Falls can use toward any sustainability-related effort on campus.

PHOTO UW-River Falls students, staff, faculty and other officials celebrate the announcement that the university placed first in a statewide competition to give away kits to make off-campus housing where students live more energy efficient. UWRF/Julian Emerson photo.