Welcome to the December WSU Sustainability Newsletter!

Seasons' greetings to all!

The nights are nearing their longest length while the days grow shorter still.  This tends to be a time of year for reflection.  WSU Sustainability has had much to celebrate and be grateful for over the year.  Here are some highlights:

· Opened Lindquist Hall with all its sustainability features (including a ground-source field to help with heating/cooling);

· Gained approval for and launched the new sustainability attribute to identify courses that include sustainability, broadly defined, across the curriculum;

· Increased the number of Green Teams to 81, encompassing over one third of all WSU departments;

· Celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Intermountain Sustainability Summit attended by over 400 sustainability professionals and students from across Utah;

· Hosted the State of Utah Lawn Mower Exchange, exchanging over 410 gas mowers and 375 gas trimmers for electric models, thus improving summer air quality by reducing emissions;

· Launched the Empower Northern Utah LED Light Bulb Exchange serving over 465 households (over 45% of which were low-income ), increasing energy efficiency and reducing utility costs;

· Combined forces and overlapping interests by students into the Sustainable Clubs (Environmental Ambassadors, Food Recovery Network and the campus Community Garden), which have been active in reducing food waste, conserving water through xeriscaping and educating their peers;

· Won the state of Utah’s H2-Oath Water War; and

· Laid the groundwork for a Net Zero House project in Ogden through a WSU and Ogden Civic Action Network partnership.

All of this was accomplished through the work of the sustainability team from Academic Affairs and Facilities Operations, but also through critical administrative, faculty, student, staff and community support and engagement.  Just as we are dependent upon the health of our surrounding ecosystems and physical world, we are buoyed by our relationships, collaborations and the work of others.

Thanks to everyone who has helped and engaged in one way or another to make this year a success.

The December Solstice will be upon us soon and days will again lengthen, as we head into the New Year renewed in our commitment to work toward creating a better world for all through the advancement of sustainability education and practice on our campus and in our community.  We know we have much pressing work to do!

May your holidays be warm and rejuvenating with love and laughter as you enjoy the company of those you hold dear.

-          The WSU Sustainability Team