UWSP continues to champion in sustainability through climate-friendly initiatives

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has long been regarded as a community focused on leading efforts in sustainability. The result of these efforts recently earned the university the Focus on Energy 2026 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award. With this award and the recent celebration of Earth Week, the following update highlights the work of the UW-Stevens Point campus and community to continue its legacy of sustainability and conservation.

Focusing on Energy

Focus on Energy honors Wisconsin businesses every year with the Energy Efficiency Excellence Award. This award recognizes businesses, schools, farms and others who are turning smart energy investments into lower costs, stronger operations and long-term impact.

"We tend to be a leader in energy reduction initiatives," said Facility Services Director Paul Hasler. "Our efforts are often in collaboration with WPS and Focus On Energy. We frequently replace old equipment with new, highly efficient equipment and have also entered into a new program with WPS (Response Rewards) where our day-to-day electric rate has been reduced in exchange for a higher rate during constraint hours. During constraint hours, we deploy processes to reduce energy consumption, which helps manage our overall costs."

In addition to the already completed energy reduction initiatives, UW-Stevens Point looks to continue its efforts during the construction of the new Library and Student Resource Center (SRC). The building environment includes ample natural lighting, while also reducing energy consumption by 43% through energy efficient systems, controls and a roof-mounted 400 kW photovoltaic array. The solar panels are estimated to result in $1 million in utility cost savings over 30 years.

Learn more about the university's energy reduction and other sustainability initiatives at uwsp.edu/campus-life/sustainability.

Bikes for all

UW-Stevens Point seeks to promote accessible initiatives for students to improve their environmental footprint. Set to launch mid to late May, bicycles will be available to students with a new bikeshare program as the university looks to lower the cost of living for students while also reducing carbon emissions. By providing a bikeshare locally on campus, students will be able to check out bicycles for both transportation around campus and recreational needs.

A total of 15 bikes will be available for 24/48 hour rentals. The university also will partake in a three-year partnership with local business Hostel Shoppe, who will assist with any ongoing maintenance of the bikes. The program was funded through the Student Government Association Green Fund. The rentals will be available between the times of spring break and Thanksgiving, weather dependent. The rentals will be available for checkout in the Library and Student Resource Center.

"This was possible due to a lot of different departments putting the pieces in place to make this program both as safe and effective as possible," said Sustainability Director Dave Barbier.

The program was created to improve access to sustainable modes of transportation.

UW-Stevens Point received a Silver Bicycle Friendly University award from The League of American Bicyclists in 2023. The launch of a bikeshare program will move the university towards achieving the Gold Bicycle Friendly University award. In addition to the bikeshare program, key steps to achieve gold status include:

• Continued work with the City of Stevens Point to expand quality bike networks
• Development of a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan and program
• Continued efforts to expand a beginner bike education series on road safety
• Increasing the amount of high-quality bicycle parking at popular campus locations and improving current facilities
• Continued investment in staff time focused on campus bicycle improvements, such as the recent creation of a new transportation coordinator position within the Office of Sustainability

Students will soon have the opportunity to vote on the name of program. The UW-Stevens Point Alumni Office and UW-Stevens Point Foundation have also set up a fund the public can donate to for the 2026 Days of Giving to support the program. You can find more information at give.uwsp.edu/g/2026-dog/bikeshare-program.

A Plan for Resilience

UW-Stevens Point campus and partners have also been hard at work to draft its Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP). UW-Stevens Point signed Second Nature's Carbon Neutrality Commitment in 2007 and joined more than100 other universities across the United States by signing the Second Nature's Resilience Commitment in December 2023. Former Chancellor Thomas Gibson, in partnership with university leadership, signed the Resilience Commitment and instructed the UW-Stevens Point Office of Sustainability to begin the resilience planning process in 2024. Resilience is the ability of a system or community to survive disruption and to anticipate, adapt and flourish in the face of change.

CARP is now in the final days of its appendices review and feedback process. This process has been driven by campus and community stakeholders and reflects the future direction the students, staff, faculty and community partners would like to see the campus move to become a more sustainability university. The feedback form is open until Friday, May 1 to anyone to submit their thoughts after reviewing the appendices.

"We want to hear from people on what they are passionate or knowledgeable about," said Barbier.

After the feedback period closes, the CARP research team within the Office of Sustainability will begin to incorporate the feedback into the CARP documentation for final approval before transitioning into the implementation phase.

"It's important for people to know this will not be a plan that just sits on a shelf," said Barbier.

The Office of Sustainability will have a dedicated employee over the next two years whose responsibility is to coordinate the implementation of the plan and work on projects such as a CARP dashboard where the public can track how much progress the university has made towards the plan's goals. The plan not only highlights the sustainability goals the university hopes to achieve but outlines how sustainability will continue to be a core pillar at UW-Stevens Point.

Earth Week

The Office of Sustainability hosted its annual Earth Week celebration with events held across campus by numerous organizations with sustainability focused events and activities. Below are some of the highlights from last week's festivities:

Volunteers planted 250 native trees and shrubs at Schmeeckle Reserve. UWSP hosted its inaugural Arbor Day Bowl with forestry themed competitions. Office of Sustainability Green Circle Trail bike ride Students helped construct bee houses in preparation for the Pollinator Painting Party.