UW RELEASE – 2014/039
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Monday March 17, 2014
WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg is proud to have earned a Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award in the Action on Climate Change, Air Quality and Energy Efficiency category. The award highlights UWinnipeg’s ongoing effort to measure and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the institution’s policies to support sustainable operation and development.
“This award is a reflection of the ongoing commitment of people throughout The University of Winnipeg to take climate action seriously,” says Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg. “In particular I want to thank the Director of our Campus Sustainability Office, Alana Lajoie-O’Malley, for her ongoing effort. Collaboration between students, faculty, senior leadership, and staff has been at the core of the University’s many sustainability efforts since 2005. I’m sure this collaboration will lead to many more successes in the year ahead, and I am honoured to see UWinnipeg recognized with this award.”
Earlier this year, The University of Winnipeg achieved Climate Registered Status with the Climate Registry for its ongoing commitment to measure, report and reduce GHG emissions. Through retrofits, The University of Winnipeg reduced its main source of GHG emissions, natural gas consumption, by 30% in pre-1990 buildings between 1990 and 2012. It is also on track to achieve a further reduction for the overall campus by 2016, in spite of the addition of several new campus buildings.
About the Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards
Established by the Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development, the awards recognize the successful application of the Principles and Guidelines for Sustainable Development.
About UWinnipeg’s Campus Sustainability Office
The Campus Sustainability Office acts as the coordinating body for the UW Sustainability Initiative, a collaborative effort between students, faculty, and staff that aims to make the University of Winnipeg more environmentally and socially responsible in its physical operations, its governance, and its academic life.
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The University of Winnipeg is noted for academic excellence, small class sizes, environmental commitment, campus diversity, Indigenous scholarship, and support of cultural arts. UWinnipeg is strongly committed to promoting access and inclusion, and is ranked 4th in Canada for reputation by Maclean’s (2013). Find out more at uwinnipeg.ca. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT
Megan Benedictson, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7129, E: me.benedictoson@uwinnipeg.ca
