Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has been recognized in The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges for the fifth consecutive year. This acknowledgment highlights the university's commitment to sustainability through its programs, policies, and practices.

The 2025 edition of the guide, released on October 15, features UW-Eau Claire among 512 universities and colleges from the U.S. and 14 other countries that are considered environmentally responsible by The Princeton Review. The selection was based on surveys conducted with administrators and students about their experiences on "green" campuses.

Lily Strehlow, UW-Eau Claire's sustainability coordinator, emphasized the university's long-standing dedication to sustainability. "UWEC has made more progress towards eliminating our carbon footprint in buildings than any other Universities of Wisconsin campus," she stated.

A notable achievement for the university is the opening of The Sonnentag this summer. This $122 million recreational facility is net energy-neutral and has received gold-level certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. It is currently recognized as the largest LEED gold-certified recreational center operated by a public university in the nation by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Strehlow also highlighted UW-Eau Claire's diverse coursework focused on sustainability across various disciplines including geography, public health, American Indian studies, and environmental geology. Additionally, a grant from Second Nature supports a new course offered jointly by the College of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences. New internships within the Administrative Office of Sustainability further provide students with opportunities to engage in sustainability work.