Burning coal and other carbon-based fossil fuels to produce energy releases harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. That’s why at Western we are committed to reducing the amount of greenhouse gases we generate.

Our energy conservation efforts, the addition or retrofit of a number of LEED certified buildings, and the use of renewable energy have helped us keep the equivalent of over 9,100 metric tons of CO₂ out of the atmosphere. That’s like taking 1,900 cars off the road for a year! This strategy has also helped our bottom line: since 2010 Western has avoided nearly $2 million dollars in energy costs.

• Energy Conservation and Management

To learn more about Western's green energy usage, check out the main energy dashboard and the Automotive Facility dashboard.

People in the La Crosse/Onalaska area spend an average of 35 minutes commuting each day. Data from our 2017 commuter survey indicates that nearly 80 percent of our students and employees commute to Western by driving alone all or most of the time. After totaling the cost of gas, parking, insurance, stress, and pollution, this is an expensive means of transportation for drivers and the environment. Consequently, Western has undertaken several initiatives to ease the cost of transportation on our bodies, on our wallets, and on the environment.

• Alternative Transportation Options at Western