Welcome

OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY places a high priority on sustainability and environmental responsibility, and has many initiatives in place to reduce the environmental impact of the campus. There are also many opportunities for students to get involved with sustainability and learn about local and global environmental issues through courses, campus clubs, community organizations, research experiences, mission trips, and travel-learning classes.

In December 2008, Ohio Wesleyan President Rock Jones appointed the President’s Task Force on Campus Sustainability. Its mission is to examine the President’s Climate Initiative, develop a plan for fulfilling commitments discussed in the initiative, and identify other ways to make the OWU campus more environmentally sustainable.

In 2009, the task force submitted a series of recommendations to create a culture of sustainability on the Ohio Wesleyan campus. In June 2010, Ohio Wesleyan received a $375,000 American Recovery Act Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the Local Governments and State Energy Program. An energy audit was conducted of the entire campus, consisting of 1.6 million square feet in 67 facilities on 104 acres. A comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation strategy plan is now being developed.

Part of this grant is funding a new, two-year position for Ohio Wesleyan’s first energy conservation and sustainability coordinator, Sean Kinghorn, who can be reached at (740) 368-3448 or sckingho@owu.edu.