Earth Day was founded in 1970. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin called for a nationwide demonstration in the spring of 1970 aimed to raise awareness of environmental issues. It worked. The first national Earth Day was April 22, 1970.
In November 2022, the Office of Energy & Sustainability was created in the Department of Facilities Management & Campus Operations (previously Engineering & Maintenance) to work with faculty, staff, and students to implement sustainable practices. The creation of this group expands on the creation of an energy conservation team within Engineering & Maintenance in 2016, as well as many years of volunteer initiatives led by the Sustainability Leadership Council.
The team's priorities are:
- Comply with local regulations and the energy code.
- Reduce energy use on campus.
- Increase waste diversion and recycling.
- Build a stronger sustainability culture on campus (supporting student groups, collaborations with other departments, newsletters, events, etc.).