Chasing the Wind - Summer 2007 Wartburg Magazine - Wartburg College

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Chasing the Wind
Wartburg-Waverly Sports and Wellness Center will utilize wind power

by Karris Golden '98

Wartburg and Waverly Light and Power have partnered to purchase a wind turbine.

The new turbine will offset the use of carbon-based energy in the new Wartburg-Waverly Sports and Wellness Center, offering sustainable wind energy capacity.

Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, was on hand at the April 3 press conference to help make the announcement during the college’s Earth Week celebration.

Glenn Cannon, general manager of Waverly Light and Power, advised the college as it explored utilizing wind energy in the new sports and wellness center.

“Wartburg joins the ranks of energy innovators today and sets a classic example of community. This is a major commitment to environmental responsibility not only for Wartburg, but for Waverly as well,” said Cannon.

Using wind power to offset the energy that will be used in the 200,000-square foot wellness center is innovative, Ohle explained.

At an April 3 press conference, President Ohle used a miniature, solar-powered wind turbine to demonstrate how Wartburg will “turn orange to green” through the use of wind energy.

“This project puts the college in the company of only a handful of institutions across the nation that have made similar commitments to this type of renewable energy.” The energy agreement comes after years of planning and research. “As we designed and constructed the sports and wellness center, we sought ways to make this building ‘green,’” Ohle said.

The wind turbine project is only part of the college’s ongoing effort to utilize resources wisely, said Fred Hagemann ’67, Board of Regents chairman.

“This project is exciting, but it is not the first step. Nor is it the last step. It is a signal of Wartburg’s commitment to be a careful and creative steward of its resources.”

Ohle also announced the formation of an Energy and Environmental Initiatives Task Force comprised of faculty, staff, students and community leaders. The group will provide information about energy and environmental issues and create partnerships between the college and Waverly community. The group will also advise the Wartburg administration on policy development that impacts environmental and energy initiatives.