In the fall of 2005, Patrick Wheeler , an environmental advocate working at UNO’s Environmental Health and Safety, attended a College & University Hazardous waste conference in Portland Oregon. While there, he was introduced was introduced to how sustainability can be integrated into campus operations and curriculum.. Realizing its importance, Wheeler approached Stan Schleifer of Support Services and John Amend of Facilities, and asked to begin exploring sustainability on campus. With their approval, interviews were conducted with managers from facilities to figure out how to introduce sustainability to our campus.

A sustainability site was created to present information to the campus community, and to promote the continuation of sustainability improvement. 2006 also marked the first year that UNO was represented at the AASHE conference.

Wheeler, along with Dr. Rich Lomneth, created a sustainability ad hoc committee. They held several brown bag sessions to share information with the campus community about activities and opportunities related to sustainability. The committee also worked with the student run Environmental Club to initiate several activities, including an evaluation of our solid waste stream, a speaker series, and a movie series.

2008 saw the creation of the GreenUNO Task Force on Sustainability. The accomplishments of the GreenUNO Task Force include introducing a single stream recycling program to campus and the creation and enforcement of a building temperature policy.

In an effort to encourage physical activity, to protect the environment and to provide an easier way to get around campus, a bike share program was started in September! To start with, eight bicycles will be provided and any UNO student or employee can use one for free, upon availability. The bikes can be picked up or left off at any campus bike rack.

EC UNO continued their speaker and movie series, featuring presentations by Craig Moody and Gerard Wellman, on the "YP Bus Challenge" and Bill Moore, Creator and Editor, EV World.com and several other sustainability experts, and first run film "Fuel," which was followed-up with a discussion panel of local experts.

The GreenUNO Task Force began to run weekly "Green Tips" in eNotes, sharing small actions everyone can take in order to live more sustainably--at work and at home.

Check out our GreenUNO Facebook Group for exciting discussions and updates. Not on Facebook? A mailing list has been created to notify interested parties in green events taking place at UNO and in the Metro area. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please fill out the form on the Contact Us page.

EC UNO continued the speaker and movie series, featuring presentations by Stephanie Ahlschwede (Big Garden Project) and Christine Jacobsen (Papio-Missouri NRD) and the first run film, "Tapped," which featured a discussion led by the film's Producer and Director, Sarah Gibson and Stephanie Soechtig.

EC UNO also organized UNO's Earth Day event, including participation by 20 outside organizations!
The GreenUNO Task Force initiated Energy Audits of UNO's major buildings in order to best identify potential energy improvement projects.

A transit committee was formed to examine alternatives to single occupant vehicle to and from campus.
A Green Information Systems Document was released in order to help make the best use of our computing systems and the energy required to operate them.

Food Services staff at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has gone green with an eco-friendly change. The containers and serving receptacles (including all flatware and paper goods) the department uses are all be compostable and bio-degradable PLA (polylactic acid), cornstarch-based and recycled paper materials

Mammel Hall, UNO's first LEED Registered building (Seeking "Silver" Certification), will begin operations!
On October 2, 2010, UNO hosted a Green Homecoming. The greenOMAHAcoalition hosted its Green Home Tour and Expo from Mammel Hall, and featured tours of the ZNETH house as well as other green homes in the area and will feature a keynote address by Bill Moore, Founder and Editor of EV World.com and author of "Electrifying Ride--The Lost Decade: Book 1."