A grant from the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA) is helping to improve energy efficiency and safety at Divine Word College. The $2,500 grant supported the purchase of about 40 new long-lasting LED outdoor lights installed on campus in June.
This effort improves the quality of images captured on the school’s security cameras and decreases energy and maintenance costs. Annual energy savings are estimated at nearly $1,000.
“We want to make sure that we’re being energy efficient and use our money wisely so to get support from the community is great,” said Divine Word’s Vice President for Operations Steve Winger.
The outdoor bulbs will provide a well-lit space for the college’s students, faculty and staff while also illuminating areas where the public accesses the school’s facilities, like the swimming pool.
DWC’s Sustainability Committee is dedicated to implementing environmentally-friendly practices. Some of these include the establishment of a pollinator habitat area on campus and a partnership with New Melleray Abbey in Peosta to turn the school’s kitchen food waste into compost. This summer, in addition to the new exterior lights funded in part by the DRA grant, the college also replaced nearly all bulbs inside the main building with energy-efficient LED lights.
“Projects like the LED installation are a great example of our ongoing commitment to sustainability,” Winger said.
The Dubuque Racing Association Ltd. (DRA) has been a vital part of the Dubuque community since its inception in 1985. The DRA is operated by a volunteer board comprised of 21 directors who work together to guide operations of Q Casino. The DRA holds the license for casino gaming operations of Q, and is the co-licensee for the Diamond Jo Casino. The DRA distributes 100 percent of winnings after expenses with 50 percent going to area charities and 50 percent going to the City of Dubuque.
Based in Epworth, Iowa, Divine Word College is a Roman Catholic seminary in the tradition of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), which educates men and women for missionary service as priests, brothers, sisters and laypersons. For this purpose, it offers an education that combines spiritual formation, a liberal arts curriculum, language learning and mission preparation within an environment that teaches and honors the rich cultural diversity of the world.
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