WWU Run-Up – Climbing stairs for the environment

Based on a contribution made by AFO to an ideas competition, the sports event “WWU Runs Up!“ – under the patronage of WWU Chancellor Dr. Stefan Schwartze – gave the WWUmwelt (Environment) team the opportunity to demonstrate that it doesn’t make sense to take the lift because … climbing stairs keeps you fit, releases serotonin, requires less electricity and, as a result, protects the environment.
WWU would save about 75,000 euros a year if the lift were not used just twelve times a day in each building – money that could be put to better use for education and research. The students and the staff of WWU put it to the test: Between 50 and 100 enthusiastic runners participated in the WWU Run-Up in 2008 and 2009. In a race they climbed about 190 stairs in the highest university buildings. AFO supported the organizers and provided its own staff as route-markers on the floors. Until the next WWU Run-Up, stickers with the slogan “Walking? Or still taking the lift?” will be reminding people that for short distances they can confidently give the 100 lifts in the university a miss.

2nd WWU Run-Up

On 23 June 2009 Dr. Stefan Schwartze, Chancellor of the WWU, started the 2nd WWU Run-Up, which AFO supported by providing the idea for it and acting as route markers: 180 steps and over 50 participants. The point of the activity was to show that WWU could save up to €75,000 every year if the stairs were used more often instead of the lift. Rebekka Stein from the WWU Environment Working Group and a member of the organising team is pleased with the result. “We got fantastic media coverage,” she says. “Both TV and the press reported on us. Also, in contrast to last year, the stairwell was very bright – which pleased the spectators – but the smooth handrails presented a challenge for the runners.”