Green Energy Fee Program
Your Money. | Your School. | Your Planet. |
What is the Green Energy Fee?
The Green Energy Fee (GEF) is a student-initiated, quarterly fee paid by all Western Washington University students to reduce the campus' environmental impact and engage the campus community in environmental awareness.
The fee first came into existence in 2005 after the student club called Students for Renewable Energy (SRE) worked with the support and assistance of key members in Western's staff, faculty and administration to include the ballot measure in the 2005 elections. The student body approved the initiation of the fee with an 85% approval rate. In 2010, the fee came up for renewal, and the student body once again overwhelmingly supported the continuance of the fee with an 80% approval rate.
Where does the money come from? Where does it go?
The GEF was originally created in 2005 as a $4 fee aimed solely at purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset 100% of campus electricity usage with green energy. In 2010, students voted to renew the fee, and to expand the program by offering grants for sustainability projects.
Currently, every student pays $0.70 per credit up to a maximum of $7.00 per quarter toward the GEF. Western continues to use part of this money to purchase RECs. In addition, the GEF Program sets aside approximately $300,000 annually for the GEF Grant Program.
What is the Green Energy Fee Grant Program?
The GEF Grant Program provides funding to innovative, student-driven projects focused on promoting experiential learning opportunities and sustainable practices at Western Washington University.
Projects funded through the GEF Grant Program aim to:
- Increase Student Involvement and Education
- Reduce the University's Environmental Impact
- Create an Aware & Engaged Campus Community
Students, staff and faculty are all eligible to apply for grant funding.
Who's involved?
Collaboration is a key aspect of this grant program. Many partners have worked together to make this opportunity available, including the GEF Committee, the Office of Sustainability, the Associated Students, Facilities Management and Facilities Development.
But the most important is YOU! Your creativity and drive to reduce Western's footprint and engage the campus community is what will make this program succeed.
Interested in applying?
For general questions... Please contact Sarah Philips, GEF Education Coordinator
Office: Viking Union 424 | Email: AS.GreenFee@wwu.edu
For grant specific questions... Please contact Kathryn Freeman, GEF Grant Program Coordinator
Office: Viking Commons 24 | Email: Kathryn.Freeman@wwu.edu
 | WWU Green Energy Fee on Facebook | Subscribe to our GEF Newsletter! |