WWU / Local Sustainability News
{ April 5, 2013 } |
The results of Western Washington University's 10x12 program have been delayed for several more weeks, despite being scheduled for release over spring break.
The 10x12 program was designed to reduce Western's carbon emissions by 10 percent by the end of 2012, according to the Office of Sustainability's website. To do this, the university reduced its baseline building heat, encouraged faculty, staff and students to shut off their electronics and took measures to reduce landfill waste, such as installing recycle and compost bins around campus.
{ March 15, 2013 } |
Seniors from Western Washington University's winter 2013 planning studio class presented their ideas for suggested urban developments to State Street on Thursday, March 14.
The students presented their ideas to members of the community, city planners and councilmembers using PowerPoint presentations in Bellingham's Federal Building Courtroom.
{ March 15, 2013 } |
The annual trash fashion show, Thursday March 14, 2013, put on by students in Western Washington University's sophmore industrial design class.
{ March 12, 2013 } |
During a typical day at the Associated Student Recycle Center, supervisor Richard Neyer oversaw the student employees sifting through bins of plastic bottles and milk cartons. He watched a student staff member stick her head down into a blue recycle bin to sort its final contents into their correct places. After fishing at the bottom of the plastic bin, she accidently opened a week-old plastic shrimp salad container. The smell quickly filled her nostrils with the fowl stench of rotten seafood.
{ March 11, 2013 } |
An international team of 21 authors from 17 institutions in seven countries, including Western Washington University's Andy Bunn, has just published a study in the journal "Nature Climate Change" showing that, as the cover of snow and ice in the northern latitudes has diminished in recent years, the temperature over the northern land mass has increased, causing a reduction in temperature and vegetation seasonality in this area.
{ March 8, 2013 } |
The largest allocation of grant money in the Community Food Co-op's history will be distributed among 11 farms and food programs. A portion of the $15,000 grant will be given to the Bellingham Food Bank, according to a March 1 co-op press release.
{ March 8, 2013 } |
More than 70 students gathered Thursday in the Academic Instructional Center West to discuss what has been called "the largest student movement of this generation" — a movement away from university investment in fossil fuels and toward investment in renewable energy.
{ March 6, 2013 } |
Approximately 6,700 miles away from Misawa, Japan, one of the Port of Misawa's 65-foot long docks is battering the Washington coast.
Rebekah Green, associate director of the Resilience Institute at Western's Huxley College of the Environment, and two of her students are trying to determine what else beach visitors might expect to see washed up on the shore.
{ March 5, 2013 } |
Throughout the Pacific Northwest there is a growing trend for ecological restoration projects. From tree planting to riverbed reconstruction, Whatcom County, Washington State and the Pacific Northwest are helping to lead the charge in a movement to restore environments to their historic and natural state.
{ March 1, 2013 } |
Western Washington University's efforts to recycle have been recognized among statewide recycling leaders. Western received a Recycler of the Year award on Feb. 26, which is the fifth time the university has been recognized for sustainabilty performance.
Every year, the Washington State Recycling Association gives out awards to the top recyclers in categories such as higher education institutions, cities and companies. A committee is formed each time to evaluate nominees based on measurable changes and contributions to recycling and waste management, said Emily Phillips, executive director of the Washington State Recycling Association.
{ February 27, 2013 } |
The Washington State Recycling Association has selected Western Washington University to receive the 2013 Institution/Higher Education Recycler of the Year award.
The Washington State Recycler of the Year awards spotlight individuals, businesses, government organizations and community organizations that are making contributions to strengthening and expanding recycling and waste prevention practices across the state.
{ February 26, 2013 } |
Washington state could be one step closer to banning non-compostable carryout bags if legislators pass Senate Bill 5253.
The bill would prohibit retail store owners from providing carryout bags to consumers unless the bag is a compostable plastic carryout bag, a recyclable paper carryout bag or a reusable carryout bag.
{ February 26, 2013 } |
Bellingham is preparing to remove pockets of mercury contamination from the Bellingham waterfront in March.
The Georgia-Pacific West site, located near downtown on West Laurel Street, a 64-acre stretch of land, is one of 12 cleanup sites in the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot project. This project is an effort by federal, tribal, state and local governments to get rid of contamination and restore the bay's natural habitat, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology's website.
{ February 25, 2013 } |
Ask consumers about the idea of switching from fossil fuel to biodiesel and two questions are likely to come up: Will biodiesel production hurt the environment? How much will the cost at the pump pinch their wallets? Scientists are trying to produce biofuels that will answer both questions the same way: "As little as possible." For now, soybean oil is the most widely used oil in biodiesel, but an easy-to-grow crop is being studied extensively as a possible fuel source - alga.
{ February 22, 2013 } |
Toxic waste sites in Washington state may soon be facing a cleanup. The Senate is considering the Model Toxics Control Act, which would generate jobs through toxic waste disposal and management.
The bill was recently the subject of a public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which met Feb. 20 to debate how the bill would be implemented.
{ February 20, 2013 } |
Approximately 6,700 miles away from Misawa, Japan, one of the Port of Misawa's 65-foot long docks is battering the Washington coast. Rebekah Green, associate director of the Resilience Institute at Western's Huxley College of the Environment, and two of her students are trying to determine what else beach visitors might expect to see washed up on the shore.
{ February 9, 2013 } |
The city of Bellingham hopes to save money by shifting the task of overseeing several community gardens to other groups interested in doing the job. The city also plans to terminate its lease after this year for private property used for a community garden in Happy Valley. However, the three family owners of the property favor continuing to use that land for gardens.
{ February 8, 2013 } |
Rows of sweet, cranky and guilt-tripping grandmas line Canada's National Sweater Day website. Grannies with names like Gladys and Dorothy wear sweaters with poinsettias, snowmen and ruffles while they remind participants to turn down their thermostats and warm up with a sweater.
"I'm not hanging up until you put on that sweater!" scolds a granny in a cream-colored cardigan.
{ February 8, 2013 } |
The Green Energy Fee Grant Program at Western Washington University is requesting proposals for small projects.
Western was ranked the number one producer of Peace Corps volunteers for 2013 among the nation's mid-size schools — those with 5,000 to 15,000 undergraduates. There are 73 Western undergraduate alumni currently serving.
{ February 7, 2013 } |
The city's former mayor said those now in charge of coming up with a redevelopment plan for the waterfront aren't listening to the will of the community. "If you're an elected official, and the public overwhelmingly wants something, you should be responsive to the public," Dan Pike said on Thursday, Feb. 7, at a talk on past and present planning for the waterfront, part of the Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series. He had an audience of about 200 people, many of them students, on the Western Washington University campus.
{ February 6, 2013 } |
The Green Energy Fee Grant Program at Western Washington University is requesting proposals for small projects.
Supported by a quarterly fee paid by all Western students, the program exists to promote experiential learning opportunities and sustainable practices at the university. This is done through funding of innovative, student-driven projects. Past large projects include the installation of solar panels on the Environmental Studies Building; the installation of water bottle refill stations at Old Main, Arntzen Hall, and the Rec Center; and the installation of LED lighting in the C West Parking Lots on campus.
{ February 6, 2013 } |
BELLINGHAM - The city's former mayor is breaking a self-imposed silence to criticize the plans for waterfront redevelopment coming together under Mayor Kelli Linville and Port of Bellingham leadership.
Dan Pike, an alumnus of Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment, will give a talk titled "Bellingham's Waterfront: Where We're Going, Where We Should Be Going, and How My Huxley Education Helps Me Understand the Difference," Thursday, Feb. 7, at the university. He promises not to pull any punches.
{ February 5, 2013 } |
Western Washington University is No. 1 on the Peace Corps 2013 Top Colleges rankings among medium schools with 73 undergraduate alumni currently serving. This is the first time WWU has ranked No. 1 on the list.
{ February 5, 2013 } |
Eight new hybrid buses entered the Whatcom Transportation Authority's fleet Monday, Feb. 4. The hybrid buses are electric and diesel, and will cycle through all routes, excluding the 80X to Mount Vernon.
The buses offer 40 percent higher fuel economy, a 30 percent reduction in maintenance costs and a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, according to the WTA website.
{ February 1, 2013 } |
Instead of looking at your feet when you wander about campus from class to class, look up. Right now in the rain you will probably see a bunch of dripping gutters.
Now imagine you looked up and saw a garden. Western has been working on developing and installing green roofs, like the one on top of Miller Hall. This green roof earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, gold certification from the US Green Building Council in 2011.
{ January 30, 2013 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 20 green energy purchasers in higher education. Western, which is 20th on the EPA list, annually offsets 100 percent of its electrical consumption from green sources via purchases of renewable energy credits (RECs). Western was the only college or university in the State of Washington on the recently released EPA list.
{ January 29, 2013 } |
Western's Huxley College of the Environment is extending its program from two years to four years, and may also add an area of study focused on energy.
"One of the things Huxley is doing is moving more toward a four-year program for [Huxley] students instead of just a two-year program in the junior and senior year," said Steven Hollenhorst, the dean of Huxley College. "We'll be engaged with students from the very first quarter they come on to campus and have a curriculum that goes across the full four years."
{ January 25, 2013 } |
The WWU Society for Photographic Education student club is collaborating with the Office of Sustainability, shooting professional-quality photographic portraits of Western students, faculty, and staff as a part of the Western Sustainability 10x12 Winter 2013 Energy Awareness campaign. All members of the campus community are invited to participate in the photo sessions. Photos will be published on the Sweater Days website.
{ January 25, 2013 } |
The Associated Students Board of Directors and the Students for Sustainable Water club are working to ban single-use water bottles on campus. The Water Bottle Initiative was passed last spring after 73 percent of student voters approved it.
The initiative said Western students find the selling of bottled water to be an unsuitable practice and urged the University to discontinue the sale of bottled water on campus.
{ January 25, 2013 } |
Western environmental science professor Scott Miles was awarded a $32,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to study power outages caused by Hurricane Isaac.
{ January 17, 2013 } |
This January, 24 new exterior beverage recycling bins are being installed throughout the central corridor of Western Washington University's campus in an effort to provide easier access to recycling for beverage containers. This project has been brought to WWU as a cooperative effort from the AS Recycle Center, Walton Beverage and Facilities Maintenance to aid in the reduction of recyclable items appearing in Western's waste stream.
{ January 14, 2013 } |
Starbucks coffee company's website announced the launch of a $1 reusable plastic cup nationwide on Jan. 3, to continue their journey of waste reduction. The coffee company began testing the reusable cups in 600 stores in the Pacific Northwest starting in October 2012, said Jim Hanna, Starbucks director of environmental affairs, in USA Today.
{ December 14, 2012 } |
Many Western Washington University students, faculty and staff are leaving campus for an extended break through the end of the year. Taking the time to check power-using devices before leaving can make a big difference in Western's standing energy load, reducing energy consumption and costs during the intersession.
{ December 14, 2012 } |
Scott Miles, a professor of environmental studies at Western Washington University, has been awarded a $32,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the impacts and reactions to the power outage related to Hurricane Isaac, which struck Louisiana on Aug. 29. Miles has completed field work for the grant, but the rest of the work will be done over the next year.
{ December 2012 } |
Loss of biodiversity appears to harm ecosystems as much as climate change, pollution and other forms of environmental calamity, according to a new study from an international research team headed by Western Biology Professor Dave Hooper and published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature last summer.
{ December 2012 } |
Western Chemistry students are studying whether algae can be part of a cheap biofuel and creating new ways to break down harmful greenhouse gasses.
Students Josh Corliss of Vashon Island, Aaron Culler of Spokane and John Williams of Battle Ground are working with Associate Professor Greg O'Neil to explore new ways to create a less expensive biofuel. O'Neil's research is funded by a $430,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.
{ November 30, 2012 } |
The pool at Wade King Student Recreation Center could receive an ultraviolet filtration system if stakeholders accept a proposal by Western students.
These pools use ultraviolet light to break apart and destroy the harmful chemicals in a way that standard chlorine cannot, said Western senior Daniel Soloff.
{ November 27, 2012 } |
The Bellingham Farmers Market will expand its nine-month season, usually April to December by expanding to once a month through March.
They are now able to expand into the winter months because farmers have extended their growing season due to grants received in the past two years from the United States Department of Agriculture, said Caprice Teske, market director for Bellingham Farmers Market.
{ November 20, 2012 } |
With the holiday season here, Sustainable Connections' begins their 10th annual holiday "buy local" campaign in Bellingham and Whatcom County, reminding shoppers to visit local and independently owned businesses for their holiday shopping.
{ November 21, 2012 } |
If your office, lab, or workstation will be vacant for even one day during the upcoming holiday break, please take the following actions to reduce campus energy consumption. See the full list of actions here.
{ November 16, 2012 } |
More than 380 Western Washington University employees chose an alternative to driving alone at least six days in the month of October during the statewide Wheel Options campaign.
Those 380 employees succeeded in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 100,000 pounds.
{ November 13, 2012 } |
The following is a list of the Huxley Speaker Series talks to date. Dr. Sylvia Yang's talk, from November 2nd, will be available on DVD in the Huxley Office shortly.
- "Environmental Concerns and the Political Process" - Huxley Speaker Series 10/5/12
- "A Fisherman's Perspective on the Individual Fishing Quota System in Alaska" Huxley Speaker Series 10/12/12
- "The DNA of Cities" Huxley Speaker Series 10/19/12
- "Transportation in Bellingham" Huxley Speaker Series 10/26/12
Please note that for this Friday's talk, American Meat, producer Graham Merriweather will be joined by George and Eiko Vojkovich; we will have time only to show a few excerpts from the film. However, the DVD is available for check out in AH 217.
Early alert: After the Thanksgiving break on Nov.30, the series will feature four speakers, including our Dean, speaking on land use planning, trusts and other planning tools.
{ November 9, 2012 } |
Students are asking Aramark, Western's food service company, to stay real.
The company is approaching the goal of the Real Food Challenge, a national health program, to use 20 percent 'real food' by the end of the year, and is closer than any other school in the state at meeting this goal. However, it has not formally joined the challenge.
{ November 9, 2012 } |
If you will be away from the office for the long weekend, help reduce Western Washington University's standing electricity load (also known as power drain or vampire load): Before you leave, please turn off computers, monitors and printers, unplug chargers and small appliances (but not the refrigerator), leave the thermostat at its normal setting, close the windows and shades, turn off lights and shut windows in unoccupied rooms and remind colleagues and students to "power down" before leaving. Enjoy the weekend!
{ November 7, 2012 } |
Western Washington University professors Gene Myers (Environmental Studies) and Keith Russell (PEHR) wrote separate chapters in the recently published "The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology" from Oxford University Press. Myers' chapter, titled "Children and nature," runs from page 113 to page 127. Russell's chapter, "The therapeutic use of nature," runs on pages 428 through 445.
{ November 6, 2012 } |
Offices across campus are making changes to be more energy-reducing and sustainable.
On Nov. 1, the Western Sustainability Office Certification, a program that recognizes campus offices' environmentally friendly choices, was made available to all administration offices on campus. Five administration offices on campus participated in the pilot program over the summer.
{ November 5, 2012 } |
About seven years ago, when mountain photographer John Scurlock first saw the 1912 photograph of the south side of Mount Baker, he was smitten with its historical value.
When Dave Tucker, a geology research assistant at Western Washington University, saw the photograph, he was intrigued because it showed the rim of Baker's summit crater.
{ November 2, 2012 } |
Bellingham has achieved a status of bicycle friendliness on par with Seattle, Port Townsend and Olympia, according to League of American Bicyclists.
A key factor in achieving this status was the repaving of Indian Street and the addition of "shared lane markings" along the street to alert motorists of the presence of bicyclists.
{ November 1, 2012 } |
Five recipients were given 2012 Western Sustainability Awards at the second annual ceremony during Sustainability Week. The awards honor the Western community's commitment to achieve sustainability and celebrate the efforts of various individuals, groups, programs or projects that make important contributions to Western sustainability. Eleven individuals and groups were nominated for activities in the areas of academics, operations and student life.
{ October 23, 2012 } |
The BoltBus is the newest addition to low-cost transit in the Pacific Northwest. A division of Greyhound, after launching its Portland, Ore. to Vancouver, B.C. service in May, the company added a Bellingham stop on Oct. 4.
{ October 22, 2012 } |
This week, students will have the opportunity to participate in a series of events geared towards learning about what they can do to work towards a greener future. Several environmental groups at Western are collaborating to put on Sustainability Week, which will feature a different sustainability themed event each day.
{ October 22, 2012 } |
Within Western there are numerous ways in which students may pursue hands-on experiential learning. One popular class, modeled around volunteer projects on campus, is Topics in Ecological Restoration.
{ October 19, 2012 } |
For the first time ever Western's automotive engineering team will build a racecar that will run entirely on electric power. It will be a single-seater, open cockpit formula-style and the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) plans to enter it in a competition this June.
{ October 15, 2012 } |
Western Washington University's Shannon Point Marine Center has received two grants totaling more than $500,000 to buy a new boat and research equipment, according to the university. The center, which supports WWU's marine science academic programs, received a $162,300 grant to buy a new academic vessel, as well as a $346,000 grant to buy laboratory equipment that can analyze the marine environment at the molecular level.
{ October 10, 2012 } |
Allison Gannett, an award-winning global cooling consultant and world-champion extreme freeskier, will speak at the Western Sustainability Awards ceremony Oct. 25 at the culmination of Sustainability Week at Western Washington University.
The ceremony begins at 4 p.m. in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room on campus.
{ October 9, 2012 } |
Starting this quarter, students can now minor in energy policy, economics and business through Western's new Institute for Energy Studies.
The institute's director, Andy Bunn, said understanding these subjects are some of the most important issues facing society this century because not enough universities provide an in-depth education on energy.
{ October 8, 2012 } |
The Outback Farm has been an official Associated Students program for six years, yet it's been a productive agricultural site for the community since the 1920s.
It was originally homesteaded by the Burn family where the farm sits today. Western later obtained the land and used it for the construction of school facilities and resident halls.
{ October 5, 2012 } |
Engrained, a café that has made a commitment to promote local and sustainable food, has been replaced on campus by Subway, a fast-food restaurant with more than 25,000 locations nationwide.
Since it was replaced this year, some selections from the Engrained menu have been added to the Viking Union café offerings, said Stephen Wadsworth, resident district manager of Aramark, Western's food service company.
{ October 3, 2012 } |
The Viking Supported Agriculture program at Western Washington University is now taking signups for fall food boxes.
VSA is Western's Community Supported Agriculture program. Those who sign up will receive a box of local fresh organic fruits and veggies every Thursday from Oct. 11 to Dec. 6.
{ September 28, 2012 } |
A discovery recently made by a Western graduate student was published in the science journal, "Inorganic Chemistry."
Zach Thammavongsy spent three years in the lab researching how to inexpensively break down carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using iron, Thammavongsy said.
{ September 28, 2012 } |
Scientists at Western Washington University's Shannon Point Marine Center have received a $346,000 grant from the Major Research Instrumentation program of the National Science Foundation to obtain a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer, an analytical instrument that can be used to identify natural products in the marine environment at the molecular level.
{ September 27, 2012 } |
To honor the Western Washington University community's commitment and efforts to achieve sustainability, the Office of Sustainability and Western administration will recognize and celebrate the achievements of three individuals, groups, programs or projects that make important contributions to "Western Sustainability."
{ September 27, 2012 } |
John Rybczyk, professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Science, published a chapter titled "Global Climate Change and Estuarine Systems" in the book "Estuarine Ecology, 2nd Edition."
{ September 25, 2012 } |
The Karen W. Morse Institute for Leadership, the L.E.A.D.S. program and the Department of Human Resources at Western Washington University are sponsoring a seminar titled "Leadership in Sustainability and Social Innovation at WWU and Beyond" over the course of the 2012-2013 academic year.
The seminar will meet six times throughout the academic year. Meetings will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following Mondays: Oct. 22; Nov. 12; Jan. 28; Feb. 25; April 22; and May 13.
{ September 23, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - Students moving into to their dorms at Western Washington University this weekend will have to unpack their sheets, their clothes and their reusable water bottles, as the school is working toward banning bottled water.
Students passed the initiative recommending that university administration ban sales of bottled water on campus with 73 percent approval last April, but there's still no timeline for if and when the ban might go into effect.
{ September 10, 2012 } |
Shuttle operation will begin Sunday, Sept. 23. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The student shuttle does not operate during summer quarter, Thanksgiving vacation or intersession breaks. For text alerts when severe weather cancels service, text "follow wwushuttle" to 40404 or follow @wwushuttle on Twitter.
{ September 7, 2012 } |
Bus passes for faculty and staff at Western Washington University are now for sale.
The employee cost for an academic year pass is $58. These passes are valid Sept. 24 to June 23. The employee cost for a fall quarter pass is $23. Fall passes are valid Sept. 24 to Jan. 6.
{ September 5, 2012 } |
After three years and thousands of hours in the lab, Western Washington University graduate student Zach Thammavongsy's research into breaking down carbon dioxide, one of the planet's most plentiful greenhouse gases, into the more valuable carbon monoxide has just been published in the research journal "Inorganic Chemistry."
{ August 31, 2012 } |
For more than 40 years the Outback Farm has been a student-run hub of hands-on agricultural education at WWU.
This year the Outback established a new community partnership with the Bellingham Food Bank. With seeds and crop guidance from the food bank, the Outback created a dedicated production effort. Every Wednesday morning, students meet to harvest vegetables and send the week's bounty to the food bank for distribution to the local community.
{ August 12, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - Over the next two decades the city will strive to build 14 miles of new sidewalks at an estimated cost of $46 million, according to a new plan.
City Council has approved a plan that will guide future spending on pedestrian crossings and sidewalks. The plan is the city's first that focuses on one method of transportation. Next up: a plan for bicycling.
{ August 7, 2012 } |
The Sustainable Transportation Office at Western Washington University is conducting an online survey of campus cyclists, seeking feedback on the use of current bicycling facilities and ideas for desired future facilities.
Anyone who cycles on, to or from the Western campus is invited to participate.
{ August 6, 2012 } |
Five Western Washington University (WWU) students, after studying the possible impacts of the proposed Birch Bay shoreline enhancements, have concluded the most serious impacts will come during construction.
The students completed an environmental impact assessment of the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility as part of a class taken through WWU's Huxley College of the Environment. The assessment looked at numerous possible impacts of the project, which will add a beach berm to nearly the entire length of Birch Bay, remove beach groins and riprap and improve stormwater treatment structures.
{ August 6, 2012 } |
Western Washington University is 18th on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 20 green energy purchasers in higher education.
Western annually offsets 100 percent of its electrical consumption from green sources via purchases of renewable energy credits.
{ August 1, 2012 } |
A project to re-roof the Environmental Studies Building on the Western Washington University campus was recently funded and will begin in August. A contract is still being negotiated.
According to Facilities Management records, the Environmental Studies roof has needed replacement since 2003. Funding is now available to proceed with the work, which includes abatement of the existing asbestos-containing roof material.
{ July 27, 2012 } |
The renovation of historic Miller Hall at Western Washington University has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
LEED certification is a green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project is environmentally responsible.
Miller Hall was awarded gold certification. LEED certifications range from basic certification to the Silver, Gold, and Platinum rankings.
{ July 20, 2012 } |
A group of high school students dove into garbage cans at Western Washington University Thursday morning. With gloves on, College Quest participants sorted through, and discussed, what exactly is being thrown away.
{ July 18, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University has joined a network of West Coast universities providing sensor data that will help forecast peaks and lulls in solar energy generation.
The first phase of an innovative instrument cluster has been installed on the roof of the Technology Development Center (TDC) on Bellingham's Central Waterfront; its data will be used to improve our ability to forecast the availability of renewable energy resources.
{ July 17, 2012 } |
Western Washington University's Urba n Transitions Studio presented the Bellingham Downtown Edge Corridor Planning Study at City Hall in March.
This year's Urban Transition Studio Project examines redevelopment opportunities for the downtown Bellingham core, a planning area located along the downtown's largely neglected "southern edge corridor" which divides downtown and the former Georgia Pacific industrial zone. Students formulated redevelopment concepts to integrate the edge corridor into the downtown framework and provide a transition to the future waterfront area.
{ July 12, 2012 } |
...One university has made the pledge to their faculty, staff, students and anyone that uses their facilities that they are committed to being chemical-free. Chemicals are everywhere — in the air we breathe, on the food we eat and in the water we drink. It is the thought of Western Washington University (WWU) that they don't need to add to this total with the things used to clean.
{ July 9, 2012 } |
What can you do to reduce waste and consumption on the Western Washington University campus?
The Office of Sustainability, quick on the heels of the successful 10x12 pilot program, has created a Top 10 list of actions for students, faculty and staff in support of the university's effort to reduce utilities consumption and cost by 10 percent by year's end. The office also has created a certification program to recognize the efforts of campus offices and departments to conserve energy and reduce waste.
{ July 6, 2012 } |
Solar power and the Pacific Northwest – two terms that are mutually exclusive, right? Not if a team of researchers at Western produce what could be a game-changer in the realm of solar electricity.
{ July 6, 2012 } |
The luminescent solar concentrator research at the Applied Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC) is just one of the projects at Western focusing on sustainable energy and green technology.
{ July 3, 2012 } |
The Huxley College Speaker Series brings together the environmental-science community and other interested members of the WWU and Bellingham communities to explore topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.
{ June 26, 2012 } |
Western Washington University saved $24,000 during the 10x12 pilot project last year in four campus buildings, and now the successful pilot will morph into two university-wide programs for the coming year.
Because of the pilot's success, departments in in Arntzen Hall, Parks Hall, Biology Building and Chemistry Building shared a total award of $6,787, representing 25 percent of the money saved through the program in the 2011-12 school year.
{ June 21, 2012 } |
The newest edition of the Sustainable Transportation newsletter has been published. Highlights include: Summer Employee Bus Passes Currently For Sale, Bike to Work and School Day, Be Seen to Be Safe, Summer Rides, Day Trip to Lummi Island, Commuter Packs, WWU's March Smart Trips Winner, & Free 1 Month Bus Pass (Spring 2012 Sustainable Transportation Newsletter)
{ June 20, 2012 } |
Roger Gilman, dean of Western Washington University's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, will be retiring from that position next summer.
"Under Roger Gilman's exceptional leadership, Fairhaven College has enhanced its reputation for outstanding scholarship, innovative interdisciplinary education and active outreach and partnerships with local and area communities," said Western President Bruce Shepard.
{ June 19, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - Some old college furniture has found new life in the homes of people who need it most. A dormitory renovation at Western Washington University prompted the donation of 128 dressers for housing agencies.
Dressers were pulled out of Mathes Hall on Wednesday, June 13, with almost half going directly to the homes of people who had recently been homeless. The rest went to the Habitat for Humanity of Whatcom County Store.
{ June 7, 2012 } |
WASHINGTON — Experts worldwide have long talked about the importance of preserving the diversity of life for the sake of beauty and wonder, or in the hopes of new medical discoveries, or for moral reasons.
A group of scientists is reporting that biodiversity also helps sustain human life.
{ June 6, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM — Twenty years after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 17 prominent ecologists, including Western Washington University's Dave Hooper, are calling for renewed international efforts to curb the loss of biological diversity, which is compromising nature's ability to provide goods and services essential for human well-being.
{ June 4, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - This week is the fourth annual WWU Moveout Madness, when students across much of the city move out of their housing and off to summer destinations.
Five neighborhood collection sites have been set up for students to drop off usable items and trash, in the hopes they don't just toss everything or leave it behind in homes or yards.
{ June 1, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University and the City of Bellingham are partnering to sponsor the fourth annual "WWU Moveout Madness" event in several neighborhoods near the university on June 4 through 8.
This program will target neighborhoods with high student populations, including Happy Valley, Sehome, York, South Hill and Samish. One collection point will be set up in each neighborhood and students are encouraged to bring their reusable household items, and waste to that point for collection and disposal at no charge.
{ June 1, 2012 } |
The Paleolithic diet is based on a simple premise — if the cavemen didn't eat it, then neither should anyone else. This limits food choices down to the bare minimum: fish, meat, chicken, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
University dietitian Sarah Richey said the Paleolithic diet asks participants to not eat legumes, grains, beans and certain types of fruits such as citruses that are not believed to have been in the cavemen's diet.
{ May 29, 2012 } |
Steven Hollenhorst will assume the deanship of Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University effective Sept. 1, Provost Catherine Riordan announced May 25.
"From an exceptionally strong pool of candidates, we have identified a national leader in the field of environmental research and policy to assume the deanship of the Huxley College. Western is committed to our legacy of leadership on environmental issues, and Dr. Hollenhorst is well positioned to advance that into the future," Riordan said. "His career exemplifies the interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial approaches we were seeking, as well a truly outstanding of record of long-term community and agency partnerships that will be key to Huxley's and Western's success in the future."
{ May 22, 2012 } |
The Huxley Department of Environmental Studies will admit first and second-year students into the environmental studies major. This will accompany a reconfigured major and curriculum starting fall quarter.
Department Chair of the Environmental Studies program Michael Medler said the changes allow the department to have earlier contact with students who want to be in the major and help them figure out what courses they need to take.
{ May 18, 2012 } |
Many fates might befall a newspaper after its reader abandons it. Some would look upon the discarded scraps and see a rag for shoe polish or lining for their birdcage. Western senior Joseph Quinn envisions transforming the pages into anything from a sail to a sunshade to a hand-woven basket.
The process he uses to achieve this is called "upcycling," a relatively young form of waste management that converts thrown-away materials into practical new products. It is different from recycling because upcycling finds a different application for the objects being reused — something more meaningful than what they were originally intended for, Quinn said.
{ May 18, 2012 } |
Bellingham City Council and Whatcom County authorities decided against permanently banning boats on Lake Whatcom in a meeting Monday, May 14 — choosing instead to invest in education and boat inspections to keep harmful invasive clams and mussels out of the lake.
{ May 16, 2012 } |
You've heard of Community Supported Agriculture, right? Well, Viking Supported Agriculture is the Western Washington University version, and shares are now available. Students, faculty and staff are invited to sign up to partake in this year's program.
{ May 16, 2012 } |
Why this is relevant: Western Washington University environmental education students have been teaching Bellingham sixth graders for teh past few days at the District's Gordon Carter environmental ed site at the south end of Lake Whatcom Reservoir. Five teams of Huxley students taught more than 200 middle schoolers a two-day program there, emphasizing ecology, water quality, stewardship, natural history and teamwork.
{ May 16, 2012 } |
Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered a way to identify and track sulfuric compounds in Earth's marine environment, opening a path to either refute or support a decades-old hypothesis that our planet can be compared to a singular, self-regulating, living organism — a.k.a. the Gaia theory. Proposed by scientists James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis in the 70s, the Gaia theory likens Earth to a self-supporting singular life form, similar to a cell. The theory claims that, rather than being merely a stage upon which life exists, life — in all forms — works to actively construct an Earthly environment in which it can thrive.
{ May 14, 2012 } |
During this year's election, students not only voted for the new Associated Students Board of Directors, they voted on initiatives. While initiatives are usually sparse or non-existent on Western ballots, there were three this year.
The Water Bottle, Print Quota, and Transparency (Higher One) initiatives overwhelming passed in the student vote, but Western is not yet ready for their full implementation. The Board of Trustees must first review all three initiatives over summer before they are passed. In the meantime, several student sponsors of the initiatives paint a picture of the changes that would occur on campus and the future of Western.construct an Earthly environment in which it can thrive.
{ May 14, 2012 } |
Recently there was an initiative in the Associated Students Elections addressing the sale of bottled water on campus. As the results have not yet been released, I am unsure of whether it has passed or not. [Editor's note: The Water Bottle Initiative passed with a 73 percent vote.] However, this letter is to advocate for a ban of selling bottled water on campus.
To begin, there are several reasons why bottled water is unsustainable both economically and environmentally.
{ May 10, 2012 } |
A new website maps out local avalanche dangers for those heading into the mountain backcountry, thanks to a joint effort by Huxley College of the Environment and the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
{ May 8, 2012 } |
Biodiversity loss — the dwindling variation of life forms — could influence ecosystem change more than previously thought, according to a study published May 2 by a team of scientists, including Western biology professor David Hooper.
Hooper helped compose the study, which took samples of data from 192 studies on species richness, the variety and number of a species in a plot of land, and its effect on ecosystem processes. Using the data, Hooper and his team projected a decrease in plant production and a change in decomposition —plant breakdown by bacteria and fungi — due to species loss. The team compared the effects of species loss to other ecosystem threats, such as changing atmospheric composition, climate warming and nutrient pollution, to measure how much of an impact it has on humans, according to the study.
{ May 7, 2012 } |
On March 29, 2012, three Western students from Huxley College of the Environment competed in the University of Washington Environmental Innovation Challenge. The team, named Amped Aquatics, developed the Nexus Buoy, a promising renewable energy prototype that converts wave energy into electricity. Although Amped Aquatics and the Nexus Buoy did not walk away with the cash prizes offered to the top five contenders, they took away in life and team experience that was just as valuable.
{ May 7, 2012 } |
In order to showcase and celebrate this year's environmental achievements and spread awareness of environmental club activity, a collection of Western environmental clubs will put on the first ever Green Tie Gala Event.
{ May 7, 2012 } |
University Dining Services at Western Washington University has launched a newsletter dedicated to dining sustainability. The first issue includes stories on recent developments in dining at Western, a spotlight on Edaleen Dairy and a recipe for French toast featuring only local ingedients.
Check out the newsletter online here.
{ May 6, 2012 } |
A Western Washington University biologist says global climate change and pollution are not the only major problems threating the environment. The loss of plant diversity may be just as dangerous.
Professor David Hooper shared his perspective at a workshop in California at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, The Bellingham Herald (http://is.gd/2hGiAg) reported Sunday.
{ May 3, 2012 } |
More than eight in 10 Western Washington University students approved a renewal of the student alternative transportation fee in the annual Associated Students elections, which ended Friday, April 30. The fee, which passed with 84-percent support, funds student bus passes and the student late-night shuttle.
Students also passed initiatives that call for banning the sale of plastic water bottles on campus, greater transparency in dealings with the Higher One Card, and the formation of a sustainable print quota system on campus to replace the old quota system no longer in use.
{ April 2012 } |
Are you staying in Bellingham over the summer? Sign up for veggie boxes and enjoy veggies fresh from local farms. The program continues in the fall.
Viking Supported Agriculture Veggie Boxes are now available! Students, faculty and staff are invited to sign up here through Growing Washington (Growingwashington.org) to partake in this year's delicious program. Choose "Whatcom-Bellingham-WWU" for your "location", and if you are a student enter "Starving Student" into the discount field and get 15% off!
This year you will have the freedom to pick every item in your box, or choose to have the farmers make the decision for you. Both are delicious! Shares run from June 21st through November 1st/December 2nd. Boxes will be dropped off every Thursday outside of Carver Gym. If you are staying in Bellingham over the summer this share is for you, but if you will be out of town, don't worry you'll still be able to sign up in the fall.
Email Office of Sustainability employee Simon Davis-Cohen (simon@readthedirt.org) with any questions/concerns.
{ April 30, 2012 } |
Many people in society put up with the fumes of household cleaners, hair products and nail polish to achieve clean kitchen surfaces, bouncy hair and shiny nails. Little do they know, those fumes do not just attack your nose; they are extremely toxic and harmful to those who make them, those who consume them and the environment they are all a part of.
{ April 27, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - Students at Western Washington University voted overwhelmingly in favor of renewing a bulk bus pass program Friday, April 27.
The program charges students $25 each term. That pays for a Whatcom Transportation Authority bus pass for each student. It also funds a shuttle providing late-night transportation to areas surrounding campus. About 84 percent of voting students cast ballots in favor of the program, extending it for five more years.
{ April 25, 2012 } |
The Bellingham City Council appears willing to consider a shutdown of the Bloedel-Donovan Park boat launch until an inspection and decontamination system can be set up to prevent introduction of zebra and quagga mussels. No such shutdown proposal appeared on the council's Monday, April 23, agenda. But when council members learned that there was no chance to get a boat inspection and decontamination system up and running before the beginning of summer, most wanted to take immediate action.
{ April 24, 2012 } |
When most people think of buses, they think of a big brick-shaped hunk of metal on wheels. The Hybrid Bus Team is a group of Western students and faculty, Bellingham community members and state industry representatives who are building a rounder, more fuel-efficient and more aerodynamic hybrid bus.
{ April 23, 2012 } |
The 2012 employee Commute Trip Reduction survey week has ended. Western Washington University achieved a 78.3-percent response rate, well over the minimum required response rate of 70 percent.
The Sustainable Transportation office at Western thanks the Western employees who responded to the 2012 survey, helping yield the highest response rate yet at the university.
For more information about Commute Trip Reduction or the WWU Sustainable Transportation Program, contact Carol Berry or Andrea Osborn at (360) 650-7960 or transportation@wwu.edu.
{ April 23, 2012 } |
The Alternative Transportation Fee referendum is sponsored by Sara Richards and David Burgesser. We emailed Richards to ask some questions about the referendum.
{ April 23, 2012 } |
"Should the students of Western Washington University recommend to the administration that all sales of bottled water cease on campus, in order to reduce the university's environmental impact in terms of plastic, water, and fossil fuels?"
The Water Bottle initiative is sponsored by Anna Amundson, Carolyn Bowie and Sara Purington. Our questions were answered by Carlolyn.
{ April 21, 2012 } |
Whatcom Community College stated its commitment to sustainability in 2008 when we purposefully added "Model Sustainability" as one of the college's five guiding themes and objectives.
We were mindful about our intent. We knew then - and we acknowledge now - sustainability isn't a one-time initiative, a goal to be checked off a list. Rather, it is a lens through which we view our choices. After years of reviewing campus operations, we recognize we can still improve. We believe what's important is to address our areas of opportunity and to educate our campus community on how we can each make choices that will have a positive environmental impact.
{ April 20, 2012 } |
Western senior Jason Austin and freshman Nina Olivier both spend their working hours in a medium-sized office in the Viking Union planning Western's "Earth Day festival" and promoting environmental awareness. The office walls are covered with posters promoting past events, the desks are strewn with stickers with environmental messages and books about conservation line the shelves.
{ April 19, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM – A team of three students in Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment competed in the University of Washington Environmental Innovation Challenge at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall on March 29, where they demonstrated their self-designed prototype of a renewable energy technology, called Nexus Buoy. The device converts wave energy into electricity and could be a promising money-saving alternative to burning fossil fuels as an energy source in coastal communities.
Seniors Aaron Ellig of Kennewick, Andrew Wells of Mukilteo and junior Carolyn Wise of Northfield, Minn., who collectively call themselves "Amped Aquatics," went up against 31 other teams in the UW competition that challenges students to design and develop a solution to an environmental problem and produce a prototype and business pitch that demonstrates the market opportunity for a chance to win $10,000.
{ April 17, 2012 } |
Earth Day events in Whatcom County focus on learning about and helping the environment. There's a lot of fun to be had, too. Here's a list of this week's events through Sunday, April 22 - the date recognized as Earth Day.
View the full list of events on our calendar: http://www.wwu.edu/sustain/news-and-events/wwu-events/
{ April 17, 2012 } |
Western students will vote to extend the $25 alternative transportation fee that gives students their bus passes between April 23 and 27.
Students taking more than six credits at Western pay the fee. The vote would extend the fee for another five years.
{ April 16, 2012 } |
Celebrating and appreciating the planet only one day out of the year is definitely not enough. The Associated Students Environmental Center is taking matters into their own hands by hosting Earth Week, the one-week countdown to the main event.
{ April 13, 2012 } |
Three universities have teamed up to create a network of observation points across the West Coast and Hawaii to provide sensor data that will help forecast solar energy patterns. Western Washington University, the University of California and the University of Hawaii are joining forces in a move they hope will eventually make it easier to integrate solar energy into regional power systems.
{ April 13, 2012 } |
The Combined Fund Drive and the Seattle Mariners have teamed up to offer a package for those interested in helping the environment.
From April 2 through Earth Day, April 22, every $5 that a donor signs up to contribute or increases on their monthly contributions to any of the CFD charities in the category of "Animals and the Environment" will be entered in a drawing to win four free 100-level tickets to the May 5 Public Service Recognition Day game between the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins, and the right to throw out the first pitch. To learn more or find a list of eligible charities, visit http://www.cfd.wa.gov/cfd/GoGreenContest.aspx.
{ April 13, 2012 } |
The Associated Students Environmental Center Library proposed on April 11 a transfer of its materials to the Wilson Library.
The ECL proposed the move during the AS Board of Directors meeting. The ECL wants to transfer all of its materials, including books and a DVD collection, to the Wilson Library because students underuse the Environmental Center Library, said Jason Austin, associate director of Environmental and Sustainability Programs.
{ April 10, 2012 } |
The Ingersoll Rand Foundation has donated $25,000 to Western in order to help fund an energy program for the university, according to a university press release.
Brian Sibley, campaign communications manager for the division of university advancements, said he believes this program is "quintessentially Western."
The program, intended to teach students how to develop new companies and work in the modern energy industry, is a collaborative effort from Western's College of Business and Economics, the College of Sciences and Technology and Huxley College of the Environment, according to the press release.
{ April 10, 2012 } |
Bivalves are bombarding Bellingham. They kill native mussels, fill Bellingham shores with razor-sharp shells and pollute the drinking water of 85,700 people across Whatcom County. They are the Asian clam, and students may have brought them to local lakes.
Invasive Asian clams have been found in Lake Whatcom, including around Lakewood, Western's water sports facility according to the City of Bellingham. Students who do not properly clean their boats could be part of the problem, said Teagan Ward, environmental resource assistant for the Bellingham Public Works Department.
{ April 3, 2012 } |
Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard sent a letter to the campus community Monday, April 9, apprising faculty and staff of an upcoming commuting survey.
On April 16, faculty and staff will receive a link to the Commute Trip Reduction survey, where they'll enter information about how they reached work during the week of April 9 to 13. The full text of Shepard's letter is below: (follow link above)
{ April 3, 2012 } |
Western has become the newest link in a series of six solar and wind prediction sites along the west coast that will help researchers forecast the availability of solar and wind energy sources.
Workers installed specialized data collection equipment Friday on top of Western's Technology Development Center, located at 1000 F St. Brad Johnson, a physics professor at Western, said it has already begun to collect data on Bellingham's solar viability, with wind measurements soon to follow.
{ April 3, 2012 } |
A group of roughly 35 Bellingham residents helped turn garbage into art at Locust Beach on Sunday afternoon.
The effort was part of a beach cleanup and community art project put on by RE Sources, a non-profit organization that focuses on nature conservation, recycling and environmental advocacy and education in Bellingham, and the Northwest Straits chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
{ April 3, 2012 } |
Associate Professor Ruth Sofield is preparing to study the potential impact of pollutants from snowmobiles on mountain snowpacks with a $4,000 grant she was awarded in January.
Sofield received the grant from the Winter Wildlands Alliance and will focus her studies on Mount Baker and in Wyoming. She will create a report on the potential pollutant levels in the snow for the alliance — a national non-profit organization with a dual mission of conservation and recreation.
{ April 2, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM –Western Washington University has received a gift of $25,000 from the Ingersoll Rand Foundation. Ingersoll Rand is a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments and includes Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort systems and services, among its family of brands. The grant from the Ingersoll Rand Foundation will help fund the development of an energy program at WWU.
"We are pleased to help WWU pioneer this program," said Warren Michelsen, district general manager of Northwest-Hawaii Trane district. "As a company we are committed to helping our customers reach their goals for sustainability and energy conservation. This program will prepare its graduates to be leaders in the clean energy economy. We're honored to support the innovation and initiative they've demonstrated and pleased to collaborate in helping guide the launch of this ambitious program."
{ March 30, 2012 } |
Student teams pitched their innovations at the UW Environmental Innovation Challenge yesterday afternoon, showing the clever ways they would address energy, urban agriculture, recycling, built environment and water-related problems. Now in its fourth year, the Challenge focuses on the development of prototypes that solve some of today's biggest problems and have market impact. The 23 student teams came from universities and technology institutes across the Northwest.
Western Washington University's Perpetuous Innovations team showed a prototype of their Solar Window design for commercial greenhouses. Each window concentrates incoming sunlight and uses it to generate solar power, while still allowing light to come through the tinted plastic pane.
{ March 30, 2012 } |
A student-funded solar array is being installed atop the Environmental Studies Building at Western Washington University.
The $167,500 project, funded by the student Green Energy Fee and proposed by a team led by Matthew Moroney, is being installed on the building's south-facing roof. The 5-kilowatt array will be visible from the Academic Instructional Center skybridge, where students can view info station on the project and an interactive display of the array's power output.
The solar array is one of four projects being installed this year by the Green Energy Fee Grant Program.
{ March 30, 2012 } |
Western is adding 24 solar panels to the top of the Environmental Studies building.
The project is being funded by the Green Fee Grant Program and has a total cost of $167,500.
Preparations for the panels began in December and the first of the panels was installed over spring break, said Kathryn Freeman, Green Energy Fee Grant Program coordinator. Work on the roof is expected to continue into early April, according to an online statement released last year by the Office of Facilities Development and Capital Budget. Dave Willett, manager of architectural and engineering services at Western, said the panels are expected to be operational in mid-April.
{ March 30, 2012 } |
This spring there are going to be signature forms going around classrooms, Red Square and the Viking Union to ban bottled water on campus.
This ban, put forth by Western's club, Students for Sustainable Water, would wipe out plastic water bottles from all of Western's markets.
Students should sign these forms because they take a solid stance against bottled water. Bottled water is bad for the environment, human health and nonrenewable resources.
{ March 2012 } |
In 250 words or less: What would you like to see HUMANS create/design/achieve before you die? (Strong submissions will include details, creativity & a solution to a challege facing the Northwest.) Submissions Due May 20th, email submissions: info @readthedirt.org
Winners and Honorable Mentions will be published on readthedirt.org and printed! For more info and prizes, see the flyer.
{ March 28, 2012 } |
A project to increase energy efficiency in 26 campus buildings at Western Washington University -- and thus reduce Western's utility bills and carbon footprint -- is scheduled to begin in June.
A presentation on the project will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 5, in Wilson Library Room 164F. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Improvements include better lighting controls, energy efficient lamps, insulation in attic spaces, HVAC controls and water conservation devices; the upgrades will be made to 21 academic buildings, the Wade King Student Recreation Center and four residence halls.
{ March 27, 2012 } |
The hand dryers in Miller Hall, the water bottle refilling stations in Arntzen Hall and the paper towel composting in Haggard Hall are all products of the Associated Students Green Energy Fee program.
These environmentally friendly additions to Western's campus came from student-written proposals submitted during the 2011-2012 school.
This year, there are workshops for Western students, faculty and staff to assist in proposal planning and writing for this year's AS Green Energy Fee Grant program.
Three Green Energy Fee Project Idea Labs will be held over the first three weeks of spring quarter. The first will be held 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 30 in Viking Union 462B.
{ March 22, 2012 } |
Electricians from Western Washington University installed solar- and wind-energy prediction equipment at the Technology Development Center on the Bellingham waterfront Friday, making Western the newest location for testing the gear being developed by Western and a consortium of schools in the University of California system.
Many businesses are transitioning to alternative energy, and this equipment tests if the local weather will be able to continuously produce enough electricity to keep the equipment running, said David Larson, of the University of California at Merced.
{ March 15, 2012 } |
They have a reputation for being environmentally minded do-gooders. But an academic analysis of surveys spanning more than 40 years has found that today's young Americans are less interested in the environment and in conserving resources — and often less civic-minded overall — than their elders were when they were young.
{ March 14, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - Scientific measurements of the biochemistry of Lake Whatcom showed some improvement in 2011, but that is probably the result of a cool summer, not human efforts to control polluting runoff.
So says Robin Matthews, the lead scientist on the annual lake water monitoring effort commissioned by the city. Matthews is director of the Institute for Watershed Studies at Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University.
{ March 13, 2012 } |
Last week I participated with a panel of speakers for an ecogastronomy class at Western Washington University. The course is taught by Gigi Berardi, an enthusiastic instructor who also teaches local food and farm courses at WWU and ecogastronomy in Italy with Slow Food. The topic this particular day was food policy, a more global topic than I typically address.
As I pondered what I could contribute to the discussion, I realized I brought the point of view of an individual food consumer. That set me to considering how food policies have affected me over the years.
{ March 9, 2012 } |
Some students spend their collegiate career trying to make a difference in the world. We applaud them!
Inside College recently named 63 colleges that make a difference in the world, from Miriam Weinstein's book Making A Difference Colleges. According to Weinstein's website, she has been "researching and directing thousands of committed young people to truly green colleges since 1992." Now THAT, my friends, is expertise.
Colleges that make a difference are large and small, public and private. There is a heavy concentration of schools in traditionally green havens like Oregon, Vermont and Washington, but there are a ton of other schools throughout the country.
{ March 9, 2012 } |
A group of Native American students from tiny Neah Bay, on the Olympic Peninsula, are finalists for a national $100,000 technology and software prize. The "Solve for Tomorrow" competition, sponsored by Samsung, aims to honor students who best show how science or math is helping the environment in their community.
Why this is relevant:
The Neah Bay middle and high schools are heavily involved with a science education partnership grant through SMATE at Western Washington University.
{ March 9, 2012 } |
Western Washington University strives to be a national leader in campus sustainability. In 2011 the Sierra Club placed Western Washington as 14th in their fifth annual rankings of the ‚Coolest Schools? in the nation based on efforts toward solving climate issues and sustainable operation. Western is the first school to have a student-imposed green energy fee which funds various projects around campus, the first being the new water bottle filling stations. The Office of Sustainability website has more information on Western's accomplishments and ongoing sustainability efforts.
Funding for projects focused on sustainability or environmental protection can come from a wide variety of sources including Federal and State agencies and private agencies as well.
{ March 9, 2012 } |
Western students Eliza Evans and Joe Marsh were interviewed along with faculty member Gigi Berardi about Huxley College of the Environment's recent documentary on the plight of family farms. Listen to it here.
{ March 9, 2012 } |
Anyone who plans to hit the mountains for snowshoeing, hiking or skiing can check out a website that forecasts avalanche dangers.
This follows an incident during winter of 2003, when an avalanche on Mount Baker buried three Western students who were snowshoeing at night. Two of the students survived, but one died.
In 2004, Michael Medler, Huxley associate professor and chair of the environmental studies department, began working with students to map avalanche dangers.
"I think a lot of people considered avalanches to be a problem to extreme skiers," Medler said. "Just because you're on snowshoes doesn't mean you're going to not walk through high avalanche danger areas."
{ March 9, 2012 } |
As soon as this summer, watercraft ranging from float planes and motorboats to canoes and kayaks could face mandatory inspections as they launch in Lake Whatcom, as local governments ramp up their efforts to prevent nasty invasive mussels from finding their way into the city's water supply.
Two species of Eurasian mussel are the main concern. They are known as zebra and quagga mussels and are native to the Black and Caspian seas. They are believed to have been introduced to North America by Russian freighters emptying ballast water in the Great Lakes in the 1980s.
{ March 8, 2012 } |
Those whose offices or computers will be unused for even one day during the upcoming break should take the following actions to reduce phantom energy consumption:
|
|
{ March 6, 2012 } |
Western will compete in RecycleMania, a American and Canadian competition where colleges compete for eight weeks to promote recycling and composting.
Lucas Minor, Aramark Higher Education's marketing manager, said in an email that University Dining Services is committed to minimizing Western's environmental footprint by "fostering a culture that reduces, reuses, and recycles waste."
Western will participate as part of Zero Waste Western, an Associated Students Recycle Center program that aims to eliminate waste on campus. Dining services plans to divert as much waste as possible so that 100 percent of products can be recycled, composted and diverted from landfills, Minor said.
{ March 2, 2012 } |
Western students will propose a sustainable and energy efficient dorm pilot program that would push Western closer to having no effect on climate change.
If approved, Western students Rafael Gonzales and Tristan Sewell would work to get items such as energy efficient lights, low-flow faucets, power meters and new appliances installed in a test room. They hope the test room would be in the older section of Buchanan Towers, as the new section already has many of these upgrades.
{ March 1, 2012 } |
Backcountry skiers and snowboarders have a new tool to explore regional daily avalanche danger levels.
A web-based map, created by students and faculty at Western Washington University, takes the regional avalanche forecasts issued by the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center and displays the same information spatially. This allows backcountry travelers to zoom into specific regions and examine the forecast avalanche danger. But it also prevents users from zooming in too closely, because the forecasts are regional, not site-specific.
{ February 24, 2012 } |
The winter quarter Sustainable Transportation Newsletter has been published and is now online. Included in this quarter's news:
|
|
{ February 24, 2012 } |
The Resilience Institute at Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment has released "Our Farms are at Risk," a short film detailing the key threats to the region's family farms.
The two-and-a-half-minute film was made by Bellingham's Hand Crank Films and recently won a prestigious ADDY award from the American Advertising Federation in the category of best interactive web videos. It can be viewed online at www.farmresilience.org.
{ February 21, 2012 } |
Western Washington University is on its way to becoming an environmentally sustainable campus. In a presentation earlier this month, Campus Sustainability Manager Seth Vidaña presented to students and faculty the steps taken by Western since the creation of the Office of Sustainability.
Vidaña has been helping the campus become more sustainable through various programs, including those that brought more local foods to campus and encouraging students to take the buses rather than drive to campus.
{ February 21, 2012 } |
Western Washington University's Green Energy Fee Program completed another project Feb. 17 when Facilities Management completed the installation of four high-speed Dyson Airblade hand dryers in the basement restrooms in Arntzen Hall.
The brainchild of Western sophomore Mike Gore, junior Bodie Cabiyo and senior Jordan Murphy, the project developed from an assignment in the students' campus sustainability planning class.
{ February 17, 2012 } |
The bathrooms on the basement level of Arntzen Hall now have Dyson Airblade hand dryers.
In an effort to become a more environmentally friendly campus, Western will install four Dyson hand dryers, two in each restroom, funded by the Green Energy Fee Program on Friday, Feb. 17. The dryers blow two walls of air on inserted hands at 400 mph. Users pull their hands through the walls of air to create an invisible wiping effect, according to Dyson's website.
{ February 17, 2012 } |
The latest newsletter from the Office of Sustainability at Western Washington University is online, full of information about sustainability efforts and projects at Western.
Check out the latest issue for news about the 2-degree turn-down, which saved the university more than $15,000 in November and December. Read also about the home basketball Green Games, a recap of the 2011 Sustainability Awards, and much more.
{ February 9, 2012 } |
Whatcom Transportation Authority's board unanimously approved a deal with Western Washington University that would extend the student universal bus pass program for five years.
The board on Thursday, Feb. 9, voted 9-0 to approve the five-year contract extension. The deal is still contingent on WWU student voters approving a fee to continue purchasing thousands of passes in bulk. Student elections will be held in April.
{ February 7, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - Western Washington University students would continue to receive bus passes purchased through a student fee, under a deal Whatcom Transportation Authority is likely to approve. But that's only if students this fall approve a five-year extension of the fee that buys the passes.
WTA's board on Thursday, Feb. 9, will consider approving an extension of the contract with WWU. More than half the WTA board members, sitting as the board's executive committee, have already recommended approving the extension.
{ February 6, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Western Washington University ranks 17th on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of the nation's top 20 higher education green energy purchasers. It's the only college or university in the state of Washington to make the list.
Each year, WWU offsets 100 percent of its electrical energy consumption from green sources, by buying renewable energy credits (RECs). Western jumped to the forefront of the country's renewable energy movement in 2004, when WWU students voted to implement a student fee for the purchase of green energy.
In addition to funding the purchase of renewable power, the student fee finances projects devoted to piloting measures in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse-gas and solid waste reduction on WWU's campus. The fee also funds the creation of permanent and student staff positions who work with student and faculty on project development.
Current projects include a 5kw solar array, high-efficiency hand-dryers, LED conversion for parking lot lights, water-bottle refilling stations, and hand towel composting. All projects will be assessed for application on a larger scale.
{ February 6, 2012 } |
For the past 18 of 41 years since the creation of Huxley College of the Environment, a crucial Western institution that has helped pave the way in the field of environmental science and studies, Bradley Smith has served as dean. This past month, Smith announced his retirement from the position in order to pursue other facets of environmental work both on campus and in his leisure time.
"Brad gave the Office of Sustainability its first home in Huxley College and he has been a key in helping our campus progress to both set and meet its sustainability goals," Campus Sustainability Manager Seth Vidana said. "He has been a great supporter of our efforts and other people's efforts and he has been the co-chair of our Sustainability Committee and done a great job there. We're lucky that he wants to stick around [to help]."
{ February 6, 2012 } |
In the age of "going green," Western has its own recycling army that takes care of all the recycling on campus—the Associated Students Recycle Center. The Recycle Center, located off campus near 25th Street and Taylor Avenue, has had its own facility since the late '90s. The center has a main yard filled with blue barrels from campus, a large pile of furniture, large bins called hoppers and small forklifts.
Emma Butterworth, Recycle Center staff manager, is in her second year at center and said she enjoys working there. "It's outside, it's physical—not just sitting at a desk," Butterworth said.
{ February 2012 } |
"Tree-angle": a compound creation of tree and triangle used to help describe The Huxley Student Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association's (AWMA) project to donate trees, shrubs and specialty plants to the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (N-SEA).
The Huxley Student Chapter of AWMA will be collecting monetary donations through March 12, 2012 to benefit N-SEA. Any donations by individuals or businesses will be used to purchase organisms belonging to the vegetable kingdom from the 2012 Whatcom Conservation District Plant Sale. All chloroplast containing conifers, broad leaf and low lying comrades we acquire will be contributed to restoration efforts within the Nooksack River Watershed.
Businesses & Individuals: All donations are tax deductible through the Western Foundation's Online Pledge Form. *please make sure to designate gift to "Huxley Student Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association"
The goal of our project our is to create a link between individuals in our community (from Western, to Whatcom, to Washington and beyond) with local organizations in an effort to create a more sustainable future.
From You, to the Whatcom Conservation District and ending at the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, help us complete a donation "tree-angle". We, the intermediaries at Huxley AWMA, are only trying to locate the right...angle to do so.
{ February 2, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University is 17th on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 20 green energy purchasers in higher education. Western annually offsets 100 percent of its electrical consumption from green sources via purchases of renewable energy credits (RECs). Western was the only college or university in the State of Washington on the recently released EPA list.
The genesis for Western's renewable energy program began more than seven years ago when a small group of Western students set a goal of having Western offset all of its electrical energy from a 100-percent renewable source. To meet that goal they proposed a student initiative to implement a fee that would offset the cost of purchasing renewable energy.
{ February 2012 } |
North Cascades Audubon Society provides a financial opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing research in: Wildlife, Natural History, Marine & Terrestrial Biology or Ecology, Environmental Education, Environmental Planning or Policy. Financial aid is provided, to help defray the costs related to research, in the form of stipends of about $200 to $400 depending on the number of qualified applicants.
For more information and how to apply, click here.
{ January 2012 } |
WWU Viking Athletics is making all basketball home games "Green Games" this season, with an emphasis on recycling. This is thanks to initiative and efforts by Katie Rothenberg, Assistant Marketing Director of Athletics. AS Recycle has provided barrels for the Carver Foyer, including compostables barrels! Athletic Interns will "sweep" the stands after the games, and move the barrels outside the foyer for AS Recycling pick-up. Dining Services has identified compostable and recyclable concession items/containers.
Volunteers are needed at each game, to monitor the recycling/waste sorting areas in the Carver Foyer, during the half-time and end of game periods when fans are depositing trash in the foyer. Volunteers will get in to the game for free.
There are also opportunities to promote recycling and waste reduction and related efforts at half-time, and student videos can be shown on the large screen in the gym during pre-game and half-time. Is there a video or PSA about the Green Energy Fee, or the current projects?
Please let me or Katie Rothenberg x4314 know if you have ideas, and encourage volunteers to contact me. Eco-reps can contact the Res-RAP coordinator, (sustain.ResRAP@wwu.edu) Half-time promotion/education will need to be arranged through Katie. Here is the schedule for the season.
{ January 30, 2012 } |
Everyone drinks it, bathes with it and cooks with it. Even without realizing it, students use water. But how much do people really think about where their water comes from?
In Bellingham, drinking water comes from Lake Whatcom. It seems simple enough, but one group of students knows there are a myriad of complications with the body of water, including storm runoff and erosion of the land around the water, causing high-phosphorus levels in the community's drinking water.
That's why the Associated Students Environmental Center is encouraging Whatcom County to request that the State Board of Natural Resources reconveys state-owned lands back into county control, rather than be managed by a state entity.
{ January 24, 2012 } |
What could be the ultimate recycling project is under way at Western Washington University. Students hope to build houses for the homeless of Haiti from the mounds of garbage littering the landscape. KING 5's Eric Wilkinson reports from Bellingham.
View the video here or on our media page.
{ January 24, 2012 } |
Western Washington University's new interactive campus map, created by students working with Huxley College's Institute for Spatial Information and Analysis, is now online.
Originally released in a "beta" version this fall, the map recently has been revised and updated. Among the recent enhancements are drop down menus to locate each of the buildings, departments and services on campus as well as a construction projects layer and building links to individual web pages for the different buildings on campus.
{ January 13, 2012 } |
Western Washington University is beginning a utility efficiency and improvement project in 21 academic buildings, the Wade King Student Recreation Center and four residence halls that will cut down on rising energy costs and lead to significant utility savings over time.
The utility improvements will include lighting controls, energy efficient lamps, insulation in attic spaces, HVAC controls, and water conservation.
Western will be utilizing a state program to finance the campus construction work, which will be paid for by utility savings. To encourage investment in infrastructure upgrades that lead to reduced energy consumption, the state established the Energy Service Performance Contracting program. Western has used this program on a small scale with very good results, and now plans the expanded utility improvements across campus.
{ January 12, 2012 } |
On Wednesday, the EPA released a new interactive map letting people check out the biggest stationary sources of global-warming emissions in their area. It's a nifty tool. But could it actually lead to less pollution? Quite possibly, yes, if the past is any guide.
{ January 12, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM - A nearly $3.2 million project to make 26 buildings at Western Washington University more energy-efficient is expected to begin in March.
The university is using a state program called Energy Saving Performance Contracting to finance the work to reduce Western's annual use of electricity, gas, water and sewer.
That reduction is expected to save $227,000 to $337,000 a year - the higher amount factors in inflation through 2024 - with the savings going to repay a $3.06 million bond.
{ January 10, 2012 } |
With the completion of three water bottle refilling stations -- one on the second floor of Old Main, one on the first floor of Arntzen Hall and one in the Wade King Student Recreation Center -- Western Washington University's Green Energy Fee Grant Program has completed the first of a number of projects initiated by the fledgling program.
Created in 2010, the Green Energy Fee Grant Program puts to use student dollars collected in the quarterly Green Energy Fee and designated to the grant program. This year, that's some $300,000, said Kathryn Freeman, Green Energy Fee Grant Program Coordinator.
{ January 9, 2012 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University is beginning a utility efficiency and improvement project in 21 academic buildings, the Wade King Student Recreation Center and four residence halls that will cut down on rising energy costs and lead to significant utility savings over time.
The utility improvements will include lighting controls, energy efficient lamps, insulation in attic spaces, HVAC controls, and water conservation.
{ January 6, 2012 } |
Students using Haggard Hall bathrooms can now compost paper towels. The new compost bins are a part of a six-month pilot program to reduce Western's solid waste.
Haggard Hall ranks first on Western's most frequently used bathrooms list, winning it the compost bin selection. The building's restrooms average more than 1,000 uses per day, said Kathryn Freeman, Green Energy Grant program coordinator. The pilot project was awarded a grant for $1,400.
The Green Energy Fee program, which all full-time Western students pay for as part of their fees and tuition, is funding the project. The fee charges students 70 cents per credit, up to $7 per quarter.
{ January 3, 2012 } |
As part of the Green Energy Fee Program from the Office of Sustainability at Western Washington University, a six-month pilot project to compost paper towels used in the first and second floors of Haggard Hall begins winter quarter.
The main goal of the project is to reduce the use and subsequent waste of paper towels on campus. Composting can play a significant role in that by decreasing the amount of waste that the Western campus sends to landfills. According to the Associated Students Recycle Center, which conducts regular audits of campus trash and recycling, 72 percent of Western's waste is already recycled, and the majority of the remaining portion is compostable.
{ December 8, 2011 } |
University of Iowa students might soon be able to opt into a "green" fee to fund sustainability efforts on campus.
Seth Vidana, campus sustainability manager for Western Washington University, said students pay approximately 70 cents per credit hour, amounting to roughly $7 a student for the mandatory green fee.
"We're able to get small pilot projects on the ground when funds are tight," Vidana said, and the fee has allowed officials to fund a $157,000 solar ray, water-bottle refilling stations, hand dryers, and a paper towel composting pilot.
{ December 7, 2011 } |
If your office or workstation will be vacant for even one day during the upcoming holiday, please take the following actions to reduce "phantom" energy consumption while you are away.
|
|
{ December 6, 2011 } |
Lauren Squires, the ceremony's student commencement speaker, is graduating with a degree in Urban Planning and a minor in Sustainable Design. She is "passionate about creating places that enable people to live well." She served as an advocate for sustainability issues while at Western, serving as Associated Students Director of Environmental and Sustainability Programs and working in Western's Office of Sustainability. The daughter of Alan and Valaree Squires, Lauren Squires grew up in Longview and is a graduate of Mark Morris High School and Lower Columbia College.
{ December 2, 2011 } |
A revamped program that gives students easier access to carpools will be available on the Viking Village home page beginning Dec. 3.
The rideshare program allows users to search through postings by specifying rides offered or needed, departure and arrival locations, dates, times and costs, said Western senior Kelsey Heyd, co-creator of the new rideshare program.
"We've made it a very simple list format," Heyd said. "All posts are uniform, so students can immediately see what they're trying to get out of the rideshare."
{ November 2011 } |
Solar power and the Pacific Northwest – two terms that are mutually exclusive, right? Not if a team of researchers at Western produce what could be a game-changer in the realm of solar electricity.
Their goals are lofty: Build a completely new type of solar collector made from inexpensive plastic (gone are the large, fragile sheets of silicon-based photovoltaic cells) that not only works well on cloudy days but also produces electricity at about half the cost – or less – of current systems.
"Just think what the world could do with solar-collector systems that cut costs by a factor of two or more," says Brad Johnson, the chair of Western's Physics Department and a research member of Western's Applied Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC).
{ November 30, 2011 } |
The holiday lights installed by Facilities staff on the Giant Sequoia next to Edens Hall have been switched from incandescent to low-energy LED lights this year.
The new strings of LED bulbs will use a fraction of the electricity, at a cost of $.57(cents) per day, compared to the conventional lighting used previously, at a cost of $4.29 in electricity daily. The tree is lit eleven hours per day, in the morning and evening hours of darkness during the weeks between thanksgiving and New Years Day. The LED lights are also cooler, making them safer for outdoor use.
Strings of LED lights, including lamps, cords and attached fixtures are more expensive than standard lighting, requiring a start-up expense of about $1,800 for the 16 strings of blue and white LED lights placed on the tree. LED lamps are reputed to be more durable and longer lasting than incandescent bulbs. LED lamps are projected to last for 50,000 hours before burning out, compared to 2,000 hours for incandescent bulbs. Replacement frequency can be affected by damage from wind and weather in outdoor lighting. Costs for replacement of individual LED lamps are comparable standard outdoor bulbs. FM generally replaces 25-50 light bulbs every year in the array used to light the big tree, and replaces the full strings of lights periodically, due to wear and damage.
Western might save a little money by not lighting the tree at all – however, maintaining the tradition is relatively inexpensive, and is one way to help keep spirits up during the colder season. The lighting on the big tree can be seen from as far away as downtown, and is a cheerful beacon for the community through the winter holidays.
{ November 29, 2011 } |
La PORTE — His senior project involved the location of abandoned uranium mines on Navajo land and the protection of residents from contaminated drinking water.
And this won him recognition from the Environment Protection Agency in its Apps for the Environment competition.
Rob Sabie, Jr., a student at Western Washington University, and formerly of La Porte, placed runner up for best student app in the competition, which recognized apps that increased understanding or protection of the environment.
{ November 23, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The flyer and I landed in Matt Krogh's Bellingham office on the same October afternoon. I had stopped by to hear why he thought building the country's largest coal port just north of town was a bad idea; the four-page full-color mailing had arrived to try to convince him otherwise.
That day, tens of thousands of the flyers filled mailboxes in the northwest corner of Washington state. "These people have a lot of money," says Krogh, who works with the nonprofit RE Sources for Sustainable Communities in Bellingham. Indeed, promoting the port is Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, owned by Warren Buffett's holding company; Peabody Energy, the world's largest coal company; and SSA Marine, a division of the world's largest cargo terminal operator Carrix, half of which is owned by Goldman Sachs.
{ November 22, 2011 } |
The classic labor-versus-the-environment debate hit home for Whatcom County at a discussion about the Cherry Point Gateway Pacific Terminal project on Monday, Nov. 21.
Bob Ferris, executive director of RE Sources, an environmentally focused nonprofit, and David Warren, former local labor union official, answered questions from the audience Whatcom Community College's Syre Auditorium at a forum hosted by the college's Sustainability Club.
Questions included what the long-term economic impacts were of the project, what environmental effects it would have and how train traffic could be minimized. Audience members expressed concerns about climate change issues as well as the impact increased train traffic would have on Amtrak.
{ November 18, 2011 } |
The holidays are about family and friends, and having that little bit of extra time to finish homework. But when it comes down to it, this American holiday is characterized in no small part by food.
This year, do something new and try cooking a holiday feast with locally-grown ingredients for a more sustainable approach to the holiday festivities.
{ November 21, 2011 } |
Offices and workstations that will be vacant for even one day during the upcoming holiday break should be buttoned up and powered down to help the university save energy.
A few courses of action, from the Western Washington University Office of Sustainability and its 10x12 program:
|
|
{ November 2011 } |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing a unique grant opportunity for college and university faculty and students - EPA's P3 - People, Prosperity and the Planet - Program. Through this hands-on design competition, student teams and their faculty advisors receive $15,000 grants to design scientific, technical, and policy solutions to sustainability challenges around the world. Projects can address a challenge in one or more of these areas:
Water, energy, agriculture, built environment, materials & chemicals, green infrastructure, and clean cookstoves.
Teams use the $15,000 grants to design and develop their projects in the 2012/2013 school year. Then in the spring of 2013, all teams will come to Washington, DC, to compete for EPA's P3 Award at the 9th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo. The students' projects will be evaluated by a panel of experts convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. EPA will use these recommendations to choose the P3 Award winners who may receive an additional grant up to $90,000 to further develop their designs, implement them in the field, and take them to the marketplace.
Apply Today! Deadline: December 22, 2011 | For the official request for applications go to: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/p3r/p3rfa.html
{ November 18, 2011 } |
For eight hours straight, Western senior Wil Wrede sorted through bags of trash outside Sam Carver Gymnasium, looking for recyclable items that didn't belong, such as paper cups and plastic bottles.
He doesn't just like getting his hands dirty, however. Wrede was helping with the Huxley chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association's waste audit on Nov. 16.
The group audited trash from Wilson Library and Haggard Hall, analyzing whether trash cans were being used properly in the two buildings.
{ November 16, 2011 } |
AS evidence accumulates about the environmental hazards of plastic shopping bags, the Bellingham City Council offers a template for how to go about banning them.
The Seattle City Council is taking up the subject again, two years after voters sharply rebuffed an attempt to discourage the use of the disposable bags with a 20-cent fee.
For starters, Bellingham bans single-use carryout bags outright. The ordinance passed in July takes effect next summer, to give consumers and retailers a chance to adjust.
More from The Seattle Times:
Plastic-bag maker calls Seattle's proposed ban 'simplistic'
Research supports WA ban on plastic bags
Plastic-bag ban considered by Seattle City Council
Environmentalists ask Seattle to ban plastic bags
{ November 15, 2011 } |
Robert Sabie, a recent graduate of Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment, recently won runner-up in the student category of the Environmental Protection Agency's "Apps for the Environment Challenge."
This national contest challenged app developers to create new ways to display and use environmental information.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZw4DlnvnQM
{ November 14, 2011 } |
As fewer Americans maintain direct ties to farming and as urban areas increase, several local organizations are working on a short film to spread a message about the value of agriculture.
Last week, Bellingham-based Hand Crank Films finished shooting footage in Whatcom County for what will be a five-minute video about the importance of farming. The video focuses on several local farmers talking about the state of the agricultural industry and providing a powerful visual message, along with a new community website for people interesting in learning more, said Chris Donaldson of Hand Crank. The film, directed by Caleb Young, is expected to be ready in early 2012.
{ November 14, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM - City leaders will consider buying more bus service with money from the 2010 voter-approved sales tax increase, although they don't yet know which areas the buses will serve.
The citywide Transportation Benefit District, which is governed by the City Council wearing a different hat, used the two-tenths of 1 percent sales tax increase approved in November 2010 to restore Sunday bus service earlier this year. Money from the tax also goes to boost the city's annual street repaving budget and to pay for pedestrian and bicycle projects.
The board previously said it aimed to spend roughly one-third of the money on each of the three transportation purposes.
{ November 14, 2011 } |
On Nov. 5, more than 130 Associated Students employees participated in the second annual AS Day of Service. To give back to the community Western resides in, employees performed 650 hours of service at 11 different locations in Bellingham.
"The community partners that we are working with not only provide valuable resources to the greater-Bellingham community, but also many Western students," said Hannah Cooley, personnel assistant director and event coordinator. "Day of Service provides AS employees the opportunity to give back to the community."
Emma Buttersworth, Recycle Center staff manager who worked at the Crooked Path and Outback Farm, said it was nice to be in nature working to preserve it.
{ November 13, 2011 } |
At the urging of the local environmental community, the Seattle City Council is considering a ban on plastic shopping bags based on a ban approved this year in Bellingham.
No ordinance has been introduced yet, but council members have been reaching out to grocers, retailers and even the city's food banks to gain support and avoid some of the controversies that doomed a 2008 city effort to charge a 20-cent fee for paper and plastic bags.
What's changed over the past three years? Environmentalists say the evidence is stronger than ever that the plastic checkout bags clog landfills, strangle shorebirds and marine life, and break down into smaller and smaller bits without ever decomposing.
"This is about Puget Sound wildlife and the harmful effects of plastic bags in the environment," said Dan Kohler, regional director of Environment Washington, which has joined forces with People for Puget Sound, the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation in calling on Seattle to ban plastic bags.
{ November 12, 2011 } |
Eating local foods, at least as one focus of a daily diet, has turned from an esoteric experiment to just-shy-of-mainstream. As demand grows, for reasons of health, environment or the local economy, more producers have taken the time to grow or stock ingredients that were once unattainable.
{ November 8, 2011 } |
From Light Bulb Finder to EarthFriend, the best of the entries submitted to a contest organized by the Environmental Protection Agency
The federal Environmental Protection Agency has announced winners of a contest to create the best "Apps for the Environment." After a solicitation earlier this year, the agency drew 38 entries and 2,000 votes on them from website users. The main prerequisite was that entrants base the program at least in part on publicly available EPA data.
...Runner-up, student app: Environmental Justice Participatory Mapping by Robert Sabie, Jr. of Western Washington University. This program maps potentially hazardous areas within or near the Navajo Nation, based on data from EPA's atlas of abandoned uranium mines.
{ November 8, 2011 } |
After a year of developing plans to start a food cooperative on campus, and after being sued by campus food provider Aramark, Western Washington University senior Chelsea Enwall is getting closer to achieving her goal.
Enwall, coordinator of the WWU Student Food Cooperative, said though the project is still in its planning stages, she hopes students can see a campus co-op by next fall. In the meantime, the WWU Student Food Cooperative is working to gain student and faculty support by spreading the word about the co-op and collecting opinions through surveys.
{ November 8, 2011 } |
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the winners of its Apps for the Environment challenge, which encouraged new and innovative uses of EPA's data to create apps that address environmental and public health issues. Developers from across the country created apps with information about everything from energy efficient light bulbs to local air quality. A few even developed games to help people learn environmental facts.
...Runner Up, Best Student App: Environmental Justice Participatory Mapping by Robert Sabie, Jr. of Western Washington University, Bellingham, Wash.
{ November 7, 2011 } |
Western is about to get a whole lot greener – eventually. Last year, $263,000 from the Green Energy Fee was awarded to five student-designed projects. Western's Green Energy Fee provides money for student-created projects that promote experiential learning opportunities and sustainable practices on campus, according to an email from Associated Students Vice President for Student Life Sara Richards.
These projects were chosen on how well they exemplified the Green Energy Fee Program mission statement, which includes increasing student involvement and education, reducing Western's environmental impact and creating an aware and engaged campus community, according to the Green Energy Fee website.
{ November 2011 } |
Peninsula College is pleased to announce three outstanding opportunities for Professional Development in the Automotive Industry this summer at a REDUCED COST thanks to the generous support of a National Science Foundation grant.
Registration Deadline is June 1, 2012
More Info: PC Hybrid Course InfoReg-2011.doc
{ November 3, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Western Washington University marked the completion of a major renovation of Miller Hall with a dedication ceremony Wednesday.
University spokesman Paul Cocke says the renovations included several environmentally-sustainable features, including a green roof.
The $51.5-million project was paid for by the State Legislature, and covered nearly the entire 134,000 square-foot building on the university's Red Square.
{ October 31, 2011 } |
The Office of Sustainability, in cooperation with Growing Washington, an organization dedicated to strengthening local communities through sustainable practices, will be giving students and staff the opportunity to receive fresh, locally-grown vegetables and produce through the Viking Supported Agriculture project.
The VSA project is a take on the well-established CSA, or community supported agriculture project. Students and staff can sign up to receive VSA boxes by emailing Student VSA Coordinators Simon Davis-Cohen at Simon@readthedirt.org, or Samuel Eisen-Meyers at SEM5007@hotmail.com.
"The idea behind it is that we're connecting consumers with farmers to purchase local and organic vegetables," Campus Sustainability Manager Seth Vidaña said. "The intent is to get people aware that we are a county that has agricultural plenty as well as provide direct support for farmers who need our financial support to make their farms run."
{ October 28, 2011 } |
Recipient of the 2011 Sustainability Award in Operations, presented by Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs, Rich Van Den Hul : Academic Custodial Services
Recipient of the 2011 Sustainability Award in Academics, presented by Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Steve Vanderstaay: Victor Nolet, Professor of Secondary and K-12 Education, Woodring College of Education.
Recipient of the 2011 Sustainability Award in Student Life, presented by Associated Students President, Anna Ellermeier: Students for Sustainable Food, Associated Students Club
Recipient of the 2011 Sustainability Award in Community Partnership, presented by Vice President for University Relations, Steve Swan: The Urban Transitions Studio: A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, Huxley College of the Environment and Nicholas Zaferatos
Click here to see photos from the event.
{ October 28, 2011 } |
Efforts to ionize tap water for cleaning, buy local food for Western's students and positively impact urban development were the focus as Western's Office of Sustainability hosted its first annual Sustainability Awards Thursday, Oct. 27.
The awards recognized faculty, student and community efforts to encourage sustainable lifestyle choices.
Sustainability Coordinator Seth Vidaña said the idea for the awards stemmed from a lack of community knowledge of sustainability efforts.
"[The Office of Sustainability] realized that sustainability was happening in all corners of the university, but it was really hard to tell everybody everything that was going on," Vidaña said. "We needed to have better communication and highlighting of our efforts."
{ October 27, 2011 } |
The first-ever Western Sustainability Awards will be handed out this evening on campus.
Sarah Stoner, Simon Fraser University's sustainability coordinator, and Dale Mikkelsen, director of development for the SFU Community Trust, will speak. Stoner's and Mikkelsen's keynote address will detail SFU's campus sustainability practices and projects. They will affirm and honor the WWU community for their commitment to sustainable practices and inspire them to continue investing campus sustainability.
{ October 27, 2011 } |
Western's Office of Sustainability will host the first Sustainability Awards to recognize community efforts to reduce environmental impact at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room. The 2011 Sustainability Awards is one of the main events of Western's Sustainability Week, Oct. 24- 28.
Office of Sustainability Program Assistant Lauren Squires said student projects, innovative research, curriculum development, and community work will qualify applicants for recognition.
{ October 26, 2011 } |
Western Washington University Smart Trips participants have logged 364 walking trips, 945 cycling trips, 1,500 bus trips and 474 shared rides since the beginning of October.
With Fall Wheel Options under way (it began on Oct. 16 and runs through Oct. 29), those who use sustainable transportation to get to work may win a few extra prizes. To participate, ride the bus, bike, walk or carpool to work twice by Oct. 29. Then, log the non-drive-alone trips you made between Oct. 16 and 29 at www.WhatcomSmartTrips.org by Nov. 4. All employees who participate and log at least two non-drive-alone trips to work will receive an Amtrak Companion Fare coupon as well as automatic entry into random prize drawings. Paper entry forms are available upon request from Sustainable Transportation.
{ October 26, 2011 } |
An art exhibition titled "Not Nature: New Photographic Works by Joe Rudko" will be on display through Monday, Nov. 7 in the lobby of the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education building on the campus of Western Washington University.
A senior Art student from Woodinville, Joe Rudko completed the work during summer 2011 as the first Marine Sciences and the Arts intern at Western's Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes.
{ October 21, 2011 } |
A handful of events will be held throughout campus Oct. 24 to 28 as Western Washington University celebrates its achievements in sustainability during Sustainability Week 2011.
The week-long series of events will highlight some of the most exciting aspects of the WWU campus, including student advocacy, local food in the dining halls and sustainability in the curriculum. Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to explore different avenues for action and involvement within Western Sustainability.
{ October 20, 2011 } |
Whatcom Transportation Authority has received a $2.82 million grant to buy five diesel-electric hybrid buses, which should hit streets in late 2012.
The Federal Transit Administration recently awarded WTA competitive grant funds to replace five 18-year-old diesel buses with the new hybrids.
"This is big news for us to be able to jump into the alternative fuels world," said Maureen McCarthy, WTA spokeswoman.
{ October 2011 } |
Bert Webber announced that the College is sponsoring a video contest with a prize of $500. The contest requires the creation of a 5-10 minute video on some aspect of the newly named Salish Sea. The contest time period is from now until end of the first week of spring classes, April 2, 2012.
Dr. Webber hopes that Western Washington University will become a center of knowledge of the Salish Sea. Dr Webber was instrumental in having the governments of Canada and the USA agree that there should be a name for the collective waters that includes the Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The name was formally adopted in early 2011.
The winning video will be posted on Western's web site SALISH SEA at http://www.wwu.edu/salishsea. For further information contact Dr Webber at Bert.Webber@wwu.edu
{ October 19, 2011 } |
This winter, a little more of the power flowing into Snohomish County homes will be locally grown.
The Snohomish County Public Utility District has officially opened its new mini-dam and powerhouse on Youngs Creek south of Sultan.
The $29 million project, south of Sultan, is expected to produce enough electricity on average for about 2,000 homes. The dam, 12 feet tall and 65 feet across, is the first new one in the state in more than a quarter of a century, according to the PUD.
{ October 18, 2011 } |
Debate over the proposed shipping terminal at Cherry Point has not let up between environmental activists and the terminal's builder.
On Monday, Oct. 3, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue SSA Marine for "gross negligence and illegal behavior clearing of 9 acres at Cherry Point this past August." This is filed under the citizen suit provision of the Clean Water Act.
{ October 17, 2011 } |
Countries around the world are working harder than ever to save their forests. Brazil's president recently announced that the country's 80 percent Amazon deforestation reduction target will be met by 2016 – four years earlier than promised. In 1998, China banned tree cutting to preserve its forests after the loss of trees caused flooding along the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. The ban is now extended to 18 of its 23 provinces, according to CQ Global Researcher. Here in the US, environmentalists backed by the EPA's Endangered Species Act have reduced national forestland logging by 75 percent from its peak 20 years ago.
But is selling our natural resources really the way to go? The logging industry's 2010 net profit after tax was only 1.1 percent, according to a Western Washington University study.
{ October 13, 2011 } |
Governor applauds leadership, innovation for community, economy, and the environment.
BELLINGHAM, October 13, 2011 -- Two decades of saving commuters money, curbing air pollution, conserving fuel and easing traffic congestion was celebrated at the 2011 Governor's Commute Smart Awards on Tuesday.
The City of Bellingham recieved a Commute Smart Employer Champion Award in the large employer category. The City's program includes subsidized bus passes; bicycles for work-related trips; and a teleworking option for exempt employees. The City's commitment to sustainabile transportation has led to one of the highest participation rates in Whatcom Smart Trips. Since the beginning of the program in 2006, their employees have traveled nearly one million miles by walking, bicycling, sharing rides and riding the bus.
Click here to read the full press release
{ October 11, 2011 } |
To honor the Western Washington University community's commitment and efforts to achieve sustainability, the Office of Sustainability and the administration at Western will recognize with its first annual Sustainability Awards the achievements of four individuals, groups, programs or projects that make important contributions to "Western Sustainability."
{ September 30, 2011 } |
As the result of a student-led effort to discourage bottled water purchases, three water-bottle refilling stations will be installed on campus this November.
The refilling stations, which will have both a drinking fountain and a small shelf behind it to fill water bottles, will be located at the Wade King Student Recreation Center, on the first floor of Arntzen Hall and on the second floor of Old Main.
The idea for the refilling stations was part of a project by students from an environmental studies class, Campus Sustainability Planning Studio, and was brought to the Green Energy Fee committee as a project proposal called "Think Outside the Bottle." The committee gave the project was $21,000 last spring.
{ September 28, 2011 } |
Washington's two major public universities have been awarded $80 million in federal grants to kick-start a biofuels industry in the Northwest, with hopes of turning trees into fuel for jet engines and cars alike. Underscoring the size and importance of the grant, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was to make the announcement Wednesday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The total grant is $136 million and one of the largest the USDA has ever made.
{ September 27, 2011 } |
John Rybczyk, an associate professor in Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University, is among the founding members of the Climate Science Consortium, a group of research scientists from federal, state, municipal, tribal, university and non-governmental organizations working in the Skagit basin.
Members seek to understand how the landscape, plants, animals and people may be affected by changes in the patterns of rain, snow, temperature, storms and tides. SC2 members also seek to make their findings available to private and public decision-makers and to work interactively within the Skagit community to ensure their findings are relevant and usable.
This effort seeks to integrate locally based glacier, hydrology, ecology, fisheries, sediment and dam-management research. Visit the website at www.skagitclimatescience.org for more information.
{ September 27, 2011 } |
Mart Stewart, a professor of history at Western Washington University, has co-edited the volume "Environmental Change and Agricultural Sustainability in the Mekong Delta." The book was published by Springer as volume 45 in their "Advances in Global Change Research" series. Stewart also co-authored a chapter, titled "Precarious Paddies: The Uncertain, Unstable, and Insecure Lives of Rice Farmers in the Mekong Delta," in this volume.
{ September 23, 2011 } |
Western Washington University's MBA program has been ranked in the top 100 programs worldwide and first in the state of Washington by the Aspen Institute.
WWU's program finished 75th out of approximately 600 business schools invited to participate in the survey, which goes beyond mainstream academic content and ranks the programs on the institution's efforts to integrate social, ethical and environmental concerns. Stanford University's Graduate School of Business finished atop the list; Western finished ahead of such well-known programs as Boston University, the University of Texas, Oregon State University and Syracuse University.
{ September 22, 2011 } |
Ten bike rides from ten different schools across Bellingham will converge at Bellingham City Hall at noon on Saturday, Sept. 24 to call for local and national solutions to climate change. Mayor Dan Pike will join rally goers in calling for transition to a fossil fuel-free world.
Lauren Squires, of Western Washington University's Office of Sustainability, will speak at the event to share what Western is doing to lower its carbon footprint.
{ September 20, 2011 } |
Western Washington University Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Troy Abel and Geography graduate student Jonah White recently published a new study about trends in Seattle's pollution distributions, relative exposure risks and their association with gentrification.
Abel and White found evidence that Seattle's industrial air toxic-exposure risk was unevenly dispersed; gentrification processes were stratifying Seattle neighborhoods; and the inequities of both often converged in the same place.
{ September 19, 2011 } |
When heading south beyond the Fairhaven stacks or going north through the meadow and plum orchard lays a 5-acre gem called the Outback Farm. The Outback was founded in 1972 after being an equipment storage site for Fairhaven construction; it was originally named "The Outback Pig Farm," a place where students could live and learn the ways of sustainable growing and land use. At one point there was even a fire-fueled hot tub. Volunteers ran the Outback until 2006 when the Associated Students officially sponsored the program.
{ September 14, 2011 } |
The 10x12 program at Western Washington University, in partnership with Academic Custodial services, Facilities Management and the AS Recycling Center, will pilot a waste management improvement project in Arntzen Hall classrooms and labs starting fall quarter 2011.
The Arntzen classroom waste project will enable the Office of Sustainability, ACS and the AS Recycle Center to assess potential landfill waste reduction and cleaning efficacy and to evaluate the collection and removal systems for compostable items with the aim of expanding the pilot, if it's successful.
The goal of the 10x12 program is a 10-percent reduction in utilities consumption and costs by the end of 2012, achieving that goal by encouraging individual actions, technical strategies education and outreach.
{ September 12, 2011 } |
Click here to view the report.
{ September 12, 2011 } |
The major renovation of Western Washington University's Miller Hall has been completed, and the building will open for fall quarter.
The $51.5-million Miller Hall project, funded by the Washington State Legislature, renovated the 134,000 square-foot building, located on the university's Red Square. The project included renovations to general university classrooms, computer labs, instructional space, offices and support facilities for Woodring College of Education, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and the Center for International Studies. All building systems (including electrical, mechanical, data, heating and air conditioning), elevators, roofing, windows and exterior elements for the aged building were replaced.
"This significant renovation of Miller Hall, one of our campus' most iconic buildings, will result in a substantially improved educational facility and place of learning for our students," said Western President Bruce Shepard.
{ September 7, 2011 } |
The student bus pass is available and valid for use beginning Sept. 12. The pass is good on all WTA routes. Students may bring their Western ID cards to Wilson Library Room 165 (across from the Associated Students Bookstore) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 to 23 to have the bus pass encoded on their cards. A new bus pass is encoded onto the Western ID card each academic year and summer quarter.
Western Student Shuttle
The Western Student Shuttle begins operation Sunday, Sept. 18. Hours of operation are 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday. Students must show a Western ID card to board. Students may subscribe each fall to receive a text alert when the student shuttle service is cancelled during inclement weather by texting "bus" to 68398.
For complete transportation information, students may visit http://www.wwu.edu/transportation or call (360) 650-7960.
{ August 17, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University has been ranked 14th in the nation in the Sierra Club's fifth annual "Coolest Schools" ranking of colleges around the country helping to solve climate issues and operate sustainably.
Western's rise to into the Top 20 (it placed 48th last year) among the nation's thousands of colleges and universities was fueled by a host of initiatives on campus, such as being the first university in the nation to have its students impose a green-energy fee to pay for it becoming 100 percent powered by renewable energy. Western buys more renewable energy credits than any other university in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.
Western's ranking in the Top 20 placed it ahead of such schools as UCLA, the University of Connecticut, Cornell University, and the University of Maryland.
{ August 15, 2011 } |
The Puget Sound Energy Foundation today donated $15,000 to support Western Washington University's innovative new Clean Energy Program, which the university is in the process of designing to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding green energy economy.
"We appreciate the generosity and vision of the Puget Sound Energy Foundation," said Western Provost Catherine Riordan. "This new program will help position our state to lead the nation in the next wave of economic expansion and innovation."
Western's Clean Energy Program will integrate research and outreach with a unique interdisciplinary curriculum. The Puget Sound Energy Foundation donation via the WWU Foundation will support development of the program's interdisciplinary curriculum and new courses.
{ August 1, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University was recently named to three different national green-college rankings based on its commitment to green building techniques, sustainability, and the use of alternative energy sources.
"Western has been a pioneer for decades in campus sustainability, thanks to the visionary leadership of our students, faculty and staff on this very important issue. It's the right and smart way to operate," said Western President Bruce Shepard.
{ July 29, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University and Aramark have signed a contract making Aramark Higher Education the new vendor for campus dining services at the university.
The new partnership of Western and Aramark is focused on priorities important to students and to the university on sustainability, healthy nutritious food, local partnerships and significant student involvement – such as opportunities to work in dining services and internships both on-campus and off-, including the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
{ July 27, 2011 } |
Academic Custodial Services at Western Washington University on Aug. 1 will take the next significant step in sustainable green cleaning on campus – using ionized tap water through a new spray bottle device to clean and remove health-affecting bacteria on all cleanable surfaces.
"Using ionized plain water with no chemical additives or cleaning products significantly reduces chemical or cleaning product residues, related odors, reduces costs, and further aligns ACS and Western as leaders in sustainability," said Bill Managan, assistant director of Operations, Facilities Management. He noted that extensive in-house testing verified this cleaning approach, which sanitizes comparably to the green certified chemicals currently in use.
{ July 20, 2011 } |
Bellingham City Council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance that would ban nearly all plastic grocery bags within city limits on Monday, July 11.
The ordinance would prohibit single-use plastic bags in retail stores and imposes a five-cent fee for each paper bag a customer uses. The fee would go back to the retailer for the cost of each paper bag.
The ban will go into effect one year after it becomes law. Councilmember Seth Fleetwood presented the ordinance in March.
{ June 9, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University will be the site for the ninth annual Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) Conference June 14-17.
The conference, themed "Place Matters," will include more than 80 speakers, 10 plenaries, 24 interactive sessions, three intensive pre-workshops, four 'living economy" tours, and a variety of networking and social events. Hundreds of entrepreneurs, business network leaders, economic developers, sustainability experts, and local government and community leaders will gather at the conference to explore new practices in growing community health and wealth and share tested models for social entrepreneurship and local economic development.
{ June 7, 2011 } |
If your office or workstation will be vacant for even one day during break or summer quarter, please take the following actions to reduce your energy use:
|
|
The 10 x 12 Program has been created to help coordinate, educate and implement utility reduction throughout campus. The goal is to see a 10-percent reduction in electricity, natural gas and water consumption and landfill waste production by the end of 2012. Please join the WWU community in making an effort to conserve campus resources.
{ June 7, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM - Although her research has documented a steady deterioration in the quality of Lake Whatcom's water, Robin Matthews still drinks the treated city water that originates in the lake.
Matthews, director of the Institute for Watershed Studies at Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, briefed the City Council on her latest findings Monday, June 6.
She told the council that the water is still pure enough for her, and pure enough to meet legal drinking water standards. That could change someday if the long, slow decline in lake water quality is not halted and reversed.
{ June 3, 2011 } |
Once again the Cherry Point controversy proved to be a heated one as concerned residents of Whatcom County packed the Municipal Courthouse on Wednesday, June 1, to participate in a public forum held by Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike.
Those who were unable to enter rallied outside the courthouse, signing petitions and speaking with community members.
The proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal for the Cherry Point oil refinery, located in Blaine, would handle up to 25 million tons of coal per year if implemented, according to SSA Marine, the Goldman Sachs-owned company that proposed the project. The project would mean coal trains traveling through Whatcom County and to the oil refinery. From there, the coal would be exported to China.
{ June 3, 2011 } |
The Klallam people of the Elwha Valley on the Olympic Peninsula once caught fish in the Elwha River year-round. The river was one of the most productive fish runs in the Pacific Northwest and boasted all five species of Pacific salmon.
But the construction of two massive dams in the early 20th century drastically cut the size of runs, destroying the tribe's major food source and leaving the habitat altered.
On June 1, the generators of these two dams on the Elwha River were shut off after 97 years, setting into motion a $324.7 million restoration project, which involves tearing down the massive concrete walls in the largest dam removal in U.S. history.
{ June 3, 2011 } |
Imagine a train loaded with 400 tons of petroleum, 150 tons of zinc, and 70 tons of copper dropping into the Puget Sound.
Now, imagine that happening every year. According to data released this month by the Washington state Department of Ecology, each year Puget Sound streams receive 710,000 to 800,000 pounds of petroleum contamination, 250,000 to 300,000 pounds of zinc contamination, and 61,000 to 140,000 pounds of copper contamination.
The contaminant levels in streams in the Puget Sound area are actually smaller than previous estimates, according to the report.
{ June 2, 2011 } |
Summer Viking Xpress bus passes for faculty and staff go on sale Monday, June 6, and will be valid for use beginning June 20. The employee cost is $40.
Permanent WWU employees choosing to purchase a bus pass through payroll deduction can use the online request form. After the form is processed, your pass will be mailed to your mailstop.
Those not eligible for or who do not want to use payroll deduction can print the paper form and mail it to the Sustainable Transportation Office at mailstop 9197. After forms are received, Sustainable Transportation will put a charge on your account, and you may pay at the cashier's office. Then, please call (360) 650-7960 or email transportation@wwu.edu to let us know you have paid, and we can arrange a time for you to pick up your bus pass or send it to you in campus mail.
If you have any questions please contact Andrea Osborn at transportation@wwu.edu or (360) 650-7960.
{ June 2, 2011 } |
Western Washington University and the City of Bellingham are partnering to sponsor the fourth annual Neighborhood Trash Pickup in several neighborhoods near the university campus from June 9 to 12.
Student move-out events also include WWU-sponsored Move-Out Madness Materials Exchange, where students are encouraged to contribute reusable items and community members are invited to take home student-donated items.
The Neighborhood Trash Pickup and Move Out Madness Materials Exchange provide options for students looking for ways to properly dispose of unwanted residential trash and recycle reusable items. These programs target neighborhoods with high student populations.
{ June 1, 2011 } |
Juniors in Western Washington University's Industrial Design program have completed their annual ReMade projects, with this year's designs featured at the Bellingham store Ideal - Carefully Curated Goods.
ReMade is an annual design challenge for the junior class of Western Washington University's Industrial Design program. Each year students produce innovative products from consumer or manufacturing waste with a trained eye on recyclability, life cycle analysis, and design for production. By doing this, students get a fresh understanding of the designer's impact on the environment and the economy.
{ May 31, 2011 } |
A total of $263,900 out of the Green Energy Fee has been awarded to five student-planned projects, which range from installing solar panels on the Environmental Studies Building to replacing plastic garbage bags in Wilson Library with compostable ones.
Each year, students pay $21 toward the fee, the majority of which is used to fund the grant projects, according to a press release about the Green Energy Fee awards. The leftover money, between $60,000 and $80,000, goes toward paying for renewable energy credits which are purchased to offset Western's environmental impact.
{ May 27, 2011 } |
Crews began installing solar panels on the rooftop of the Lincoln Square Apartments on York Street.
The Bellingham Housing Authority received a $9.9 million federal grant to start the Green Communities Project last October. The goal of the project is to create an environmentally conscious community.
This January, the housing authority started remodeling the apartments at Lincoln Square, Chuckanut Square on 12th Street, and Washington Square on E Street. Construction workers are using environmentally friendly technology, such as solar panels, an energy-efficient water heating system, green lighting systems and energy-efficient windows.
{ May 26, 2011 } |
Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment will unveil "Green Fire: A History of Huxley College," a chronicle of the pioneering institution's first 40 groundbreaking years, June 11 at the Huxley graduation ceremony.
"The book's profiles of 40 Huxley alumni is eloquent testimony to the college's effectiveness and historic importance," said William Dietrich, the book's lead author and an assistant professor at the college. "They range from the director of SeaTac Airport to organic farmers, and from the man leading the world campaign to save Asian tigers to the woman who is the project director for the United Nations' World at 7 Billion Project."
{ May 24, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM – The Resilient Farms Project of Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment Resilience Institute has received a $1,100 grant from the Whatcom Community Foundation for research and workshops to help small-scale farms in Western Washington enhance their resiliency.
The Resilient Farms Project works with small- and medium-sized farms, which are an important component of both the regional food supply and the economy in the North Puget Sound region. Yet, these farms are also threatened by a range of extreme events and rapid changes to their economic environment. These threats include increased fuel costs, flooding, climate change and urban encroachment. Enhancing farm resiliency can be a key component in supporting the long-term economic viability of small- and medium-sized farms within Western Washington and their local communities.
{ May 23, 2011 } |
Western Washington University graduate students Justin McWethy (Virginia Beach, Va.), David Strich (Irvine, Calif.) and Teresa Mealy (Seattle) were recently awarded the 2011 Urban Communities Conservation Award by the U.S. Forest Service for their work with the North Cascades Institute.
The award is part of the Forest Service's Wings Across the Americas program, which works to conserve birds, bats, butterflies and dragonflies. "I think the most important thing with this award is that the North Cascades Institute and the Forest Service are being recognized for one of the amazing programs they are involved with," said McWethy.
{ May 23, 2011 } |
Over the past year, students and faculty have been developing plans for a new Outback Farm pavilion to provide stability and a safe learning environment. Now that the Outback's proposal for a new pavilion to replace the current one is nearly complete, construction could potentially start this summer, and the pavilion may be ready for use beginning fall quarter.
The Outback is a joint program of Fairhaven College and the Associated Students that maintains five acres of land between the south end of Fairhaven College and the Buchanan Towers residence hall. The Outback is entirely coordinated and maintained by students in an effort to teach sustainable growing and land use methods to other students, faculty and the Bellingham community.
{ May 20, 2011 } |
Aramark, a Philadelphia-based foodservice provider, will be taking over Western's dining services in fall 2011.
The $12.6-billion company beat out Sodexo, Western's foodservice provider for the past 50 years, in a bid for the 10-year contract with the university. Until the contract has been finalized, it will remain unclear how much the university will save by switching to Aramark.
{ May 19, 2011 } |
Every year at Western Washington University, students throw away a large amount of reusable goods, such as furniture, electronics and household items. Instead of letting those items hit the landfills, the WWU Office of Sustainability and the AS Recycle Center want to put them in the hands of new, happy owners.
To accomplish that, the two groups are holding a Move-Out Madness community-based materials exchange June 12 in the Fairhaven upper field on campus.
Students should bring all of their reusable goods to the Fairhaven fields between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. June 12 for drop off or exchange. Community members may browse through the field full of reusable goods and take home -- free of charge -- anything that grabs their fancy. Donations for items taken will be accepted but are not required.
{ May 17, 2011 } |
Presentation: The Future of Sustainability in the Curriculum at Western, from George Pierce, special assistant for sustainability. Pierce and Sustainability Committee members Craig Dunn, Seth Vidana, Nick Zaferatos, Nicole Brown and Victor Nolet answered questions on the Sustainability Initiative, a recent white paper, and the completion of phase one of the project. Phase two seeks a director of undergraduate projects and the creation of a general education sequence in sustainability literacy. Phase three seeks establishment of a fully developed institute with majors and minors and support of faculty and student research. Information is available on the provost's website or at http://www.wwu.edu/sii. Senators discussed various definitions of "sustainability" that tend to be broad in scope, transdisciplinary by nature and must be applicable across curriculum and applied research both regionally and globally.
{ May 17, 2011 } |
(Page 42) Just up the coast, in Bellingham, Washington, a team of students from Western Washington University's Vehicle Research Institute last summer made it all the way to the second-to-last round of the X PRIZE Foundation's Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition.
{ May 17, 2011 } |
Aramark is the apparent successful vendor for a new contract for campus dining services at Western Washington University.
The new 10-year contract is scheduled to begin Sept. 1, 2011. Aramark will be providing dining services at Western to include three resident dining halls, catering and retail cafes and markets. A competitive bid process with a request for proposals was issued in November 2010. The result included proposals from two high-quality national vendors: Aramark and Sodexo.
{ May 17, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM –Western Washington University graduate students Justin McWethy (Virginia Beach, Va.), David Strich (Irvine, Calif.) and Teresa Mealy (Seattle) were recently awarded the 2011 Urban Communities Conservation Award by the U.S. Forest Service for their work with the North Cascades Institute.
{ May 17, 2011 } |
If an earthquake were to occur off the coast of Washington, an event seismologists consider likely, the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle would crumble. Half the city would be left without power, and fires would erupt along the waterfront due to ruptured gas pipes and fuel spilled from vehicles.
Rebekah Green, Scott Miles and Ben Kane are working to create an interactive website that would facilitate and improve access to seismic information, said Kane, a Western graduate.
{ May 15, 2011 } |
The Obama administration recently proposed a new rule to direct planning and management of U.S. national forests. The rule should matter to people in our region.
National forest lands provide clean drinking water for most of Whatcom County. They are the river sources for most of the county's salmon, they provide inspiration and recreation to many through hiking, fishing, snowsports and river running and they support thousands of local jobs in the outdoor recreation industry. The future value of national forests will only increase as other water sources degrade, growing populations seek respite, more species become imperiled and our society recognizes forests as sponges that absorb carbon.
{ May 13, 2011 } |
(Page 97) With all the attention green design has received in recent years, it's becoming significantly harder to find examples of innovative, design-based approaches to sustainability. Often times, green structures are more dependent upon complex systems rather than creative design concepts in order to achieve performance goals. Not the case with the Western Washington University Academic Instructional Center (WWU AIC).
{ May 11, 2011 } |
The Associated Students at Western Washington University has announced the projects slated to receive funding from Green Energy Fee grant program, according to a press release from the AS. The money comes from a fee the student body voted to impose on itself; Western's was the first student body in the nation to self-impose this kind of fee.
The projects have gone through careful consideration and examination. Five projects, expected to benefit WWU and the campus community in both the short and long terms, have been awarded a combined total of $263,900. (Read More)
{ May 9, 2011 } |
Green is in, and we're not just talking about the color. Rather the latest social buzz on Western's campus and beyond is the greater symbolism of green sustainability and environmental awareness. Regardless of one's opinion of global warming, our earth's dwindling resources are scaring people and organizations into conservation in both practice and products. Green is packaged, labeled, advertised and sold on organic products, fair-trade coffee bean bags, recycled plastic water bottles and on the monthly energy bills. But now more than ever, the green label is sticking to the most important commodity: green careers.
Western is a leader in environmental activism, illustrated by the first on-campus Green Opportunities Expo, spearheaded by the Associated Students club Net Impact. The free expo will be held Wednesday, May 11, in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room from 1-5 p.m. There will also be sustainable career lectures in VU 565 rooms A, B and C with speakers from companies such as Costco, Microgreen Polymers, Calvert Investments, Earthcorps, Superfeet and North Cascades Institute.
{ May 6, 2011 } |
A natural gas power plant on Bellingham's waterfront might cut a third of Western's $1.6 million spent on heat, according to Western Facilities Management.
Heat that is otherwise unused from the Puget Sound Energy-owned plant would be used to heat water that would be transported to campus to provide heat to its buildings. Using the water from the plant will save up to a third of the natural gas used by Western, said Tim Wynn, Western's Facilities Management director.
Wynn said Western still needs to study how much the project will cost and how to efficiently transport water from the plant to campus. Once that is figured out, the findings will be presented to the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham, which will then decide if it is worth going forward. He said the study should be finished by the end of the school year.
{ May 4, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM - The gas-fired electric power plant that once supplied heat to pulp and tissue mills could be harnessed to heat Western Washington University, downtown Bellingham and a redeveloped waterfront.
Although the idea is still in the conceptual phase, it appears promising enough to consider the possible investment of about $300,000 to develop firm plans and cost estimates, the university's facilities management director, Tim Wynn, said Tuesday, May 3.
But the university is not yet committed to that expense, and no money is yet available.
{ May 3, 2011 } |
Seven groups of Western students have presented their proposals for projects funded by the Green Energy Fee Program. Jamin Agosti, vice president for Student Life and chair of the committee that will decide who receives funding, said the $300,000 will be given to whatever project or projects seem like the best fit and most feasible for Western.
Agosti said the money could go to various proposals out of the seven that were submitted, even all of them if the committee thinks it is the best way to allocate the funds.
Students presented their proposals to a committee which includes Agosti, the chair of the committee, two students, two faculty members and one staff member. Applications for the proposal were accepted from mid-January through April 18, Agosti said.
{ May 3, 2011 } |
The Associated Students club Net Impact, in conjunction with the Western Washington University Office of Sustainability, Career Services, Western MBA Program, Huxley College of the Environment and the College of Business and Economics, will present the "Green Opportunities Expo" from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.
This event is free and open to the public. The first 300 attendees will receive tickets to the 2011 Seattle Greenfest, which will take place May 21 and 22. Businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and WWU clubs and departments will be present to share their sustainability efforts.
The event will feature 20 speakers from Microgreen Polymers, Calvert Investments, Earthcorps, Superfeet and the North Cascades Institute, among other organizations. In Viking Union Room 565, the speakers will discuss "green" jobs in different industries and give personal examples. A full list of speakers, times and locations can be found online.
{ May 3, 2011 } |
Jennifer Hahn sees more than the forest for the trees. She sees dinner. From ferns come fiddleheads. From trees, sap for syrup or blossoms for a fritter. From the forest floor, delicate mushrooms and lemon-flavored wood sorrel.
Where some see weeds, Hahn sees possibilities. She can transform the lowly dandelion into a triumvirate of culinary treats. The flower creates a sweet syrup. The leaves are a fine addition to a salad. And from the mighty tap root -- roasted and pulverized -- a complex ice cream with hints of chocolate, coffee, molasses and caramel.
"It's the most overlooked green weed," Hahn, 52, said. At a time when many people are looking to eat local, Hahn looks to her back yard.
{ May 2, 2011 } |
Been to Miller Market recently? Notice anything new? Although construction is far from over on Miller Hall, the addition of one of Bellingham's favorite eateries, Avenue Bread, has been a pleasant surprise for students this quarter who might be growing tired of the Sodexo-produced offerings found throughout campus.
Sustainability is an important part of Avenue's ideology as well. Aside from using local ingredients to reduce the environmental impacts of transportation, it also utilizes biodegradable packaging and has long been a user of the Sanitary Service Company's FoodPlus! program. This allows Avenue to keep its compostable and biodegradable waste and scraps away from landfills. The company also has a history of supporting the Bellingham community, donating bread and pastries to local food banks, soup kitchens, schools and other organizations whenever it can.
{ April 2011 } |
RE Sources for Sustainable Communities and Bag It Bellingham have joined forces to declare April 2011: "Plastics Pollution Reduction Month"!
Through a series of workshops, events, and discussion, we hope to get more attention around the issues of consumption and waste of plastic products. There will be fun, alternative events which show you how you can re-use waste creatively, educational presentations on how manufacturers are flooding our oceans with marketing driven over-packaging, and compelling films which inform and encourage viewers on what they can do in their communities to make a difference. Bring your friends, families, and colleagues and join us this April for our Plastics Pollution Reduction campaign. For more information, contact Hannahc@re-sources.org, 360.733.8307.
{ April 29, 2011 } |
Western placed No. 17 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of college and university purchasers of renewable energy.
The Princeton Review gave Western a score of 96 out of 99 on their "green colleges" list.
College and University Magazine also named Western's custodial services the most sustainable in the nation, said Seth Vidana, management analyst for Western's Office of Sustainability.
The Princeton Review's annual "Guide to 311 Green Colleges" scored Western 96 on a scale of 60 to 99, Vidana said. More than 700 schools apply to be in the guide, and Western is estimated to be in the top 10 percent of schools that made this list, he said. (Read More)
{ April 28, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University was recently named to three different national green-college rankings based on its commitment to green building techniques, sustainability, and the use of alternative energy sources.
"Western has been a pioneer for decades in campus sustainability, thanks to the visionary leadership of our students, faculty and staff on this very important issue. It's the right and smart way to operate," said Western President Bruce Shepard.
The Princeton Review's annual "Guide to 311 Green Colleges," published in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, named WWU as one of the nation's most environmentally responsible "green colleges," scoring a 96 on a scale from 60-99. A few highlights:
- Western's student-run campus recycling program – begun in 1971 and one of the nation's first – processes 3,800 pounds of recyclable materials daily.
- WWU has introduced the 10X12 program, which seeks a 10 percent energy reduction by 2012 through conservation, energy efficiency and other means.
- Western is a nationally recognized leader in green cleaning by Academic Custodial Services.
In a separate ranking, Western also was listed 17th among the nation's top 20 college and university purchasers of green power by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Western was the only college or university in the State of Washington on the recently released EPA list, which represents the largest purchasers among higher education institutions as of April 6, 2011. (Read More)
{ April 27, 2011 } |
During its Sustainable Dinner served April 20 in the campus dining commons, University Dining Services held a "Weight the Waste" event to determine the amount of food dished up but not eaten during dinner.
Customers of each of the three dining commons scraped uneaten food scraps and paper napkins into compost bins, which were then weighed and divided by the total number of customers at the meal. The results:
- Viking Commons: 6.6 oz. of waste per customer
- Ridgeway Commons: 6.8 oz.
- Fairhaven Commons: 5.5 oz.
"I believe Western students do care about reducing waste, and together we can improve on these results," said Ira Simon, director of University Dining Services. "Through educational efforts, awareness-building and more frequent 'Weigh the Waste' events, I believe we can reduce the waste per person by 33 percent in the coming year and up to 50 percent in the long term."
{ April 26, 2011 } |
The long, dark winter has turned into only a slightly warmer spring. But it's planting season and the bleak weather won't stop those who are itching to get their hands in the dirt.
Anyone can get involved with the emerging fresh farm produce on campus at the Outback Farm and in Whatcom County at nearby farms.
"It's important to be a little bit connected to our food," said Henry Bierlink, executive director of Whatcom Farm Friends. "(The) connection starts with starting to grow things."
Whatcom Farm Friends, based in Lynden, is a nonprofit that supports agriculture through lobbying, outreach and education. Bierlink said the easiest way to learn about agriculture is by planting a garden.
{ April 26, 2011 } |
Burying the dead takes a toll on family members' emotions and wallets. But it can also be harmful to the environment. An alternative to traditional burial is green burial.
The idea is as simple as the burial is, said Brian Flowers, cemetarian and green burial coordinator.
Bodies are returned back into a natural environment by putting the deceased into the ground in an environmentally friendly way.
{ April 26, 2011 } |
Christopher Wojcik grew up surfing, fishing and diving the waters near Point Pleasant, N.J., a shore town known for its long beaches, arcades and nightlife. His passion for exploring the ocean never let up. In 1998, after getting a master's degree in biological oceanography from Western Washington University, Wojcik returned to New Jersey. There he was asked to help improve the animal habitats at one of his hometown's most popular attractions, Jenkinson's Aquarium. He responded by launching Ionature, a Bay Head, N.J., firm that designs and builds exhibits and habitats for zoos and aquariums.
{ April 25, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM - For anyone who has wondered what satin and empty pill packets have in common, Rebecca Maxim has the answer: they can both be used to make a seriously beautiful wedding gown.
Maxim, an HIV nurse from Seattle, was one of dozens of designers who created inspired ensembles out of recycled goods for the annual Trash Fashion Show, held Saturday, April 23, at Western Washington University.
"You take the ordinary things you see in life and transform them into something out of the ordinary," said Maxim, who collected the pill packets and paper pill cups to create a monumental gown. "Then you wrap it around a body and turn it into fashion."
{ April 25, 2011 } |
Should listings on the off-campus housing registry be required to provide an energy efficiency score or combined heating/electrical total ? informing students about that unit's weatherization and heating costs?
The Heating Cost Initiative was proposed for the ballot by Neil Baunsgard, Matt Moroney and Wil Wrede, with the support of many others. We emailed Baunsgard to ask some questions about the measure...
{ April 22, 2011 } |
Western's nationally recognized Academic Custodial Services Department is introducing a new technology to make Western more environmentally friendly.
The new product is a microfiber cleaning technology used mostly in wipes, mops and pads. It uses more water and fewer harmful products, said Michael Smith, supervisor of Academic Custodial Services. The use of microfiber allows water to become the cleaning agent.
It can reduce up to 97 percent of hard-surface bacteria, fungi and viruses, according to the Academic Custodial Services website. "The journey to (be) green started 10 years ago," Smith said.
{ April 18, 2011 } |
From seed to fork and from a garden to your plate, the members of the Associated Students club Students for Sustainable Food are trying to shorten the distance between you and your meals. The club is in the process of making sustainable, affordable and locally sourced food available on campus through the formation of a student-run food cooperative. For those involved, it's not solely about food either. The co-op would be an environmentally friendly food source, relying on local food growers and helping foster a sense of community, in addition to teaching students how to cook their own delicious meals.
"We really feel that this is going to be a movement. It's not just about food," said Chelsea Enwall, a member of SSF who has been at the forefront of the effort to organize the formation of a student-run co-op. "It's a way to look at environmental issues through the eyes of food."
{ April 15, 2011 } |
Terra Organica, an all-organic health food store located in Bellingham's Public Market, announced April 11 it plans to stop providing plastic carryout bags to its customers as part of the Bag it Bellingham initiative.
"We are hoping that other stores besides us will follow suit," said Stephen Trinkaus, owner and general manager of Terra Organica. "Every single aspect of the industrial institution is harming the environment in some way. This is just one of the steps on the journey of reforming those practices."
The initiative is being proposed to the City Council and is a positive step toward reducing excess waste in Bellingham, Trinkaus said in a press release.
{ April 13, 2011 } |
John Rybczyk, Western Washington University associate professor of Environmental Science, has been awarded a $12,567 grant from the Nature Conservancy to study sediment accretion in the Port Susan Bay area of the Stillaguamish River estuary.
Rybczyk said the objectives of the project are to restore self-sustaining native tidal wetlands that support estuarine-dependent animals, improve juvenile salmon access to restored rearing habitats, and to improve connectivity between the river and tidal habitats.
{ April 12, 2011 } |
Huxley College of the Environment developed Sustainability Literacy, a three-part series of classes to train students to approach sustainability as activists.
Seth Vidaña, coordinator of the Office of Sustainability at Western, teaches the Sustainability Literacy III studio course. Vidana took a similar class as an undergraduate at Western and returned to the class as a co-teacher while pursuing his master's degree. After graduating, he took over teaching the class full time.
In the course, Vidaña said students create initiative projects that promote environmental sustainability in various areas of Western's campus.
{ April 12, 2011 } |
Last summer, the Associated Students Bookstore purchased 10,000 reusable totes to give out with book purchases over $100. This voluntary action served an important success story for the broader local movement and prevented more than 600 pounds of plastic waste in landfills and our terrestrial and marine environments. Go AS Bookstore! As if that wasn't enough, the bookstore will be incentivizing use of reusable bags through a 5-cent charge for all single-use plastic bags beginning spring quarter. I want to commend the AS Bookstore for their efforts in providing a positive example for our community and helping to make Zero Waste WWU a reality.
{ April 7, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM - Jennifer Hahn hasn't walked all that far down the driveway of her home when she stops in front of a small Indian plum tree that's starting to sprout green, plucks a leaf and pops it into her mouth. It tastes like bitter cucumber, she says, adding: "They're really the first signs of spring."
The Bellingham resident is standing on the edge of her six-acre wooded hillside, where she'll forage for greens to add to an early spring meal made from recipes featured in her book, "Pacific Feast: A Cook's Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine" ($21.95, paperback).
{ April 6, 2011 } |
The current issue of EHS Report from Western Washington University's Environmental Health & Safety Office is available online.
The spring 2011 issue highlights ways in which the Western community can keep stormwater runoff free of contaminates and introduces emergency management grant employees Holly Woll-Salkeld and Jonah Stinson to the campus community.
{ April 5, 2011 } |
When Huxley graduate Leah White takes a shower, not a drop of water is wasted. She gets in, she rinses and she turns off the water. Then, she lathers up and turns the water back on to rinse. White says she takes these "military-style" showers to cut back on water consumption.
As the coordinator of the Residents' Resource Awareness Program, White is working with Eco Reps to install a shower timer program in Higginson dorm. The program would encourage residents to reduce the amount of time they spend in the shower.
According to White's calculations, if all of the residents in Higginson reduced their shower times by an average of six minutes each, they would save 62,000 gallons of water per quarter, equal to almost $1,000 in savings per academic year.
{ April 5, 2011 } |
Western Washington University alumnus Alexander (A.J.) Garcia, from Spokane, has been awarded a prestigious Dwight David Eisenhower Graduate Transportation Fellowship from the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation for the 2011-2012 academic year.
{ April 5, 2011 } |
Though the rain was pouring down on Saturday, April 2, it could not dampen the spirits of the vendors and customers who gathered at the Bellingham Farmers Market on the opening day of the season.
Isabelle Nagel-Brice happily sold potatoes, hazelnuts, cabbage and more produce at the Broad Leaf Farm. "It's important to buy local because you are supporting the farmers that keep us alive," Nagel-Brice said. "Taste is also important. At the farmers market, people can get food with the most optimum nutrition levels and taste."
{ April 4, 2011 } |
Bellingham was one of the first cities in the United States to have a curbside recycling program. Back in 1983, volunteers in the Birchwood neighborhood would pick up recyclables, sort them and take them to be recycled. So it can't be an accident that an art show based on recycled materials is popular here. It's in our blood.
Friday, April 1, is opening night for the 10th year of the "ReArt Show" at Allied Arts' gallery at 1418 Cornwall Ave. The show features works from local artists that have to be made of at least 75 percent of materials plucked from the waste stream.
And Western Washington University will be the site of a "Trash Fashion Show," highlighting remarkable clothing made from recycled materials, on the night of Saturday, April 23.
{ April 4, 2011 } |
For more than 200,000 Americans, the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps meant more than just a reason to honor one of the U.S. government's most globally recognizable programs. It was also a time to reflect on one of the most unique experiences of their lives and give words of encouragement to the next generation of volunteers.
In 2011, Western ranked third in the Peace Corps top colleges list for medium-sized colleges and universities. The list ranks schools based on the number of volunteers each produced during the previous year.
{ April 1, 2011 } |
University students are creating next-generation clean technology solutions, addressing today's energy problems with novel solutions.
Seventeen student teams from around Washington state pitched their innovations at the UW Environmental Innovation Challenge yesterday afternoon. Now in its third year, the Challenge focuses on the development of prototypes that solve environmental problems and have market impact.
Student teams represented the University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University, Washington State University, Western Washington University, University of British Columbia, University of Utah, Shoreline Community College, and Lake Washington Technical College.
{ March 2011 } |
This summer Ecosa students will be designing a housing development for Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity.
Participants in the Summer 2011 Certificate in Regenerative Ecological Design will work together to design a conceptual plan for a proposed development site in Prescott. The current landowner has agreed to donate land to the project under the condition that the design preserves the integrity of the granite rock formations on the land, exceeds Energy Star guidelines, incorporates passive energy efficient design, uses passive and active water conservation strategies, and incorporates a community garden.
This is a great opportunity to work with a nationally recognized organization, develop your design portfolio, build your resume and have a positive impact on development in Prescott.
Admissions is rolling and we reply to all requests within 15 days of receiving a complete application. Please also refer to our new Financial Aid options for appropriate application materials.
{ March 26, 2011 } |
Just as Washington is weaning itself off coal, two companies are pushing to make the state a leading exporter of the fossil fuel. That possibility has sparked a fierce debate: If coal is so dirty that Washington won't use it, should the state really serve as a conduit for shipping it overseas?
{ March 24, 2011 } |
Bellingham ponders becoming the second city in Washington to outlaw plastic shopping bags.
If the Bellingham City Council approves Councilmember Seth Fleetwood's proposed ordinance, Bellingham will become the second city in Washington to ban the distribution of single-use plastic shopping bags by grocers and other retailers. (Edmonds adopted its own ban in 2009).
Now the big Bellingham bag-ban battle begins with a newly formed organization, "Bag It, Bellingham," in collaboration with the Associated Students Environmental Center at Western Washington University...
{ March 17, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM - Lake Whatcom water quality took a turn for the worse in 2010, adding new urgency to the ongoing effort to head off new sources of pollution while taking steps to cut back on existing ones.
The bad news came in the latest Lake Whatcom Monitoring Program annual report that lists data compiled by Robin Matthews and her team. Matthews is director of the Institute for Watershed Studies at Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University
"I don't think that we're stable yet," said Matthews, lead author of the 2009-2010 water quality monitoring report released earlier this month. "I was hoping that we might have been."
{ March 15, 2011 } |
University Dining Services and Bellingham's Avenue Bread are working together to bring more fresh, local options to the Western Washington University campus. Starting in spring quarter, Avenue Bread's sandwiches, salads and pastries will be available at Miller Market.
Avenue Bread has three bakery cafés located throughout Bellingham. The company is committed to sustainability and supporting the local economy; it uses locally and sustainably sourced ingredients and utilizes local services when possible.
Avenue Bread becomes the latest local partner to join University Dining Services in providing food to the WWU campus.
{ March 14, 2011 } |
When thinking about foraging, most of us probably picture a hearty but less-than-appetizing meal of berries and leaves. However, for Fairhaven instructor Jennifer Hahn and many other foragers like her, the possibilities in the forests and bodies of water that surround us are more delicious than we may think.
Hahn learned how to forage years ago and has made it one of her life passions, writing multiple books on the subject and even teaching classes at Fairhaven, including one titled "Northwest Wild Foods," which will be offered spring quarter. On Friday, April 8, Hahn will host "GO WILD: Coastal Foraging and Cuisine" at the Bellingham Public Library. The event will include a lecture, wild food samples and a book signing for her newest work, "Pacific Feast."
{ March 11, 2011 } |
Reduce. Re-use. Recycle. In sophomore Marye Scott's opinion, students living on campus should take this motto to heart.
"It is all about being aware and conscious about your actions and your personal impact on the environment," Scott said. Scott, a resident of Birnam Wood, is one of 42 Eco Reps who serve year-round throughout Western's residence halls. Her current focus – competing to be green.
Every winter quarter, each hall participates in a competition called "Go for the Green." This is a total waste reduction challenge that concentrates on four different areas – electricity, water, landfill and natural gas use, said senior Leah White, coordinator of Residents' Resource Awareness Program.
{ March 11, 2011 } |
One of the only environmental journalism majors in the nation offered by Western's Huxley College of the Environment is in a state of moratorium; the program is no longer accepting new majors, according to the 2011-12 catalog published by the college.
The moratorium is an indefinite hold on the program, meaning new majors will not be accepted, but students who have already declared can graduate with an environmental journalism degree.
Until three weeks ago, Western senior Mason Watt thought he was going to be an environmental journalism major. He said he decided two and half years ago to pursue the degree and had to take a whole new set of prerequisites to get into Huxley College. "I needed to take one more course to be able to apply to be in Huxley College," Watt said. "Once I was accepted by Huxley College I would've been able to declare as a major."
{ March 8, 2011 } |
Western Washington University Dining Services introduced the concept of "Meatless Monday" in three of the resident dining halls on campus Monday, March 7.
In Viking Commons, Ridgeway Commons and Fairhaven Commons, dining customers had their choices of meatless entrees in the Eclectic Eats and Home Cookin' food areas. Items containing meat were available elsewhere in the dining commons, such as in the pizza, deli and grill areas. Customers always have vegan and vegetarian options available, says Dining Services' Lisa Philbrook, but on Meatless Mondays customers can choose from meatless options in additional formats, such as Eclectic Eats and Home Cookin'.
Meatless Monday is planned to be repeated on the first Monday in April and May.
{ March 8, 2011 } |
About 60,000 plastic bags are being used every second in the United States. Billions of plastic bags end up as litter, which causes more than 100,000 marine animals to die because of the pollution of plastic bags, according to the Planet Green website.
A new campaign was launched on March 4 in Bellingham by community members, Bag It Bellingham, to get rid of single use plastic bags in grocery stores. The goal is to have stores within the city limits of Bellingham stop providing single-use plastic bags, and have a 5-cent fee for paper bags, according to Seth Fleetwood, city councilmember.
{ March 8, 2011 } |
City councilmember Seth Fleetwood drafted an ordinance that would ban plastic bags distributed at businesses in Whatcom County and require retailers to charge 5 cents for every paper bag used. This is similar to a Seattle ordinance that requires retailers to charge 10 cents per plastic bag.
The goal is to encourage shoppers to use more environmentally friendly options, such as reusable cloth bags or paper bags that can be recycled. This ordinance is a great idea and a step forward in making Whatcom County green. It has a positive impact on the environment with little inconvenience to the consumer.
{ March 2, 2011 } |
The second annual Trashion Show Preview takes place at 2:30 p.m. today, March 2, in the third-floor hallway of the Engineering Technology Building on campus. The show features fashion statements that students in professor Arunas Oslapas' sophomore industrial design class have made from trash.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2hmZJd-Bk0
{ March 1, 2011 } |
Searching for a job after graduation can be daunting, but for Western alumnus, Kyle Maltz, the economic forecast is just the opposite. Maltz is launching his own website called Campus Pinch on Tuesday, March 1.
The website aims to help students save money, Maltz said. "We provide daily and ongoing deals for local businesses that you can see through your social feeds such as Twitter, Facebook, e-mail or on our website."
{ February 25, 2011 } |
At about $3.51 per gallon, Whatcom County has the highest average gas prices in the state, and some of the highest prices in the country.
In Blaine, a Chevron station just a few blocks south of the Canadian border is asking $3.89 per gallon of regular unleaded gas. Economists have predicted that turmoil in North Africa may cause the price at the pump to spike even higher in coming months.
For some, like Western sophomore Jaymes McClain, it's the first and most direct reverberation felt from a series of rebellions in Africa that have shaken the global oil market.
{ February 25, 2011 } |
When someone is thirsty and decides to buy a soda, they're not just purchasing the soda but also the bottle, cap and label, said Jason Austin, vice president of the Environmental Center.
Everyday actions can have a big impact on the environment, Austin said. But by learning about other possibilities and how to turn trash into new useful items, students can help, he said.
The Environmental Center and other clubs on campus put together Consumption Week, a week of events from Feb. 22 to 27 to focus on the impact consumption has on the environment. This was the first time the clubs have joined, dedicated to discussing environmental issues that stem from consumption.
{ February 25, 2011 } |
Creating energy, bedding and fertilizer from cow manure and pre-consumed food waste may be the next big thing when it comes to renewable resources.
Eric Powell of Andgar Corp. said it is one of the most recent up-and-coming "green" ideas. In 2000, Andgar partnered with GHD Anaerobic Digesters in Chilton, Wis., to build an anaerobic digester they needed for the Northwest. GHD has the patented design and Andgar builds them.
Andgar partnered with Vander Haak Dairy Farms in Lynden in 2004 and created a plug flow anaerobic digester that mixes cow manure and pre-consumed food waste, also known as substrates, to create renewable energy with the methane biogas produced.
{ February 22, 2011 } |
With the myriad of alternative transportation options available to Western students, it's hard to believe so many still use cars on a daily basis.
For students that own vehicles, the benefits seem obvious: less hassle and more freedom to go where you want, when you want. As for the drawbacks, Alternative Transportation Coordinator Emily Kraft says having a car can really hurt your wallet.
According to data gathered by the Office of Survey Research, in 2010 two-thirds of students had a car available for use in Bellingham, while 17 percent of students said they drove alone to school at least three times a week.
{ February 17, 2011 } |
During the summer of 2010, Western Washington University Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Nicholas Zaferatos and 18 students from Western traveled to the island village of Kioni in Ithaca, Greece as part of a faculty-led study abroad program, focusing their energies on devising a plan specific to Kioni and possibilities for the sustainable development of the community.
The WWU Ithaca faculty-led study abroad program, "Applied Studies in Mediterranean Sustainable Development," will take place again this summer to emphasize village sustainable design, environmental protection, and social and economic development. Enrollment is open to all WWU students interested in sustainable development. An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb.16, at 4 p.m. in AW 303. Contact Nicholas C. Zaferatos by e-mail at nicholas.zaferatos@wwu.edu or phone (360) 650-7660 for more info.
{ February 17, 2011 } |
Western Washington University is a co-host of the 11th Annual Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, which begins today and goes until Feb. 26 at venues throughout Bellingham.
This year's lineup of films, which highlight human-rights concerns across the globe, will feature a facilitated discussion after most films and be screened at WWU's Fairhaven College Auditorium, unless otherwise indicated.
All films at all venues are free and open to the public. The Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival is made possible by a diverse group of volunteers, with the goal of creating awareness of human rights issues and encouraging ways to effectively respond.
{ February 15, 2011 } |
A new power plant in Bellingham could be constructed in 2012, as city officials are researching alternative energy projects over the course of this year. A hydroelectric plant could help to generate electricity and revenue for the city of Bellingham, said Ted Carlson, Bellingham public works director.
The city could spend up to $200,000 from the water fund to research preliminary engineering and permitting during 2011, said Sam Shipp, project engineer for the city. The money for this project is allocated to the public works water fund, or ratepayer money, he said, not additional taxpayer money.
"We're in the early stages, but this is a very exciting prospect," Carlson said.
{ February 11, 2011 } |
Whatcom County was recognized on Feb. 3 for being among the nation's leading green power purchasers by the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency has recognized Whatcom County since 2006 when the county first purchased green power, according to a press release from Whatcom County Executive's Office.
Regan Clover, Whatcom County's resource analyst, said this recognition means Whatcom County is part of the agency's Green Power Leadership Club. To be recognized and be part of the club, a county must purchase 10 times the partnership's minimum requirement.
Each year since 2006, Whatcom County has purchased about 6.2 million kilowatt hours of green power. If Whatcom County did not use 6.2 kilowatt hours of green power, the county would emit carbon dioxide equal to that of 900 cars or the emission of 500 average-sized American homes, the press release said.
{ February 2011 } |
Consumption Week is the first week to unify efforts between clubs to address a conspicuous environmental issue - our consumption. Free food at every event! Please see the WWU / Local Events page for detailed information or view the Consumption Week Poster (pdf).
{ February 2011 } |
Young Social Activists Invited To Apply For Do Something Awards!
For 25 and under age group: $10,000 community grant ($5G can be in scholarship) - Grand prize is $100,000. Young Social Activists Invited to Apply for Do Something Awards Since 1996, Do Something has annually honored young people who are working to improve their communities and the world with the Do Something Awards. Applicants must be age 25 or younger (born on or after September 1, 1985) and be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In 2011, the five nominees will be rewarded with a community grant of $10,000, media coverage, and continued support from Do Something. The grand-prize winner will receive $100,000 during the live broadcast of the awards ceremony. All winners have the option of receiving $5,000 of their grant in the form of an educational scholarship. Visit the Do Something Web site for complete program guidelines and information on the work of previous award winners. http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=322600007 Complete program guidelines: http://www.dosomething.org/programs/awards
Application deadline: March 1.
{ February 1, 2011 } |
The Associated Students Green Energy Fee grant program is now accepting proposals for new eco-friendly projects to better Western's. Over $250,000 will be available to Western students, faculty and staff to fund innovative, student-driven environmental solutions on Western's campus. Application materials will be available online on the Office of Sustainability website at http://wwu.edu/gef or by contacting the green energy fee graduate adviser, Kathryn Freeman, at kathryn.freeman@wwu.edu. Completed applications will be turned into Freeman.
To get started, interested students, faculty and staff will fill out and submit a preliminary project overview form. After that form is submitted, Freeman will meet with the applicants to discuss the project and provide assistance with the application process. After the submission date passes, the AS Green Energy Fee Committee will review the proposals based on the mission of the program. Final decisions will be made by mid-May.
The money to fund the Green Energy Fee program comes from a $7 fee students pay every quarter. The funds from the student fee go to pay for green energy certificates used to make Western Washington University a 100-percent green-energy school, as well as to pay for the green energy grant program.
{ January 31, 2011 } |
The name may sound strange at first, but an anaerobic digester is not a contraption straight out of science fiction. In fact, it is a machine that would use the waste and scrap food generated by Western's three dining hall locations and turn it into methane gas to help power the university or create organic compost for Western's landscaping.
It sounds ambitious, but with the help of Western's Green Energy Fee, this idea and many others could become a reality.
The Green Energy Fee is paid by Western students, a maximum of $7 per student every quarter. The money goes towards buying renewable energy credits which offset Western's carbon output. As of Jan. 21 however, almost $300,000 will be made available to students, faculty and staff in the interest of reducing Western's environmental impact. Interested parties will be able to submit proposals to the Associated Students Green Fee Adviser Kathryn Freeman until April 18.
{ January 31, 2011 } |
Machines hum and florescent lights buzz around a turquoise and sea green bus. Sitting inside a spacious concrete room, the bus appears as if it was plucked out of time. With its exposed engine and faded markings, it patiently waits as if it knows it's about to face a huge change.
Western senior Adrian Eissinger adjusts his protective eye wear just before he peers into the engine. He is not a professional engineer with years of experience under his belt. He is a vehicle engineering technology major and part of the Hybrid Bus Project Team.
The team was created in 2008 and was given the project after Western received a $730,500 grant from the Federal Transit Administration. Over the next three years, the team will be designing and building a prototype for a lightweight hybrid bus.
{ January 29, 2011 } |
Ithaca, Greece: Applied Studies in Mediterranean Sustainable Development
Explore Mediterranean architecture and culture while performing fieldwork on a small coastal Kioni village in Ithaca. Gather research and create plans for sustainable economies, tourism practices, and community development. Greece: Aug. 27 - Sept. 11; WWU: Sept. 20-30.
New Orleans: Exploring Great Cities: The Nature, Culture and Future
Immerse yourself in the ecology and culture of New Orleans where you will study the consequences of human activities. Find out about the city's "21st Century Plan" and its vision for livability, opportunity, sustainability and becoming a "green" city. June 24-July 2.
{ January 25, 2011 } |
Net Impact (www.netimpact.org), our WWU club combines business with environmental stewardship and social responsibility to create positive change, has invited Kirk Myers, REI Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, to come speak on campus. In addition to his evening lecture at 5 pm, 2/28/11, in AIC-West 204, he is available to present on a first-come, first-serve basis to relevant classes that day beforehand.
Please email netimpactwwu@gmail.com by 1/29/11 if you would be interested in him coming to speak to your class for a simple Q&A and how long you'd like him to visit.
{ January 21, 2011 } |
Beginning Friday Jan. 21, students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to take action and put the Green Energy Fee to use.
According to Western's financial services website, the fee was voted in by 80.5 percent of the student body in April 2010 and charges each student $7 per quarter.
Jamin Agosti, Vice President for Student Life and chair of the Green Energy Fee Committee, said this leaves $300,000 available to students, faculty and staff to spend on sustainable solutions for Western's campus through the green energy grant, which is now accepting applications.
{ January 15, 2011 } |
BELLINGHAM - For decades, buses around the world have rolled down city streets with characteristic flat fronts, even though that's not exactly aerodynamic.
They don't have to be that way. In fact, the driver doesn't even have to sit at the left front, and passengers don't have to load across from the driver.
Western Washington University students working near Bellingham's waterfront are exploring new concepts as they work to create a low-weight, high-efficiency bus. Undergraduates from various majors are doing everything from materials testing to body design, with the goal of having a prototype ready in 2013.
{ January 11, 2011 } |
- Purchases 100 percent of its electrical energy from green sources via renewable energy credits.
- Ranks 12th on the EPA's national list of top 20 purchasers of green energy in higher education.
- The first university in the country to implement a student fee to offset green energy purchases.
{ January 10, 2011 } |
The 2011 Go for the Green: Total Waste Reduction Challenge has begun at Western Washington University. The contest is a waste-reduction challenge pitting all of WWU's residence halls against each other during winter quarter, with the winner set to be announced April 6 at a party in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall.
Hundreds of dollars in prizes are up for grabs as students fight to reduce consumption of water, natural gas and electricity while creating the least amount of landfill waste.
{ January 10, 2011 } |
Combine creativity with your commute by bike, foot, bus or carpool and win! Contest is open to students, faculty and staff who submit photos of their non-drive-alone commute during winter quarter 2011. Submissions will be accepted from Jan. 10 to March 18. Winners will be announced the week of March 21. To apply, fill out the online form, and then submit your photo via email.
For more information, see http://www.wwu.edu/transportation/picture/ or contact Carol, Kay or Wendy at transportation@wwu.edu or (360) 650-7960.
{ December 9, 2010 } |
The Office of Sustainability at Western Washington University recently has introduced its 10 x 12 Program, a strategic element of the President's Climate Commitment and the WWU Climate Action Plan. The 10 x 12 Program has been created to help coordinate, educate and implement utility reduction throughout campus. The goal is to see a 10-percent reduction in electricity, natural gas and water consumption and landfill waste production by the end of 2012.
To that end, the office has released a few items WWU faculty and staff can do to conserve campus resources during the winter break. If your office or workstation will be vacant for even one day during winter break, please take the following actions to reduce your energy use:
|
|
For more information about the Climate Action Plan or the 10 x 12 Program, contact Carol Berry at (360) 650-7979 or Seth Vidana at (360) 650-2491.
{ December 8, 2010 } |
The Federal Transit Administration recently awarded Western Washington University a $730,000 grant to design a lightweight hybrid bus for transit applications. The project is under way at the Technology Development Center, a Port of Bellingham facility leased by WWU and Bellingham Technical College.
...The initial design for the bus project will target a 24-foot, 15- passenger, low-floor, paratransit shuttle bus with the primary goals of reducing fuel consumption levels and fleet operating costs, as well as improving driver control and passenger ergonomics. This will be accomplished through the use of high strength-to-weight ratio, sustainable materials for chassis, body and interior components, aerodynamic optimization of the body, and the use of non-petroleum based fuel options for the internal combustion engine portion of the hybrid powertrain.
{ December 3, 2010 } |
As part of our NewsHour Connect series showcasing public media reporting from around the nation, Jule Gilfillan reports for Oregon Public Broadcasting on a program that has inmates working on environmental projects to conserve water and help protect endangered spotted frogs.
Watch the video or listen to the MP3 here: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec10/prison_12-03.html
{ December 3, 2010 } |
During the fall 2010 Wheel Options promotion, 277 WWU employees used an alternative to driving alone at least two days between Oct. 17 and 30. The results included 29,390 miles not driven and 23,854 pounds of carbon dioxide not emitted into the atmosphere.
Amtrak companion fare coupons will be mailed this week to the campus mail stops of those who participated. Winners of the $2,500 cash prize, weekend getaways and other great prizes in the state-wide drawing have been published at WheelOptions.org.
There are many benefits for those who choose to walk, bike, take transit or carpool. For more information, contact Carol, Wendy or Kay at transportation@wwu.edu or (360) 650-7960.
WWU Fall 2010 Wheel Options Facts at a Glance - Oct. 17-30 Promotion Period:
|
|
{ December 1, 2010 } |
While a missile can be aimed across continents, teaching and learning are more akin to throwing gravel in a pond. Sure, ripples go out, but exactly what a university like Western accomplishes might not be entirely clear until years or decades after graduation. Did inspiration really take root? Was a key lesson really learned? How far will those ripples go?
Then someone like Mike Town, '84 and '85, helps change the world. And you know the collaboration works.
Town got direction in life from Western and Huxley College of the Environment. And he, in turn, has given direction to about 1,500 of his environmental education students at Redmond High School, while successfully lobbying for new wilderness and pioneering alternative energy in his "spare" time.
{ November 29, 2010 } |
The folks in the Sustainable Transportation Office practice what they preach. Carol Berry, Wendy Crandall and Kay McMurren all use sustainable methods of transportation to get to campus, including carpooling, busing, biking and walking.
The office has been encouraging Western Washington University employees and students to do the same for years. A large part of the staff members' work is in conjunction with the Commute Trip Reduction program.
The Commute Trip Reduction program was enacted into law by the Washington State Legislature in 1991 in order to reduce congestion, said Wendy Crandall, a program assistant with Sustainable Transportation. The program's goals are to reduce congestion, improve air quality and reduce the consumption of petroleum...
{ November 29, 2010 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University's Urban Transitions Studio will present environmental assessments of a concept for infill and alleyway redevelopment along Cornwall Avenue from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie St. in Bellingham.
The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will include both a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) assessment of proposals for revitalizing downtown Bellingham's retail core.
{ November 14, 2010 } |
The work of activists and researchers, along with shifts in the energy market, may be pushing solar energy toward a tipping point in the United States.
... Meanwhile, recent technological breakthroughs may makehome solar power much more affordable. An interdisciplinary team at Western Washington University (WWU) announced in September a $970,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for additional research on a new kind of solar collector. Traditional photovoltaic panels use only the red band of visible light. The WWU team's collector uses colored polymers to gather light from the whole spectrum. The increased efficiency allows electrical generation on overcast days and will cut the cost of solar panels by as much as 90 percent, according to a WWU press release.
{ November 12, 2010 } |
Seattle-based sustainable development advocate and author Anindita Mitra will speak at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, in Communication Facility Room 105 on Western Washington University's campus.
The talk is part of WWU Huxley College of Environment Speaker Series and is free and open to the public.
Mitra will address natural infrastructure, the ability of nature to support life and the 50-year clash of "environment versus economy". Mitra will also discuss opportunities for blending traditional engineering professions with environmental science and how society can begin to map, measure, and track nature's ability to provide us with oxygen, clean air, water and food. The talk will include a question-and-answer period, along with an open discussion.
Part of Major Renovation Project that Includes Many Sustainable Features
{ November 9, 2010 } |
BELLINGHAM – Workers are installing a "green roof" as one of many innovative sustainable features for the major renovation of Miller Hall at Western Washington University.
The green roof, the first at Western's campus, is being installed over a small roof covering the new Student Collaboration Space – where students can meet and study – being built in the existing courtyard of Miller Hall. The green roof consists of a mat system of sedum plants, a flowering plant that requires little maintenance.
The advantages of green roofs include: savings on heating and cooling costs; better sound insulation; reduction in stormwater runoff and extra protection resulting in a longer roof lifespan.
The $51.5 million Miller Hall project, funded by the Washington State Legislature, will renovate the entire 134,000 square-foot building, located on the university's Red Square, and will provide general University classrooms, computer labs, instructional space, offices and support facilities for Woodring College of Education and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. All building systems (including electrical, mechanical, data, heating and air conditioning), elevators, roofing, windows and exterior elements for the aged building are being replaced...
{ November 8, 2010 } |
Standing on the corner of 21st Street and Mill Avenue in the Happy Valley neighborhood, it is hard to imagine that the sea of apartment complexes, houses, streets and asphalt were small family farms and orchards only decades ago. Instead of using a gas-guzzling bus or car, walking got you to most places you needed to be. For Huxley student Max Wilbert, he defines that difficulty to understand the past as "generational amnesia. It is the idea that what seems horrible to one generation becomes normal to the next," he said.
Wilbert is working with the Associated Students Outdoor Center to lead an event regarding this very issue called "Environmental Health in Whatcom County" at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14.
{ November 5, 2010 } |
...But it hasn't stopped Washington State from expanding natural gas in the transportation sector. WorldCNG, a small Kent based start up, specializes in converting taxis and other fleets to natural gas. The only company in the region, they recently won two and a half million in stimulus monies from the American Recovery Act. Garret Alpers World CNG CEO. ... "Where we're generating it in a closed loop for our own needs and purposes not extracting it from the earth." He points to a biogas project at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Dairy manure is being converted to power a new fueling station. The project is close to operational. Beginning next year shuttles from Sea-Tac to Bellingham will use the biogas.
{ November 3, 2010 } |
Western Washington University is 12th on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 20 green energy purchasers in higher education. Western annually purchases 100 percent of its electrical energy from green sources via renewable energy credits.
Western was the only college or university in the State of Washington on the recently released EPA list, which represents the largest purchasers among higher education institutions as of Oct. 5, 2010. The genesis for Western's renewable energy program began more than five years ago when a small group of Western students set a goal of having Western obtain all of its electrical energy from a 100-percent renewable source. To meet that goal they proposed a student initiative to implement a fee that would offset the cost of purchasing renewable energy.
As a result of their efforts and significant research into renewable energy, Western moved to the forefront of the renewable energy field, becoming the first university in the country to implement a student fee to offset 100 percent of electrical energy use with the purchase of green energy.
{ October 21, 2010 } |
On Wednesday, lovely little Bellingham, WA captured my heart. The 70,000 person green, hilly NW town already has built up an enviable bicycle mode share of six percent. Are they satisfied? Of course not. Their dedication to green sustainable living is deep and sincere, and they know they can make their town even better, safer, more livable, cleaner, and greener. The City's major employer, Western Washington University, certainly sets a great example, with an 80% bike/walk/transit mode share, while the City is rapidly transforming many of its streets with bike lanes, is on the verge of adding its first bike boulevard, and is engaging residents in shifting trips in partnership with a regional Smart Trips program. Adding to the package is a focus on green development, local food, low waste, recycling, and waste reduction...
{ September 25, 2010 } |
More schools are putting Washington-grown food on the cafeteria menu and farms are increasingly interested in selling to schools, but getting locally grown products onto lunch trays is no easy matter.
Meanwhile, Growing Washington, a Bellingham farmers co-op, has been selling regularly to five school districts and Western Washington University, according to Director Clayton Burrows. Recently, he said, they supplied Seattle with some cucumbers and carrots — a foot in the door.
"Our motto is start small, but start something," he said.
{ September 14, 2010 } |
BELLINGHAM — A team of Western Washington University researchers have developed a new approach to solar electricity generation they say could eventually cut solar power to 1/10th of its current cost. The team recently won a three-year grant of $970,000 from the National Science Foundation to continue their research.
Brad Johnson, chairman of WWU's physics department and a member of the university's Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center team, said it's too soon to estimate how quickly the new solar panels could be ready for mass production.
But he and his colleagues are confident their new approach is well beyond the "what if" stage. The team already has applied for one patent in connection with the project, and more applications may be forthcoming...
{ August 15, 2010 } |
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham will be one of many cities nationwide featured in a PBS "Now" special called "Fixing the Future." TV crews were in the city Aug. 8-11, filming at sustainable businesses for the one-hour special scheduled to air Nov. 18.
David Brancaccio, host of "Now," said the special's focus will be on finding new ways to think about and structure the economy after the financial meltdown and recession. "We're asking the question: Is there a way to make an economy serve more people?" Brancaccio said. "Because the old economy wasn't good enough."
Brancaccio said Bellingham was an ideal city to film because of the number of local and sustainable businesses working together to support a healthy economy that keeps money and jobs within the community.
{ July 9, 2010 } |
BELLINGHAM - Western Washington University, which has long been involved in environmental education and sustainability, now has a plan on how it can help address climate change and be an even better steward of the environment.
The university's Board of Trustees recently approved a Climate Action Plan, which commits WWU to meeting goals related to greenhouse emissions and sustainability and provides guidelines on how to meet the goals.
Some of the goals include reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to 36 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, becoming climate neutral by 2050, thinking about climate change impacts when making institutional decisions, and creating positions dedicated to sustainability.
{ June 25, 2010 } |
Western is on track to become the first climate-neutral university in the state, and will aim to have zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Board of Trustees voted to accept Western's Climate Action Plan (CAP) on June 11. In addition to becoming climate neutral, Western is trying to reduce its emissions to 36 percent below 2005 levels within the next decade.
In 2007, former Western president Karen Morse signed the President's Climate Commitment, a national commitment putting in motion Western's fight to reduce campus energy use and costs and create demand for low-cost renewable energy technology. Western's climate plan aims to reduce emissions at a much faster rate than is required by state law, but Western students may not notice any changes on campus following the acceptance of the new plan because it is divided into several subtle approaches.
Western Facilities Manager Tim Wynn and Office of Sustainability Program Specialist Seth Vidaña, both of whom presented the plan to the Board of Trustees, explained the details.
{ May 18, 2010 } |
Eighty percent of Western students approved an increase of the current $4 Renewable Energy Fee to a possible $9 fee known as the Green Fee. However, the Associated Students Board of Directors may only increase the fee to $7.
Leah White, resident resource coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said that with all the budget cuts going on around campus, no matter how much the Green Fee is, it is important to continue working on waste reduction and sustainable energy projects.
The Green Fee was set up to attract quality projects supporting renewable energy and sustainability, said Nick Sund, a member of Students for Renewable Energy.
{ May 10, 2010 } |
BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University students have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new, expanded "green fee" which will continue to finance WWU's purchase of renewable-energy certificates and keep the university running on sustainable sources of energy.
In February 2005, WWU's initial green fee – the first student-imposed green fee in the nation – was approved by the University's Board of Trustees. This spring, the WWU student body voted overwhelmingly – more than 80 percent in favor – to renew the Green Energy Fee.
In addition to funding the purchase of the renewable energy credits (RECs) – 100 percent of WWU's power now comes from the Endeavor Wind Farm in Iowa – the new fee on students also finances student projects devoted to increasing energy efficiency, decreasing energy consumption, generating renewable energy, and reducing greenhouse-gas output on WWU's campus, as well as allowing for the creation of a student position within WWU's Associated Students that will be tasked with overseeing the fee's programs.
{ April 27, 2010 } |
Western emerged as a top contender in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's College and University Green Power Challenge due to its purchase of renewable energy. The school ranked first in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and eighth nationwide. The competition included 54 universities around the country that use renewable energy and are members of the agency's Green Power Partnership. The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program providing technical assistance and public recognition to organizations that utilize alternative power for their electricity needs.
Seth Vidaña, coordinator for Western's Office of Sustainability, said Western has set an example for schools in the rest of the country to follow. "The best result we've seen is a response by other schools," Vidaña said. "It's not just about here, but also the effects on other campuses around the nation." Vidaña said that even though Western started out at number one, he thinks it is wonderful that other schools and students have initiated similar energy plans.
{ April 18, 2010 } |
Dylan Hicks and Jeff Mack of Bellingham Bay Builders were at the home working on interior details. Hicks, who co-owns the workers' cooperative with Dave Brogan and Ross Grier, says the business was founded on a basis of environmental responsibility and sustainability. Those criteria are far more commonplace today than when Bellingham Bay Builders started six years ago, and Hicks says it's an evolving process.
"We've been able to change things as new technologies have been developed and become more mainstream and accepted," Hicks said. "All our waste is separated, all metal is recycled, and our waste that goes into a landfill goes into just one bin."
{ April 20, 2010 } |
Western's Office of Sustainability created a draft of its Climate Action Plan a year and a half ago, which has yet to be approved by university administration. The office will present a final draft of the plan for approval to Western's Board of Trustees in June.
The plan aims for Western to be a technically carbon-neutral campus in the short run and an actually carbon-neutral campus in the long run. This means that the goal in the coming years would be to offset as much of the carbon emitted on campus as is possible through the purchase of renewable energy credits. After a long time period, perhaps 20 to 50 years, the goal is for Western to get all its energy from sources that don't contribute to global warming. This is a noble goal — one students and administration should actively support.
Seth Vidaña, coordinator of Western's Office of Sustainability, said the university's main concern has been cost. He said the final draft addresses those concerns. Vidaña said this is not about money, but about the university making a commitment to take responsibility for our carbon footprint.
{ January 14, 2010 } |
Alpha Energy, a Bellingham, Washington-based photovoltaic power systems provider, has installed one of the largest parking structure solar arrays in the US; a 1 MW system on the parking lot of an auto auction facility in New Jersey.
{ January 8, 2010 } |
BELLINGHAM — Wind instruments were installed Thursday, Jan. 7, on the Bellingham waterfront to gauge the feasibility of installing power-generating turbines on the site.
The $8,000 project is a partnership of the Port of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College and Western Washington University. The 160-foot tower that holds the instruments was installed by a crew from Wear Construction of Snohomish. It's in an area off Laurel Street that was formerly home to the Georgia-Pacific Corp. pulp and paper mill.
Adam Fulton, a port project engineer, said the tower holds six wind-speed gauges, or anemometers, at varying heights. For the next 18 months, the gauges will gather data that will help determine if some kind of wind-power generating equipment would be economically feasible...
December 1, 2009
WWU students sweep awards at environmental competition
Students from Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment swept first and second place honors at the recent Environmental Challenge held in Cle Elum Nov. 3 to 6.
Finding a happy medium: sustainability vs. appearance
Construction is changing the face of campus as new landscaping and bike pathways focus on sustainable groundskeeping rather than simply keeping up appearances.
The appearance of the grounds is the second reason students choose a school, according to Kathy Wetherell, interim vice president for Business and Financial Affairs at Western.
November 25, 2009
WWU Wins National Award for Green Cleaning
Western Washington University has won the 2009 Green Cleaning Grand Award for Schools and Universities from American School and University magazine, the top award given in the category nationally.
October 13, 2009
Tackling renewable energy solutions
Western’s Climate Action Plan, drafted in June 2009, faces public scrutiny this week through a series of on-campus forums as Western attempts to move closer to climate neutrality...
October 9, 2009
WWU employees who reduce driving this month can get Amtrak coupons, win travel prizes
WWU employees who walk, bicycle, share a ride or ride the bus to work at least twice from Oct. 18 to 31 and enter the Fall state-wide Wheel Options promotion could win a trip to Rome for two, including airfare, lodging and a Rick Steves Best of Rome seven-day tour.
July 24, 2009
A Postcard from the Pleistocene
 |
WWU Professor Andy Bunn and WWU students study climate change and permafrost thawing on the Kolyma River in Antarctica. |
April 20, 2009
WWU an EPA Green Power Challenge winner
The Ivies, anchored by University of Pennsylvania’s purchase of 192 million kWh, chalked up the best conference performance, purchasing a total of 225 million kWh of green power. Here in the Pacific Northwest, four colleges and universities bested their respective conferences: Oregon State University (Pacific-10), Western Washington University (Great Northwest Athletic Conference), The Evergreen State College (Cascade Collegiate Conference), and Pacific Lutheran University (Northwest Conference).
April 29, 2008
Dining Hall Customers Reduced Food Waste by 34%!
Last week the three dining halls were trayless in recognition of Earth Week. The aim of trayless dining is to reduce our impact on the environment. It serves as a reminder that sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. Many universities around the country have been trying out trayless dining programs at varying levels, and results show that it works very well to curb the amount of food that is thrown away.
So how did WWU’s Dining Halls fair? On Monday, April 21, customers scraped their leftover food scraps into a compost bin and dining hall staff “Weighed the Waste,” to compare the amount of food thrown away on a “Trayless” day versus a day with trays. The results were encouraging. Without trays, food waste was reduced by 631 pounds, or 34%! On just the first day of no trays, dining hall customers went from throwing an average of over 1800 pounds of food away to about 1200 pounds.
April 17, 2008
Reducing Waste, Going Trayless, Composting, and more!
Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22 and University Dining Services is celebrating with a whole week of activities that we're calling "Earth Week," April 21 through April 25.
Less Food Waste with Trayless Dining Earth Week is a good time to reflect on how we can help reduce our impact on the environment. Did you know that each day in Western’s Dining Halls, customers throw away approximately 1,842 pounds of food? To reduce this food waste, and at the request of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Campus Dining Committee, the Viking Commons, Ridgeway Commons and Fairhaven Commons will be “trayless,” Monday, April 21 - Friday, April 25.
Many college campuses across the nation have been participating in “trayless” dining programs and statistics show that it works to reduce food waste between 30% and 60%. Western’s own Viking Commons reduced waste by 45% when it was trayless for the first seven weeks of Summer Quarter 2007.
April 15, 2008
WWU Professors Participate in International Workshop on Sustainable Community Development
Nicholas Zaferatos and Gigi Berardi, professors in Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment, and James Loucky, professor in WWU's Department of Anthropology, participated as expert contributors at an international workshop March 24-28 at the Rockefeller Foundation Conference Center in Bellagio, Italy.
The workshop was hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation and focused on the development of a fair trade olive-oil industry linking rural Mediterranean agricultural communities to the global marketplace...
March 3, 2008
Woodring College Receives Sustainability Education Grant
Western Washington University's Woodring College of Education has received a grant from the Russell Family Foundation to fund research into strategies for including education for sustainability in the pre-service preparation of teachers. The $139,000 grant will fund a new project, Sustainability Education for New Teachers, created in partnership with Facing the Future: People and the Planet, a nonprofit curriculum-development organization based in Seattle.
February 27, 2008
WWU Challenges Residence Halls to Reduce Electricity Use
Western Washington University's Office of Sustainability is coordinating the "Go for the Green" program in eight of the University's 16 residential communities to reduce electricity use and carbon dioxide emissions.
The challenge, which began in January and will last through March, has each WWU residence hall competing to gain points which can be earned by decreasing electricity use, attending programs about sustainability, filling out surveys and signing a pledge to reduce consumption.
The first month's results show an average reduction of 12.8 percent from January of last year, surpassing the original goal of five to 10 percent. Fairhaven Residences is in the lead, with a decrease of 24.8 percent as compared to last year.
This reduction prevented more than 22,500 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere as well as saving the University $3,695, said Kimbrough Mauney, coordinator of the Residents Resource Awareness Program (ResRAP).
The residential community with the most points will be announced after spring break. The winning residence hall will receive the grand prize of the Upfront Theatre troop performing in their hall. The program has also collected more than $2,500 worth of prizes from companies such as REI and the Eagle Rock Challenge Course in Mount Vernon.
Other sponsors of the program include the Environmental Center, Students for Renewable Energy and the Outdoor Center.
The participating residential communities include Mathes, Kappa, Edens, Edens North, Higginson, Fairhaven, Buchanan Towers and Birnam Wood.
For more information, contact Rebekah Hook at (360) 650-2011 or visit http://www.wwu.edu/goforthegreen.
February 25, 2008
WWU Professor to Lead International Effort on Building Sustainable Economies
Western Washington University associate professor Nicholas Zaferatos has been named the principal investigator of the EuroMed Sustainable Communities project, an effort sponsored by the European Union to build sustainable economies across cultural and political boundaries.
February 5, 2008
WWU to Work with Kitsap Transit on New Hybrid Passenger-Bus Design
Western Washington University's Vehicle Research Institute (VRI) is working with Bremerton-based Kitsap Transit to produce a prototype hybrid passenger bus that will get double the miles-per-gallon of its existing buses.
February 1, 2008
Hundreds of profs hold green 'teach-in'
Global warming issues took over lecture halls in colleges across the country Thursday, with more than 1,500 universities participating in what was billed as the nation's largest-ever "teach-in."
Organizers said the goal of the event, dubbed "Focus the Nation", was to move past preaching to the green choir, to reach a captive audience of students in many fields who might not otherwise tune in to climate change issues.