Bellevue College’s efforts to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions took a leap forward with an energy cost saving grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce. Bellevue College’s award is the highest among community and technical college’s and will add to more than $500,000 in incentives expected from Puget Sound Energy.
The grant will go towards campus-wide lighting retrofits (currently underway) heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) controls improvements and water fixture retrofits. The project also includes a small solar array and an energy monitoring dashboard accessible to the campus community, both funded in partnership with the Student Environmental Sustainability Fund.
The grant was submitted by the Bellevue College Office of Sustainability, with support from an Energy Services Company as part of the State’s Energy Saving Performance Contracting program. The 2012 Energy Efficiency Grant program’s immediate goal is to stimulate Washington’s economy by creating jobs. The long-term goal is to reduce the energy costs at the state’s public education facilities.
“Promoting energy efficiency in the built environment is a pillar of our State Energy Strategy,” said Commerce director Rogers Weed. “These grants will create jobs and support Washington’s policy priorities for energy, economic vitality and climate stability.” Read the announcement from the Department of Commerce.
Last Updated December 11, 2013