We had 56 people pick up boxes, resulting in 698 Energy-Star light bulbs being sold. Assuming all the light bulbs are used to replace conventional incandescent, the annual operating cost savings is more than 11k dollars! This is showing that not only are we able to reduce our impact on the planet by using more efficient bulbs, but we are directly reducing our impact on our wallet! These boxes represent a unique opportunity to get the CFLs and LEDs at a much reduced price.

Another interesting fact according to this chart of CFL Benefits is that the savings as a percent of retail price is OVER 9000!!!!! The cost benefit of CFLs is astounding! Next time we host these vendors, be sure to pick yourself up a box to experience the savings!

The main objective of the event was to expose students and staff to the many benefits of biking as opposed to driving themselves from point A to point B. There really is not much of an argument against biking except for the physical requirements; which can be easily alleviated by something such as one of these E-Bikes. Aside from that you save money on parking, gas, vehicle maintenance and medical expenses. It is no secret that bicyclists are generally healthier than those that sit in their car all day. With a healthier body there is less need for medical attention. Here at Bellevue College we are doing our best to open up the campus to make biking as easy as possible.

Bicyclists have access to the lockers and showers in the gym. We recently installed a repair station so riders can make any necessary repairs at school and under cover. (Located in the parking garage just behind the bus shelter) Bellevue College is also conveniently located off of many bike trails and back roads which can accommodate any level of rider. The Health and Wellness department also offers an Urban Biking class to teach students how to bike safely and properly. If you are considering riding and have any questions please email Transportation@bellevuecollege.edu.

Don’t forget to register or update your trip information with BC RideMatch to receive $25!

Stipend: $1000 for all faculty members upon completion of sustainability related assignments and workshop participation.  All materials needed for the workshop will be provided through the SESF fund.  Stipend is funded through the SESF fund.    Enrollment is limited to 15 participants.

Register by clicking on this link.

Registration will remain open and registrations will be processed on a rolling basis through Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at midnight.  Enrollment is limited to 15 participants.

Due to annual budget shortfalls, King County Metro is facing possible route eliminations and/or reductions in the near future. Although ridership has continually increased, funding for King County Metro’s services have continued to fall faster than revenues have risen.

What does this mean for me?

• 1/3 of Metro’s routes (65 routes) may be eliminated, and another 40% (86 routes) may be reduced or rerouted. The remaining 1/3 of routes that did not change would see a significant increase in passengers whose routes were eliminated or altered.
• People who depend on consistent and convenient routes to work and school may have to transfer multiple times. 
• Buses serving less popular communities, particularly in East King County, would face significant reductions or route eliminations.

Affected buses serving Bellevue College

To be Eliminated: 210, 211, 215, 216

To be Reduced/Revised: 221, 226, 241, 245, 246, 271

Want to make your voice heard? A public hearing is scheduled for comments from the public:

Tuesday, May 14th

3:30 PM [Open House and Briefing]

4:00 PM – 8:00 PM [Public Testimony]

Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle

Event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/455481031211147/

Can’t make it there? Submit your testimony online here:  http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/testimony.aspx

For more information: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/future/

The sun is finally out and what a great time to ride your bike. In honor of bike to work month Bellevue College will be holding an event on May 20^th just in front of the water fountain. Gregg’s Cycles and Seattle E-bike will be back on campus to show off, demo and sell some of their great products. That’s right we said demo, check out this video of how awesome an e-bike is up a hill! As an added bonus if you sign up with BC RideMatch where you can keep track of your trips you will receive $25! Click here to sign up or email Transportation@bellevuecollege.edu for more info.

Small Actions, Big Changes

1.  Try Bussing/Carpooling/Biking

The majority of Bellevue College’s carbon footprint comes from the daily trips our students take—a large portion which consists of solo drivers. Carpooling reduces gas, insurance, and parking costs for students. Direct bus lines serve Seattle, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Crossroads, with arrivals every 15 or 30 minutes. And did you know BC subsidizes your bus fares by half with discount ORCA cards? Choose a day this week, and plan out your normal trip via bus. See how convenient it is for you to get around! [http://metro.kingcounty.gov/]

2.  Look into Green Energy

Everyone uses electricity, whether for home or business. But did you know you can choose to have all of your energy come from clean, renewable sources? If you own your home, consider Green Power (PSE) or GreenUp (Seattle Light), and for roughly another $10-$12 a month, your entire energy bill will fund clean energy sourced from within Washington State. None of it will come from polluting coal, oil, or gas power plants!

More Info:  bit.ly/zr5M70 (PSE)  —  bit.ly/asVap9 (Seattle Light)

3.  Eliminate Energy Hogs

Five appliances consume almost 80% of the energy in your home. If you have a thermostat, set if to 55-60 degrees while at work or school, and no higher than 65 degrees when at home. Close windows and seal cracks in doors, to keep winter heating and summer air conditioning inside. Lower the temperatures of your hot shower, dishwasher, and clothes washer if it isn’t necessary. Turn off TVs, computers, fans, and lights if nobody’s in the room, or set automatic timers on these devices after an hour of inactivity.

4.  Don’t Toss It!

We’ve all heard something along the lines of “the food wasted by Americans yearly could feed Canada for 6 years.” But why do we recycle and compost? The biggest reason is energy— for most of Western Washington, our garbage is put on a nightly train destined for a large pit in eastern Oregon, where it stays forever. Our compost travels roughly half an hour to Maple Valley, where it is converted to rich fertilizer for Skagit Valley farms.  With recyclables, it’s not that we’ll run out of plastic or metal; it takes 92% less energy (aluminum), and 60% less water (paper) to reproduce the same materials.

Learn what should go into your recycle, compost, and garbage bins. For obscure objects (light bulbs, batteries, electronics, chemicals, clothes, appliances, furniture, etc.) consider donating it, giving it away for free (Craigslist, Freecycle), or consult www.Earth911.com before tossing it. Did you know everything from surfboards to Styrofoam packing peanuts can still be recycled? Of course, remember the three R’s; Reduce, then Reuse, and if all else fails, Recycle.

5.   Watch What You Eat

From obesity and cardiovascular disease, to workers’ rights and animal cruelty, to reducing energy and water use, there are numerous reasons why everyone should alter their diet. Though not everyone is willing to be vegan, here are a few simple actions that can go a long way;

• Try designating a meal or day of the week as ‘Organic Friday lunch’ or ‘Meatless Monday’. Try it once, and see if you can carry it on!
• Visit your local Farmers’ Market, and try some local specialty produce. Never tried using kale, fava beans, parsnips, or rutabagas in your dishes? Bring out your inner chef! Feeling adventurous? Try raising a small garden.
• Craving meat? Try replacing beef and pork with turkey or seafood. Not only is it good for the tummy, raising cattle or pork requires much more water and feed. They also produce lots of methane (aka cow fart), which is 7x more harmful than carbon dioxide.
• Look for certifications and special labeling: fair-trade crops benefit small farmers; dolphin-safe and sustainable-harvest seafood combat overfishing; free-range and organic meat ensures healthy animals; and locally grown produce reduces transport emissions. Minimally processed, whole foods, and natural or artificial-free foods ditch additives impossible to pronounce.

6.    Retrofit and Retire Old Friends

Do you have a dripping faucet? Old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs? A top-loading washer? A ginormous TV or PC? A yellowing fridge, oven, or dishwasher? If you’re replacing any of the above soon, consider a modern, Energy Star compliant version. Not only will it save energy, it’ll save you money, even if upfront costs might be slightly higher. Rebates from the government and utilities, along with tax rebates are common for these upgrades. Thinking of something larger? Consider installing a Tankless Water Heater; instead of continuously heating a hot water tank for 24 hours a day, this small box will heat water only when a shower is turned on.

7.     Lighten Up on the Toxics

Did you know that American homeowners apply 2-4x more pesticides per square foot on their lawns and gardens than most farms? Do you really need that whole bottle for a single dandelion? An entire bag of fertilizer for your lawn? What about your toilet cleaner, insect repellent, and grout cleaner? Not only are these chemicals dangerous with small children and pets, anything that goes into your lawn typically ends up in your local stream. Use chemicals sparingly, and anything you need to handle with gloves or masks shouldn’t be in your home.  Never dump chemicals or medications down sinks, toilets or drains. [Hazardous Waste collection sites are located throughout King County, free of charge. http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/facilities/hazwaste.asp]

Spread natural compost over gardens, lime powder/soil sweetener to combat moss, coffee grounds for slugs, and plant flowers to attract aphid-eating ladybugs. Got dandelions? Pluck them by hand. And though they might be creepy, spiders and bats love to eat pests. Also, try having your car wash over the lawn, and if you’ve got a rainstorm coming, leave out a couple buckets to water plants the next day.

8.    Get Involved

Want to burn a few hours (or weeks), get to know amazing people, and most of all, make a difference in your community? Get involved with volunteering, and standing up for what you believe in. Tree planting and invasive plant removal events happen almost every week around Seattle, with no experience necessary to take part. Rebuilding trails, creating wetlands, developing parks, maintaining community gardens and counting migrating salmon all depend on volunteer help! Want to take it a step further? Advocate for the environment and sustainable development to your city council, legislators, and community. Join a local organization, and advocate for environmental change to reach ballots. You might even find a career along the way!

9.     See the Outdoors

Never been to Mt. Ranier, Olympic National Park, Mt. St. Helens, or the San Juan Islands? You’re missing out on some of the most famous attractions of Washington State! With three National Parks, three National Monuments, and over 100 State Parks, take your family and friends for a camping trip this summer. Opting for a day trip? Hike Rattlesnake Mountain or Bridle Trails, dig for clams in Hood Canal, enjoy skiing at Snoqualmie or Stevens Pass, or swim in Lake Washington. Got a few days? A drive through the Columbia Gorge, Olympic Peninsula, North Cascades Highway, Grays Harbor County, Wenatchee Valley, and along Lake Chelan are some of our state’s most famous natural areas. Nothing makes you want to protect our environment when you can take for granted what we have in the Pacific Northwest.

10.   Learn.

With any activist issue, the majority of people are not fully informed, even if they already support the cause. Take it into your own hands to understand why climate change, pollution, ecological destruction, and other pressing issues are of major concern to our planet and livelihoods. Hit up a few documentaries, attend or watch lectures and speeches, dive into an eye-opening book, talk to activists and skeptics, and if possible, take an Environmental Science course. When you understand a topic better, you’ll be able to take into your own hands how to contribute towards a more sustainable planet.

Want to know how else to get involved? Contact the Office of Sustainability at Bellevue College! We’ll be happy to chat with you on how to make changes, whether big or small. http://depts.bellevuecollege.edu/sustainability/         

Learn more about the Sustainable Foods Coordinator Position.

Climate Pledge- In the weeks prior to Earth Week we began to ask faculty to make a Climate Pledge. The pledge entailed integrating climate change into classroom curriculum during Earth Week with the goal of reaching as many students as possible. The more people engage is a discussion about the climate the easier it will be to collaborate on solutions that will benefit everyone. We reached thousands of students during Earth Week. The instructors that pledged brought the discussion to 140 class sections and thousands of student during the week! This was huge success and hopefully helped plant a seed of hope and empowerment in students minds. The problems of climate change seem much more navigable when we are able to really think critically and discuss them.

Lectures and Film Series- The annual lecture and film series was full of interesting speakers and topics. From Cliff Mass, a UW Atmospheric Scientist who spoke about Northwest impacts on climate change, to our own Nancy Gonlin, who gave a talk on climate change and ancient cultures, the theme of Living in a Changing Climate was addressed from many different perspectives. The lectures were packed all week and the diversity of topics meant there was something to interest everyone.

Car Show- The car show was a hit! With the desire for emission free commuting on the rise, we set out to show the potential of driving electric. Hosting a Tesla and some Nissan Leafs provided students with the opportunity to talk with EV owners and really hear firsthand the beneficial impact this technology can have on one’s personal life as well as the planet. We also had the pleasure of hosting Gregg’s Cycles and Seattle E-Bike to help promote bike riding as a means of alternative transportation. Thanks to Zack Boucher for organizing our first electric vehicle show.

Farmer Market-  The Farmer’s Market this year was a crowd favorite. Many students loved the opportunity to buy fresh baked goods, honey, produce, and flowers in between classes. Sarah Fisher put a lot of work into organizing the market, so a big thanks to her!

Art:  Photography Club / Linda Thomas Exhibit- Photography Club made a trip out to the beautiful Olympic Peninsula to take pictures of the old growth forest. They displayed the artful pictures in the Fishbowl through Earth Week. Art professor Linda Thomas did an art display in C-Courtyard. This display was meant to show the impact climate has on art over the week. It consisted on 4 lines with many hand drawn sketches hanging from them.

Infographics – We decided to put up a display of different infographics pertaining to climate change. We are going to be working on developing our own Bellevue College infographic to display our metrics and the work that has been accomplished in reducing our GHG emissions.

ASG BBQ –  This year the ASG decided to have their annual ASG Election BBQ during Earth Week. This came with the stipulation that the event would be zero-waste. To make the event zero-waste, items such as chips and ice cream sandwiches, which have plastic or non compostable wrappers, were replaced with fruit. All drink containers and table clothes were properly recycled and everything else was composted

Ice Sculpture- The ice sculpture is a returning feature to Earth Week, having featured one several years ago. This year seemed the perfect year to display one shaped as an Earth as our theme was “Living in a Changing Climate”. We were able to watch the globe melt as the day went on, giving a micro-example of what is happening every second at the Poles.

Rob Viens- Without Rob, Earth Week would not exist. A giant thanks to Rob Viens for another great year and another awesome Earth Week!

Capes - The ASG BBQ was a great place for Sustainability to stand out. With the ice sculpture being displayed, we wanted to make sure people knew we were present and playing an important role in the weeks events. There was no better way to accomplish the outreach we wanted than to don glorious green capes. We could be seen galavanting around like superheros out to save the planet. Check out Dr. David Rule, BC President, wearing a green cape! Dr. Rule is committed to sustainability and wore the cape to show it!

Haiku Contest- Here is a link to the contest page where you can read through the great haiku that were entered this year!

See all the photos.