Milestones

  • 2012 – Office of Sustainability Launched
  • 2011 – Transportation Management Plan launched
  • 2011 – First Sustainability Curriculum Mgr. Hired
  • 2010 – First Sustainability and Resource Conservation Mgr. hired
  • 2009 – Environmental Advisory Committee completes first Carbon Audit
  • 2008 – Students approve Student Environmental Sustainability Fund
  • 2007 – BC President signs American College and University President’s Climate Commitment
  • 2006  – ASG position for Environmental and Social Responsibility Created
  • 2000 – Earthweek launches a week of lectures, demonstrations, and more on sustainability and science.
  • 1997 – Sustainability and Science Association Formed

What’s Been Done

Bellevue College closely tracks key indicators of sustainability so we know not only what’s been done, but what outcomes we’ve achieved. We record our accomplishments and measure our outcomes of campus sustainabilty through indicators in greenhouse gas emissions, transportation, energy and water, and waste and food.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Action Plan.

Bellevue College is a signatory to the American College & University Presidents‘ Climate Commitment and strives for climate neutrality. The BC Carbon Audit page provides an in-depth analysis of Bellevue College’s GHG gas emissions. In June 2010, the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) completed BC’s Climate Action Plan, detailing strategies to reduce our carbon emissions and overall environmental impact.

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Transportation

Bellevue College formed a Transportation Management Task Force (TMTF) formed in 2010 and recommended a series of initiatives that are now being implemented, including: managing demand for parking through permit fees, piloting an innovative bus pass assistance program, promoting ridematching online, offering incentives for alternative commuting, creating new bicycle facilities and providing hourly car rental on campus. Learn more about options getting to BC here.

 

Energy and Water Conservation

The College is working with an Energy Services Company on campus-wide retrofits of indoor and outdoor lighting, including LED lighting, installing efficient water fixtures and improving HVAC controls. The college closely monitors resource consumption to identify savings opportunities.

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Waste Reduction and Food

The Bellevue College cafeteria offers many local, organic and fair trade offerings, including burgers and coffee, all served on compostable materials (read more sustainable food -pdf).   Nearby, the student garden offers students opportunities to get their hands dirty.  Caferia waste oil is sold for the production of biodisel, composting is picked up by Cedar Grove and recycling is promoted  to divert refuse to alternatives. The bookstore has banned plastic bags.