WWU's Green-Energy Fee Grant Program To Fund Eight Campus Projects

April 22, 2013

Contact: Katie Savinski, Western Washington University’s Associated Students vice president for Student Life at (360) 650-3736 or asvp.life@wwu.edu

BELLINGHAM – The Western Washington University Green Energy Fee Committee announced that it will fund eight campus projects. 

Three large projects, which range in funding from $9,000-$185,000, represent the second round of funding allocated to student, staff and faculty teams.

Each team spent a significant amount of time over the past year creating a conceptual proposal, preliminary design and estimate, and final proposal for the committee.  The five small projects, which range in funding from $500-$2,000, represent the first projects to be awarded in the grant program’s new Small Projects Pilot program. 

The Green Energy Fee (GEF) Grant Program exists to promote experiential learning opportunities and sustainable practices at Western Washington University.  The GEF is funded by Western students and managed by the Office of Sustainability. The grants were chosen by the Green Energy Fee Committee, which is composed of students, staff, and faculty representatives.

Western President Bruce Shepard will formally congratulate the teams at the Green Energy Fee Awards Ceremony & Expo at 4 p.m. May 30 on the Academic Instructional Center Skybridge.  The expo is open to the campus community and public. 

The committee acknowledged the hard work of the students, staff, and faculty on the development of this round of grant proposals.  The committee reviewed the grant proposals and decided to fund the following eight programs: 

  • Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Dorm (SEED) Pilot: A proposal to install energy-efficient fixtures and appliances in a dorm room in Buchanan Towers to educate students and the campus community about personal energy use and to act as a trial space for new energy-saving technologies. Funding has been approved for $9,546.
  • Environmental Outreach Hydration Station (EOHS): A proposal to install a water-bottle refilling station in Wilson Library in order to continue the education on the use of reusable water bottles.   Around this Hydration Station will be an environmental outreach resource kiosk featuring information on campus sustainability at Western. Funding has been approved for $ 23,457.
  • Driving Down Energy Consumption with Dashboards - Information is POWER!: A proposal to pilot interactive campus energy consumption displays—"Dashboards" that will receive data from an expanded remote utility reading network on campus that captures near real time energy consumption information. There will be education material to help inform the campus on how to make behavioral changes to decrease energy usage.  The Dashboard monitoring systems will be implemented at the Viking Union, Buchanan Towers and the Fairhaven Complex. Funding has been approved for $ 184,735.
  • Green Lighting the Black Box: A proposal to convert the rehearsal lighting in the Old Main Theater to have energy-efficient fixtures.  This group will put up educational posters and notice of new energy efficient fixtures in performance programs. Funding has been approved for $2,000.
     
  • Green Residence Certification Pilot: This proposal recognizes students for the small steps they take to protect our planet.  This group is creating a Green Residence Certification Process for dorm rooms.  The funding will go to Green Room Kits, which include energy saving outlets, shower timers, certification certificates and promotional materials. Funding has been approved for $1,975.
     
  • Outback and Arboretum Environmental Restoration: A proposal offering Western students opportunities to explore campus natural areas and increase the native biodiversity of the Outback, located behind Fairhaven, and the Sehome Arboretum.  This group is looking to purchase native plants and garden tools to be used for three work parties to plant on bare sites where this group has eradicated invasive species in the past. Funding has been approved for $1,935.
     
  • The Built to Last Picture Show: A proposal to hold a sustainable film festival at Western Libraries.  The sustainability film festival will run for three weeks in the Western Libraries beginning on Earth Day.  There will also be a do-it-yourself art project that encourages the use of reusable coffee mugs. Funding has been approved for $500.
     
  • Project MUG: A proposal for a reusable mug pilot program.  Project MUG will reduce single-use cup waste generated at Western by implementing a system allowing students to check out reusable mugs and return when finished.  The pilot will take place at the Viking Union. Funding has been approved for $1,926.

For more information on the Green Energy Fee program or the review process, contact Katie Savinski, Associated Students vice president for Student Life, at asvp.life@wwu.edu or at (360)650-3736 or visit www.wwu.edu/gef.