Sustainability

600.503 SUSTAINABILITY PROCEDURE

A. PURPOSE

The following outlines and establishes procedures associated with the WVC Sustainability Policy.

B. DISTRICT

WVC requires all activities to meet or exceed conformance with applicable environmental standards, regulations and guidelines. Teaching and service activities will seek to minimize negative impacts on the environment and maximize inclusive and equitable educational opportunities. Sustainability is defined as understanding and practicing environmental stewardship, economic equity, and social justice.

C. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Education about sustainability will be supported on campus. This can be done through dedicated courses, such as the Introduction to Sustainability course, or integrated into other courses. The sustainability committee and ASWVC will work on expanding opportunities for education about sustainability, including but not limited to public lectures and film screenings.

Awareness will be developed through approved signs, events, maps, campus tours, and other media. When possible, a sustainability coordinator will be supported to promote awareness of sustainability on campus and to work with community partners to connect with sustainable practices in the community.

D. WASTE

Focus will be on reducing waste to improve cost effective and environmentally sound waste management practices. Data will be collected through waste audits and other appropriate analysis to determine ideal locations, numbers, and configurations of trash and recycling receptacles in order to comply with current recycling guidelines and reduce waste. Training on what is recyclable and how to reduce waste will be made available through videos or workshops to guide staff, students and faculty.

Reduce and reuse options will be highlighted as a means to reduce plastic waste in particular.

1. Plastic water bottles for sale on campus will be phased out over a two-year period..
2. Hydration stations for refillable water bottles must be accessible in working order.
3. Reusable water bottles will be made available to students and staff.
4. Vending machines will replace plastic bottles with more easily recycled options such as cans.

E. NATURAL RESOURCES

Maintain Tree Campus USA status which involves yearly Arbor Day celebrations and service learning projects related to trees. Follow tree care management guidelines.

Promote an awareness of resource use (including energy, water, and other natural, and manufactured resources) and implement actions to conserve resources where possible. Staff and students are encouraged to adopt a process of reduce, reuse, recover, recycle in purchasing decisions.

F. CARBON FOOTPRINT

WVC is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent below 2005 levels by 2035, in accordance with laws passed by the Washington state legislature in 2009. This will be achieved through multiple strategies related to energy efficiency, conservation and waste reduction. Maintaining and improving campus tree canopy will also help to meet this goal.

G. FOOD & DINING

Dining services will use all reasonable efforts to offer affordable, home-made food from fresh seasonal ingredients, locally sourced when possible. To reduce waste, WVC dining will prioritize the following:

1. Purchasing reusable, recyclable and biodegradable products when available.
2. Reducing single-use plastic products.
3. Recycling materials as appropriate.
4. Reusing containers in compliance with food safety standards.
5. Serving meals on reusable plates, dishes, and flatware, and water in glasses.

H. TRANSPORTATION

Decision-making related to transportation should consider environmental impacts, affordability, and accessibility. Priority will be given to:

1. Public transportation.
2. Bicycle infrastructure on campus.
3. Walkability.
4. Electric and low emission vehicles.

I. BUILDINGS

When funding permits and when suitable for a given building, research and implement the best available technologies to address improvements to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), envelope, lighting, labs, building controls, data centers, water use, materials and furnishings. Scheduling of heating and lighting will increase energy efficiency for cost savings and resource conservation. All efforts will be made to reclaim heat that would otherwise be vented.

In demolition, materials will be reclaimed, reused or recycled whenever possible. New construction will promote green building strategies along with fiscal responsibility.

Approved by the president’s cabinet: 4/28/20
Presented to the board of trustees: 5/20/20
Last reviewed: 8/22/22
Policy contact: Director of Facilities

Related policies and procedures
600.503    Sustainability Policy