Sustainability at CBC

The purpose of the Sustainability Committee is to uphold CBC’s sustainability value statement. We strive to bring awareness and promote change to sustainability and environmental challenges that effect our students, our campus, and our local community. We invite you to join our efforts by becoming a member of our committee, promoting environmental change within our college and local community, and living by example.

“We consciously practice and model broad-based sustainability for our students, and our communities, through the balancing of economic, societal and environmental factors when considering campus development of facilities, processes, programs and curricula.”

—CBC Sustainability Committee

Ways to Live by Example

1. Using alternative means of transportation such as cycling, walking, carpooling, public transit, or traveling by electric vehicle.
2. Recycling, or better yet, reusing or consuming less.
3. Adopting a new healthy habit like meatless Mondays or committing to reusable shopping bags.
4. Planting a vegetable or pollinator garden
5. Investing in “green” companies and divesting from those who don’t share that value
6. Supporting legislation that furthers sustainability and planet health
7. Reducing reliance on single use plastic products
8. Talking to others about the importance of planet health and posting to social media

And that’s just a start. Once you make a change, keep going. See if you can make another and another. Step by step we can do this together!

Our Committee

Michelle Stewart, Chair
Teresa Iztas, Secretary
Michelle Bolling, ASCBC
Environmental Club
Anderson, Benjamin
Blundon, Cody
Cook, Heidi
Engle, Kirk
Godwin, Braden
Gunda, Padmaja
Hartwig,Stephanie
Hawk, Kaitlyn

Henscheid, Kristy
Kohn, Amanda
Lancaster, Krystal
Melby, Eric
Muller, Deborah
Reynolds, Michael
Rodriguez, Eduardo
Rodriguez-Erechar, Rosario
Sandoval, Leslie
Smith, Rik
Thornton, Alex
Vandewall, Chelsey

Celebrating Campus Trees at CBC

Events and Initiatives

Arbor Day Activities

Washington’s Arbor Day is the second Wednesday of April. As a designated Tree Campus by the National Arbor Day Foundation, we host an annual celebration of trees on this day. All faculty, staff and students are invited. The Associated Students of CBC (ASCBC) is a strong advocate and frequent co-host of this event.

Climate Solutions Program

In the 2021-2022 session, Washington State allocated $1.5 million for expanding climate education in 34 colleges. These institutions under the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges are pivotal in climate solutions, offering diverse academic programs and fostering green workforce development. CBC engages in the following workshops and forums to support these initiatives:

Climate Justice Fellows
- 2 Program Trainers
- 15 Faculty Fellows
Facilities & Sustainability Directors’ Retreat
- 2 Staff Attendees
Workforce Retreat
- 5 Staff/Faculty Attendees
Curriculum Workshops
- 2 Faculty Attendees

Construction

Sustainable construction conserves resources, cuts costs, and promotes health, vital for a greener future. The Committee leads the following initiatives in this area:

LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Designs)
- CCTE Building
- B-Building
Efficient Design Applications
- SSWL Building
- SRC

Energy

The committee plays a crucial role in driving energy sustainability by fostering collaboration, establishing policies, implementing initiatives, and promoting awareness within CBC. Here are several ways in which the committee drives energy sustainability:

Photovoltaic Solar Panels on B-Building
Efficiency retrofit of all campus lighting
- Outdoor fixtures
- Classroom, Office and Common Areas
  - Including “occupancy controls”
HVAC upgrades
Campus-wide energy metering

Grounds Management

By integrating sustainable practices into grounds management CBC contributes significantly to environmental conservation, community well-being, and long-term economic savings, all of which are key aspects of sustainability. The Committee's invitatives in grounds management:

Lawn Maintenance Improvements
- Mulching Mowers
- Mowing height increased
- Water Conservation
- Fertilizer & Pesticide reduction
Xeriscape installations
Heritage Garden
Tree Campus USA designation
Composting of landscape green-waste

Transportation

Incorporating transportation initiatives in sustainability efforts mitigates climate change, improves air quality, and promotes equity and economic growth. The committee actively drives sustainability in transportation as outlined below:

Free Bus Pass for all Students, Faculty & Staff
Improvements to Bus Stop on Campus
Bicycle Lockers installed across Campus
Partnership with Wheelhouse
- Bike Repair Shop
- Bike Donation/Giveaway Bike
- Tool Stands
Carpool Only Parking Spaces (~50 spaces)
Electric Car Charging Stations (Level 1)

Waste Management

Waste management in sustainability involves systematic waste collection, recycling, and disposal to minimize environmental impact. The committee focuses on key waste management in the following aspects.

Paper Reduction Efforts
Recycling
- No garbage cans in classrooms
- Paired Recycling/Garbage Bins
  - Conveniently located in hallways
New Recycling Contract
- Significant Cost Savings
New Paper Towel Dispensers
Waste/Recycling Awareness
- Shake & Fold Campaign (2017)
- Re-usable Water Bottle Program (ASCBC - 2017)
- Water Bottle Refilling Stations Retrofits
  - A Building
  - T Building
  - L Building

Whats Next

Staying proactive in sustainability is crucial for several reasons, as it allows the committee to effectively address current and future challenges related to the environment, society, and the economy. Here's whats next in our sustainability efforts:

Level 2 EV Chargers
Integration of Sustainability Across Campus
- Including curriculum
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Membership
- STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System)
Bulk Paper Management
Single-use Plastic Elimination

Sustainability at CBC