Western Washington University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Clean Energy
“Clean Energy”, later called “Western Wind” was an ongoing study conducted by students throughout the academic year of 2015-2016. Student groups assessed feasibility of a renewable power plant for university’s use through internet search, interviewing peer universities, discussing the matter with university’s administration, and surveying students’ willingness to pay for the plant. The outcome of the project was a comprehensive proposal to establish a consortium of universities in Western Washington to fund a Wind Farm that feeds the electricity into the grid.

Lights Out!
Was a student led study to record the amount of classrooms that stay lit throughout the night. The study also noted possible causes and solutions to the problem.

Sustainability Action Plan Draft
A pair of students conducted multiple interviews with campus dinning administration and students to assess the needs and feasible solution for sustainable reform in dinning, and in effect draft a plan of action for the Sustainability Action Plan. Their draft was used in the creation of the institution-wide plan signed by the President in the fall of 2016.

Sustainability Action Plan Draft
A pair of students conducted multiple interviews with campus grounds administration and workers to assess the needs and feasible solution for a sustainable reform in ground maintenance, and in effect draft a plan of action for the Sustainability Action Plan. Their draft was used in the creation of the institution-wide plan signed by the President in the fall of 2016.

Sustainability Action Plan Draft
A pair of students conducted multiple interviews with campus procurement administration to assess the needs and feasible solution for sustainable reform in purchasing, and in effect draft a plan of action for the Sustainability Action Plan. Their draft was used in the creation of the institution-wide plan signed by the President in the fall of 2016.

EV Charging Stations
Students have conducted a thorough research to draft a policy for electric vehicle charging stations that will be added to the university’s facilities in the near feature. The draft included recommendations for the best pricing model and general rules of use, all based on the experiences of peer universities and existing parking rules.

Street Waste
This project started as a study of the correlation between the street waste in the streets of Bellingham and students at Western. It was found that the majority of household items left out on the street were by left there for students for the lack of better disposal system. The group researched the best possible solution to deal with the large item street waste by interviewing peer universities, as well as university administration, community member, and local waste management representatives. In conclusion, a plan for an independent, student-run business was created to cope with this problem.

Campus Rain Cisterns
Students identified the solution in response to the need for reducing water consumption. The group proposed to harvest rainwater on top of the Carver Gym building which consumes 10% of all water on campus. The proposal provided information about the environmental and economic impacts of such project, as well as suggested to use the cisterns as an educational tool for biology and engineering students.

Social Sustainability:
Students proposed a social campaign to raise awareness on social and environmental issues. The main topics were: Organic Agriculture, Fast Fashion and Privatization of resources. Students found issues that everyone can relate to and came up with a hashtag: #NotHereButNow to stress that our actions affect social, environmental and economic disasters, even if we cannot see them.

Sustainable Investments
Three students took over the debate between the students and the WWU Foundation officials over investing donated funds into fossil fuel companies. After many interviews, mediations, and consultations with the stakeholders involved, the group came up with a three-step plan to divest from the fossil fuels: to intensify the conversation with the investment managers of Commonwealth, to disclose the investment portfolio, and to provide educational opportunities to students who would like to learn about sustainable investing. The outcome of this project is under review for the official Sustainability Action Plan.