Bellevue College held its 15th annual Earth Week celebration April 21–26, exploring the theme “Create an Eco-topia,” with a series of lectures and special events to promote environmental awareness and the sustainable use of our planet’s resources.
Festivities kicked off on Earth Day with activities centering around “Transportation in Eco-topia” including a fair with representatives from King Co. Metro, Hopelink, Enterprise Car Share, and the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA). Other events included guest lectures, including speakers from the Washington Environmental Coalition, the City of Bellevue, Cascade Bicycle Club, and other organizations.
Since the first Earth Week in 2000, Bellevue College has adopted a series of measures that have made the campus much more sustainable. Some of these initiatives include: the installation of several electric vehicle charging stations, including a DC fast charger, one of the first on a U.S. college campus; implementing the Building Dashboard, a system allowing visitors to see real-time data on energy use on campus by building; a project to upgrade campus lighting, water and HVAC systems to substantially reduce energy consumption, incorporating geothermal heating and solar power; programs to encourage alternate means of transport, including a BC Ride Match website to facilitate carpooling; and the integration of sustainability throughout the instructional curriculum combined with a student-created sustainability fund.
Last Updated October 3, 2016