WSU Vancouver Campus Sustainability
While crimson and gray are no doubt our favorite colors at WSU Vancouver, we also like green—both the shade that so gracefully blankets our campus and green’s relationship to the 21st century concept of sustainability. At WSU Vancouver sustainability is not confined to a single department or discipline, it’s a value shared by faculty, staff and students alike. From stormwater management to recycling our glass bottles in the Firstenburg Student Commons, Cougars take pride in protecting our campus, our community and the earth.
Climate Action Plan
Campus recycling
- Mixed comingled items (plastic, paper, aluminum)
- Cardboard
- Waste
- Glass
- Lights (fluorescent bulbs)
- Shredded paper items
- Oil/lubricants
- Filters (oil, air filters, HVAC)
- Ink cartridges
Sustainability practices and operations
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
What Is LEED? Read more about LEED certification.
WA state mandates LEED minimum silver for all new capital construction
Washington became the first state to enact legislation mandating that state buildings achieve Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ratings by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Senate Bill 5509, signed by Washington Governor Christine Gregoire on April 8 and taking effect July 24, applies to any new construction or remodeling project of more than 5,000 square feet. Various types of laboratory facilities, hospitals, pumping stations, and research facilities are the only exemptions. The Silver LEED rating is the third-highest rating for high-performance sustainable buildings, after Platinum and Gold. (reference from www.edcmag.com)
Green cleaning procedural summary
Campus procurement
- Paper 100% recycled content
- Hybrid vehicles
- Electric carts
Automated control systems
Irrigation water management
Irrigation via Rain Master ET system
Building automated controls
HVAC and lighting controls systems
- 80% Siemens controls
- 20% Alerton controls
Square D Power Monitoring
Stormwater Management Program
Washington State University Vancouver's Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) strives to reduce discharges of non-point source pollutants to stormwater to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) and protect its' water quality through permit-specified Best Management Practices (BMP's).
Program summary
Campus storm water permit
Insecticide pest management program
- Salmon-safe Certification
- WSU Today article - Salmon-safe Certification: First urban site to achieve sustainability endorsement
Infrastructure
- Ponds
- Swales
- Riparian zones
- Wetlands areas
Academic Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability: Academic resources, degrees, courses, research, and service (PDF)