EvCC Sustainability

There is a broad range of benefits to transitioning to sustainable energy. Below is the list the top ways sustainable energy can positively impact our communities and planet.

Improves Public Health

The burning of fossil fuels in coal and natural gas plants is directly tied with many serious public health issues, such as neurological damage, cancer, heart attacks, breathing problems and premature death. When fossil fuels are burned for energy, they release air and water pollution that negatively affect surrounding communities and environments.

However, all of these associated risks can be eliminated by switching to sustainable energy. Sustainable energy sources typically emit no air or water pollutants that can harm public health. They also don’t make a negative impact or strain on local water resources. Meanwhile, coal mining, natural gas drilling and thermal power plants all compete with local agriculture, drinking water and other important community water needs for resources.

Creates Local Jobs

Sustainable energy can also help fuel your local communities. Since most facilities and sustainable energy infrastructure must be built locally or in the same county, making the switch helps create jobs and improve the economy. Instead of spending more money importing energy from fossil fuel companies, that money is spent on materials and workmanship to maintain sustainable energy facilities.

Decreases Your Carbon Footprint

Sustainable energy, such as wind and solar energy, creates zero carbon emissions that can harm the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. It offsets the need for fossil fuels, which are actively increasing climate change and polluting our earth.

Simply switching your own home’s energy source can help cut the environmental impact you and your family have on the planet — and eliminate your dependence on fossil fuels.

Long-term Cost is More Affordable

Sustainable energy can make a huge long-term difference to the electricity and energy costs of our homes and businesses — no matter where you are. Not only are they easily available for little to no cost, but they’re much more cost-effective than traditional energy resources, such as power plants.

Making the financial leap to wind, solar or any other sustainable energy source may seem daunting at first because of installation costs, but the long-term investment pays off in just a few years. In fact, sustainable energy costs decrease each and every year. Ultimately, you could end up saving exponentially just by making the switch to a sustainable energy system like solar panels.

Energy Security

Sustainable energy is by definition the most reliable form of energy. It will never deplete and can remove our reliance on imported fossil fuels, which are growing more expensive and less accessible. Sustainable energy also helps to conserve the planet’s natural resources and reduce the pollution associated with unsustainable energy.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

Sustainable energy is energy that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Examples of sustainable energy include wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower. These energy sources are also renewable, meaning they can be replenished naturally. 

Wind

Wind turbines use wind’s kinetic energy to spin a generator that produces electricity. 
Wind is a clean, abundant, and inexhaustible resource. 
Wind turbines can be used in many places without significantly changing the landscape. 

Solar

Solar panels use sunlight to generate electricity. 
Solar is one of the cleanest energy sources because it doesn’t produce greenhouse gases. 
Solar farms need a lot of space and consistent sunlight. 

Geothermal

Geothermal energy comes from heat deep within the Earth. 
Geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity or as a direct heat source. 
Geothermal energy is created by drilling holes into the ground to access steam and water. 

Hydropower 

Hydropower uses the movement of water to generate electricity. Hydropower includes dams, tidal power, and wave power. 

Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of electricity. 

Biomass 

Biomass energy comes from organic materials like plants and animals. 

Biomass can be burned to create heat and electricity. 

Some biomass sources, like sawdust and wood chips, can be low-carbon. 

Ocean Energy 

Ocean energy derives from technologies that use the kinetic and thermal energy of seawater – waves or currents for instance –  to produce electricity or heat.

Ocean energy systems are still at an early stage of development, with a number of prototype wave and tidal current devices being explored. 

Sustainable energy comes from resources that can meet current energy needs without putting future generations at risk. 

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

The terms “renewable energy” and “sustainable energy” are often interchanged. However, their meanings are actually different and both are important for the planet’s future. 

Renewable energy: 

Comes from natural processes like wind, water, and the sun 

Emits little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants 

Examples include solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and ocean energy 

Sustainable energy :

Meets the needs of the present without compromising the future 

Must be efficient and affordable 

Should preserve the environment and help the economy grow 

Examples include wind and solar energy that are used efficiently 

Differences between renewable and sustainable energy:

Not all renewable energy is sustainable. For example, biomass can be a renewable energy source, but it can have negative environmental impacts. 
Sustainable energy should be controlled and reduce negative byproducts. 
Sustainable energy must be distributed efficiently. 
The effectiveness of sustainable energy depends on factors like climate and location. 
Benefits of sustainable energy

Helps address environmental conservation, energy security, and socio-economic development 
Can decrease carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet 

Remember, sustainable energy produces little to no global warming emissions. By choosing sustainable energy resources and committing to clean energy, humans can effectively slow down the acceleration of climate change.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

Are you a current student with ideas on how to make EvCC more sustainable? 

The EvCC Student Green Fee has funds available and will be accepting student proposals Jan 1st through Jan 31st 2025. Any proposals received outside of this timeline will not be considered.

The Student Green Fee is an opportunity for EvCC students to help create a more sustainable campus through college funding.

Submit yours to be a part of making EvCC a more sustainable place! 

For details and instructions or to learn about previously funded projects Click Here

In order to submit a proposal, please follow these instructions:

1.  First, download and save both the budget proposal form, as well as the SMARTS worksheet
2. Second, fill out the documents, saving them under the following format: ProjectPropsalName.Date.GreenFeeBPF and ProjectProposalName.Date.GreenFeeSMARTS
3. Finally, email completed documents to sustainability@everettcc.edu.

To facilitate the handling of budget requests in preparation of the budget, the following dates will be adhered to:

January:

Opportunities will be provided for all members of the college community to submit budget proposals through the budget request forms. These forms will be sent to all organizational advisors and program directors including the Vice President of College Services. The budget for every project, program or activity must be developed by the students participating in the project, program or activity in conjunction with the appropriate advisor, coach or director. The budget request form should reflect the planned project, program or activity for the next fiscal year and shall be submitted to the Sustainability and Resource Conservation Manager and the ASEvCC Sustainability Officer by the published deadline (Late budgets subject to Student Green Fee Administrative Committee discretion).

February: 

The ASEvCC Sustainability Officer shall collect all budget request forms and prepare a master budget request. The Student Green Fee Administrative Committee shall also meet for a preliminary information discussion session(s) to establish goals and to develop schedules and procedures.

The Student Green Fee Administrative Committee shall invite the various advisors or student representatives to any project, program or activity requesting funding to present their proposals or, if they are from a current- funded program, their budgets. Presentations to the committee are mandatory if requesting a budget increase (written exceptions are subject to the Student Green Fee Administrative Committee discretion).

Requestors presenting to the committee will be scheduled and the scheduled sessions will be advertised by the ASEvCC Sustainability Officer and be open to all members of the campus community. Presentations will be limited to 15-20 minutes in length, including a question and answer period.

February/March:

Administrative Services personnel shall estimate the Student Green Fee revenue for the next fiscal year. The Student Green Fee Administrative Committee will determine a basic amount of revenue that are expected to be produced by each revenue-generating program. The sum of the Student Green Fee revenue and other program revenue will be the annual budget allocation. The Student Green Fee Administrative Committee shall meet to adjust the budget requests to the annual budget allocation.

March:

Account directors, advisors or other representatives of student groups requesting funding for a new program, project or activity, or submitting their budgets to the Student Green Fee Administrative Committee shall be notified in writing of the status of their budget and shall be advised of their

right to appeal. Appeals will be formally scheduled, and once heard, the Student Green Fee Administrative Committee will review them for possible adjustments.

April:

Two (2) open hearings will be advertised to the campus community so that viewpoints regarding committee recommendations can be heard.

The Student Green Fee Administrative Committee shall prepare a balanced budget and present its recommendations to the ASEvCC Student Senate at a budget hearing during a regularly scheduled meeting to be approved with a two-thirds affirmative vote.

The College President shall receive information regarding the budget as approved by the ASEvCC Student Senate.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

Are you a current student with ideas on how to make EvCC more sustainable? 

The EvCC Student Green Fee has funds available and will be accepting student proposals Jan 1st through Jan 31st 2025. Any proposals received outside of this timeline will not be considered.

The Student Green Fee is an opportunity for EvCC students to help create a more sustainable campus through college funding.

Submit yours to be a part of making EvCC a more sustainable place! 

For details and instructions or to learn about previously funded projects Click Here

In order to submit a proposal, please follow these instructions:

1.  First, download and save both the budget proposal form, as well as the SMARTS worksheet
2. Second, fill out the documents, saving them under the following format: ProjectPropsalName.Date.GreenFeeBPF and ProjectProposalName.Date.GreenFeeSMARTS
3. Finally, email completed documents to sustainability@everettcc.edu.

EvCC Student Green Fee Administrative Committee

The Everett Community College Student Green Fee Administrative Committee was formed to oversee the budgeting and allocation of the Green Fee funds to plan, promote, and advance student led projects that help the campus to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources – leading to a greener and more sustainable EvCC and surrounding community. Learn more about the Green Fee here!

EvCC Student Green Fee Committee Members

The Student Green Fee Administrative Committee is comprised of the Sustainability and Resource Conservation Manager, the Student Sustainability Officer, four student representatives, and a faculty member. The Student Sustainability Officer serves as chairperson and the Sustainability and Resource Conservation Manager serves as executive secretary.

EvCC Student Green F

Join us!

Interested in being involved in the Student Green Fee Administrative Committee? Email sustainability@everettcc.edu for more information!

Are you a current student with ideas on how to make EvCC more sustainable?

The EvCC Student Green Fee has funds available and will be accepting student proposals Jan 1st through Jan 31st 2025. Any proposals received outside of this timeline will not be considered.

The Student Green Fee is an opportunity for EvCC students to help create a more sustainable campus through college funding.

Submit yours to be a part of making EvCC a more sustainable place!

For details and instructions or to learn about previously funded projects Click Here

In order to submit a proposal, please follow these instructions:

First, download and save both the budget proposal form, as well as the SMARTS worksheet
Second, fill out the documents, saving them under the following format: ProjectPropsalName.Date.GreenFeeBPF and ProjectProposalName.Date.GreenFeeSMARTS
Finally, email completed documents to sustainability@everettcc.edu.

Many other colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest (and nationwide) have taken to student fees to fund their sustainability and environmental goals. Here are some examples of projects they funded through these types of fees. Below are examples of projects that have been undertaken on other campuses, or potential project ideas generated by students for our campus.

Farm to Campus Program

Agriculture and food production are some of the biggest contributors to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions, due to the industrialized processes that many large food corporations have adopted. However, by bringing local, organic food directly from farms in our area, we are avoiding many of the issues associated with intensive agriculture. Not only do programs like this encourage healthier dietary habits and benefit the environment, but they also support the local economy.

Honey Bee Colonies

Most people are aware of the declining pollinator populations, which may threaten food supplies across the globe. Many college campuses practice raising honey bee colonies and implementing landscaping strategies that are conducive to the health and wellbeing of people, plants and animals (including bees!), and can even beautify campus grounds.

Green Chemistry

Green chemistry is defined as the development and implementation of chemical products and processes to reduce or eliminate health risks associated with, but not limited to, hazardous substances used in many chemistry labs around the world. This can take the form of inventorying chemicals and properly disposing of those that do not get used, and designing chemistry experiments for curriculum that incorporate green elements.

Rain Gardens

In rainy Western Washington, significant amounts of rain water containing pollutants from yard chemicals, motor oil or other toxic substances enters our stormdrains and eventually empties into Puget Sound. Rain gardens are natural filters that remove pollution from rain water and returns it to the water table, helping to recharge aquifers and keep our streams and other waterways clean and healthy.

Solar Powered Charging Stations

Pretty much everyone has a cell phone or laptop they use regularly on campuses today. We often like to sit outside when the weather is warm, but just as often there isn’t a way to charge our devices outside. One unique solution to this problem is installing benches with solar panels hooked up to a USB port or 12 volt outlet. Not only does this provide a place to sit and charge our phones and laptops outside, but it does so through completely clean, green energy!

Eco-Scholarships

Some colleges have used the funds from their sustainability fees to offer mini-scholarships to STEM students, specifically those studying environmental sciences or engineering.

To learn more about Project Examples

Click here: https://www.everettcc.edu/administration/college-services/facilities/sustainability/evcc-green-fee/project-examples

FREE EvCC Styrofoam Recycling Event Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Parking Lot K (old Providence side) 10am-2pm

EvCC Students for Enviromental Action (SEA) Club and Sustainability Department invites you to be an environmental hero! Bring clean styrofoam, packing peanuts in bags or boxes, bubble wrap and plastic film to be recycled–for FREE! If you are bringing styrofoam, please consider bringing a donation for the Marysville Food Bank of non-perishable food or monetary donations. We hope to collect as much styrofoam as possible; help us spread the word to your family, neighbors, and friends.

Materials We Accept for Recycling
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
Your material must be:

Clean
Dry
Free of all tape and any labels so it does not contaminate the recycle process.
Please bag your peanuts separately for drop off
No contaminated material accepted.
We will accept any amount, large or small. Sorry, no hot tub covers, please.
To Identify Your Foam:
Look for the #6 or EPS inside the recycle symbol
Bend the material – it should break and snap with loose beads
Polystyrene Examples:
Clean Styrofoam
Clean Takeout
Clean Polyethylene
Clean Shipping Coolers
Clean Styrofoam Sheets
Other Materials We Accept:
Packing Peanuts (in bags or boxes please)
Clear bubble wrap
Clear plastic wrapping (Clean & dry material only)
What We Do Not Accept:
Spray-in Foam
Insta-pak Foam
Grey Insta-pak Foam
Foil-covered Foam
Pink or Blue Insulation Foam (XPS)
Hot Tub Covers
SEA Club is all about promoting environmental awareness and having fun while learning about current sustainability initiatives. For more information about this event please contact Laura Wild, Club Advisor at lwild@everettcc.edu.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

Are you a current student with ideas on how to make EvCC more sustainable? 

The EvCC Student Green Fee has funds available and will be accepting student proposals Jan 1st through Jan 31st 2025. Any proposals received outside of this timeline will not be considered.

The Student Green Fee is an opportunity for EvCC students to help create a more sustainable campus through college funding.

Submit yours to be a part of making EvCC a more sustainable place! 

For details and instructions or to learn about previously funded projects Click Here

In order to submit a proposal, please follow these instructions:

1.  First, download and save both the budget proposal form, as well as the SMARTS worksheet
2. Second, fill out the documents, saving them under the following format: ProjectPropsalName.Date.GreenFeeBPF and ProjectProposalName.Date.GreenFeeSMARTS
3. Finally, email completed documents to sustainability@everettcc.edu.

Background of the Green Fee:

In May 2018, EvCC students had the opportunity to vote on whether to assess the proposed Student Green Fee, a $0.50 (fifty cent) per credit fee, with a maximum of $7.50 for 15 credits that would fund various sustainability and environmentally-focused projects and activities on campus while giving the student body more influence over how the campus approaches sustainability. 

With 70% of ballots in favor of the proposed fee and board approval, fee collection began in Winter Quarter of 2019. The uses of the funds from this fee include:

• Creation of the Campus Sustainability Fund to provide funding and resources to the campus community in the effort to advance the sustainability goals of the College and the ASEvCC.
• Student employment opportunities in the Sustainability Office
• Supplemental funds for outreach, education and materials for the Sustainability Office.
• ASB Senate and BOT approved the Student Green Fee Financial Code 
•  and Agreement Document 

FREE EvCC Styrofoam Recycling Event Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Parking Lot K (old Providence side) 10am-2pm

EvCC Students for Enviromental Action (SEA) Club and Sustainability Department invites you to be an environmental hero! Bring clean styrofoam, packing peanuts in bags or boxes, bubble wrap and plastic film to be recycled–for FREE! If you are bringing styrofoam, please consider bringing a donation for the Marysville Food Bank of non-perishable food or monetary donations. We hope to collect as much styrofoam as possible; help us spread the word to your family, neighbors, and friends.

Materials We Accept for Recycling
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
Your material must be:

Clean
Dry
Free of all tape and any labels so it does not contaminate the recycle process.
Please bag your peanuts separately for drop off
No contaminated material accepted.
We will accept any amount, large or small. Sorry, no hot tub covers, please.
To Identify Your Foam:
Look for the #6 or EPS inside the recycle symbol
Bend the material – it should break and snap with loose beads
Polystyrene Examples:
Clean Styrofoam
Clean Takeout
Clean Polyethylene
Clean Shipping Coolers
Clean Styrofoam Sheets
Other Materials We Accept:
Packing Peanuts (in bags or boxes please)
Clear bubble wrap
Clear plastic wrapping (Clean & dry material only)
What We Do Not Accept:
Spray-in Foam
Insta-pak Foam
Grey Insta-pak Foam
Foil-covered Foam
Pink or Blue Insulation Foam (XPS)
Hot Tub Covers
SEA Club is all about promoting environmental awareness and having fun while learning about current sustainability initiatives. For more information about this event please contact Laura Wild, Club Advisor at lwild@everettcc.edu.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

EvCC Students for Enviromental Action (SEA) Club and Sustainability Department invites you to be an environmental hero! Bring clean styrofoam, packing peanuts in bags or boxes, bubble wrap and plastic film to be recycled–for FREE! If you are bringing styrofoam, please consider bringing a donation for the Marysville Food Bank of non-perishable food or monetary donations. We hope to collect as much styrofoam as possible; help us spread the word to your family, neighbors, and friends.

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Parking Lot K (old Providence side) 10am-2pm
FREE

Materials We Accept for Recycling
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
Your material must be:

Clean
Dry
Free of all tape and any labels so it does not contaminate the recycle process.
Please bag your peanuts separately for drop off
No contaminated material accepted.
We will accept any amount, large or small. Sorry, no hot tub covers, please.
To Identify Your Foam:
Look for the #6 or EPS inside the recycle symbol
Bend the material – it should break and snap with loose beads
Polystyrene Examples:
Clean Styrofoam
Clean Takeout
Clean Polyethylene
Clean Shipping Coolers
Clean Styrofoam Sheets
Other Materials We Accept:
Packing Peanuts (in bags or boxes please)
Clear bubble wrap
Clear plastic wrapping (Clean & dry material only)
What We Do Not Accept:
Spray-in Foam
Insta-pak Foam
Grey Insta-pak Foam
Foil-covered Foam
Pink or Blue Insulation Foam (XPS)
Hot Tub Covers
SEA Club is all about promoting environmental awareness and having fun while learning about current sustainability initiatives. For more information about this event please contact Laura Wild, Club Advisor at lwild@everettcc.edu.

Food is the heart of any holiday celebration. It nourishes the body and the soul. It gathers family and friends together. And don’t we all enjoy cooking it for those we love the most? And sometimes we over-prepare, which is absolutely normal, but….

Leftover holiday food and food waste is a real issue. The Ecology Center found that in the United States, we see a 25% increase in waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. 

That’s 1 million extra tons of waste, and 21% of that is food.

Why is food waste such an ecological problem?
And what happens to the food we throw away in the bin?

All of the food scraps and leftovers we discard end up in landfills where they start breaking down. During this process, methane is emitted, a greenhouse gas about 20 times more dangerous than CO2.

The reality is that we throw away more than just the leftovers we see on our plates. As Pete Pearson, Director of Food Waste at WWF says, “When we throw away food, we’re also throwing away the land, water, and energy used to produce that food.”

It’s easy to get your children on board! Healthy, and meaningful habits are shaped in childhood, hence the younger we engage children to help at home with cooking, grocery shopping, and holiday preparations, the younger we can educate them on also lowering food waste.

To make this super simple, we created a quick checklist with ideas for you and your family to follow this holiday season:

• Plan in advance by making a grocery list before you go to the store, and stick to it. While listing what you need, check out what you already have in the pantry, the fridge, and the freezer.
• Resist the urge to over-prepare big quantities of food; focus on preparing just enough.
• Store food correctly. That’s a vast topic that you can research additionally. We love this guide on storing food. Separate sauces from salads and meals, when possible, so that the leftovers can stay good for longer and can be reused in different ways.
• Don’t over serve. Portion control is a smart move here. Plus, everyone can always ask for more if needed. Another food-waste option is to serve “family style” or “buffet style”. This means putting everything in big bowls and plates on the table and letting people serve themselves.
• Encourage friends and family to take leftovers home. 
• Explore “holiday leftover recipes” online for new ideas or check out the ones we selected for you below.
• Feel free to donate the excess to a food bank or homeless shelter nearby. They are always accepting donations and having extra can be a great comfort around the holidays.
• Compost! This is a useful way to give life to old food waste and create nutrient-rich soil that can be used in gardens, or potted plants. As they say, composting is taking care of the future.

Reducing food waste is really beneficial on so many levels – for the household, for the people in the community, and for the environment. Lowering food waste:

• Leads to reducing methane emissions from landfills.
• Helps us save money through thoughtful planning, shopping, storage, and preparation.
• Is good for the community when we volunteer and donate to those in need the untouched food that otherwise would have gone to waste.
• Contributes to conserving energy and resources.  

For more food waste prevention tips, visitusefoodwell.org.

 Have a Safe and Happy Holidays!!! 

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability!  www.everettcc.edu/green

Mariya Zelenskyy – Media and Outreach Coordinator  sustainability@everettcc.edu

Want to give Christmas gifts that won’t break the bank, or the planet? 

Here is some Sustainable Christmas Gifts Ideas: 

USE SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP

What looks beautiful under your tree might be less so further down the waste stream. Most mass-produced wrapping paper and gift bags are printed using unsustainable inks and are coated with shiny foils, reducing their recyclability. Get creative and wrap gifts with materials that you already have, like old magazines, newspapers, comics, or paper shopping bags. You can also use clean fabric like scarves, bandannas, or even dish towels for a reusable wrapping. Create your own bows from strips of colorful paper and accessorize with twine, pressed leaves, and pinecones.

SEND A CARD THAT PLANTS TREES

As the holidays draw near, many of us may wish to send a card to commemorate the season.  But as appreciated as they are in the moment, cards often get thrown away once the holiday season is over. The solution? Send an eco friendly holiday greeting card that’s made from recycled or recyclable paper — or, choose from one of our several e-card options to go zero waste and plant a tree to boot!

GIFT AN EXPERIENCE THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO

Gift something that can be enjoyed in the future, like tickets to a rescheduled game, comedy show, play, or concert, a fun day trip, a museum membership, guitar lessons, or even a gift card to a favorite local restaurant or business. You’ll be supporting a local business and giving your recipient something to look forward to!

Keep your holiday footprint small by purchasing locally crafted gifts from small businesses.

HANDCRAFT SOME AWESOME DIY GIFTS

Handmade gifts are so meaningful—there’s nothing quite like them. Creating a gift for someone means making something special, unique, and putting a piece of yourself into the gift. It could be something like an artwork, a poem, a story, a song, a knitted sweater, some DIY bath salts, candles, or even cooking (or baking) something tasty.

Add some special touches like homemade ornament or a book you loved this year! 

DO A GIFT SWAP 

In the spirit of the season, sometimes we can get caught up in the excitement of buying what we think is the perfect gift. And perhaps you have a few of those “perfect” gifts in the back of your closet. Set some ground rules, and get a group of friends or neighbors together for a gift swap! You never know what treasures you might find.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability!  www.everettcc.edu/green

Mariya Zelenskyy – Media and Outreach Coordinator  sustainability@everettcc.edu