Category: All Posts

Everett Community College (EvCC) is collaborating with WSU (Washington State University) to work on a revolutionary type of wind turbine called a variable pitch vertical axis wind turbine (also known as a cyclo turbine) and have formed a wind energy team. Tests are going well and these kinds of turbines can theoretically be more efficient and produce more energy than standard horizontal axis turbines. Cyclo turbines would also be much smaller than the standard horizontal axis ones and would be easier to construct and maintain. This would also allow them to be built in more urban areas and offshore floating wind farms. They can also handle more turbulent air.

The wind team are also working with JC Dream (https://jcdream.org/), a Washington organization working to find alternatives to harmful rare earth metals used in technology such as lithium.

In June, EvCC and WSU will be attending the Collegiate Wind Energy Competition (https://www.energy.gov/eere/collegiatewindcompetition/collegiate-wind-competition) in Denver to present their turbine and learn more about the wind and renewable energy industry. If you would like to learn more about this project contact STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) club advisor jgraber@everettcc.edu. 

Theo’s Chocolate is a popular chocolate company based in Seattle. They are committed to sourcing their ingredients in an ethical and sustainable way. They work directly with farmers in the Norandino Cooperative in Peru and Esco-Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and buy certified fair trade and organic cocoa beans. They purchase these ingredients for a higher than market price which ensures that farmers receive a living wage. If you would like to learn more about Theo’s Chocolate visit their website at: https://theochocolate.com/

EvCC’s Students for Environmental Action (SEA) Club went to the University of Washington’s (UW) Native Plant Nursery at the Center for Urban Horticulture on the UW-Seattle campus on February 22nd. This is an important program that raises and maintains thousands of native plants. These plants are often used for student led projects on environmental restoration sites.

SEA Club visited some of these projects such as the Heron Rookery; where several great blue herons’ nest, plant restoration/invasive species removal projects (often with collaboration with the Duwamish Tribe) and the Amphibian Corridor which is a project aimed at restoring habitat for amphibians such as salamanders. If you would like to learn more about this incredibly valuable program visit their website: https://sites.uw.edu/seruw/

The Northwest Stream Center is an important area that helps to protect the North Creek watershed and the riparian zone that is managed by the Adopt a Stream Foundation (AASF). What is a watershed and a riparian zone? A watershed is the large area of land that drains/”sheds” water into a stream, river, lake, wetland, etc. The riparian zone is the vegetation area next to a river or stream that affects that aquatic system’s ecology.

It is very important to protect these valuable ecosystems, this leads to improved water quality as well as habitat for many animals and plants. In the 1970’s the area here used to be a parking lot! Thanks to the hard work that still continues here this place has become an incredible restored watershed ecosystem. If you would like to learn more about the Northwest Stream Center, AASF and discover exciting learning opportunities; check out their website via the following link: https://www.streamkeeper.org/

For the last 5 years, the Juliana vs United States lawsuit has been making its way through the court system, asking for a climate emissions reduction plan from the state and to protect the atmosphere under the public trust doctrine. Kelsey Juliana, who was 15 years old when she co-filed the lawsuit, will take the stage at the 2020 Washington & Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC) at the University of Oregon in Eugene on March 2-4. She will give an update on the status and the next steps of the landmark lawsuit. Immediately preceding her talk will be a plenary session on Understanding the Crisis of Our Time: Writing About Climate Change, featuring a diverse panel of prominent writers. There are staff, student, and faculty discounts available. Register today to join!

The Students for Environmental Action Club is having a make-and-take event at its Wednesday, February 12 meeting to make bath bombs, soap and lip balm from 1:30-2:30 in Monte Cristo Hall 111!

The Students for Environmental Action (SEA) Club is sponsoring a letter-writing event to email Washington State legislators about important environmental issues. Topics legislators are voting on this year include a state-wide plastic bag ban, clean fuel standards, climate pollution limits, and protecting and restoring habitat for endangered orca whales. Club adviser Nancy Vandenberg will explain the issues and walk you through the process of writing short but powerful emails. SEA Club will be meeting on Wednesday January 29th from 1:30-2:30 in MC 111. Snacks provided, and also environmentally-friendly prizes for participation!

At Thoronton Sullivan Park on Martin Luther King Day, SEA club members helped Green Everett and Forterra remove invasive species from the park. Find out when the next Green Everett event will take place by visiting https://everettwa.gov/796/Green-Everett-Partnership

One of the core tenants of sustainability on this campus is sustainability in curriculum. We have a website for sustainability focused classes at the college. Link to the website: https://www.everettcc.edu/administration/college-services/facilities/sustainability/sustainability-curriculum

Everett Community College is recycling Christmas trees for free Jan. 2-31. 

Trees can be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.  Trees must be free of decorations, tinsel and other non-biodegradable materials. No flocked trees will be accepted. 

EvCC is located at 2000 Tower St. in Everett. Drop off trees in the marked area in parking lot F. To see the location of parking lot F, visit EverettCC.edu/Maps and click Campus Map. 

EvCC has been recycling holiday trees since 2009. Last year, EvCC collected more than 250 trees that were turned into woodchips on site and used for campus flower beds and mulch. 

For more information, call 425-388-9512

One of the most interesting clubs on campus is the Community Kitchen club. The premise of Community Kitchen is anyone can come to work together with others to prepare a wide variety of dishes in themed cooking and baking events.

Very often; several of the ingredients used in community kitchen events are grown right here at the college. These include red onions, garlic, herbs, and much more! The next event will be held on January 30th 5:00 pm in Monte Cristo 111. The theme is Italian comfort food! Cost of attendance is $5 at the door. For more information contact Laura Wild at lwild@everettcc.edu