For more than 50 years, the 91探花 has recognized Earth Day by engaging students, faculty and staff in a variety of activities and events aimed at creating a more sustainable future.
Over the years, the 91探花has been a champion for sustainable practices on campus, winning awards for recycling and reducing waste. New construction at the 91探花is recognized as state-of-the-art, and now campus officials are aiming to reduce the 鲍奥鈥檚 carbon emissions by improving behind-the-scenes heating, cooling and electrical systems on all three campuses.
In 2023, the 91探花plans to spend $3 million on energy and water conservation efforts, representing a 400% increase from the previous year, officials said. Aging equipment is being replaced, lighting exchanged and new monitoring systems installed allowing for the 91探花to take informed steps to reduce the university鈥檚 carbon footprint. As a result, the 91探花will pay less for energy and water and use those cost savings to pay for future sustainability improvements.
鈥淎s a world leader in climate research and innovation, the 91探花is committed to doing our part to reach a carbon-neutral future by reducing the amount of energy and water used on our own campuses,鈥� said 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce. 鈥淏y focusing on innovative new construction practices, improving energy efficiency in all our existing buildings and updating parts of our core infrastructure, the 91探花is taking a significant step toward increasing sustainability in all our operations.鈥�
Learn more about Earth Day activities across all three 91探花campuses .
New construction at the 91探花is utilizing some of the most advanced sustainable building practices available, minimizing energy and water usage while maximizing space for collaborative interactions. Opened in 2021, the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health earlier this year achieved LEED Platinum, the highest standard in sustainable building practices. And when the Foster School鈥檚 Founders Hall it was the first building at the 91探花to be constructed of engineered wood in place of steel and concrete, and will use 70% less energy and 53% less water than a comparable facility built with conventional materials.
Meanwhile, 91探花Facilities has worked to improve existing buildings, some dating back more than a century. The 91探花resource conservation program, established in 2015, has completed more than $5 million in capital improvement projects. Most of the work involves repair, replacement and modernization of heat and cooling systems, and lighting and electrical components. Antiquated machinery is being replaced with cutting-edge building automation technologies that allow facilities engineers to better monitor and control heating and cooling systems.
鈥淭he 91探花takes seriously its role in the region, the state and the world,鈥� said Lou Cariello, vice president for 91探花Facilities. 鈥淲e are poised to evolve our physical spaces and infrastructure to meet the needs of tomorrow by implementing technologies that will reduce our carbon footprint and create a campus for the future.鈥�
鲍奥鈥檚 lays out a plan to transform and decarbonize the energy system of the Seattle campus and help the 91探花meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets in its . Cariello and other 91探花Facilities officials have been sharing the plan with key stakeholders.
鈥淥ur Energy Strategy provides a roadmap for the 91探花to decarbonize its operations while modernizing our energy systems and adapting our infrastructure,鈥� said Dave Woodson, executive director of Campus Energy, Utilities and Operations. 鈥淭ransforming how energy is used at the 91探花will be a substantial effort and will require everyone鈥檚 involvement. Because the easiest and cheapest energy to be saved is that which doesn鈥檛 need to be used, even small gestures, like switching off lights and unplugging unused devices, help maintain and grow our culture of sustainability.鈥�