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Working toward a sustainable future

Facilities Services joins campus efforts in observing Earth Day
Campus community interacting during UW Earth Day 2018 event on Red Square

Facilities Services joined other University of Washington groups in Red Square on April 20 to celebrate Earth Day 2018 and support this year’s theme of “planting the seeds for a sustainable future.” Employees from UW Recycling, UW Surplus and Transportation Services staffed outreach tables at the event, and the Energy Resource Conservation team received a Husky Green Award during the ceremonies.

The event was hosted by the student group UW Sustainability Action Network (UW SAN) in collaboration with UW Sustainability. From 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Red Square was filled with local food vendors, interactive art stations, live performances and outreach tables representing various UW departments and groups. UW SAN believes Earth Day should be an inclusive event that anyone can celebrate and contribute to. Primary funding was provided by the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF).

UW Earth Week

Prior to the signature Earth Day event, UW Sustainability promoted UW Earth Week with various offerings across UW’s three campuses — including volunteer opportunities, ecological restorations, an alternative transportation event and UW Surplus’ public store hours. Along with UW students, faculty and staff, the Earth Day celebration also draws visitors from the local community since it coincides with the annual UW Engineering Discovery Days, which welcomes young students, teachers and families to learn about the field of engineering.

UW Recycling staff interact with visitors during tabling event. Visitors writing down why they recycle.

Todd Carey (left) and Adam Fehn of UW Recycling speak with visitors. Right: A UW employee writes down her reason for recycling.

UW Recycling, part of the Building Services Department, featured its Wheel of Waste game, which encourages visitors to learn more about sorting compost, recycling and trash by answering waste diversion-themed questions. Prizes included pens made from recycled water bottles, PopSocket phone accessories and travel mugs. The team also answered waste-related questions and shared educational materials about sorting sustainably on campus.

This year, the recycling team also invited individuals to write down their own reasons for recycling on a series of posters displayed near their outreach table. “Rather than telling people about recycling, we asked them about their personal perspectives,” said UW Recycling Manager Liz Gignilliat. “The most common theme was each individual’s responsibility for the shared future of the planet, which was really incredible to see over and over as individuals wrote on the poster — whether they were a visiting grade school student or a long-term UW employee.” 

“Sustainability takes a village,” said UW Recycling Program Coordinator Holly Griffith. “It requires the whole community agreeing on what’s important, and it’s so rewarding to see that written out on paper with the hands of all of the people that make our University great,” said Griffith.

Staff from UW Transportation Services interacts with campus community.

Samina Helsley (left) offers a trivia participant a prize while Tam Kutzmark assists a campus employee with commute options at the TS table.

At Transportation Services’ table, visitors spun The Bike Wheel of Fortune and were quizzed on the various ways the UW supports sustainable commutes. TS staff reached over 250 individuals with the broader message that the department can help them determine a sustainable commute that fits their personal needs. Participants received bike lights, bike helmets, reflective key chains, stickers, candy and multi-modal seed paper — a new promotional item this year. 

“We produced the paper simply and cost-effectively by using our existing supply of multi-modal temporary tattoos and applying the tattoos to squares of seed paper embedded with mint and wild flowers purchased from a local vendor,” said TS Shared Use Mobility Specialist Tam Kutmark. “These two-inch square prizes can be easily planted in a small pot and are ideal for residence hall rooms and employee workspaces. With a little sun and water, they’ll germinate within about a week — reminding our customers of how TS supports sustainable commuting choices!”

Staff also promoted Bike Everywhere Month, a fun celebration held in May for both new and experienced bicyclists.

Reduce, repurpose, recycle

UW Surplus staff distribute promotional items.

Stationed under a large tent near Suzzallo Library, staff from Finance & Business Services' Surplus team offered its non-stop line of visitors a chance to try out a game of Plinko and answer UW Surplus-themed trivia questions for a chance to win one of two reusable mug options.

Surplus staff also greeted individuals waiting in line and distributed pocket mirrors and buttons — featuring imagery from recycled dictionaries and made with a repurposed button maker machine. 

 

Achievements & innovations

UW Sustainability honored recipients of the 2018 Husky Green Awards, including Facilities Services' own Energy Resource Conservation team, part of Finance & Business Services. The awards recognize exemplary achievement in leadership, initiative and dedication to campus sustainability and were handed out in a special ceremony by UW Sustainability Director Claudia Frere-Anderson.

The Energy Resource Conservation team plans and implements investments that reduce energy and water waste, helping the UW to meet its climate goals while reducing costs. Team members honored were Energy Engineer Robert Gaynor, Facilities Project Engineer Erik Krownbell, Program Operations Specialist Elisabeth McLaughlin, Analyst Wendy Weng, Assistant Director of the Minor Capital & Energy Conservation Investment Program Norm Menter and Executive Director of Finance & Business Service James Angelosante.

Three other Facilities Services employees received honorable mentions and a special certificate: Motor Equipment Mechanic Lead Robert Goodloe of Fleet Services, UW Recycling Program Support Supervisor Erica Bartlett and UW Recycling Student Coordinator Audrey Taber

As a department with a major responsibility for the campus, Facilities Services plays a key role in continuing to explore innovations in sustainability. “Earth Day is such an incredible opportunity to celebrate sustainability and every angle it can take,” said Griffith. “Everyone has a unique take on what sustainability means, why it’s valuable and how it’s best carried out.”

Facilities Services Energy Resource Conservation pose with their award (left). Stage where award recipients are called up. (on right)

Left: Members of the Facilities Services Energy Resource Conservation team pose with their award. From left, Erik Krownbell, Robert Gaynor, Wendy Weng, James Angelosante and Norm Menter. (Photo by UW Sustainability).

Right: 2018 UW Husky Green Award recipients gather on stage.