Western’s Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) was adopted in 2017, serving as the University’s blueprint for protecting the local and global environment, upholding social equity, creating economic vitality, and maintaining human health. In the seven years since, we’ve had success and challenges. Today’s talk will address sustainability initiative on campus, with a focus on energy (Jeff Aslan), curriculum (Grace Wang), and co-curricular initiatives (Kate Beck).
Read more about the SAP here: Sustainability Action Plan | Sustainability Engagement Institute | Western Washington University (wwu.edu)
About the Speaker
Grace Wang, Sustainability Engagement Institute Director: Grace Wang is the Director of the Sustainability Engagement Institute and Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy, with a focus on natural resource policy.
Kate Beck, she/her, Sustainability Action Plan Implementation Manager: Kate coordinates the implementation of Western's Sustainability Action Plan, reports on Western's sustainability progress, brings people together to work towards Western's sustainability goals. Prior to working at Western, Kate worked as a regional planner and policy researcher in public utilities and transportation. Kate has a Masters in City Planning and Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley.
Jeff Aslan, Campus Utility Manager, Facilities Development & Operations, Western Washington University: As Campus Utility Manager, Jeff Aslan is responsible for contracting utilities for WWU’s campus, analyzing campus metering and energy monitoring, and coordinates sustainability initiatives relevant to the Built Environment such as energy efficiency retrofits, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and electrification of WWU’s district heating system. Jeff has been working on residential and commercial energy efficiency in Bellingham for over a decade in several different roles. He retrofitted his home in 2016 to become the first Zero Energy Certified home in Bellingham in 2016. Jeff holds a JD from Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2013 studying energy policy and focusing on reducing campus energy usage.
Environmental Speaker Series
The Environmental Speaker Series is hosted by the College of the Environment at Western Washington University.
The Series is free and open to the public. Talks are held each Thursday at 4:30 pm in Academic Instructional Center West room 204 - AW-204. Talks will also be streamed via zoom. Register with the Alumni Association for the zoom link. Paid parking is available in lot C.
Learn more about the Environmental Speaker Series
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