Growing a More Sustainable Campus

Nov 25, 2020

From beehives to solar umbrellas, projects help make BC green Bellevue College launched its first Earth Week 20 years ago, and since then, the campus has grown with an eye toward incorporating sustainable practices both large and small. Join us for a photo tour of just some of the ways we’re going green to benefit…

A work party with people planting shrubs in the raingarden

From beehives to solar umbrellas, projects help make BC green

Bellevue College launched its first Earth Week 20 years ago, and since then, the campus has grown with an eye toward incorporating sustainable practices both large and small. Join us for a photo tour of just some of the ways we’re going green to benefit students, our community, and planet.

Pathway leading through the rain garden by Student Housing

Student Housing Rain Garden

Composed of native plants, the rain garden works to absorb and filter out the sediments and toxins in rainwater before reaching the storm drains and ultimately our natural waterways like the Puget Sound.

LEED® Certified Design for New Buildings

New buildings on campus have been designed with LEED®, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building certification system, in mind. The T Building and S Building achieved LEED® Gold, and the Student Housing facility achieved LEED® Platinum, the highest rating.

A student in protective wear holds up a honeycomb filled with bees

Minding Our Own Beezness

Beehives reside behind the S Building and are maintained by BC’s Beekeeping Club. Club members learn how to keep a healthy and thriving colony by applying effective and sustainable apiary techniques.

A student checks out one of the bikes for rent

Bike Rental Program

The BC Bike Rental Program has bikes available for rent. All bikes come with waterproof saddle bags, lights, locks, and a helmet. There’s also a bike fix-it station on campus for all bicyclists.

EvoEco Smart Bins

New to the C Café, EvoEco Smart Bins help guide waste sorting through engaging and interactive displays. The screens scroll through sorting guidelines, while sensors weigh items and detect whether items have been improperly disposed of, prompting users to think again about their choice.

Solar panels on the roof of the C Building

Solar Panels and Umbrellas

Solar panels are located on the C Building and R Building roofs. The panels can power about 8% of the C Building load and 70% of the R Building load. Anyone on campus can plug electronics into the base of the solar umbrellas in the C Courtyard for an environmentally friendly battery boost.

Lighting Design

Exterior lights surrounding the S Building, T Building, and Student Housing all face down to minimize light pollution.

Office of Sustainability

Bellevue College’s Office of Sustainability strives to create a more sustainable campus, curriculum, and leadership community. In 2007 Bellevue College joined the American Colleges and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which pledges to strive for carbon neutrality. Bellevue College achieved a STARS Silver Rating from AASHE and the 2013 Climate Leadership Award for Associates Colleges from Second Nature as part of the ACUPCC.

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