CWU to host geothermal symposium, Earth Week events on campus

Central Washington University’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact continues this Earth Week, as several events focused on sustainable practices are scheduled from April 21-25.

This programming comes in the middle of an active month for the Office of Sustainability, featuring an on-campus Geothermal Rising Symposium on Wednesday, April 16, from 1-4 p.m. in Discovery Hall 103, where attendees will learn more about the new North Academic Complex (NAC), as well as the state-of-the-art Geo Eco Plant, which will heat and cool the building. The symposium will also include a walking tour of the NAC at 3 p.m., for which closed-toed shoes are required, as the building is still under construction. The Geothermal Rising Symposium is organized by the CWU Capital Planning Department.

The events for Earth Week include:

• All Week: UN Sustainable Development Goals Scavenger Hunt, Various Locations
  • Find posters representing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals at various campus partner locations and discover how CWU is working toward a greener future.
• Earth Day Tabling Expo, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the SURC
  • Meet the people behind sustainability at CWU. Explore our interactive booths, innovative student led projects and get inspired to take action for our planet.
• Wildcat Farm Gather and Grow, 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Wildcat Farm
  • Celebrate Earth Day with us at the Wildcat Farm. Get your hands in the soil, plant seeds, and help our farm grow while connecting with nature and our community.
• Repair Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 24, on the SURC East Patio 
  • Learn hands-on repair skills from fellow students and community members, keeping your favorite items in use and out of the landfill. Want to volunteer? Sign up here. 
• City of Ellensburg Recycling Event, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at 2nd Ave. and Pine St. 
  • Bring your single-stream recyclables and learn about curbside service and local recycling drop-off locations. They will also be collecting bicycles in any condition to be refurbished and given away during bike month in May. 

In addition to planning for Earth Week, the Office of Sustainability has developed a Green Office Certification program, providing incentives for departments on the Ellensburg campus to take their sustainability efforts to the next level and equipping them with recommendations for that work.

High-performing offices will be recognized at the next CWU Sustainability Forum, scheduled for May 22. Emerson Carter, a Student Sustainability Officer who helped craft the program, looks forward to introducing sustainability concepts to folks who might not otherwise be aware of them.

“I am excited to introduce sustainability to offices on campus that think they have nothing to do with sustainability,” she said. “Everyone can take action to incorporate sustainability in their everyday lives, even while in an office space.”