In Our Nature

For 40 years, the University of Washington's Manastash Ridge Observatory near Ellensburg has been home to countless research projects studying our vast universe. Now, it’s working on incorporating environmental sustainability into the mix.

"It’s time to make changes that reflect the use of the facility and our impact on natural resources, particularly our water and energy consumption," said Oliver Fraser, UW astronomy lecturer.

A team of researchers and students have been working to upgrade...

Next month, several major University of Washington suppliers will help the UW move toward full use of 100% recycled paper for copiers and printers.

Since 2010 the Committee for Paper Reduction (CPR), a multi-disciplinary committee composed of members from all three UW campuses, has been responsible for communicating the need for processes and tools that result in responsible paper use at the University of Washington as dictated by the objectives in Washington State Substitute Bill 2287. This substitute bill requires all state agencies to reduce the...

ENVH 448/548: "Community Air Pollution" is open to all majors and has no prerequisites. However, on introductory biology or chemistry course is recommended.

Topics covered include:

• Air quality standards, monitoring and management
• Air pollution sources, chemistry and meteorology
• Effects on human health and the environment
• Wood smoke and alternative fuels
• Air pollution control technology
• Climate Change
• Indoor air

Professor: Dr. Sverre Vedal
Time offered: T/Th 9:30-10:20
Credits: 3 graded

The first rebates for labs which have purchased Stirling Ultra Low Freezers rebates have arrived.

If you haven’t heard, Seattle City Light has partnered up with the University to offer a $600 rebate per freezer that each lab purchases. Facilities Services found that these freezers are 6 times more energy efficient than other brands and saves $208 a year in electricity costs. The Burke Museum's Genetic Resources Collection replaced five of their freezers with the Stirling Ultra Low Temperature Freezers in 2015, and appreciate the design for space efficiency and ergonomics as well as...

If you're interested in working in the green building industry, you may want to become certified as a LEED Green Associate. This credential shows you have taken the training and have knowledge of the LEED ratings system.

LeadingGreen will be on campus on April 16 for a LEED Green Associate training session in Loew 102 from 1-5 p.m., which will provide an overview of LEED and information designed to help you pass the LEED GA exam administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. 

From LeadingGreen's event information:

Just as Buildings can be LEED...

The UW Sustainability team is honored to have been nominated for a 2016 UW Distinguished Staff Award. We recently took part in the annual reception honoring all nominees, and came away very inspired by all the great work happening on campus.

The reception included remarks by President Ana Mari Cauce before all of the nominees were introduced and brought on stage. Check out the photo above of our team preparing for our introduction. Pictured are, from left: Renewable Energy Liaison Marilyn Ostergren, Project Manager Elise...

You’re standing in front of three large bins (recycle, compost, and trash), trying to figure out where exactly to throw away a milk carton. You're pretty sure it shouldn't go in the compost, but you're not sure if it should be recycled. Should you throw it in the landfill bin just to be safe? 

Deciding what to recycle can be tricky – we’ve all been there. Luckily, Sqwatch is here to help.

Those milk cartons can go in the recycling, along with most cans, bottles, paper and plastic containers....

A handful of students make their way to the University of Washington’s Forest Club Room as Todd Woodard stands in front, getting ready to discuss land preservation in Coast Salish country.   

Restoration projects are an integral part of Samish Native American culture  – whether it’s restoring ecosystems in the Samish river watershed or reviving landscapes in Cypress Island.

“The heart of restoration is getting things back to the way they are,” began Woodard, director of the Samish Nation Natural Resources Department.

Woodward works directly with the...

We're lucky in Seattle to have city-wide composting, which makes it easy to keep food scraps out of the landfill. Choosing compost instead of the landfill bin reduces methane emissions and allows for the material to be reused to increase soil nutrients. However, the city still sends about 100,000 tons of waste to the landfill each year which could be composted.

You can even compost items in the city compost bins that...

UW Organizational Excellence is hosting a Showcase on March 8 from 1-3 p.m. in the HUB Lyceum, featuring work from departments across the UW. This event will showcase how schools, colleges, and administrative units are making the UW better – together. UW Sustainability is excited to be there as a presenter and to see the outstanding work from other areas of the university.

We're giving you a sneak peek of some of the projects we'll be presenting at the showcase. Click on the images below to see a full-size PDF of the posters detailing our projects, and stop by the OE Showcase next...