FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
CONTACT: Elizabeth Fischtziur - (425) 352-3636 - efischtziur@uwb.edu
BOTHELL, Wash. - As a campus built on environmental sustainability and a signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (signed by UW President Emmert in March 2007), the University of Washington Bothell is continually seeking new ways to reduce its carbon emissions. This week it will receive some assistance from a few unlikely helpers, local goats.
Since becoming herbicide-free in July 2006 as a way of reducing pollutants to the North Creek, the campus has practiced organic methods of removing weeds, including cutting and mechanical removal as well as adding wood chips in the planting beds, but the weeds continue to prosper.
Under the direction of Tony Guerrero, Director of Facility Services, the UW Bothell grounds team has elected to bring Tammy Dunakin of Vashon-based Rent-A-Ruminant and her goats to campus this week to combat the weeds. Says Guerrero, "I saw that others like King County Metro and Seattle City Light were using goats and asked why can't we? This is a great way for us to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the amount of equipment we use in these areas, as equipment uses fuel and send out emissions. The emissions from the goats is in the form of fertilizer which we can reuse to improve our soil."
The goats will be on campus this week and later this summer goats from Craig Madsen of Edwall-based Healing Hooves will arrive. Pending a positive response, the campus is investigating the possibility of housing a few goats full-time in the future.
In addition to becoming herbicide free last year and hiring goats this year, the campus continues to find ways to be more sustainable: boasting buildings which have been constructed very efficiently; with the help and funding from UW and Cascadia Community College, restoring the 58 acres of campus wetlands; implementing a "Push-to-Flush" project by disabling automatic flushers throughout campus; using vermi-composting wherein worms eat the garbage; producing compost tea for flowers and plants; engaging in a garage lighting retrofit (since installation in October 2005 campus savings are estimated at $50K); owning and managing a storm water system which includes 400+ catch-basins and 6 oil-water separators; using green cleaning products throughout campus; and promoting a campus-wide recycling program as well as an alternative transportation program. With each new change, the University of Washington Bothell is improving its commitment to environmental sustainability and is upholding the President's commitment as a member of the Leadership Circle of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.
For more information on these efforts, please contact Tony Guerrero, Director of Facility Services, 425-352-3557.
