Glendale Community College Lauded for Green Efforts

Glendale Community College (GCC) received two awards this week recognizing the college’s outstanding efforts to promote sustainability and become carbon-neutral by 2025.

On Nov. 1, Westmarc’s Best of the West 2012 named GCC the winner of the West Valley Quality of Life Enhancement Award, citing the college’s comprehensive pledge of sustainability that involves students, faculty, staff and community members.

Last year, GCC President Dr. Irene Kovala signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, pledging to become carbon-neutral by 2025. Already, the list of “green” accomplishments on campus is impressive: xeriscape, locally-source building materials, environmentally-friendly chemicals and cleaners, a fleet of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations, sensors to reduce energy and resource usage, LEED-designed buildings, e-cycling events, campus-wide recycling bins and a paper reduction pledge.

GCC’s video entry into the national Planet Forward 2012 Climate Leadership Award competition was shown at the Best of the West ceremony. The videowas the top vote-getter in the Associate College category.

Westmarc, a coalition of business and community leaders in the West Valley, bestows the annual Best of the West awards to recipients who contribute to the image, lifestyle, economic development and growth of the West Valley.

Also this week, the 25th annual Clean Air Campaign named GCC the winner of this year’s Outstanding Trip Reduction Program–Over 500 Employees–Public Employer.

GCC’s Trip Reduction Program is actively promoted in campus displays, online and in employee orientations. The program encourages employees to use alternative transportation, including carpools, bicycles, walking, telecommuting, compressed work weeks, and public transportation to get to work. Participants who use alternative transportation at least two times per week earn a preferred parking space, discounted bus passes, and entry into prize drawings. Carpool interest soared after one Business/IT professor announced his $200 monthly savings.

The Clean Air Campaign works to reward employers and employees whose efforts improve air quality and comply with the Maricopa County Trip Reduction Program. Arizona Departments of Environmental Quality and Transportation, Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa County Air Quality Department and SRP sponsor the Clean Air Campaign awards.

For more information about sustainability efforts at GCC visit the Green Efforts committee website.

OTHER “GREEN” EVENTS COMING TO GCC
GCC participates in America Recycles Day, Thurs., Nov. 15 in the Student Union. Students and employees are asked to recycle batteries, cell phones, CDs / DVDs and jewel cases, inkjet cartridges, plastic bags, rubber flip-flops, and writing instruments.

For more information contact: Heidi Capriotti, 623-845-3805