To receive the support of such notable local businesses on our project is a humbling experience. Today, we are continuing our interview series of our primary donors with Sanitary Service Company (SSC), and how  their work aligns with ZeNETH. It turns out that SSC cares about a lot more than picking up our junk!

Founded in 1929 by Italian immigrant, Agostino “Gus” Razore, as a waste management company for 500, SSC now boasts a 50,000 customer service area that includes most of Whatcom County. Paul Razore, the son of Gus, is the company’s president and has preserved the community minded company for the benefit of this region.

As Whatcom County’s first major purchaser of renewable power through Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power Program, SSC has a pattern of energizing initiatives that support a cleaner environment.  This ethic is reflected in their use of Smart Trips and it’s 5-star achievement from EnviroStars which earned this rating “for our leadership activities in reduction of both hazardous and non-hazardous solid wastes” and became the first company of its kind to earn this rating by EnviroStars. ZeNETH is also not the first group at Western Washington University to receive support from SSC; the prime sponsor for the university’s cycling teams is SSC!

SSC’s Recycling and Safety Manager, Rodd Pemble, spoke with me about the work they support, and why it matters to SSC to provide assistance to Project ZeNETH. When it comes to ZeNETH, SSC once again sees an opportunity in boosting the work of a project that touches not just on energy, but upon housing, and waste. “We really appreciate when people are able to look at issues in a multi-faceted way that reflects the complexity of the situation. We are very systems minded, and have a basic appreciation for material sciences, so supporting ZeNETH lines up well for us,” says Pemble. “We’ve done extensive upgrades on our buildings and truck fleet over the years. These improvements in energy efficiency have made the buildings more comfortable. We’ve also analyzed our maintenance shop’s toxicity levels, and reduced the use of many potentially harmful cleaners in favor of more effective and cheaper non-toxic options. This is important because these materials can directly impact the health of our workers.”

Because the work of ZeNETH touches on overlooked aspects of construction such as energy efficiency, material waste, and material toxicity, our team relishes the support of a well known, local company that also cares about these critical pieces. SSC, along with A1 Builders and Western Solar all put heart and mind into their business practices, and honestly, it provides much needed encouragement for us to stay at it. We know that our friends at SSC do care, and they’ve put forth the resources to help fund the work that matters.

It can be easy to think of SSC as just another company, but they are, in fact, one of only a handful of locally owned and operated companies  in the waste management industry. They have the flexibility to meet the needs of our county, the city, and their customers.

We so appreciate their generous support for Project ZeNETH, and we celebrate being on their long list of local initiatives that are ensuring a healthy environment for our future. Thank you, SSC!

“You can get a little lost if all you care about as a business is the profit and loss.”

– Markus Virta, Western Solar

Our team has been fortunate to work with incredible partners on this project, and in this second installment of our sponsor interviews I sat down with Markus Virta of Western Solar. Through this interview, I wanted to learn what brought Markus to our project and how it fits with the work of this regional solar installer.

“When I started with Western Solar in 2010, we were installing at $10 per watt. The price is now at $2.40 per watt.” This immense price drop in solar is reflected across the renewable energy spectrum, and it speaks to the excitement and possibility that ZeNETH is trying to showcase. As the joint manager of Western Solar and Director of Sales, Markus relies not just upon the enviable cost reductions to sell solar, but also upon developing authentic connections with the employees and customers of Western Solar. “One thing that Eric Blatz [operational manager of WS] and I talk about is how we’ll look back on our lives in business. We know that we’re judged by how we treat our customers and employees. That’s why we offer the benefits and wages we do. I believe good jobs are absolutely necessary for the energy transition, otherwise we’ll fall short of really transitioning.”

Project ZeNETH hasn’t been the only not-for-profit project that Western Solar has partnered with in Whatcom County. They have installed solar for the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Lydia Place, Bellingham Food Bank, and the Bellingham High School. For the high school project, students are now monitoring the solar production and learning about the variability of energy production given weather and environmental conditions. These projects speak to the unpredictable benefits that come with doing work that is simply good for people and good for the planet. Profit and loss, as Markus will attest, cannot dictate the entire direction of a business. Instead, he’s learned to, “say yes easily” to projects that appeal to a social and environmental need.

As far as getting involved with Western and ZeNETH, Markus said that, “closing the gap between students and business is a major focus of mine, and something that I wish had been more discussed when I was a student,” It’s his hope that this type of bridging between institutions will get more students on track to be involved in the renewable energy industry, be it in policy, project management, or especially in the trade skills. To show their appreciation for continued education, Western Solar provides a $1,000 annual stipend to employees to follow their educational interests. This investment in an individual’s education not only directly benefits the employee, but generates a stronger work force to keep up with this rapidly developing renewable energy transition.

We have much gratitude for the work that the Western Solar team has already put forth in Project ZeNETH, and we look forward to showcasing their professional handiwork on the roof of our net-zero energy tiny house. You can check out more of their work on their website, including their installation of Washington State’s largest ‘made-in-Washington’ solar array. Fun fact: those panels were manufactured in Bellingham by Silfab Solar (formally Itek Energy), another sponsor of ZeNETH! Small world.