Transcript Slide 1
Campus Sustainability: Where are the Opportunities? Lyle Benko & M.J. Barrett A belief: Education is crucial to attaining a sustainable future Campuses that Teach “What lessons are taught by the way we design, build, and operate academic buildings?” • David Orr, Earth in Mind, 1994 Campuses that Teach Buildings/ processes teach Role modeling Living Laboratory Learning from action University of Waterloo WATgreen Mission: Transform the U of W into a showcase of environmental responsibility Provide opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to improve the quality of their environment Assist with the financial and environmental efficiency of the University. Key features of WATgreen Staff position Administrative support Policies Multi-stakeholder Committee Student-run office Project-based Course WATgreen Initiatives Policy-supported initiatives: Recycled paper Lawn spraying Chemical disposal Materials consumption Materials reduction Biodegradable products Greening the Campus Course Future areas of focus: Water Waste Landscape management Energy University of British Columbia Campus Sustainability Office Vision: to make UBC the leading Canadian university in demonstrating the means to a sustainable community through the fair, wise and efficient use of: economic social ecological resources within the bounds of a finite planet. Key features of UBC Campus Sustainability Office Staff position Administrative support Sustainability Coordinators University-Wide Policy Track savings Financed through savings UBC Initiatives Operations: Sustainability Coordinator Paper reduction Energy Management Composting Project Sustainability Circles TrekSTEP 1 UBC Sustainability Pledge Planning: UBC Seeds Land Use Planning Energy & Water use plan Design & Development: Green Buildings Building the Business Case Image: Business as usual, but better than usual Not too political…keeping credibility & partners The UBC Business Case Reduced energy use by 4% (student body increased 11%) Decreased $35 water use 21% million energy and water retrofit ($3 million/yr; 15 year payback) Additional Initiatives Universal bus pass Carpool program Emergency ride home Alternative food services Fair trade coffee Promote reusable mug use Dump & Run Recycled paper Recycled paper towels Brown bag lunch series Ad-free space Carpool program Emergency ride home Student union initiatives Course links & assignment shifting How to Institutionalize Sustainability office Embed content & projects in course(s) Ongoing student group Full time staff Policy Faculty incentives Sustainability coordinators Track savings Top down & Bottom up Integration volunteerism coursework job opportunities Giving people permission & an opportunity to do what they really would like to do. For Discussion Where are the opportunties? Within our courses? Within our building? Within the campus? Within the community?