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University of Calgary

University of Calgary
Campus Category: 
Four year and graduate institutions over 15,000 student FTE

Contact Information

Joanne
Perdue
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
Education and Research:

A signatory to the Talloires Declaration, U of C is active in research, teaching and community service in support of sustainability.


Research
Examples of U of C support for interdisciplinary research for the advancement and transfer of knowledge in support of sustainability:

  • ISEEE (Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy) addresses the environmental challenges of energy production and use in four key research areas; low-emission fossil fuel recovery and processing, North American energy systems, sustainable energy development in the arctic, and low-carbon communities.
  • IRIS (International Resource Industries & Sustainability Centre) promotes inter-faculty and interdisciplinary research projects on the management of environmental and sustainable development issues relating to resource-based industries.
  • CEERE (Centre for Environmental Engineering Research and Education) is entrusted with the development and growth of multidisciplinary research and education programs in Environmental Engineering, and Energy and Environment.
  • PHIRC (Population Health Intervention Research Centre) aims at improving effectiveness of interventions designed to improve population health.
  • CIPPH (Calgary Institute for Population and Public Health) furthers research in health services and systems, and on social, cultural, and environmental impacts on population health.
  • EVDS (School of Environmental Design) provides research chairs in Integrated Design, Sustainable Building Technologies and a Cities, Policy and Planning Research Laboratory.


Teaching
A 2009 survey identified 211 courses related to sustainability spanning all faculties. Other highlights:

  • Schulich School of Engineering minor in Energy and Environment.
  • Haskayne School of Business MBA specialization in Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development.
  • A Multidisciplinary MSc Degree in Sustainable Energy Development delivers instruction in the areas of law, business, engineering and environmental design.
  • The faculty of Communications and Culture tailored two existing courses and two independent studies courses to explore the complexities associated with implementation of the Talloires Declaration in the Social Sciences.


Community Service Learning

  • The Urban Alliance is a City of Calgary and U of C partnership that integrates university research in nine areas to benefit the citizens of Calgary—social fabric and security, living spaces, natural environment, the consumption and disposal cycle, mobility, physical infrastructure, management and industry, workplace and governance.
  • 650 engineering students contributed their design skills to the local “Housing First” initiative for a 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness by delivering 24 prototypes of affordable housing structures.
  • Communication and Culture developed the ‘Get Caught Red Handed’ United Way campaign asking Calgarians to get caught in charitable acts and volunteerism in the community.


Ecological Literacy Development

  • Faculty members from Humanities and Social Sciences coordinate eco-colloquiums, teach-ins and eco-conferences that bring together professionals, practitioners and students for an interdisciplinary dialogue on ecological issues.
  • In 2008-09 an undergraduate seminar-based survey course examined a spectrum of principles, obstacles and opportunities pertaining to sustainability.
  • The Office of Sustainability is developing The U of C Legacy Project aimed at advancing the understanding of sustainability in teaching, research and co-curricular learning through a mentorship and dialogue forum comprising inspirational faculty thought leaders and case studies from faculty practice leaders.
     
Campus Operations:

U of C is engaged in a comprehensive approach to transitioning to an exemplary model of campus operations through fifteen portfolios of the Sustainability Stewardship Working Group. Highlights:
 

  • Development of a Supply Chain Management Sustainability Policy based on a triple bottom line and vendor code of conduct. Current RFP’s include sustainability weighting for product and vendor practices.
  • Transportation demand management strategies including car–share, preferred location and pricing for car pool vehicles, student UPass (subsidized transit), negotiations to expand UPass to staff, student operated campus bike loan and bike kitchen, elimination of approximately 490 parking stalls over the past two years.
  • GHG emissions and energy use reductions through the central heating and cooling plant retrofit to co-generation (in progress), existing buildings energy retrofits, and energy efficiency measures in new projects. On completion of the co-generation project in 2011 the cumulative impact will be approximately 123,000 tonne CO2e annual reduction. Comprehensive GHG inventory is in progress.
  • Potable water conservation through a five year fixture replacement plan, employing efficient fixtures in new projects, and 100% grounds irrigation from reused process water. Stormwater quality improvements are being addressed through an existing parking lot retrofit to introduce a bioswale. The Schulich School of Engineering will provide performance monitoring data to operations staff to inform retrofits of other parking lots. West Campus employs an on-site stormwater retention and infiltration pond. On site stormwater management strategies are being integrated into the new Campus Master Plan and open space design standards.
  • The new Child Development Centre achieved a LEED® Platinum certification and includes a 65,000kWh photovoltaic array; five new projects under construction are expected to achieve LEED® certification.
  • The new Campus Master Plan is premised on five goals including a holistic approach to sustainability and a comprehensive approach to transportation demand management. U of C has committed to a significant increase in on-campus housing starting with approximately 750 new beds within the next year. Development of the West Campus lands adjacent main campus will strive to achieve a new pattern of living, working and learning that is socially vibrant, economically sound and environmentally sustainable (mixed use community with approximately 10,000 new residents in early planning).
  • Operations and Maintenance programs include a campus wide green cleaning program that uses best management practices and Green Seal certified products. Grounds vehicles run on a 20% biodiesel blend.
  • 2008 waste diversion programs achieved approximately 56% landfill diversion rate. An organic food waste composting program was introduced building on a student led pilot. U of C received a 2008 CAUBO award for the Sustainable Asset Disposal Program including responsible e-waste disposal.
  • A Styrofoam ban, with the exception of plates, resulted in an 85% decrease in Styrofoam usage (NIC student operated facilities). An alterative to plates is being sought which will bring the reduction rate to 99%.
  • Health and wellness advocacy through an award winning Healthy U of C Program.
     
Administration and Finance:

U of C has become well positioned for significant scales of progress on advancing sustainability through a strengthening portfolio of administrative structures and institutional planning tools. Community engagement both on and off campus promote active participation and strive to measure and report on the benefits of collective action.


Institutional Administration Structures

  • U of C Board of Governors subcommittee for Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability.
  • Director of Sustainability (reporting to the VP Facilities Management and Development) with a primary purpose as a visionary leader and an organizational strategist to integrate sustainability into all aspects of operations, build participation in sustainability stewardship across campus, and enhance the understanding of sustainability in the context of teaching, research and community service.
  • Office of Sustainability with three full time staff plus full time paid student internships.
  • The Sustainability Stewardship Working Group (SSWG) comprising fifteen teams that advance a comprehensive range of initiatives in support of campus sustainability. SSWG teams include students and faculty as well as staff members will accountabilities related to their SSWG portfolio. The chair persons of each portfolio meet at a common table with the Director of Sustainability to share progress and build alignment with the U of C’s vision for campus sustainability.
  • Annual business plan for campus sustainability.


Institutional Sustainability Commitments

  • Signatory to the Talloires Declaration 10 Point Action Plan.
  • Signatory to the University and College Presidents’ Climate change Statement of Action for Canada.
  • Signatory to the “imagineCALGARY” Plan partnership for long range urban sustainability in Calgary.
  • Comprehensive Sustainability Policy.
  • Commitments to sustainability within the Academic Foundations Plan.
  • Development of an institutional Sustainability Master Plan for fall 2009.


Public Engagement
The Office of Sustainability leads programs to build awareness and participation by 30,000 plus students, faculty and staff in advancing campus sustainability. Through ‘Sustainability ON’ the theme of U of C Stepping up Together is advanced:

  • Eco Champions Program: 50 champs from 30 Faculties and Business Units equipped with tools and skills to inspire positive change within their areas.
  • ‘Sustainability ON’ workshops and toolkits providing tips and tricks for day to day changes ie. Erase the Waste, Cut the Carbs, Water Wise, etc.
  • ‘Sustainability ON’ challenges: a three week Cut the Carbs competition led to a reduction of over 27 tonnes of CO2e from point of use energy reduction actions by students, faculty and staff.
  • Website identifying campus sustainability services, initiatives and resources.
  • New staff, faculty and student orientations with information on programs to advance campus sustainability.
  • 2008 U of C Campus Sustainability Open House with 50 displays by business units, faculties and students.
  • Green Cafés: foster dialogue, engagement, community and action toward a more sustainable campus and are complimented by a farmers market which connects the U of C community with local food producers and artisans.

The Office of Sustainability is also engaged in collaborative action with other city organizations through more than 50 partners committed to action on the imagineCALGARY Plan.
 

Please email resources@aashe.org with any suggestions, additions or updates.