University of Saskatchewan
Contact Information
Education and Research:
In September 2008, the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) began its first year of academic programming with three students in each of the Masters programs (thesis-based Master of Environment and Sustainability and course-based Master of Sustainable Environmental Management) and four students in the Ph.D. program (Doctor of Philosophy in Environment and Sustainability). Twelve faculty members participate in the School either as joint or standard appointments, and sixteen as associate members. The faculty appointments come from academic units as diverse as History, Soil Science, Education, Geography and Planning, Agricultural and Bio-resources, Engineering, and Law.
Research grants awarded to SENS faculty include: (1) the effectiveness of governance arrangements in Canadian model forests and biosphere reserves; (2) northern communities’ strategic environmental assessment roles and stakes in Arctic oil and gas exploration and development; (3) the assessment of effects of development on watersheds; (4) tracking changes in Canadian watersheds as a management tool; and (5) the impact of potential development of oil sands in northwest Saskatchewan.
In 2009/2010, the School’s faculty complement will expand, As well, the student count will increase to approximately forty-five. Interest in the School’s programs has been very strong, with more than seventy applications received for 2009/2010.
Other Sustainability Programs
Beyond the School of Environment, the University offers a variety of programs with a focus on environment and sustainability. These include:
Agriculture and Bio-resources
- Renewable Resource Management
- Indigenous Resource Management Program
- Environmental Earth Sciences
Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
Arts and Science
- Land Use and Environmental Studies
- Environmental Earth Sciences
- Environmental Biology
- Environment and Society
- Northern Studies - Advanced Emphasis in EIA
- Regional and Urban Planning - Sustainable Cities and Regions
Environmental and Sustainability Research
Beyond the research for which SENS will provide a hub, there are a number of research centres on campus focusing on research relevant to sustainability. These include:
- Community-University Institute for Social Research
- Toxicology Centre
- Centre for Hydrology
- Environmental Engineering Division
- Canadian Co-operative Wildlife Centre
- Centre for Energy Strategies (in development)
Sustainability in the Integrated Plan
A sub-committee of the Sustainability Commitment Working Group (see info on Integrated Plan under Administration and Finance) is working on the issue of strengthening sustainability across the curriculum and research. It is anticipated that the work of this group will bring forward recommendations that will significantly impact the breadth and depth of sustainability scholarship at the University of Saskatchewan.
Campus Operations:
Energy and GHGs
A 2007 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, as well as energy audits of existing buildings and systems currently underway, will inform energy retrofits and conservation strategies to achieve our goal of reducing campus ghg emissions by 6% over 1990 levels by 2012.
A comprehensive 3-year program of lighting retrofits is 50% complete.
Alkali hydrolysis is replacing incineration at Veterinary Medicine, reducing ghg emissions and waste.
Waste Reduction
Data from campus waste audits (3 samples from 40 locations) informs the design and implementation of a waste reduction strategy to reduce campus solid waste (not hazardous or CRD) by 90% by 2012.
Since 2006, Campus Recycling has recycled over 360,000 beverage containers and provided 12 student jobs. The program will soon expand to include other materials.
Since late 2007, an in-house bulb crusher has crushed 44,600 bulbs from retrofits and regular operations. Crushed materials are sent to recyclers.
The results of a campus surplus assets audit informs the design of a system to enable the University to re-use and recycle surplus assets more effectively in the future.
Grounds staff composts most landscaping waste. Options for year-round composting to accommodate campus landscaping, food, farm and plant waste are being pursued.
The Law Addition project was the first concerted effort to reduce construction, renovation and demolition waste, with 87% diverted from the landfill. That project informs the reworking of construction specifications in relation to CRD waste.
A pilot project to test the performance and economics of using reclaimed concrete, siliceous materials and road rubble in road construction will soon begin.
Capital Projects
The College of Law Addition was designed and built to the ‘Gold Level’ of the CaGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. Certification is expected soon. Three other projects currently in design or construction will aim for LEED certification. A Main Library renovation is expected to achieve silver under LEED – Commercial Interiors.
Changes being made to our design standards will ensure that sustainability is integrated into all projects.
Transportation
The University is a member of carpool.ca to connect commuters for carpooling.
Parking Services installed secured bicycle storage as a pilot to assess whether additional secured facilities should be developed.
A new campus transit hub, together with the U-Pass, has significantly reduced demand for student parking.
The Students’ Union’s bike repair shop rents out bike tools.
Other Initiatives
Campus cleaning and washroom paper products are EcoLogo certified.
A 2008 campus water baseline study inventoried all water-consuming fixtures to inform the planning of initiatives to reduce water use by 20% by 2012.
Central control irrigation is being implemented to ensure optimal irrigation conditions and rates of campus lawns..
A widely distributed Green Events Guide provides guidance on reducing the impact of on-campus events.
Administration and Finance:
The Sustainability Commitment
A significant development is the inclusion of Sustainability as a Shared Challenge as one of twenty commitments in The University’s Integrated Plan.
“In both its intellectual life and its operational activities, the University of Saskatchewan will address the great issues of our time, including sustainability, and it must do so in a collaborative way. Sustainability cuts across the boundaries of faculty and students and staff, academic and administrative units.”
A Sustainability Commitment Working Group is developing and bringing forward strategies to strengthen sustainability in all areas of campus – governance, education, research, operations and community engagement. This group represents a broad cross section of the campus community, with key roles played by the School of Environment and Sustainability and the Office of Sustainability.
Office of Sustainability
The Office of Sustainability, housed in the Facilities Management Division, employs 3.5 full time employees, with another employee to be hired in the near future. The Office employs between five and seven student sustainability interns per year, either part-time during the academic year or full-time during the summer. The Office is actively supported by other personnel within Facilities Management.
In addition to facilitating operational changes, the Office is responsible for campus community engagement. It collaborates with units throughout campus on such approaches as: Campus Sustainability Week, Green Career Fairs, Energy Awareness Training Sessions, green Welcome Week events, a sustainability website, speakers and forums, and educational posters, brochures, displays and videos.
The Office also works to ensure linkages between academia and operations. It makes many presentations to classes every year and provides projects to project-focused courses in a number of colleges, most notably Engineering and Agriculture. The School of Environment and Sustainability and the Office are actively developing opportunities for using campus operations as a living lab for graduate students.
Sustainable Purchasing Protocol
Representatives from Purchasing Services, Consumer Services, Facilities Management, the Students’ Union and Residences are developing a “Sustainable Purchasing Protocol” that will be applicable to the entire campus.
Health, Safety and Environmental Management System
A Sustainability Addendum to the HSEMS (Health, Safety and Environmental Management System) is being developed. This Addendum will ensure that all campus workplaces must assess the sustainability implications of their workplace practices at the same time as they are assessing workplace health and safety issues and that they are provided with the relevant resources.
City of Saskatoon – University of Saskatchewan Task Force on Sustainability Initiatives
Representatives from the University and the City of Saskatoon meet regularly to explore and develop joint strategic sustainability initiatives. The focus is on identifying and pursuing operational, research and education collaborations.
AASHE Bulletin
For the latest campus sustainability news, resources, opportunities, and events: Subscribe to AASHE Bulletin