McGill University

McGill's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are influenced by the GHG emissions per unit of energy. Electricity in Quebec produces the lowest GHG emissions per GJ of any province due to its primary reliance on hydroelectric-sources, … read more

McGill's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are influenced by the GHG emissions per unit of energy. Electricity in Quebec produces the lowest GHG emissions per GJ of any province due to its primary reliance on hydroelectric-sources, so McGill's GHG emissions related to buildings are determined primarily by natural gas and propane consumption, which has a higher GHG intensity.

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McGill University's downtown campus occupies 32 hectares within the Historic and Natural District of Mount Royal, a heritage zone created by the Government of Quebec in 2005. Most of the more than 100 buildings on … read more

McGill University's downtown campus occupies 32 hectares within the Historic and Natural District of Mount Royal, a heritage zone created by the Government of Quebec in 2005. Most of the more than 100 buildings on campus were constructed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Under both municipal and provincial legislation, the university cannot make any changes that affect the built environment or heritage on campus without consulting the City of Montreal and the Quebec Ministry of Culture. In 1976, McGill outlined a collection of policies and principles outlining the preservation of architecturally and historically significant buildings. With regards to building retrofits, McGill is faced with balancing functionality issues with financial consideration, while maintaining the heritage and integrity of its buildings.

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McGill University's energy consumption is largely determined by the following key factors. (1) Age of the buildings: The average age of buildings at McGill University is 55 years, and 36% of its buildings were constructed … read more

McGill University's energy consumption is largely determined by the following key factors.

(1) Age of the buildings: The average age of buildings at McGill University is 55 years, and 36% of its buildings were constructed before 1950. Older buildings are more difficult to both heat and cool and more costly to retrofit.

(2) Occupancy: The use of the buildings plays a major role in the overall energy consumption. At McGill, a significant amount of space on the campuses is dedicated to research laboratories, a use that is much more energy intensive than classroom and office spaces.

(3) Number and size of buildings: Many of the buildings are relatively small, resulting in heat loss from increased surface area relative to fewer, larger buildings.

(4) Climate: Montreal experiences heating and cooling extremes, resulting in significant peak energy demands in both winter and summer. Because of these factors, energy consumption in the buildings at McGill is expected to be significantly higher than more modern universities, universities in more temperate climates, and universities that have more focus on teaching than research and the corresponding lab space.

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McGill's award-winning Food and Dining Services reinforce the university’s commitment towards sustainability through many different initiatives and practices, recognizing that sustainable practices are essential to safeguard our natural resources. we care deeply about our impact … read more

McGill's award-winning Food and Dining Services reinforce the university’s commitment towards sustainability through many different initiatives and practices, recognizing that sustainable practices are essential to safeguard our natural resources. we care deeply about our impact on the well-being of our planet and our communities.

This commitment includes adopting practices, relationships and priorities that promote ecological integrity, social justice, and secure livelihoods. Through the choices we offer, we seek to nurture an appetite for learning about, and connecting with, the food that we eat. Initiatives include composting, 30% of produce being purchased locally (including from the Macdonald campus farm), being certified Fair Trade Campus and the first Canadian post-secondary institution to be recognized by the Marine Steward Council Chain of Custody in 2013.

For more information about all our sustainability initiatives, visit our website at http://www.mcgill.ca/foodservices/sustainability

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McGill University has devoted extensive time and resources to greening the grounds on the downtown campus by working to establish increased pedestrian zones, reduced impermeable surfaces, xeriscaping, improved biodiversity and increased green space. The prize-winning … read more

McGill University has devoted extensive time and resources to greening the grounds on the downtown campus by working to establish increased pedestrian zones, reduced impermeable surfaces, xeriscaping, improved biodiversity and increased green space.

The prize-winning Greening McGill project on McTavish Street helps to address issues related to walkability, health and wellbeing, storm water management and the heat island effect, while enhancing community vitality and serving as a showcase for other sustainability initiatives.

McGill University has increased the greenspace in the square located just inside the Milton Gates and has given rooftop space around the Burnside Building to the award-winning Edible Campus Project, a partnership between the McGill School of Architecture’s Minimum Cost Housing Group, Santropol Roulant, a local non-profit organization, and Alternatives (although Alternatives is no longer involved) to create a thriving rooftop garden to support their Meals on Wheels program.

Permeable spaces and gardens have been created throughout the downtown campus helping to improve overall storm water management.

The LEED Gold certified Life Sciences Complex integrates a thriving green roof as does the Macdonald Engineering Building.

The McGill Grounds unit is committed to water-efficient campus landscaping by selecting perennial vegetation, which require less water than annual plantings.

McGill has also adopted integrated pest management, avoiding the use of inorganic fertilizers and industrial pesticides.

Horticultural management includes favoring native species and on-site propagation of plants where appropriate, as well as a tree stewardship practice (moving and/or replanting all trees wherever required).

The downtown campus makes up only a small proportion of McGill’s land stewardship portfolio. The Macdonald campus is the largest green space on the island of Montreal. It includes the 205-hectare Macdonald Farm, which is used for research and demonstration purposes, and the 245-hectare Morgan Arboretum, which conserves an important woodland tract while providing extensive opportunities for public outreach and education. McGill University’s Gault Nature Reserve protects 1000 hectares of natural primeval forests of the St. Lawrence Valley at Mont Saint-Hilaire approximately 40 km from Montreal. The area was recognized as the first Biosphere Reserve in Canada under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program.

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McGill's Paper Use policy (approved 2005) governs paper use on campus, and our Procurement Policy (approved by the Board of Governors in 2013) includes requirements for sustainability. Procurement Services has adopted a sustainability strategy for … read more

McGill's Paper Use policy (approved 2005) governs paper use on campus, and our Procurement Policy (approved by the Board of Governors in 2013) includes requirements for sustainability. Procurement Services has adopted a sustainability strategy for its procurement efforts.

McGill requires all calls for tenders to include reference to the University’s Sustainability Policy and stresses the importance of social responsibility: bidders are required to indicate in their proposal how they could support the University in accordance to this policy. Act C-65.1 “An Act Respecting Contracting by Public Bodies” permits public bodies to require a quality assurance system, including the ISO 9001:2000 standards, or a specification relating to sustainable development and the environment for the carrying out of a contract. In addition, all of McGill’s buyers are currently being trained in sustainable purchasing.
McGill has been using green certified cleaning products in all buildings managed by Building Services since 2001, and in 2009 opted to change over to entirely detergent-free cleaners. McGill University has established a green cleaning products agreement that outlines all products to be Eco-Logo, Green Seal approved, and/or biodegradable. The call for tender developed for Building Services limits all purchases for cleaning products for day-to-day maintenance in buildings to only use Eco-Logo or Green Seal approved products. Cleaning tools (rags and scrubbers) were also replaced with more durable products that reduce waste.
Procurement Services requires suppliers to collect and appropriately dispose of all unfinished, obsolete compressed gas cylinders, and is also spearheading initiatives to replace and safely dispose of mercury thermometers, to collect and recycle used cell phones, and to clean potentially contaminated lab clothing items on campus so users do not have to take them home.
McGill University has decided to boycott buying products made in Myanmar/Burma. Procurement Services upholds this boycott and has stipulated that the University’s selected supplier of uniforms must certify, in writing, that their products are free from any and all materials that may have been made in Myanmar.

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McGill committed to reducing our water consumption through ongoing building renovations and in all future projects as per the McGill Green Building Standards. McGill is in the process of installing water meters on every entrance … read more

McGill committed to reducing our water consumption through ongoing building renovations and in all future projects as per the McGill Green Building Standards.
McGill is in the process of installing water meters on every entrance to campus buildings; this should be complete by December 31, 2016.

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The McGill community is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity and strives to be welcoming and accessible to all. Below are examples of some of the actions McGill has taken to support this goal. Committees … read more

The McGill community is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity and strives to be welcoming and accessible to all. Below are examples of some of the actions McGill has taken to support this goal.

Committees and offices
McGill University has a Joint Board-Senate Committee on Equity that recommends university policy regarding underrepresented groups, including women, racialized & ethnic persons, aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities. The committee reviews the recruitment and status of the underrepresented groups at the university and makes recommendations to the Senate and the Board of Governors. This committee and its subcommittees, some of which were dormant, have been increasingly active recently. In collaboration with students, the Joint Senate-Board Committee on Equity has supported a policy that assures the existence of at least one gender-neutral washroom in every newly constructed building on campus and that the university shall modify any existing single-user washrooms on campus by resigning them with gender-neutral signs and adding interior door locks. McGill University currently has a gender-neutral washroom in 21 buildings on the campuses.
McGill University also has a Social Equity and Diversity Education Office (SEDE) that is committed to fostering a “fair and inclusive environment that respects the dignity of each member of the McGill community”. One of the initiatives of the SEDE office is the Safer Spaces Allies program, which fosters an opportunity for McGill community leaders who have participated in a Safer Spaces workshop on queer and transgender issues to become Safer Spaces Allies at McGill University. In conjunction with First Peoples’ House, the Office of the Dean of Students (represented by the Aboriginal Outreach Coordinator), and the Office of Sustainability, SEDE also supports the Aboriginal Sustainability Project. The project seeks to develop a broad-based educational campaign to provide Aboriginal-specific programming and opportunities for bridge-building among diverse members of the McGill University community.
McGill’s Office for Students with Disabilities provides academic accommodations and services for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students who have a documented disability. McGill University held its first Disability Awareness Week in March 2012.
McGill University's Scholarship and Student Aid Office's (SSAO) mission is to promote accessibility, support retention and encourage scholarships through financial awards for needy and deserving students in any degree program from any geographic origin. The SSAO provides a host of information on scholarship funding, government aid programs, loans and bursaries, debt management, individualized budget counseling, and the Work Study program.

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53% of McGill's investment managers have an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy and Signatory to the United Nations "Principles for Responsible Investment". McGill’s endowment has investments in sustainable funds: our holdings include companies like … read more

53% of McGill's investment managers have an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy and Signatory to the United Nations "Principles for Responsible Investment".
McGill’s endowment has investments in sustainable funds: our holdings include companies like the Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank of Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, Sun Life Financial, BCE, Manulife Financial Corp, and the Bank of Montreal.

McGill University also has a Committee on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR). The Mandate of the Committee is:
1. To receive and review expressions of concern from the University community on matters of social responsibility with respect to University investments; and
2. Report to the Board of Governors on the nature of the social issue or issues raised and the extent of the concern about the issue among members of the University community based on the documents presented and the representations made to the Committee.

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