Nova Scotia Community College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Students in the Industrial Engineering Technology program at the Ivany campus participate in the Campus' bi-annual waste audit, and then present their findings of the audit to the entire campus during the sustainability expo that they hold. The expo is open to the entire campus and public and highlights various aspects of sustainability and organizations involved in sustainability work at different educational booths. Some of these booths have included: Efficiency Nova Scotia, and the tare shop (a local shop that focuses on package-free products and a low-waste lifestyle). Participating in the waste audit and holding the sustainability expo is done as part of a class project and advances the understanding of sustainability on campus through education and engagement.

Many programs at NSCC incorporate air & climate in the curriculum, and use building infrastructure to advance sustainability education. NSCC's Centre for the Built Environment (CBE) at the Ivany Campus, is a “living”, learning and research lab for students, staff and industry. The CBE demonstrates various renewable energy technologies that students are able to experience through their programs. This includes two small-scale wind turbines as well as an array of PV panels to generate electricity on campus. The Ivany Campus also participates in the "Solar Electricity for Community Buildings" program through the province of Nova Scotia, aiding in Nova Scotia's green energy transition.

In addition, within the CBE, the Building Systems Monitoring Research Lab collects data in ‘real time’ from about 3,400 locations in the building. Data collected includes energy produced by wind turbines, geothermal systems, solar energy, as well as building energy use and savings. Being able to observe real-time data from the building's operations gives NSCC students unique insight into how buildings contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and how to control a building's energy consumption.

The Centre for the Built Environment (CBE) at the Ivany Campus is designed to balance the natural environment with the built environment - a unique concept for a trades and technology learning space. In this 11,148 square meter (120,000 square foot) building, students learn how to implement sustainable building practices. As mentioned in the previous section, the CBE houses the Building Systems Monitoring Research Lab. In the Building Systems Monitoring Research Lab data are collected in ‘real time’ from about 3,400 locations in the CBE. The data not only assists our Facilities Department to monitor and manage building operations but also allows for students to explore.

Parameters that are being monitored in the lab include:
-Building energy use and savings,
-Energy produced by wind turbines, geothermal systems, solar energy,
-Data relating to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems,
-Stress on building components such as walls, floors, and roof,
-Temperature of inside air, outside air, soil, and well water,
-Temperature and use of domestic water,
-Lighting power use, and
-Security and fire alarm systems.

http://www.nscc.ca/docs/explorenscc/cbe/cbe_interpretivebrochure.pdf


http://www.nscc.ca/explorenscc/campuses/waterfront/cbe.asp

Many programs at NSCC use our Campus buildings for learning purposes. For example, our Occupational Health & Safety program as well as the Environmental Engineering Technology Program conduct inspections and environmental assessments as part of their course work, such as hazardous building assessments. Valid findings and recommendations stemming from student projects are brought to the attention of facilities staff. This creates a working relationship between students and staff, as students' findings are incorporated into the day-to-day operations of the building.

Our focus is to create learning environments that enable students to collaborate on projects, see first-hand how building systems function and access the latest in technologies. Equipped with advanced skills and knowledge about sustainable practices, NSCC graduates will lead the way in raising awareness about environmental stewardship in the workplace and transform their communities in the future.

At our Annapolis Valley Campus, the Pilikan House was constructed to demonstrate various sustainable energy technologies used in a residential context. This house is a "living lab" and demonstration site where the next generation of residential construction professionals can learn how to incorporate sustainability into their work. It is designed to be an affordable and practical home to show home-owners how sustainable design and energy-efficient options can be within their reach.

Pilikan is a hands-on learning tool for the students in NSCC's Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology (ESET) program, as well as a research tool with 30 monitoring and control points to track energy consumption.

http://www.nscc.ca/explorenscc/campuses/annapolis/pilikan-house.asp

As part of the Culinary Arts program at NSCC (Akerley, Kingstec, Lunenburg, Marconi, Strait Area Campuses), students prepare food to be served in specialty restaurants located at their campuses. These restaurants are available for staff, students, and the public to visit, and allow the students to grow their skills while using the campus to simulate a real fine-dining environment. Students are assessed on the quality of the dishes they prepare while the community is able to access food that is prepared locally. Depending on the campus, baking and pastry arts students also contribute, and students from tourism management programs help to manage the service.

http://www.nscc.ca/explorenscc/campuses/akerley/fresh21.asp

http://www.nscc.ca/explorenscc/campuses/strait/savour22six.asp

http://unews.ca/a-fresh-dining-experience-at-nscc-akerley/

In addition, multiple NSCC campuses have greenhouses and gardens on site for students and staff to tend and the food is also used for dining on site. For example, our Akerley campus has a garden that the culinary program tends to, and they use the herbs and vegetables grown in this garden within their program. They also host a Harvest Dinner each year with food grown locally in their garden. The Kingstec culinary students grow micro greens in the Horticulture program's greenhouses and also incorporate those in their meals that are served in the restaurant on campus.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/nscc-akerley-culinary-harvest-dinner-at-fresh-twenty-one-restaurant-tickets-72568475263

The Kingstec Horticulture program has greenhouses and gardens throughout the campus, which are tended to by students. The Horticulture students use knowledge of sustainable growing practices gained in class to ensure the plants on site remain healthy. The Kinsgtec Campus's grounds form the living lab for the Landscape students as well. This program incorporates sustainable landscaping practices.

http://www.nscc.ca/learning_programs/programs/plandescr.aspx?prg=hltg&pln=hortlandsc

Our Natural Resources Engineering Technology (NRET) program at Lunenburg and Strait Area campuses use the grounds to practise sustainable foresty techniques. NRET students at Strait Area Campus are also working with the Heavty Duty Equipment Operator training program to conduct environmental impact assessments on land rented from the town of Port Hawkesbury. They are also developing sedimentation and erosion control plans to ensure the surrounding environment and waterways are protected.

NSCC sustainability staff conduct bi-annual waste audits at each campus to track waste disposal and diversion rates. Results from these audits are included in NSCC's annual sustainability report. During the audits, students from various NSCC programs across the college (some examples include: Natural Resources Environmental Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology, and Social Services) assist with audit tasks. The industrial engineering students use the waste audit results as part of their class project. Other student groups have used observations from the waste audit to develop changes to waste sorting practices on site and create public awareness campaigns around sustainable waste management at their campus, and measured their influence on their campus' waste diversion rate over time.

Our students in the Environmental Engineering Technology Program conduct various studies at the Ivany Campus, including water conservation, testing and treatment. The program utilizes water sources at the campus (refill stations, taps) to collect samples, and also has a water resources laboratory where students conduct testing.

Students in the Horticulture Program at Kingstec Campus learn the importance of water conservation utilizing greenhouses and gardens on campus as a living lab.

http://www.nscc.ca/learning_programs/programs/plandescr.aspx?prg=hltg&pln=hortlandsc

All programs at NSCC promote and discuss cultural awareness and diversity.

NSCC also participates in the annual Halifax Pride parade, and students from all programs are invited to help construct a float alongside staff members. This involvement promotes diversity and inclusion at the college.

NSCC has established Smudging rooms at each of our 13 campuses allowing students and staff to participate in and learn about Indigenous cultural ceremonies.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/nscc-smudging-rooms-nova-scotia-mi-kmaq-1.5402086

Many programs at the NSCC focus on health and wellbeing, including Practical Nursing, Disability Support, Therapeutic Recreation, and other programs within NSCC's School of Health and Human Services. Students in Occupational Health and Safety Programs get to visit auto-repair and other trades shops, as well as construction sites on campus to conduct safety audits. These audits are then evaluated as part of their training.

There are many opportunities for students to learn about health, wellbeing and work at each Campus. Examples of NSCC's commitment to wellness include: yoga sessions, on-site gyms, pick-up/intramural sports and health and wellness fairs/expos at each campus.

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