| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.51 |
| Liaison | Mat Thijssen |
| Submission Date | Nov. 6, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Waterloo
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.80 / 4.00 |
Mat
Thijssen Sustainability Manager Sustainability Office |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Air & Climate
Yes
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Air & Climate:
In 2017, the Sustainability Office worked with a GEOG 452 student group to develop a survey to measure emissions from air travel across the Faculty of Environment. Students collaborated on survey design, developed methodologies using ICAO standards, and promoted the survey among staff and faculty members within Environment, then created a final report.
Buildings
Yes
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Buildings:
In 2017/18, in collaboration with a private developer, the Faculty of Environment entered into agreement to lease space in the new evolv1 building, a net-positive energy and emissions building, on the University’s North Campus. The Faculty will utilize this space as a green economy hub for new green-focused entrepreneurial ventures, as well as utilize the building as a living lab for students and visitors. In addition, the building will also be utilized as a case study in the emerging Architectural Engineering program.
Energy
Yes
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Energy:
In 2017, the Sustainability Office worked with a GEOG 452 student group to develop a plug load audit of equipment within the Environment 1 building. Students used portable power meters to identify the electrical draw of various devices throughout the building, such as computers, fridges, coffee makers, printers, lamps, and more. They developed an inventory of devices and a report on the anticipated annual energy draw based on interviews with space occupants, as well as recommendations to reduce electricity consumption.
Food & Dining
No
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Food & Dining:
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Grounds
Yes
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Grounds:
The University of Waterloo has an ongoing program, with funding received from multiple sources, to protect and restore its campus woodlot. Students conduct species inventories, invasive species assessments, remediation plans, and other monitoring for the site. In addition, the Sustainability Office is working with classes who utilize on-site resources such as the woodlot and Laurel Creek for their training in order to begin amalgamating various class projects into an overall campus-wide biodiversity assessment and monitoring project.
Purchasing
No
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Purchasing:
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Transportation
Yes
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Transportation:
In 2017, the Sustainability Office worked with a student group completing their capstone project through the Environment and Business 402 class. In this 8-month project, students sorted through annual travel survey data and other files to correlate with local municipal infrastructure such as walking, cycling, and transit amenities and infrastructure. The group used GIS systems to identify areas where there were gaps in service that meant employees were unable to utilize more sustainable modes of transportation to campus, as well as opportunity areas where there was strong infrastructure in place that was being underutilized.
Waste
Yes
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Waste:
Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Sustainability Office worked with PLAN 350 to provide an applied learning opportunity as part of this research methods course. Students across multiple years conducted qualitative analysis of the University’s waste management systems by interviewing and observing users of the waste system across campus to uncover barriers to recycling, composting, and effective sorting. The findings were presented in-class and have been utilized in the design of Waterloo’s future waste management infrastructure.
Water
No
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Water:
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Coordination & Planning
No
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Coordination & Planning:
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Diversity & Affordability
No
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
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Investment & Finance
No
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Public Engagement
Yes
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Public Engagement:
Waterloo’s Environment and Business 402 capstone project matches students for an 8-month applied learning project with multiple businesses within Waterloo Region and beyond to help them solve sustainability challenges. This program has launched projects across the public, private, and civil society sectors for multiple years, all with a focus on consulting-type deliverables that will help the client partner organization advance one or more aspects of their corporate sustainability efforts.
Wellbeing & Work
No
A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
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Other Impact Areas
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A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to other areas:
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Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.