British Columbia Institute of Technology
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The BCIT Strategic Plan 2019-2023 charts our direction and outlines a roadmap for implementation. It is translated to actions and deliverables through successive annual Strategic Implementation Plans. The Sustainability Vision launched in 2020 articulates commitments from the Strategic Plan that represent our primary areas of activity and accountability. We are intent on being a people-focused organization that delivers future-proof applied education, amplifying our impact through globally relevant connections. There are three strategies outlined in the Vision that confirm our intention to embed sustainability in our education and applied research activities:

• Renewal and development of curriculum and credentials that integrate sustainability across BCIT programs.

• Channeling of applied research to advance knowledge and practice in areas in which BCIT can contribute to meaningful socio-ecological change.

• Harmonization of built and natural learning systems and spaces that transform our campuses as living labs.

Select measureable objectives from the 2020-21 Strategic Implementation Plan related to academics and applied research include:

• Implement the first fully interdisciplinary program in 2022. Complementary to established programming, interdisciplinary design and open credentialing form key components for what has been dubbed "resilient recovery" — the acceleration of the provincial and national economy in a strategic and sustainable way. The School of Energy and the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation jointly designed a Master’s credential in Smart Grid Systems and Technology, which combines the fields of electrical power systems, computer science, and information and communications technology.

• Complete pilot testing of the ecoCity Footprint Tool with 10 municipalities in 2021. The ecoCity Footprint Tool helps communities evaluate the extent to which local consumption habits are drawing down our planet’s resources and contributing to climate change. It does this by illuminating how much resources (energy and materials), and how much land and sea area are required to produce all the goods and services consumed within the community on a given year.

• Launch additional four Indigenous education awareness modules (building on the three that are already available) by 2021.

Select measureable objectives from the 2020-21 Strategic Implementation Plan (see Academics for detail) related to engagement include:

• Engage faculty, staff and students in our accountability reporting process and submit BCIT’s first STARS report to AASHE in 2021.

• Implement visual Indigenous presence at all campuses (e.g. decals, signage, communications) by 2021.

The Facilities Energy Team is dedicated to helping BCIT achieve its 2023 goal of reducing Institute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by one-third, based on 2007 levels (2020-21 Strategic Implementation Plan and 2018 Strategic Energy Management Plan).

BCIT annual emissions have been reduced by 10% so far, equivalent to removing 300 cars off the road. Since the arrival of COVID-19, the team has been working with departments across all campuses to reduce unnecessary energy use, resulting in utility savings of over $300,000. The public-facing Energy Dashboard (https://engagementdashboard.com/bcit/bcit) was launched to help track progress in energy and GHG savings. The Energy Team are also currently working on several key projects that will result in permanent, year-over-year GHG reductions (https://www.bcit.ca/facilities/facilities-services/energy-greenhouse-gas-management) including:

• Design of a new central heating plant removing three large 1960s-era inefficient natural gas boilers, and replacing with a low carbon combination electric/gas system. This will reduce GHG emissions for the central plant by over 80%, showcasing low-carbon technology to students, and having operational synergies with the School of Energy and Applied Research.

• Completion and commissioning of the Wood-Waste-to-Energy system. This system will use wood waste created by the Carpentry and Joinery student programs to provide low-carbon heat to shop spaces.

Select measurable objectives from the 2020-21 Strategic Implementation Plan (see Academics for detail) related to administration include:

• Launch an Indigenous Wellness Toolkit in 2021.
• Launch an Anti-Racism Framework to better address racism in the BCIT community in 2021.
• Enhanced learner services in wellbeing and resilience in 2021 (https://www.bcit.ca/student-services/health-wellness/student-well-being-and-resilience-framework/). Learner well-being and resilience is central to what BCIT does as a people-focused organization intent on achieving educational excellence. Realizing this commitment means making sure that the right student supports are available when students need them, and that students know how to access them:
o Develop and implement protocols to integrate new 24/7 provincial mental health resources with BCIT learner services.
o Develop plan to enhance learner services in wellbeing and resilience at satellite campuses.
o Develop coordinated communication plan to increase awareness of these additional services.
• Embed support for international learners. Conduct a needs analysis for an International Peer Mentoring Program to plan for program expansion and implement the expansion in 2021.

BCIT’s commitment to sustainability encompasses advancing the state of practice through education and research, improving campus operations and planning, and strengthening employee and student stewardship and wellness programs.

BCIT encourages all members of the Institute community to carry out their duties in a manner that supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

BCIT aims to advance its educational mandate within the limitations of the natural environment and through fair and equitable work practices that include consideration of full‐cost accounting for local and global impacts on individuals and society.

BCIT strives to use our facilities and operations as a vehicle for learning, teaching, and living the principles of sustainability.

We define sustainability as “enabling people to lead socially just lives within ecological limits.” While efforts in the past have focused primarily around the environment, our definition reflects the interdependencies between the environment and society. We are working to reposition sustainability in this broader context throughout our community.