Humber College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Third year student in the Sustainable Energy and Building Technology program coordinated a campus greenhouse gas emissions inventory as part of SNRG 350 Capstone Project 2. The work entailed conducting interviews and collecting data from multiple departments in the institution. Under the mentorship of Humber’s Director of Facilities, student worked and liaised with an experienced GHG consultant to produce Humber’s 2014/15 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory & Forecast.

A student team across disciplines in Humber’s School of Applied Technology worked closely with industry partner PCL to design a link from the new LRC to the existing J Building at the North Campus. Faculty also participated as consultants for the students. Two to three students were selected from each of the following disciplines to create the inter-disciplinary student project team that would work on preparing the final design of the link: Architectural Technology, Sustainable Energy and Building Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, Project Management and Supply Chain Management. In most cases the project was built into the student’s program curriculum as their final project or capstone project for the program. To mimic real-world design process, we held bi-weekly progress meetings where an industry panel across the relevant disciplines (acting as the client) reviewed and provided feedback on the student design submissions.

Guelph Humber Energy Model: This project was selected by a group of students in the Sustainable Energy and Building Technology program as their Capstone project. It required the creation of an energy model in EnergyPlus energy modelling software. The model was calibrated using available metered data and used to identify anomalies in energy performance and identify energy conservation measures for one of our North Campus buildings.

Humber culinary students experience the benefits of cooking with locally sourced food by using ingredients grown in the Humber Arboretum vegetable garden. Humber culinary students turn sap collected in the Humber Arboretum into Maple Syrup.

Arboretum as an educational, research and recreational centre: Arboretum consists of botanical gardens and natural areas surrounding the Humber River. This unique site is home to the Carolinian bioregion, the most diverse ecosystem in Canada, and boasts over 1,700 species of plants and animals. Its purpose is to facilitate research and education, establish and maintain living plant collections, promote conservation and restoration practices, and provide a quality visitor experience. It is a joint venture of the City of Toronto, Humber College, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. sArboretum as an educational, research and recreational centre: Arboretum consists of botanical gardens and natural areas surrounding the Humber River. This unique site is home to the Carolinian bioregion, the most diverse ecosystem in Canada, and boasts over 1,700 species of plants and animals. Its purpose is to facilitate research and education, establish and maintain living plant collections, promote conservation and restoration practices, and provide a quality visitor experience. It is a joint venture of the City of Toronto, Humber College, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Some projects include: Rather than cutting down dead steading trees in the Humber Arboretum, arborist students re-purposed the trees and created wildlife habitat. The trees were turned into nesting cavities for birds. Humber Landscape students have the opportunity to create and maintain plant beds within the Humber Arboretum grounds. Humber Landscape students practice their plant Id skills by identifying the plants and trees located throughout the Humber Arboretum. Humber Arborist students practice their tree climbing and safety skills on the tree located in the Humber Arboretum. Humber construction student’s applied their construction knowledge by building a retaining wall for flower beds located in the Humber Arboretum. Humber construction students learned how to build outdoor structures when they created a deck and gazebo in the Humber Arboretum. A Humber student assisted with a research project that evaluates the growth of plants with various types of soil compaction. Research plots were created and tested in the Humber Arboretum. A Humber student assisted with the research of a project that evaluates how plot plant diversity is affected with the removal of deer. Test plots are located in the Humber Arboretum. Humber students assisted with a research project that evaluates native seed mixes for roadside plant diversification. Humber surveying students conduct field projects in the Humber Arboretum.

In 2014 students from the Business School, Principles of Management course undertook a project to encourage other students to pick up their garbage that might be left behind in the classroom or other common areas. This was done through posters, talking with students in the common areas, and conducting a questionnaire. On the day of the execution of the project, the entire class spoke with other students, both one-on-one and in groups, about cleaning up after themselves when leaving a common area, such as a classroom. Posters were set up showing what the project was about and depicting the theme for the event. The response from the other students was largely positive, engaging with about a hundred students. At the end of the semester, each team in the class had to write a report explaining their contribution to the project and to provide a reflective piece on the entire project experience. Criminal Justice student research project conducted: - on designing smoking areas on campus to reduce litter on our Lakeshore campus. - to reduce cigarette littering at Annex building and L- Building Lakeshore campus.

Lavatory Faucet Inventory: A student from the Sustainable Energy and Building Technology Program volunteered to perform an inventory of lavatory faucets and flow rates at the North Campus. Over 200 faucets were identified as needing low-flow aerators. Humber facilities is currently in the process of adding aerators and expects significant water reductions from this student led initiative.

Sponsored by Humber Office of Sustainability and Student Success and Engagement, the Post-graduate PR students were given a budget of $3,000 to develop and coordinate a Sustainability themed event. It features food, entertainment, games and activities in a fair-type event with a vendor-style format. The key objectives for the event was to: raise awareness about current sustainability issues, provide information an access to getting more involved on and off-campus, generate awareness and excitement about the event and maximize event attendance. The first event in Fall 2016 was a huge success, overflowing with students, staff and faculty over the full event.

Sponsored by Humber Office of Sustainability and Student Success and Engagement, the Post-graduate PR students were given a budget of $3,000 to develop and coordinate a Sustainability themed event. It features food, entertainment, games and activities in a fair-type event with a vendor-style format. The key objectives for the event was to: raise awareness about current sustainability issues, provide information an access to getting more involved on and off-campus, generate awareness and excitement about the event and maximize event attendance. The first event in Fall 2016 was a huge success, overflowing with students, staff and faculty over the full event.

Physical spaces used in art classes, taking the students outside so they can learn to appreciate the natural environment. VADA 106 & VADA 156 Studio practice courses provide a structure and practice of drawing which is based on both observation of the visual world (in the local natural environment, parks, nature) and a growing awareness of visual language. Students embark on a regimen of academic and experimental drawing exercises in a contemporary and conceptual approach to seeing and observing. Working with a disciplined approach to observation and rendering and transiting ideas, students will work to create contemporary and experimental drawings. Students will apply the possibilities on extending traditional concepts concerning the parameters of Drawing and art making. Criminal Justice student research project on designing sustainable outdoor spaces that are smoke free at North Campus.

Early Childhood Education students use the arboretum as an outdoor classroom to assist the students to learn more about how to integrate the natural environment into their own practice. Early Childhood Education students learn how to connect children with nature at the Humber Arboretum. Students create lessons and activities that are nature based. Humber film and photography students use the Humber Arboretum grounds as a set for creative projects and to practice their film/photography skills. Sponsored by Humber Office of Sustainability and Student Success and Engagement, the Post-graduate PR students were given a budget of $3,000 to develop and coordinate a Sustainability themed event. It features food, entertainment, games and activities in a fair-type event with a vendor-style format. The key objectives for the event was to: raise awareness about current sustainability issues, provide information an access to getting more involved on and off-campus, generate awareness and excitement about the event and maximize event attendance. The first event in Fall 2016 was a huge success, overflowing with students, staff and faculty over the full event.