Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.36
Liaison Allison Maxted
Submission Date Feb. 17, 2022

STARS v2.2

Mohawk College
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Nicolai Strabac
Sustainable Programs and Services Coordinator
Sustainability Office/Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Yes

Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:

Mohawk Sustainability has a social media presence on Instragram @sustainablemoco, and on Facebook at Sustainability Office at Mohawk College. These pages host interactive posts, and information relating to sustainability on campus and in the Hamilton community.


Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:

Signage can be found across all of our sustainable campus features. Notably, student oriented locations such as the Secure Bike Parking Cage, and the Community Garden have prominent instructional signage.

Net-Zero Behaviours: Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation

Within the Net zero JCPI building, behavioural change signage can be found on every floor. These encourage building occupants to take the stairs, sort waste, and explain building features.

Waste Education:

Mohawk College provides comprehensive and uniform waste signage at all hallway, office, classroom and cafteria waste bins. Mohawk College's waste signage uses real images - not ambigous graphical representations - paired with specific text to encourage proper waste sorting. Mohawk College's waste signage also calls out items which should not be placed in the waste streams. Unique signage is deplayed for Organics (compost), Clean Containers (mixed plastic & metals), Clean Paper, and Landfill. Electronic waste and battery collection is also available at both the Fennell and Stoney Creek campuses. Fire-safe collection cabinets have instructional wraps detailing accepted items.

Central Waste Station:

Mohawk Sustainability designed and installed central waste sorting stations within both the Fennell and Stoney Creek campus main cafeterias. Each stations has a sink for rinsing reusable containers, cleaning recycleables, as well as instructional signage to support proper sorting in the Organics, Clean Containers and Landfill collections.

More info: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/sustainability/waste-and-recycling

Transportation:

Mohawk College has bike parking signage at Fennell and Stoney Creek. At Fennell, signage can be found across most bike racks, at the bike repair station (H-wing), and the Secure Bike Parking Cage (B-wing).

ChargePoint signage was installed at all Level 2 charging locations across both the Fennell and Stoney Creek campuses to help drivers locate special, green, charging parking spots.

Local Food:

Instuctional signage can be found within the Community Garden. Notable signage include composting instructions, as well as informational signage on the rainwater harvester. Signage can also be found at the Fennell Orchard which explains the historical significance of the plot.

Naturalized and Pollinator-Friendly Spaces:

Mohawk College has signage at several naturalized spaces including;
- Fennell campus bioswales: explains the beneficial function of reducing stormwater overflow, as well as the native plants selection.
- H-wing Pollinator Garden: In partnership with WWF Canada, Mohawk College developed a rooftop pollinator garden on a balcony of the Library (H-wing). Students and staff can find several instructional signs explaining the benefits of pollinator-friendly native plantings.

More info: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/sustainability/local-food

LEED Gold:

Mohawk College has constructed two LEED® Gold buildings as part of the Fennell Renewal Project. The David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre (R-Wing) and MSA Plaza opened in fall 2013, and the Learning Exchange and Cummings Library (H-Wing) opened in winter 2011.

The Mohawk College Sustainability Office created LEED® Tours to introduce students and visitors to the many design components within both facilities and to highlight the LEED® Gold certification awarded to the buildings. The tours are an opportunity to explore and interact with the features of this space. Mounted plaques contain information about the design features in each facility, as well as a set of Quick Reference tabs so you can see at a glance how the they contribute to the LEED® score.


Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The Sustainability Office provides guided walking tours of all campus LEED® buildings, the JCPI and sustainable features as requested. These tours highlight the sustainable features of the structure as well as an opportunity to interact with these features.

Self-Guided LEED® Tours:

Mohawk Sustainability created LEED® Tours to introduce students and visitors to the many design components within both facilities and to highlight the LEED® Gold certification awarded to the buildings. The tours are an opportunity to explore and interact with the features of this space. Tours are supported by numbered on-site instructional signage. Virtual tours are available at: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/sustainability/buildings-and-energy


Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

In the Residence Handbook, students are briefed on recycling, waste management, bike parking and storage, healthy living and smoke-free policies.


A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:

The Community Garden eNewsletter goes out to all Mohawk Community Garden members. This newsletter provides organic gardening tips, current gardening news and events, and profiles a different member each week, bringing the Mohawk gardening community closer together.

Waste Management Brochures and Signage
Mohawk Sustainability has created informational pamphlets on how our waste management system. This outreach material outlines our recycling program and the types of bins we have around campus. We also have signage on our bins that tell students exactly what waste stream their waste should go into.


Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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.