| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.09 |
| Liaison | Jen Crothers |
| Submission Date | Aug. 2, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of British Columbia
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Orion
Henderson Director, Energy Planning and Innovation Energy and Water Services |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
UBC launched a new comprehensive sustainability website in Feb 2010. The new website builds on our previous campus sustainabilty site (which focused primarily on operations and engagement), and now also incorporates detailed information on sustainability research and teaching & learning. The website is the central hub of sustainability resources campus-wide.
The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Sustainability Coordinator Monthly E-Newsletter offers Sustainability Coordinators and their department members tips and resources for implementing sustainability in their units, provides updates and news on sustainability related events and activities across campus, and profiles the work of Sustainability Coordinators at UBC Vancouver. http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/scprogram-enewsletter
Risk Management Services also distributes quarterly Green Research Newsletters which provide information, ideas and examples that will help UBC faculty and staff perform research activities in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner. http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/green-research/green-research-newsletter
Finally, the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) prints a monthly newspaper, "The Campus Resident" to update campus residents at the UBC Vancouver campus about campus related news and events. In the paper is a regular "Sustainability Corner" which features articles and advertisements about sustainability related initiatives, services and events both on and off campus. http://www.myuna.ca/about-us/publications/
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The SEEDS (Social Ecological Economic Development Studies) program on the Vancouver campus advanced UBC’s commitment to explore and exemplify sustainability by fostering partnerships between 77 staff, 36 faculty members and 497 students, resulting in 80 sustainability projects and 145 student reports in 2010/11. The outcomes of many of these reports will be implemented or affect the decision-making of staff related to sustainability at UBC. Student reports are available on the SEEDS website at http://sustain.ubc.ca/seeds.
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
In some green buildings a LEED certificate is displayed and a plan is in underway to develop a consistent signage protocol for all buildings to showcase their sustainable attributes. Detailed information about green building features is provided on Green Building Tours (http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/green-building-and-sustainability-tours) and more information about green buildings is available at http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/green-buildings. UBC also has a virtual tour, which includes highlights of sustainable features on campus, including green buildings: http://www.planning.ubc.ca/virtualtour/.
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
As part of UBC's recent FairTrade Campus certification (http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/ubc-named-canadas-first-fair-trade-campus/ubc-named-canadas-first-fair-trade-campus) UBC updated all units with prominent signage to advance awareness in campus eateries. The new Loop Cafe, in the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) (http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/university-british-columbia/eating-green) will feature enhanced labelling and signage when the cafe opens in Sept 2011. More information regarding Food Services’ sustainability initiatives is available on the Food Service’s website at http://www.food.ubc.ca/sustainability/sustainability-initiatives and in the Green Report at http://www.food.ubc.ca/sustainability/green-report.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
UBC currently posts signage for the Organic Weed Control Program and the date of application and products used (http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/campus-sustainability/battling-weeds-0), signage indicating soil produced by UBC's In-Vessel composter (http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/campus-sustainability/composting), and signage in areas where pesticides are used, such as the Rose Garden, as per the required regulations detailing the date of application and the product used.
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Campus Sustainability staff and student interns provide tours of UBC's green buildings upon request, which provides a learning opportunity for both the tour groups and UBC student leaders. Over 6000 students, staff, faculty and members of the general public have toured our buildings since 2001. Popular building tours include the C.K. Choi, the Life Sciences Centre, and the Kaiser Building, and a tour is currently being developed for the new Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS). Tour guides can cater to varying levels of knowledge, from high school students to visiting professionals. Tours can be requested online at http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/green-building-and-sustainability-tours. UBC also has a virtual tour, which includes highlights of sustainable features on campus http://www.planning.ubc.ca/virtualtour/.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Since 1997, UBC's Transportation Planning staff have been working to reduce automobile trips to and from campus by promoting more sustainable modes of transportation including transit, carpooling, walking and cycling. Transportation Planning provides a variety of programs, including the U-Pass and Employer Pass Programs, End of Trip facilities for cyclists, and an Emergency Ride Home program, to name a few. More information is available on the Transportation Options web page at http://trek.ubc.ca/transportation-options/. Over the years, UBC's transportation strategies have proven successful; today, the majority of commutes made to UBC are by sustainable modes of transportation. Since 1997, we've more than doubled transit ridership to campus, and have 12,000 fewer cars coming to campus each day.
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Campus Sustainability developed residence sustainability guides on energy conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable food choices, tailored for dorm style residences and suite style residences. The guides will be launched in 2011.
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper (either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat)?:
A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
A brief description of this material:
The Sustainable Purchasing Guide is designed to help UBC staff, students and faculty members purchase more sustainable products and services. The guide supports the adoption of the UBC Supply Management's Sustainable Purchasing Principles and is a resource for making purchasing decisions that exemplify UBC’s commitment to sustainability. Designed as a living document by UBC Supply Management and the Campus Sustainability Office, this guide will continue to grow and evolve as more sustainable products and services become available.
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
A brief description of this material:
The Sustainability Coordinator (SC) Toolkits are UBC specific, easy-to-implement tools which aim to provide Sustainability Coordinators (SCs) with resources to foster sustainable practices in their departments. The online toolkit features over 20 tools on energy conservation, waste reduction, sustainable purchasing and alternative transportation, making it easy for UBC staff and faculty to select and incorporate the most appropriate tools into their unit's daily activities.
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
A brief description of this material:
UBC has developed a handful of case studies about its campus operational and institutional sustainability experience. These case studies tell our story and we hope offer insight into the challenges, and successes we have met along the way. Each case study includes a section on replication factors for the consideration by others who may want to adapt or learn from this practice.
Case studies include:
1. Sustainability Coordinators + Residence Sustainability Coordinators Program
2. Social, Ecological, Economic Development Studies (SEEDS)Program
3. Green Buildings Guide
4. Energy + Climate Management
5. Institutionalizing Sustainability
6. Planning for Climate Action
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
A brief description of this material:
The UBC Farm to Fork Local Food Cookbook is available online for students, staff and faculty to get them thinking about healthy, in-season and local food that is grown, promoted and sold here UBC. The cookbook introduces the UBC community to a network of local food champions at UBC, and the people, service providers, researchers and organizations at UBC who are growing, researching, promoting and selling local food, including:
• UBC Farm
• Food Services
• AMS Food and Beverage outlets
• Intergenerational Landed Learning Project
• Sprouts
• Agora Eats Café
• Peake of Catering at UBC Robson Square
The funding for this resource was provided by the Healthy Workplace Initiatives Fund, a grant program offered by Human Resources.
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
A brief description of this material:
UBC sustainability messages are routinely shared through the UBC Sustainability Twitter feed, which distributes short, timely messages to a robust community of over 2000 subscribers.
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
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.