The University of British Columbia
OP-3: Building Operations and Maintenance

UBC’s 20-Year Sustainability Strategy (2014) articulates UBC’s long-term vision and outlines strategic goals for Operations & Infrastructure, including applying a sustainability lens to all operational decision-making throughout the built environment (http://sustain.ubc.ca/20-Year-Sustainability-Strategy). UBC Building Operations’ Sustainability Framework (2013) defines strategic priorities for improving performance on the campus’ sustainability goals and targets for energy and emissions, water use, and materials and waste. The framework includes unit-specific long-term goals and objectives and short-term priority actions for the next 1-3 years and performance metrics for tracking progress. Operations and maintenance practices include the following: MINIMIZING IMPACTS ON SURROUNDING SITES • UBC has suspended the use of all chemical pesticides for 'cosmetic' use across campus, and no chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides are used unless there are extenuating circumstances and all other options have been exhausted http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/sites/riskmanagement.ubc.ca/files/Integrated-Pest-Management-2015.pdf • In 2014, UBC completed an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan to improve the handling of stormwater and rainwater run off on campus http://planning.ubc.ca/vancouver/projects-consultations/consultations-engagement/integrated-stormwater-management-plan-ismp • UBC generates its own compost for landscaping by collecting organic waste and processing it in a facility on campus http://www.buildingoperations.ubc.ca/sustainability/zero-waste/composting/ MINIMIZING ENERGY CONSUMPTION Highlights of UBC's energy conservation tactics include: • An Energy Management Plan http://sustain.ubc.ca/campus-initiatives/climate-energy/energy-management • Rolling Continuous Optimization program in 72 major buildings (includes energy audits, implementation of energy conservation measures and monitoring) http://sustain.ubc.ca/campus-initiatives/climate-energy/building-tuneup • Renewable energy component is provided by Academic District Energy System for over 130 existing buildings http://sustain.ubc.ca/sites/sustain.ubc.ca/files/uploads/CampusSustainability/CS_PDFs/GreenBuildings/UBCLEEDImplementationGuideline_20130424.pdf (page 64) • Building Automation System is added/updated during facilities alterations http://www.technicalguidelines.ubc.ca/Division_15/2015_Division_15_PDFs/15901-2015_BMS.pdf • Ozone depleting substances are restricted on campus http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/sites/riskmanagement.ubc.ca/files/uploads/Documents/Signed%20ODS%20procedure.PDF BUILDING ENERGY METERING • Over 60 buildings across campus are connected to Pulse Energy's energy management software, which collects, analyzes, and communicates real-time energy intelligence to building operators and management, visible on the public dashboard (https://my.pulseenergy.com/ubc/dashboard) • Over 100 buildings are metered using ION 7330 meters for electricity, with water and gas/steam also monitored in the majority of these buildings PROMOTING USAGE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE MATERIALS • UBC Custodial Services operates a High Performance Green Cleaning Program (http://sustain.ubc.ca/campus-initiatives/purchasing/green-cleaning) to complement its Green Cleaning Policy, adopted in 2012 (http://www.buildingoperations.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Green-Cleaning-Program1.pdf). The goals of this policy are to reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes and systems, and the environment. • The UBC Technical Guidelines outline requirements and preferences for materials procured for renovations and upgrades, in addition to new construction http://www.technicalguidelines.ubc.ca/technical/sustainability.html • Facilities alterations are required to accommodate recycling infrastructure: http://sustain.ubc.ca/files/uploads/CampusSustainability/CS_PDFs/RecyclingWaste/Recycling%20Infrastructure%20Guidelines%20for%20UBC%20Buildings%202015%2003%2002.pdf PROTECTING INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY • UBC provides Indoor Air Quality information, support and programming through Risk Management Services http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/health-safety/indoor-air-quality • Facilities alterations use low emitting materials based on requirements in the Technical Guidelines http://www.technicalguidelines.ubc.ca/ • Occupants have a way to provide feedback about facilities by means of an online service request system. After the request is filled, occupants are asked to provide feedback on the quality of the work provided. MINIMIZING WATER CONSUMPTION • UBC continues to retrofit existing buildings to increase water efficiency in academic buildings, student housing and research labs to enhance water conservation. http://sustain.ubc.ca/campus-initiatives/water/water-conservation For more information, please visit: http://sustain.ubc.ca/campus-initiatives.

UBC’s Campus and Community Planning and Energy and Water Services departments work collaboratively with UBC Building Operations to ensure implementation of UBC’s sustainability plans, including the Climate Action Plan, Building Operations Sustainability Framework, Zero Waste Action Plan, Energy Management Plans and water conservation measures. UBC's Technical Guidelines and sustainability requirements are reviewed annually. Regular monitoring and reporting on indicators are reported out annually through UBC’s Carbon Neutral Action Reports, and UBC Annual Sustainability Reports.