| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 80.17 |
| Liaison | Mike Wilson |
| Submission Date | May 5, 2020 |
University of Victoria
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Sustainability committee(s)
Yes
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The purpose of the Sustainability Advisory Committee is to assist the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability by advising on policies, projects, engagement processes, and strategy brought forward by the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability. Tasks include but are not limited to:
•Communicating with the University Community on campus sustainability issues, programs, information and opportunities
•Conducting research and assisting with the development of sustainability indicators for sustainability reporting
•Assessing evolving conditions and opportunities related to campus sustainability
•Gathering information and research on sustainability best practices and innovations from other post secondary institutions and organizations
•Reviewing existing operational programs and practices and making suggestions for new approaches that are aligned with the action plan goals and the various decision making, planning and budgetary parameters set out by the university.
•Communicating with the University Community on campus sustainability issues, programs, information and opportunities
•Conducting research and assisting with the development of sustainability indicators for sustainability reporting
•Assessing evolving conditions and opportunities related to campus sustainability
•Gathering information and research on sustainability best practices and innovations from other post secondary institutions and organizations
•Reviewing existing operational programs and practices and making suggestions for new approaches that are aligned with the action plan goals and the various decision making, planning and budgetary parameters set out by the university.
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
The basis of the membership committee membership is multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary. Membership is comprised of:
•Director, Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability (OCPS) – Chair
•5 Faculty representatives, selected by the OCPS from a list of interested faculty requested from the Deans’ Council
•6 Staff representatives, selected by the OCPS in consultation with the departments:
o Facilities Management (2)
o Purchasing Services (1)
o Housing, Food and Conference Services (1)
o Campus Security Services (1)
o Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (1)
•5 student representatives selected by the UVSS and GSS Board of Directors (with a minimum of 2 representatives from each group).
•The OCPS is the Secretariat for the Committee and the Sustainability Coordinator is the resource person to the committee
•Director, Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability (OCPS) – Chair
•5 Faculty representatives, selected by the OCPS from a list of interested faculty requested from the Deans’ Council
•6 Staff representatives, selected by the OCPS in consultation with the departments:
o Facilities Management (2)
o Purchasing Services (1)
o Housing, Food and Conference Services (1)
o Campus Security Services (1)
o Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (1)
•5 student representatives selected by the UVSS and GSS Board of Directors (with a minimum of 2 representatives from each group).
•The OCPS is the Secretariat for the Committee and the Sustainability Coordinator is the resource person to the committee
Sustainability office(s)
Yes
A brief description of each sustainability office:
The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability (OCPS) acts as a coordinator and resource for students, staff, faculty and administration working towards shared goals of environmental sustainability at the University of Victoria. The OCPS works with departments like Food Services, Purchasing, Facilities Management, Parking and Transportation and more to meet the goals and actions set out in the UVic Sustainability Action Plan. They strive to achieve sustainability in all areas of campus operations, from grounds and buildings to waste disposal. In addition, physical changes at UVic are guided by the long-term vision and framework for development set out in the Campus Plan. Plan goals provide for a land use and building pattern that respects the unique physical environment and encourages social interaction, allows for safe pedestrian-friendly links throughout the campus, promotes compact sustainable development and operations, and the use of public transit, cycling and walking. The university is committed in its planning processes to developing and maintaining active communication and collaboration with all those affected by its physical changes.
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
4
Sustainability officer(s)
Yes
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Mike Wilson, Director of Campus Planning and Sustainability. Susan Kerr, Sustainability Manager. Eleri Davies, Sustainability Coordinator. Kay-Lynn Yacoboski, Sustainability Intern.
Institution-wide coordination
Yes
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
Within the last three years the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability in collaboration with various departments across campus have reached several significant milestones in the ongoing process of helping the university to become a global leader in environmental, social and institutional sustainability. Some substantive accomplishments include but are not limited to:
• Enhancing waste reduction and diversion practices in campus food outlets: UVic food services has continued to maintain and improve on waste diversion practices and programs over the course of several years. As of now, diversion rates for Food Services are at 84% equating to approximately 260 tonnes of waste diverted from landfills annually.
• Increasing the waste diversion rate across campus: Waste diversion rates across the university have continued to improve, particularly from 2016 to 2019, and have increased to 76%. In February of 2016, more than 300 UVic standard three-bin stations were installed across campus to make recycling more accessible. The program was further improved in August of 2017 when hundreds of compost bins were added to the already implemented stations. By 2018/2019, 51% of all waste diverted from the landfill was composted. Since August of 2019, all outdoor waste bins were removed and replaced with 8 Sort-It-Out stations. The diversion rate of 76% excludes the new Sort-It-Out stations.
• Reducing campus electricity consumption intensity: Relative to the 2010 baseline, the university has achieved a 13% reduction in overall campus electricity consumption through various energy saving programs, initiatives, and campaigns. The process of energy reduction began in 2014, however the continued trend of energy reduction ran through until 2019 when these numbers were reported. The energy reduction campaigns continued throughout this period of time as well, with the most recent campaign being the Holiday Shutdown of December, 2019.
• Reducing campus natural gas consumption: Relative to the 2010 baseline, campus natural gas consumption has been reduced by 22%. Although reduction efforts began in the year of 2014, various energy reduction programs, campaigns and initiatives have continued to reduce natural gas consumption through until these numbers were reported in 2019. The New District Energy Plant on campus was completed in 2019, and it is expected that natural gas consumption will continue to decrease as new more efficient gas boilers are brought online.
• Enhancing waste reduction and diversion practices in campus food outlets: UVic food services has continued to maintain and improve on waste diversion practices and programs over the course of several years. As of now, diversion rates for Food Services are at 84% equating to approximately 260 tonnes of waste diverted from landfills annually.
• Increasing the waste diversion rate across campus: Waste diversion rates across the university have continued to improve, particularly from 2016 to 2019, and have increased to 76%. In February of 2016, more than 300 UVic standard three-bin stations were installed across campus to make recycling more accessible. The program was further improved in August of 2017 when hundreds of compost bins were added to the already implemented stations. By 2018/2019, 51% of all waste diverted from the landfill was composted. Since August of 2019, all outdoor waste bins were removed and replaced with 8 Sort-It-Out stations. The diversion rate of 76% excludes the new Sort-It-Out stations.
• Reducing campus electricity consumption intensity: Relative to the 2010 baseline, the university has achieved a 13% reduction in overall campus electricity consumption through various energy saving programs, initiatives, and campaigns. The process of energy reduction began in 2014, however the continued trend of energy reduction ran through until 2019 when these numbers were reported. The energy reduction campaigns continued throughout this period of time as well, with the most recent campaign being the Holiday Shutdown of December, 2019.
• Reducing campus natural gas consumption: Relative to the 2010 baseline, campus natural gas consumption has been reduced by 22%. Although reduction efforts began in the year of 2014, various energy reduction programs, campaigns and initiatives have continued to reduce natural gas consumption through until these numbers were reported in 2019. The New District Energy Plant on campus was completed in 2019, and it is expected that natural gas consumption will continue to decrease as new more efficient gas boilers are brought online.
Optional Fields
Job description (1st position)
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
---
Job description (2nd position)
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
---
Job description (3rd position)
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
---
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data source:2019 Final Report Sustainability Action Plan: Campus Operations 2014-2019
Additional URLs:
Sustainability Staff: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/about/staff/index.php
2019 Sustainability Action Plan Close out Report: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/reports/2019.11.29_sap-close-out-report-final.pdf
Sustainability Action Plan 2020-2021: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/uvic-sustainability-action-plan-2020-2021.pdf
Sustainability Action Plan 2014 – 2019: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/uvic-sustainability-action-plan-2020-2021.pdf
Sustainability Advisory Committee on Campus Operations Terms of Reference:
https://www.uvic.ca/campusplanning/about/committees/sustainabilityadvisorycommittee/sac-terms-of-reference-18.pdf
Additional URLs:
Sustainability Staff: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/about/staff/index.php
2019 Sustainability Action Plan Close out Report: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/reports/2019.11.29_sap-close-out-report-final.pdf
Sustainability Action Plan 2020-2021: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/uvic-sustainability-action-plan-2020-2021.pdf
Sustainability Action Plan 2014 – 2019: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/uvic-sustainability-action-plan-2020-2021.pdf
Sustainability Advisory Committee on Campus Operations Terms of Reference:
https://www.uvic.ca/campusplanning/about/committees/sustainabilityadvisorycommittee/sac-terms-of-reference-18.pdf
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.