| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.37 |
| Liaison | Michelle McCollum |
| Submission Date | Nov. 18, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
George Brown College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.17 / 4.00 |
Stephanie
Foster Green Team/Sustainability Coordinator George Brown College |
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | Yes |
| Research (or other scholarship) | No | No |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings |
Yes
Date Revised: Jan. 26, 2015
|
Yes
Date Revised: Jan. 26, 2015
|
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | No | No |
| Purchasing | Yes | No |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | No | No |
| Diversity and Affordability | No | No |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | No |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | Yes | Yes |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
Green Plan 1 Goals:
- Integrate environmental, economic and social sustainability learning outcomes into curriculum.
- Curriculum reflects the College’s commitment to sustainable development, inter-professional education and to student participation in applied research.
- Develop framework regarding integration of sustainability into teaching and learning.
Green Plan 1 Results:
- Green Team study, "A Framework for Targeting and Measuring Sustainability Outcomes at George Brown College" identifies where within the curriculum sustainability themes would be most effective, i.e., at the learning outcome level.
Green Plan Phase 2 Goals:
- Carry out a baseline audit of sustainability in the curriculum at George Brown College. (Achieved in 2014).
- Measure and track progress in terms of integrating sustainability into learning outcomes program. (Audit every two years.).
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
2015: One course in each program with at least one sustainability related learning outcome.
- Develop targets for increasing learning outcomes related to environmental, social and/or economic sustainability in each College program.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Academic Excellence and Student Affairs
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
Green Plan Phase 1:
- Promote the use of environmentally sound practices campus-wide.
- Engage and educate the college community in conservation and demand management practices aimed at reducing the College's overall ecological footprint.
- New engagement strategies include expanding awareness and communications vehicles (See Outreach Materials and Publications section) as well as Green team participation in events such as Student and new Employee Orientation, Student Service Fairs and Inter-Session Staff development workshop.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Green Plan Phase 2 Goals:
2015: Carry out a survey to measure awareness of environmental sustainability initiatives and College green Plan commitments
2017: Based on survey results, set goals to increase awareness by X%
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Green Team
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
None at this time
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
N/A
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
Green Plan I Targets: (2006-2011)
- Maintain greenhouse gas emissions at 2006 levels.
- Reduce consumption of energy from fossil-fuel based sources
Green Plan II (2012-17)
- Continue with implementation of energy retrofit plans to reduce GHG emissions from existing buildings.
- Investigate opportunities for more pilot or demonstration scale renewable energy projects on campuses
- Consider more purchases of clean energy from renewable energy sources.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Green Plan II Target (2017):
- No net increase in GHG emissions.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Facilities Management Department
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Minimize eco-footprint of future and renovated buildings and development.
Green Plan Phase 1 Objective: New Waterfront Campus Campus achieves LEED Gold certification
Date Revised: Jan. 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Green Plan Phase 2 Objectives:
- As per the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan, meet LEED Gold energy standard for all new construction
- Develop green guidelines for all renovations
Date Revised: Jan. 26, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Green Plan I Objective
To reduce the environmental impacts of the College’s food service operation by modeling environmental sustainability best practices.
Green Plan II:
- Be a resource to the Student Association in helping them to specify environmentally friendly food service options for their food service vendors.
- Track purchases of local (Ontario) food and percentage of “sustainable” food.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
- Increase local food purchases from 64% to 75%
- Increase Fair Trade coffee to 100%
- Increase sustainable seafood to 100%
- Increase sustainable, low impact animal products to 10%
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Finance Department and Green Team
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
Green Plan I Targets
- Increase energy efficiency of existing College buildings.
Green Plan 2 Targets:
- Implement the College's Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan. The main Energy CDM objective is to improve energy efficiency throughout all of
its campuses and to contribute to the Province of Ontario’s long term energy plan through conservation practices. The 2014-2019 Energy CDM Plan is an important component of the College’s Green Plan which commits George Brown College to reduce the College’s ecological footprint, to engage and educate the College community in conservation and environmental stewardship practices and to use the College campuses as learning laboratories.
The College has identified four types of measures on which this Energy CDM plan is based:
Technical, Organizational, Behavioural and Educational; a combination of these measures will be required to achieve College’s energy conservation goals. Technical and physical plant measures will be important to reduce energy consumption in College buildings. Three of these measures relate to ways that the College can work as an institution to build a culture of conservation through policies and operational measures; creating opportunities for the College community and individuals to learn about, contribute to and participate in energy conserving and demand management activities; and finally, to educate students in practical and hands-on projects about the mechanics and real world applications of energy efficiency improvements and retrofits.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
George Brown College has three main goals for the Energy CDM Plan over the next 5 years.
- Achieve a 2% reduction in total energy consumption associated with the College's 2012 building portfolio.
- Maintain or reduce the Energy Intensity on a per student basis (ekWh/FTE)
- Meet LEED Gold Energy standard requirements of all new construction built by George Brown
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Facilities Management Department
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
Not applicable
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
n/a
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
Develop KPI’s and a system to track % of implementation green purchasing and best practices
Date Revised: Jan. 26, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
na/
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
n/a
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
Green Plan Phase 1:
- Encourage alternatives to conventional vehicle use
- Carry out baseline Employee Commuter Survey
- Provide incentives for employees and students to take commuter transportation (TTC & Metropass)
- College discount for Auto Share membership.
- College is working with Smart Commute Toronto to develop an overall Sustainable Transportation Strategy.
Green Plan Phase 2:
- Provide on-line resources to assist people who want to bike to work
- Develop a George Brown College Car pool Zone
- Institute Emergency Ride Home program
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Green Plan Phase 2 Targets (2012-17):
- Decrease percentage of employees who travel to work in single vehicles from 23.7% to 20%
- Increase number of employees who carpool from 3.2% to 5%
- Increase number of employees who use public transit from 52.5% to 60%
- Increase number of employees who cycle to work from 7.7% to 10%
- Increase number of employees who walk to work from 8.6% to 10%
- Increase the number of employees and students who use the College's Car Pool Zone
- Increase number of bike racks at St. James and Casa Loma Campuses
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Green Team
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
Green Plan I Targets
- Increase total diversion (recycling rate) to 70%
- Reduce total waste stream (garbage/waste and recycling) per capita by 15% over 5 years.
- Reduce hazardous substances/materials on campus
- Increase recycling and salvage of construction and renovation by 25% over 5 years.
On-going Plans:
- Enhance College-wide communications and education campaign to inform the community about the College’s recycling and waste management goals.
- Expand food waste collection to also include pre-consumer waste Student Association-run cafeterias, post-consumer food waste from College cafeterias and leftover food from meetings and events.
- Install recycling bins at outside locations including the 2nd floor patio at 200 King and “Moose Park” at Casa Loma Campus.
- Reduce the number of black garbage containers outside of classrooms and at miscellaneous locations around the College.
- Collect wood/saw dust from Casa Loma Campus for inclusion in the organics diversion stream.
- Recycle used non-clinical wax from the Denturism program.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Green Plan II Targets (2012-17):
- Achieve 70% waste diversion.
- Reduce total waste by 10%
- Divert 100% of electronic waste
- Divert 25% of construction and renovation waste.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Facilities Management Department
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
n/a
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
n/a
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
n/a
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
n/a
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
n/a
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
n/a
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
n/a
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
Green Plan I Goal
- To reduce the total consumption of paper by 15% over 5 years and to purchase paper that has been manufactured with minimal impact on the environment.
Green Plan II Future Plans
- Investigate environmentally prefereable alternatives to shift from 30% recycled content photocopy paper to 100% recycled or non-forestry based paper.
- Be more proactive in encouraging faculty to provide course outlines on-line and to accept and mark assignments electronically.
- Consider adding a surcharge to departments for paper use to serve as an incentive to reduce paper consumption.
- Start tracking student paper consumption such as in the Learning Commons and Computer Labs and other classrooms with printers.
- New campus locations at will not allow single printers.
- Investigate ways to decommission and/or consolidate print/fax/imaging equipment, ("Green Print Strategy”).
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Green Plan Phase 2 targets (2017):
- Increase recycled content of photocopy paper to at least 50%
- Reduce per capita photocopy paper consumption by an additional 15% over 2013 levels.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
Finance Department
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
George Brown College definition of Sustainability (excerpt from Sustainability in the Curriculum Audit Report, June 2014
3 Pillars of Sustainability
Sustainable development has been defined in many ways, but the most frequently quoted definition is from Our Common Future:
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. “
All definitions of sustainable development require that we see the world as a system. The three pillars of sustainability are a powerful tool for defining what we mean by sustainability. This consists of the economic, social, and environmental pillars. If any one pillar is weak then the system as a whole is unsustainable.
a)Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is concerned with reducing human consumption of resources and mitigating human impact on the natural environment. A sustainable approach to the physical environment entails improved understanding of the interrelation of ecosystems and the life-giving services they provide. It promotes behaviours that minimize harm to air and water quality, and that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
b) Social Sustainability
Sustainable social practices promote “social justice, conflict resolution, access, human well-being, social equity, diversity, intercultural fluency, quality of life, global citizenship, [and] community building” (University of British Columbia, no date).
c) Economic Sustainability
Healthy local and national economies are fundamental elements of liveable, equitable and prosperous communities. The Canadian International Development Agency’s Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy prioritizes economic practices that:
• “Foster a stable foundation for viable businesses and industries to thrive
• Increase opportunities for meaningful employment, particularly in the formal economy
• Maximize the contribution of growth to the public resources available for investment in the welfare of the population
Sustainable, ethical economic practices "[...] integrate environmental sustainability, equality between women and men, and governance as essential considerations to achieve sustainable economic growth” (CIDA 2011).
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Strategy 2020:
As George Brown College moves forward on its journey towards 2020, the College has committed to “create a college experience that enhances student satisfaction … by ensuring resources are used as responsibly, ethically and efficiently as possible.” This includes the need to operate facilities as efficiently as possible, reducing waste and conserving resources. This approach is at the basis of the College’s environmental commitments as outlined in this Green Plan.
Another key element in the College’s Road Map 2020 is the commitment to “Guide the financial and physical resources of the organization so that it can grow responsibly and in a manner that enhances the college environment to the benefit of the entire George Brown College community.” An important part of this is the need to oversee stewardship of the college’s physical growth. That’s why the Green Plan sets the bar high in terms of how the College can work to model environmental sustainability.
Building on this theme, environmental sustainability of the College’s built environment supports the College’s intention to “create campus environments that are innovative, creative and nurture graduates… and to provide students with environments — inside and outside classrooms and labs — that are highly conducive to learning”. As a LEED Gold certified building, the new Waterfront Campus is a model for how the College will grow into the future, demonstrating best practices in terms of “green”, high performance buildings that promote healthy indoor environments proven to increase learning outcomes as well as to increase staff productivity.
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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.