| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.02 |
| Liaison | Maxine Dandois-Fafard |
| Submission Date | Nov. 10, 2023 |
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
OP-17: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.80 / 1.00 |
Maxine
Dandois-Fafard Sustainable Development Officer Scientific Direction |
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
Does the institution participate in a car sharing program?:
A brief description of the car sharing program:
An application (Power App, within the Office 365 environment) has been developed to promote carpooling internally. Given the numerous sites and campuses at our university, there are many trips between Quebec, Montreal, Laval, and Varennes. It is more convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly to carpool whenever possible. The application allows users to indicate when they plan to make a trip with their car (date and time, departure and arrival cities, available seats) or if they are looking for a ride. The application can be used on both mobile and web platforms, as well as directly within Teams.
For commuting in the Montreal area, INRS encourages its members to download the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) application to reduce solo car use.
Additionally, in Quebec City, an agreement has been reached with Communauto (Quebec's community car-sharing service) to facilitate the use of their vehicles for professional purposes. Employees and students can register with Communauto through INRS, and the charges are directly billed to INRS. The Communauto parking lot is located just in front of the University of Quebec, which is INRS's parent university.
Does the institution offer preferential parking or other incentives for fuel efficient vehicles?:
A brief description of the incentives for fuel efficient vehicles:
All electric charging stations are well located close to university entrances.
Furthermore, the expense report form implemented in March 2023 now directly displays the emissions generated by one's travel, in order to raise awareness. The individual enters their mileage and selects the type of vehicle they used (compact car, intermediate, SUV, pickup, etc.), and they can instantly see the grams of CO2 emitted by their trip. This "green nudge" may encourage individuals to make different choices in the future to reduce emissions appearing in their expense reports.
Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
All our sites with parking facilities have been equipped with charging stations. In Laval, there are 8 Level 2 charging stations. In Quebec City, there are 7 Level 2 charging stations in the underground parking lot of the downtown building, as well as 2 stations in the parking lots of the technology park facilities. In Varennes, there are 2 free Level 2 charging stations.
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
Does the institution have other programs or initiatives to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and/or reduce the impact of student and employee commuting?:
A brief description of other programs or initiatives to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and/or reduce the impact of student and employee commuting:
INRS concluded an agreement with the Réseau de transport de Québec (RTC) and the Société de transport de Lévis to encourage employees to use public transportation. Under this agreement, any employee with a one-year contract can subscribe to public transit with automatic payroll deductions and receive a 35% discount on the monthly pass (https://inrs.ca/offres-d-emploi/avantages-sociaux/).
Public transportation companies (metro, buses) also offer reduced fares for students: https://inrs.ca/les-etudes/reussite-et-vie-etudiantes/accueil-et-integration/vivre-et-etudier-au-quebec/.
Furthermore, several measures are in place to encourage cycling. The UCS Montreal campus is home to an underground community bike workshop, run by students, with various tools and parts available and trained students to help community members maintain or repair their bikes. The students have redeveloped the underground and the area reserved for bicycles, it has been enlarged and improved. During the move, they discovered several abandoned bicycles. The main building manager at UCS took the initiative of renovating one and offering it to a student who is experiencing a lot of financial insecurity, which brought him considerable help. https://inrs.ca/linrs/developpement-durable/chantiers-de-developpement-durable#mobilite. In Quebec City, there are outside and inside racks for bicycles, and an emergency tool kit at the reception. In Varennes, there is a bicycle repair terminal outside, along with racks. There are bicycle racks in every site.
INRS' Expense Reimbursement Policy encourages carpooling when using a personal vehicle for work by providing higher compensation for trips with two or more passengers. https://inrs.ca/wp-content/uploads/DIR-Remboursement-Depenses-VFP-1.pdf
Website URL where information about the institution’s support for sustainable transportation is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.