Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.11
Liaison Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date Aug. 22, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

Western University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Brandon Watson
Communications and Training Officer
Physical Plant and Capital Planning Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:

The sustainability website delivers information about campus environmental initiatives (Western's Green Awards, Residence Energy Challenge); university practices (recycling and waste management, water and energy management, transportation, building and green space); academic programs and our research facilities (Biotron, the Centre for Building Sustainable Value).
The website also offers alternatives for Western's community to get involved on-campus, the sustainability events calendar and Western's Green Report Card 2009.


The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Dispatches newsletter is produced annually by the Centre for Environment and Sustainability as a chronicle of the year's events. This year's review includes: undergraduate and graduate program highlights; student profiles and award winners; special event speakers; workshops; the annual Earth Day Colloquium (collaborative graduate program) and the I.D.E.A.s conference highlighting the work of the Master in Environment and Sustainability (MES) program students.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

The annual Earth Day Colloquium is a one day event showcasing research being conducted in the field of Environment and Sustainability by students from different faculties. Celebrating the interdisciplinary nature of this field, the Colloquium provides a forum for a broad range of topics in Science, Engineering, Social Sciences, Business, Policy and Management.
The Earth Day Colloquium, organized every year by a committee of graduate students in the Environment and Sustainability Program, is in its eighth year and continues to grow in breadth and dimension as well as interest, drawing larger audiences every year.
The Earth Day Colloquium is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in environment and sustainability to participate in a day dedicated to interdisciplinary sharing of ideas with a diverse audience comprised by students, faculty, and representatives from the London community, industry and government organizations.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

Green building signage are placed in the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion (CMLP) in the Faculty of Engineering - the first certified LEED Gold building on-campus. Signs on paper towel dispensers remind users to conserve paper while signs next to urinals/toilets inform users that our facility is committed to conserving water and that the high-efficient urinals/toilets help save over 88% of water per use.

As well, an info-monitor in the lobby of the building highlights sustainable design features, which include the high recycled content building materials, the green roof, and geothermal ground source heating/cooling system.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

In an effort to enhance and increase general awareness of the Hospitality Services Recycling program, Sustainability Central has been introduced in the University Community Centre's cafeteria. This is a highly visible program which has greatly impacted the recycling efforts in the units hosting these stations. Graphic signage are posted to inform students what can be composted, what is recyclable, and what goes to landfill.

Furthermore, signs placed in the University Community Centre promotes local food and vegetarian/vegan options.


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?:
No

A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

Western's 'Walking Tour' map highlights all the facilities, faculty buildings, and key historical features that can be found on campus, as well as some of the sustainable features of the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

The Environment and Sustainability website has a list of alternative methods of transportation available to students and staff. These include our campus fleet(Western's Foot patrol, Parking Services, Campus Police); intra-campus transportation (provide bicycles to Power Plant employees); student bus pass; bicycle and roller-blade paths; campus-wide system of pathways and sidewalks; and information on the carpooling system.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

There are 'Green Boards' located in every building on-campus, which are maintained by Facilities Management. The 'Green Boards' located in student residences are customized with green living tips.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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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)?:
No

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:
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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:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

Western's Facilities Management's 'Green Boards' located in all buildings and residences allow students and staff to be informed of the furniture equipment recycling program (FERP), the Green Awards, and the recycling program at Western (which includes a battery recycling program). The posters are printed in FSC-certified paper and are reused/recycled with the 'Use the Other Side Scratch-pads' (UTOSS) and recycling program.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

'Western On Earth' is EnviroWestern's radio show which operates every other Friday by students on CHRW 94.9 from 11:00am to 12:00pm. Topics covered include sustainability events and issues on- and off-campus. Past topics have touched upon the first LEED Gold-certified building on-campus (CMLP); oil sands in Alberta; life-cycle discussion on Gatorade and a Tim Horton's cup; and Bill C-311.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

There is a 'Sustainability at Western' calendar which is accessible to the general public. This calendar is one way to inform the Western community of upcoming guest lectures related to sustainability on-campus.


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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
No

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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.