Committing to a sustainable campus
November 26, 2009
McMaster is formalizing its commitment to sustainability by pledging along with other Ontario universities to transform campuses into models of environmental responsibility.
Ontario Universities: Statement on Creating a Sustainable Environment targets various aspects of sustainability, from reducing energy consumption to recycling and waste reduction to purchasing decisions. McMaster is one of the signatories to the statement released at Queen's Park today.
"This agreement is actually a recommitment for McMaster because environmental protection and sustainability are paths we've been on for some time," says Roger Couldrey, interim vice-president, Administration, at McMaster University.
This commitment is exemplified by both large-scale projects, such as the newly opened and award-winning LEED gold-standard Engineering Technology Building, and smaller but no-less effective campus initiatives such as the recent ban on plastic bags that will save about 50,000 plastic bags a year from landfill sites. A recent waste audit revealed that McMaster has a diverted-to-recycling rate of 63 per cent.
"We're choosing smarter options," Couldrey says. "Not only are new buildings being constructed to meet LEED standards, where opportunities permit existing buildings are being retrofitted to make them more environmentally sustainable. We've also expanded recycling programs, increased our waste diversion, encouraged alternate transportation modes for students, faculty and staff and worked on preserving campus green space."
McMaster has also implemented a program in which students can earn education credits for working on sustainability projects on campus. Some of these projects include working on permeable paving options; creating rooftop gardens on campus buildings; and developing a plan for bike paths and a bike-share program.
You can review the Statement on Creating a Sustainable Environment document here.
To learn more about McMaster's sustainability efforts visit sustainability.mcmaster.ca.
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