2013-2014 SUSTAINABILITY YEARBOOK - HIGHLIGHTS FROM ST. GEORGE CAMPUS
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2013–2014 Sustainability Yearbook Highlights from St. George campus
Message from the president top 10 reasons why
it’s greener in here
Since 2010, the
The campus features more than 35 acres University has
of green, naturalized spaces, providing an saved over 1 billion
escape from the busy urban surroundings. litres of water.
Over a century ago,
the University of Toronto constructed one
of Canada’s first institutional district energy More than We can
Our highly efficient District Energy
systems to supply campus buildings in an 80% of the produce more
energy- and cost-efficient manner. Today, System provides heat and hot water
St. George than 25% of our
the venerable Russell Street chimney serves to 97 campus buildings and
as a reminder of U of T’s longstanding community electricity needs
10.7 million square feet of space.
commitment to environmental stewardship. uses low- or on campus.
Over 60 environmentally focused student groups no-carbon
are working to green our university and shape transportation
future generations of environmental leaders. In 2013, our overall We’re the
to get to
Award-winning researchers and innovators waste diversion leading
are addressing global issues of climate change, campus.
rate was 72.1%— public sector
resource availability and biodiversity losses.
one of the highest purchaser
Dedicated staff are advancing conservation
initiatives and achieving impressive results. institutional of local
To cite just a few examples, since 1973 we have diversion rates in sustainable
conserved 79 billion litres of water and avoided North America. food in North
over one million tonnes of greenhouse gas
emissions. Moreover, U of T has an industry- America.
leading waste diversion rate of 72 percent and
is a leading public sector purchaser of local There are over 400 U of T
sustainable food in North America. researchers doing work in More than 60
Photograph: Brian Summers
These accomplishments are just the beginning, the area of environment environmentally
and they powerfully illustrate how an engaged focused student
community can effect meaningful change.
and sustainability.
I would like to salute and thank students, faculty groups thrive on
The Sustainability Office
and staff for their leadership, hard work, and campus. From
has been advancing
initiative in seeking environmentally sound urban agriculture
solutions to pressing challenges. Congratulations environmental initiatives
to sustainable
on the publication of this remarkable inaugural and communications for
Sustainability Yearbook. engineering, we’ve
students, staff and faculty
got a club for that!
“An innovative culture of sustainability for almost 10 years!
thrives on our three campuses thanks
to the combined efforts of students, Meric S. Gertler
Image credits: Front cover: University College, by Arthur Kwiatkowski. Photography by David Bodenstein (unless noted otherwise). The researchers provided their own
photos. All photographs are the property of the University of Toronto. The following icons are attributed to The Noun Project: Water Bottle by Kelvin Scale; Shower
faculty, and staff.” President
by Jaclyne Ooi; Beehive by Andrea Greco.
Sources: For further details about any of the facts in this yearbook, including a list of sources, please contact the Sustainability Office at sustainability@utoronto.ca.
Unless otherwise stated, all facts refer to the 2013 school year.
Concept and design: Green Living Enterprises
2 | 2013–2014 University of Toronto Sustainability Yearbook Learn more at www.sustainability.utoronto.ca | 3
Buildings and grounds Discover these environmental features on campus.
Despite our urban location, we have more than Solar Installation Inspiring Green Space
Student-Run Eatery
(local, sustainable, vegetarian options)
35 acres of green, naturalized spaces on campus, See page 11 for more details!
including lawns, gardens and trees. Rainwater Cisterns
Green Roof Veg and Learning Garden
See page 6 for more details!
Q+A: Katie
ROAD
University of Toronto
MacDonald
SPADINA ROAD
BEDFORD
ST. GEORGE St. George campus BAY
Photograph: John Guatto
4th-Year Student SPADINA ST. GEORGE
BLOOR STREET WEST BLOOR STREET WEST
What is your LEED Gold
certified (pending)
favourite green
feature at the SULTAN STREET
St. George
ST. THOMAS STREET
campus?
QUEEN'S PARK
Philosopher’s
WASHINGTON AVENUE
WALK
HURON STREET
Walk. Its meandering pathway MUSEUM
CHARLES STREET WEST
ST. GEORGE STREET
is such a beautiful feature on the solar PV
Caffiends
PHILOSOPHER'S
U of T campus. Whenever I am SUSSEX AVENUE
energy
having a stressful day, a stroll down
DEVONSHIRE PLACE
ST. MARY STREET
Philosopher’s Walk always helps to
SPADINA AVENUE
clear my mind.
What’s the “best kept secret” in GLEN MORRIS STREET
LEED Gold
terms of green spaces on campus? certified (pending)
Definitely the different green roofs HOSKIN AVENUE
on campus, including the one on solar thermal HARBORD STREET
ROAD
energy
ELMSLEY PLACE
St. Hilda’s residence of Trinity College.
QUEEN'S PARK CRESCENT EAST
QUEEN'S PARK CRESCENT WEST
The green roof is an oasis on campus
TOWER
Back Campus
with a beautiful terrace that students Queen's Park
ST. JOSEPH STREET
Diablos
can study or relax on. CLASSIC AVENUE
HART HOUSE CIRCLE
BAY STREET
| - WILLCOCKS STREET Pedestrian Street - | WELLESLEY STREET WEST
WELLESLEY STREET WEST
Harvest
Noon
HURON STREET
A KING'S COLLEGE CIRCLE
N
I
BANCROFT AVENUE
Front Campus
Provincial Legislature
CRESCENT
D
Did you know? A
2,327tonnes
C15
Central Steam
P
S
Bikechain Plant
RUSSELL STREET
That’s the amount of greenhouse gases
GROSVENOR STREET
avoided in the first year of an innovative Sky Garden
GALBRAITH ROAD
Photograph: Arthur kwiatkowski
energy reduction project at the Medical
SURREY PLACE
KING'S COLLEGE ROAD
ST. GEORGE STREET
Sciences Building. A new automated
system was installed in this busy building
HURON STREET
GRENVILLE STREET
which includes 24-hour labs, classrooms solar PV solar PV LEED Gold
ELIZABETH STREET
BAY STREET
QUEEN'S PARK
and offices. Thanks to cutting-edge Take action é Watch for the energy energy certified (pending)
SPADINA AVENUE
QUEEN’S PARK
wireless thermostats to adjust air flow “It’s Greener in Here” badge COLLEGE STREET COLLEGE STREET
and temperature, the Medical Sciences around campus, and investigate LEED Gold certified
BEVERLEY STREET
UNIVERSITY
STREET
HENRY STREET
ROSS STREET
AVENUE
Building is now more effective and the initiatives that interest you! 0 50 100 150 200
McCAUL
comfortable for everyone. metres
4 | 2013–2014 University of Toronto Sustainability Yearbook Learn more at www.sustainability.utoronto.ca | 5
Water Transportation
Since 2010, the University has saved more than More than 80% of the St. George community commutes to
1 billion litres of water. campus using low- or no-carbon transportation, including walking,
cycling and using public transit.
That’s enough water to fill
Q+A: Dione Dias
Dione heads up the
Convocation Hall times! 36 Our campus
community can
Location: College St. and King’s College Rd.
student-led Public Water access free bike
Initiative (PWI) sharing and repair
at Bikechain on
What has PWI been Bancroft Ave.
focused on in the
past year?
PWI has focused on the
testing of water, public
outreach, advocating for more water fountains
and mapping of water fountains on campus.
In your opinion, what have been positive
outcomes from the 2011 bottled water
ban on campus? Walking is free Cycling is an
Carpooling affordable, quick and
While the ban was a huge saves you healthy way to travel
success, there has also been money and
greater awareness about the reduces
merits of public water and emissions
Get an entire On the TTC, students save
the environmental, social and year of Bixi for $30 a month over regular
economic issues related to less than $100 fares, and staff can purchase
bottled water. a pass at a reduced rate,
saving $16 per month
What other positive changes have you
Photograph: john guatto/jon horvatin
seen on campus in the past few years?
Noticeable increases in the number of
+
people using reusable bottles, as well as the
installation of water fountains and refill Q+A: Alex MacIssac
stations, and upgrades to existing fountains. Manager, Transportation Services
We’ve been conserving water What is the most common form
for more than 40 years! Since of low-carbon transportation
Take action é
1973, we’ve saved more than used on campus?
Not commuting
Photograph: Michael Baker
79 billion litres. in a low-carbon
The most common is public transit
(TTC). Given the fact that the
way? Save money, campus is served by multiple subway
time and the lines, streetcars and buses, it makes sense.
Did you know? environment by
What options are there for students to reduce their
63,790L
Take action è choosing one of
That’s the amount transportation footprint?
Use a refillable the low-carbon
of rainwater that the The first and most popular option is the TTC; the
water bottle at commuting
St. George campus discounted Metropass for post-secondary students makes
the various water options above! it a viable option. Biking is a second option that many
can capture as of 2013 in its 15 underground
bottle refill stations make use of.
water cisterns (one of which holds 28,430 litres!).
throughout campus.
This rainwater is then used by a smart irrigation What about faculty or staff who might need to
Find your nearest
system, which only waters our lawns if the drive in order to do their job?
water location here: Did you know? There are informal carpools that staff and faculty organize
forecast isn’t predicting rain. These are a few of That’s the number of services that
20,000
map.utoronto.ca/water on their own. Car sharing is also an option!
the many water-saving initiatives on campus that Bikechain, U of T’s do-it-yourself
help us reduce our water consumption. repair shop, has now surpassed.
6 | 2013–2014 University of Toronto Sustainability Yearbook Learn more at www.sustainability.utoronto.ca | 7
Heating Electricity
For more than 100 years, the iconic chimney of our We can produce more than 25% of our electricity needs on
District Energy System has been a trailblazing symbol of campus. How? Thanks to our electricity-producing co-generation
innovation at U of T, producing heat and hot water for turbine and two solar photovoltaic systems (one 57-kW system
97 campus buildings and 10.7 million square feet of space. on Trinity College’s Larkin Building and one 30-kW system on
the Lassonde Mining Building).
How does it all work?
A simplified look at our highly
efficient District Energy System
Natural Did you know?
1 in 5
GAS
of all the hot
electricity showers in the
for Campus
Warren Stevens Athletic Centre
needs
are provided by energy from
the sun, thanks to the 100
Electricity
generated in
solar thermal panels on the
STEam & co-generation building’s roof.
Hot water turbine
Created
Q+A:
14.5 km of traversing Boonteak Lee Q+A: Sarah Levy
underground pipes provide Chief Engineer and President of the Trinity
97
Guru of the Central
campus buildings Steam Plant
College Environmental Society
with space heating, What is the Solar
domestic hot water How does the
Bursary program?
District Energy
and humidification. Trinity’s solar panels
System affect
generate electricity that
people on campus?
is sold to the Province
The District Energy System provides a
of Ontario. Part of these
centralized efficient energy supply and
funds are used to pay back the initial investment,
reduces the amount of equipment, space
and part of the funds are allocated to 25 student
and emissions on campus. Everyone
bursaries and a number of research opportunities Did you know?
sees the chimney from afar but seldom
730
for students to travel abroad.
associates it with the heating and Take action è Laptops
electric power source for their offices How has the bursary benefited
and monitors use “standby”
and classrooms. Trinity students?
electricity even when you think
To encourage environmental awareness in That’s the number
How is U of T continuing this they’re off! This wasted energy
students from the start of their time at Trinity, of Ontario homes
history of energy innovation today? is known as “phantom” power.
a Solar Panel First-Year Award is given out that could have been
This System has been at the forefront of Take a bite out of your energy
to a student demonstrating environmental powered through the
innovation, from the burning of natural bill and save electricity by
Take action è Feeling overheated or overcooled? responsibility. I am very proud of this bursary almost 6,500,000 kWh
gas in the mid-60s, to the co-gen system
Call 416-978-3000 to let your building manager know program at Trinity, as it’s a concrete example unplugging unused equipment.
in 1990, to emissions reductions in 2000, of electricity saved by
something is off. Although we think of our building managers of how sustainable initiatives benefit not only It will also extend the life of
and finally to the new control system St. George campus
as superheroes, they can’t be everywhere at once! the environment, but countless others as well. your electronics!
being installed now. during the 2012–2013
academic year.
8 | 2013–2014 University of Toronto Sustainability Yearbook Learn more at www.sustainability.utoronto.ca | 9
waste management Food and dining
In 2013, our overall waste diversion rate was 72.1%—one of A partner of Local Food Plus since 2006, we’re the leading
the highest institutional diversion rates in North America! public sector purchaser of local sustainable food in North America.
Location: Medical Sciences Cafe
Eco-trays provide you with
a clean, reusable container
Total waste diverted for your tasty meals
It’s not waste
Q+A: Reno
Strano
Campus Waste Guru
4,498 tonnes until you
waste it! Refill your water
If it grows, bottle at one of
What does “waste it goes in the many stations
diversion rate”
really mean?
595 tonnes compost bins (more on page 6)
Asphalt and concrete
The basic meaning
of waste diversion
is simple: when items are recycled,
reused or not produced in the first
870 tonnes
Organic material
place, they avoid disposal and, thus,
are “diverted” from landfill.
What is the single biggest
challenge you face in trying
969 tonnes
Mixed paper and cardboard
to reduce waste?
Total garbage
Fighting human nature is the biggest to landfill
obstacle to waste reduction. People
Recycling starts
are not naturally wired to think about
2,064 tonnes
here—think before
their waste. Most people don’t think you sort your waste
about how much waste goes into
producing and shipping the things they All other diverted
1,740
materials, including tonnes
want or what happens to it after they
such items as bottles,
are done with it. cans, batteries and Lug-a-mug and save 25 Q+A: Estelle Chettiar
light bulbs cents on hot drinks at most
campus locations Food Services Intern and Local Food Crusader
What is Local Food Plus?
Local Food Plus (LFP) is a not-for-profit
organization that certifies, promotes
Take action è Participate in Veggie and encourages farms and processors in
Did you know? Mondays! After all, you save more water by Ontario that practise environmentally and
3 million
Take action è Head to the U of T Swap Shop. not eating one pound of meat than you would socially responsible farming techniques.
In 2012–2013, the Swap Shop helped to put 40 tonnes by not taking a shower for 6 months. The What does “local sustainable food” mean at U of T?
of gently used items back into use. That’s the equivalent Sheets of paper saved impact of everyone on campus taking part in At the University of Toronto, local food is any food or food
weight of 200 offices’ worth of furniture! since our campus Veggie Mondays cannot be understated! product that is partially or completely grown, raised or
libraries set their printers produced in Ontario.
to double-sided defaults What is the easiest way to find local sustainable food
in 2010. That’s just over Did you know? on campus?
120 lb.
half the height of the The amount The Local Food Standards and Local Food label are part of
CN Tower! Credit goes of honey the overarching Local Food Challenge launched in September
to Gerstein Library, who produced by 2013. The Challenge encourages students, staff and faculty to
first piloted paper saving the 300,000 bees in 5 beehives buy local food on campus by looking for the Local Food label.
initiatives in 2009! operated by U of T’s B.E.E.S.
10 | 2013–2014 University of Toronto Sustainability Yearbook Learn more at www.sustainability.utoronto.ca | 11
Education and Research
Did you know?
20
The School of the Environment
+ offers undergraduate programs and
There are more than 400 U of T researchers doing work in the collaborative graduate programs
area of environment and sustainability, leading to award-winning with more than 20 other departments.
Photographs: NanoLight
The School also offers many professional
and world-renowned research, innovations and start-ups. development courses and workshops.
PHOTOGRAPH: JOHN HRYNIUK
Miriam Diamond (Faculty
of Applied Science and
Engineering): Professor in the
Department of Earth Sciences
Dr. Diamond’s goal is to
Q+A: Ingrid connect our everyday activities
Stefanovic David Zingg (Department
of Psychology): Professor and
with their environmental
consequences. She is currently
Founding Director of the Director of the Institute for exploring a planetary boundary
Centre for Environment Aerospace Studies, Director
(now School of the of the Centre for Research in for chemical pollution and
Environment) and Sustainable Aviation developing a “chemical
PHOTOGRAPH: MARTIN TURNER
Professor of Philosophy footprint” that can help keep
Dr. Zingg is working to shrink us within that limit.
é Alumni Christian Yan, Tom
How does U of T the environmental footprint
stack up against of the aviation industry. By Rodinger and Gimmy Chu
other universities optimizing aircraft design developed the NanoLight LED
in terms of the to reduce drag, his work bulb, “the world’s most energy-
amount of research is helping reduce fuel efficient light bulb,” which uses
consumption and carbon
being done? only 12 watts of electricity to
dioxide emissions.
U of T is consistently produce light equivalent to that
ranked among the of a 100-watt bulb.
top universities in the é AeroVelo Inc., formed by alumni
world when it comes Todd Reichert and Cameron
to environmental Robertson, made history by
research. Our winning the Sikorsky Prize for
researchers win major the first-ever sustained flight of ê Solar car team: B-7, the latest racing car from
the University’s Blue Sky Solar Racing team Dan Dolderman (Department
awards and regularly a human-powered helicopter. of Psychology): Professor of
contribute to the work Environmental Psychology
of the prestigious
Applying psychology to
Intergovernmental environmental issues to help
Panel on Climate communities reach their
Change. è Olivier Trescases with A2B, the environmental goals, Dr.
world’s only completely Canadian Clare Wiseman (Faculty of
Arts and Science): Assistant Dolderman is encouraging
designed and made electric car Professor and Coordinator of people to be politically active.
PHOTOGRAPH: JOHN GUATTO the Graduate Collaborative His main focus is Unstoppable
Photograph: Blue Sky Solar Racing
Program in Environment and Snowball, a social networking
Health in the School of the experiment to increase
Environment democratic participation
Kim Strong (Faculty of Arts Greg Scholes (Faculty of Arts
and Science): Professor in the and Science): Professor in the Dr. Wiseman has joined in environmental issues
Department of Physics and Director Department of Chemistry forces with local organizations across Canada.
of the School of the Environment to find ways to minimize
Dr. Scholes is finding new ways
Dr. Strong measures atmospheric to harness the power of light the health risks associated
composition to improve our and is learning from plants to with growing food in Take action è Get your
understanding of air quality, ozone build better solar panels and urban environments, while
maximizing the health benefits.
course Green Certified at
depletion and climate. energy storage.
www.uoft.me/greencourses
12 | 2013–2014 University of Toronto Sustainability Yearbook Learn more at www.sustainability.utoronto.ca | 13
Community Communication
More than 60 environmentally focused student The Sustainability Office has been advancing
groups thrive on campus. From urban agriculture to environmental initiatives and communications for
sustainable engineering, we’ve got a club for that! students, staff and faculty for almost 10 years!
Just a few of U of T’s
Sustainability Groups Q+A:
Tyler
Hunt
Project
Coordinator in
the Sustainability
Office (and man
behind the Green
Superhero mask)
Q+A: Elyse
Henderson What can you share about the
Founding Member of the Green fantastic work being done at the
Chemistry Initiative Sustainability Office?
We’ve had so many big wins in recent
What is the Green
years! Whether we’re knocking out
Chemistry Initiative (GCI)?
bottled water, kicking waste to the
é Harvest The GCI is a group of
Public Water Initiative at curb or squashing emissions, the
Noon Cafe graduate students in the
the University of Toronto (PWI) Sustainability Office is helping to make
Serves local Department of Chemistry who
sustainable food U of T a “greener” place!
joined together to promote
and offers cooking
and preserving sustainable practices in the lab What’s your mission for the
workshops (see and in everyday life. Sustainability Office staff coming year?
map on page 5 and student team, fall 2013 I’m helping the Sustainability Office
for location). What impact has the GCI
to reach the far corners of the universe
had so far?
Did you know?
(and campus) to find, foster and
Graduate students have
celebrate sustainable initiatives. There’s
learned about green In the summer of 2013, the Sustainability Office undertook a survey
U of T B.E.E.S. so much passion and initiative on
chemistry methods and how
of the campus population to better understand the views and opinions campus—we just have to find it and
to implement them in their
Dig In! Campus Agriculture Network of those who call our “greener” campus home. Here are some of the harness it!
everyday research from experts
Sustainable Engineers in the field. results based on responses from our 2,576 amazing participants: Who are you planning to team up
Conference 2013 with in the near future?
How has your involvement
We’re really excited about our staff and
changed you personally?
By working with the GCI,
I have seen real, positive
71% think that U of T is
a “green” campus. 43% associate eating less meat
with sustainability.
faculty collaborations. Student Life, the
School of the Environment, and Food
changes in the green
awareness of my fellow 38% associate buying organic
with sustainability.
Services are just a few of the groups
we’re working with… with plenty
79% consider themselves more partnerships to come!
graduate students. It has The campus’ Veggie Mondays program
been an extremely gratifying passionate about and Local Food initiatives are looking
experience! I have also learned environmental issues. to increase this awareness!
valuable entrepreneurial skills.
Did you know? 80%+ consider the presence of a
Sustainability Office, the promotion
Take action è Feel the need for a little more “green”
in your work life? Join the Green Ambassadors Network
500+ anda pledgefacultyto tobedate“U ofwhoT green.”
That’s the number of staff, students of sustainability initiatives and campus and help make our campus—and the world—a better
Take action è Interested in joining an environmental club?
have taken sustainability awareness to be important. place. Visit www.uoft.me/greenambassadors to sign up.
Visit: ulife.utoronto.ca/interests/list/type/environment
14 | 2013–2014 University of Toronto Sustainability Yearbook Learn more at www.sustainability.utoronto.ca | 15
buildings & Grounds
Student Groups
Environment
Food & Dining
innovation
Pledge Water
Take action It’s Greener In Here
Take the pledge to be “U of T green” at
uoft.me/greener
/SustainableUofT @SustainableUofT /SustainableUofT
Community
Energy
Education
Transportation
Green Ambassadors
Climate Change & research
waste management gardens
reuse
Download the Yearbook at
www.sustainability.utoronto.caYou can also read
