purple & green fall 2013
DESCRIPTION
Western University's Fall 2013 Sustainability Newsletter.TRANSCRIPT
p 1
Fall 2013
Western University recognized by The Princeton Review
If you have an article idea for this newsletter or for more information please contact Beverley Ayeni Energy and Environment Manager at sustainabilityuwoca or visit the Sustainability Website at sustainabilityuwoca
Soon after launching the sustainability strategy lsquoCreating a Sustainable Western Experiencersquo Western University was one of two Canadian universities to be profiled in The Princeton Reviewrsquos Guide to 322 Green Colleges 2013 Edition
The guide highlights 320 schools in the United States and two in Canada that demonstrate commitment to sustainability in academic offerings campus infrastructure activities and career preparation Alongside University of British Columbia Western University was featured for its commitment to energy related retrofits and renovations
in the last three years Guided by the Universityrsquos pledge to embed sustainability in every facet of daily life Western was also recognized for student-run organizations such as Enviro-Western and green infrastructure on campus
With over 2300 North American schools responding to the Princeton Review survey Western has earned a spot in the comprehensive guide as one of the top Canadian institutions committed to advancing environmental sustainability on campus To learn more about sustainability efforts at Western visit our Sustainability website
Sustainability heads to Take Care FairThe Take Care Fair aims to
introduce students to health and wellness resources available on campus highlighting the importance of taking care of oneself and providing education in the area of health and wellness
Sustainability at Western will be hosting a booth as a part of the fair to promote environmental
sustainability on campus The booth will provide information about waste management as well as energy and water conservation at Western trivia and waste challenges and ways to get involved in different sustainability projects happening in the Western community There will also be some great prizes and giveaways for students Be sure to check it out
Take Care Fair
Sept 19 Essex Hall 530-730
Sept 23 Ontario Hall 530-730
Sept 24 Saugeen-Maitland Hall 530-730
Sept 25 Delaware Hall 530-730
Sept 26 Med-Syd Hall 530-730
p 2
Environmental Events Calendar (September-November 2013)SeptemberSeptember 22 International Car Free Day
International Car Free Day (ICFD)first started in Europe in the mid nineties and is a global movement in over two thousand towns and cities in over thirty countries ICFD promotes the awareness of alternative forms of transportation and the public health benefits associated with an active lifestyle To celebrate this year try walking cycling or taking public transit instead of the car
September 19-26 Take Care Fair
The Sustainability Team will be talking to residences about campus sustainability during the Take Care Fair from 530pm-730pm Swing by to learn more green tips and tricks and get some sweet giveaways
September 25 National Tree Day
National Tree Day is an opportunity for us to appreciate all of the great benefits that trees provide us- clean air wildlife habitat reduced energy demand and connection with nature This year celebrate by purchasing a tree on campus September 24 in the McIntosh Courtyard
OctoberOctober 7-11 International Walk to School Week
International Walk to School Week is an opportunity to be a part of a global event that celebrates the many benefits of walking to school International Walk to School Week encourages physical activity raises awareness and allows for time spent with local community leaders Try to walk to school this week
October 21-27 Waste Reduction Week
Since its inception in the mid eighties Waste Reduction Week calls on Canadians to reduce waste in all facets of daily living The event has been organized by a coalition of non-government not-for-profit environment groups and governments from 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada Remember to Reduce Reuse and Recycle
October 16 World Food Day
Founded by the United Nations in 1945 World Food Day was established to increase the awareness of world hunger and poverty and to inspire solutions for change Every year World Food Day Canada hosts a variety of different
events to raise awareness Check out their website to learn more
October 17 International Day for Eradication of Poverty
Since 1993 the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year and promotes awareness of the need to eradicate poverty in all countries At the Millennium Summit world leaders committed to cutting the proportion of people living in extreme poverty (less than $125 a day) in half by 2015
November
November 21 World Fisheries Day
The United Nations reported that more than two-thirds of the worlds fisheries have been overfished and more than one third are in a state of decline because of loss of habitat pollution and global warming Learn more about sustainable seafood on our blog
p 3
Earlier this year lsquoCreating a Sustainable Western Experiencersquo Westernrsquos formal sustainability strategy was launched by the Presidentrsquos Advisory Committee on Environment and Sustainability (PACES) The strategy aims to embed sustainability in four key areas of campus life Operations Community Teaching amp Learning and Research
Four working groups have been established to achieve the goals outlined in each of the four areas The academic components of the strategy fall under the portfolio of the Centre for Environment and Sustainability and they are required to report annually to the PACES committee Community and Operations initiatives are led by Beverley Ayeni Energy and Environment Manager at Facilities Management
With the establishment of
a formal strategy and devoted working groups Western is well on its way to creating a greener future for students and staff alike ldquoCreating a Sustainable Western Experiencerdquo can be found on our website where you can learn more about the different initiatives and goals driving sustainability at Western
Creating a Sustainable Western Experience
Get it fresh from the market
Donrsquot miss out on Westernrsquos annual Farmerrsquos Market Every Tuesday starting September 3 to mid November there will be a Farmerrsquos Market in the courtyard across from the Social Science building The market will be open from 10am-4pm This year vendors will be selling an array of products including honey flowers breads and of course fresh produce Be sure to stop by and support local farmers by picking up some seasonal treats
10-Year Goals amp 5-Year Outcomes for Sustainability
P
Presidentrsquos Advisory
Sustainability (PACES) November 2012
There are plenty of great organizations at Western that support sustainability efforts on campus Why not get involved this year and make a difference in your community
Follow the links to get involved in some great initiatives for the upcoming year
Enviro-Western
SOGS Sustainability
Environment amp Sustainability Society
Volunteer
p 4
Western LEEDs the wayBy Kailyn Smith
The 2013-2014 academic year welcomes two new buildings to Westernrsquos campus Ontario Hall and Ivey As a part of Westernrsquos commitment to sustainability the University has vowed that all new buildings on campus will achieve a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification Both Ontario Hall and Ivey demonstrate environmental leadership in their design and operations
Ontario Hall is the newest residence gracing Westernrsquos campus to meet a growing population of first year students requiring accommodation The $90 million residence is expected to house 600 students this year with full occupancy of 1000 students expected for next fall after construction wraps up at Christmas The building is targeting LEED Silver and has been overseen by Project Manager Boris Pertout
ldquoThis is my 1st LEED project and I have been just fascinated by the process I am looking forward to getting all of the work done and seeing the final resultsrdquo Petrout explains
Leadership in energy efficiency is the epitome of this building Every room is outfitted with sensors that control lighting and heating based on occupancy which is expected to be a huge energy saver The building will also feature two water cisterns one for providing water needs and the other for storm water management The storm water management tank is capable of capturing approximately 580000 litres of water Other features include LED lighting high performance insulation and close proximity to bus routes and major amenities which will award the building LEED
credit for encouraging alternative transportation
In addition to Ontario Hall Westernrsquos new Ivey building opened its doors on September 9th The $110 million dollar building is targeting LEED Gold and will include an auditorium with over 600 seats lounge and terrace 70 break-out rooms conference rooms and the Deanrsquos suite boardroom The 270000 square foot stone and glass buildingrsquos energy efficient design will certainly reflect Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability
LEED awards credits to buildings where at least 75 of the spaces meet a certain daylighting level and if 90 of the space has views to the exterior The new Ivey building features ample windows and skylights to allow for natural lighting and is built around an open courtyard The building also features daylighting sensors on the second floor as well as automated shades to ensure that sufficient
lighting needs are met
Ivey also features lsquodisplacement ventilationrsquo which is a first for Western This is a ventilating system that distributes air from the floor level and then extracts it from above the occupied zone (ceiling height) providing more efficient and quieter ventilation for classrooms Additionally CO2 sensors have been installed as a control strategy to only ventilate areas when needed Other features include locally sourced natural materials a rain water cistern non irrigation landscaping and state of the art magnetic-bearing chillers
Undoubtedly these two new additions on campus will support Westernrsquos sustainability vision Interested in learning more about LEED buildings on campus Contact us to organize a tour
Construction of Westernrsquos newest residence Ontario Hall The residence is pursuing LEED Silver certification
p 5
In an effort to minimize campus waste Western provides extensive recycling and composting services for the campus community Composting practices have become more prevalent and rightfully so considering that approximately 25 of the waste in US landfills could have been recovered through composting organic waste
At Western there are a couple of different ways you can compost on campus one of which is our office program This is a voluntary program where interested offices or departments can contact Western Sustainability and request a small green bin for food scraps coffee grounds and tea bags They are then assigned either a garden cone or organics drop off location and are responsible for disposing the organic waste
This summer we are pleased to announce that we have recruited
four new offices to participate in the voluntary green bin program Our new participants are located in the History Department Philosophy Department Faculty of Law and in the University Student Centre
Additionally Westernrsquos suite style residences (Elgin Essex Alumni and London) have all received a green bin as a part of their room inventory It is hoped that first year students will become more aware of Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and will aid in the Universityrsquos mission to zero waste (90 waste diversion from landfill)
We would like to thank our office participants for taking the initiative to make their offices a little greener by composting on campus Interested in learning more about composting on campus Head to our website or contact us to receive a green bin today
Hospitality spearheads water bottle free zone Hospitality Services has initiated
a pilot test for a Water Bottle Free Zone this fall to address goals within Hospitality Servicesrsquo Sustainability Action Plan The pilot test will take place in Elgin Hall and Medical Science with the elimination of Evian and Dasani 500ml bottles in an effort to reduce waste and encourage students to bring reusable water bottles instead of purchasing plastic alternatives
ldquoThe ideal goal is to divert more waste from landfillrdquo Ruth Harland Conference Manager explains Hospitality Services will be examining data prior to the pilot test including previous waste audit information as well as
taking inventory of the counters of the water refill stations in these locations They will continue to monitor data throughout the pilot test as well as at the end to determine how many bottles were saved from landfill and track any changes in waste diversion rates Additionally Hospitality Services will be conducting focus groups in an effort to gain feedback and insights from students
ldquoThis pilot test will be a great way to set targets for future goalsrdquo Anne Zok Nutrition Manager says
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact foodcommentsuwoca to share your feedback
Western community takes on composting
Kara Brown contacted sustainabilityuwoca and initiated a composting program in the History Department this summer
The counters on the upper right of the Elkay water filling stations will help Hospitality Services track water bottles saved from landfill
p 6
On June 27 about 250 Facilities Management (FM) employees gathered for their annual summer barbeque While employees mingled and enjoyed their lunches our sustainability team was in full force to make the event lsquozero wastersquo
Of recent years the barbeque has been known to be a zero waste event demonstrating Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and providing opportunities to educate the community on proper recycling techniques This year two waste stations were in place each containing a receptacle for organics paper plasticsglassmetals and landfill Careful planning ensured
that the barbeque plates were compostable utensils recyclable and other serving items reusable As people went to discard their waste our sustainability team helped FM employees sort their waste into the appropriate bins Although overwhelming at times many of the employees were eager to learn and take responsibility for sorting their waste items
We are happy to announce that this yearrsquos barbeque was indeed a zero waste event With a total of 125 lbs of waste we managed to divert 96 from landfill- a 5 increase from last yearrsquos barbeque Special thanks to everyone who made the barbeque a huge success and to all
the employees who helped make this yearrsquos barbeque zero waste
If you are interested in making one of your events zero waste please contact us to get organized today
Facilities Management holds zero waste bbq
The Million Tree Challenge is an initiative headed by Reforest London that encourages Londoners to plant one million trees to enhance environmental and human health in the city
ReForest London is a non-profit organization that strives to empower community groups businesses and individuals to plant trees while improving Londonrsquos environmental health by naturalizing areas of the city ReForest London aspires to leave a legacy of trees an appreciation of the value of nature and build strong community partnerships for future generations
The challenge allows for organizations as well as individuals to plant trees and register them to count towards the challenge To date over 129000 trees have been planted in London helping to improve air quality and provide
greener recreation areas Londoners are encouraged to register trees they have planted since January 2011 to contribute to the count to a million lsquoany tree planted anywhere by anyone countsrsquo
Western University has pledged to plant 75 trees every year to meet a total pledge of 500 trees toward the challenge Western has already registered 194 trees in the count to a million since 2011 A wide variety of different species have been planted on campus such as the Blue Ash Red Maple White Pine Blue Beech and Red Oak
If you are interested in contributing to The Million Tree Challenge Western will be selling indigenous trees and shrubs in memory of the late Jane Bowles You can pick up your native tree on September 24 from 10 am-4 pm in the courtyard across from Social Science You can also pre-
order your tree online Once you have purchased your tree you can register it as your individual contribution to the challenge here and be in the count toward a million
Participate in the Million Tree Challenge
Western University has already planted 194 trees to meet their pledge of 500 for the Million Tree Challenge
p 7
O-Week 2013 gets a dose of greenThis year the Sustainability Team
put on a special O-Week activity for students to learn more about green infrastructure on campus The activity required students to visit four of Westernrsquos greenest buildings Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion Stevenson amp Lawson Hall McIntosh Gallery and Physics amp Astronomy There was a poster display in each building depicting sustainability facts as well as a question lsquokeyrsquo that students had to collect the answer for in order to be eligible for prizes
Once students collected all four keys they submitted them to the
prize draw at the Sustainability Booth on September 6 Later that afternoon our sustainability team drew our 3 grand prize winners
1 Cathy Chen
2 Dimuth Kurukula
3 Lyn Brown
We would like to thank all of those who participated in the scavenger hunt Be sure to check out our website for more opportunities to get involved with sustainability on campus and win great prizes
Cathy Chen was the first place winner of the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt She won a 2013 GIANT hybrid bike
Lyn Brown was the third place winner for the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
Erin Kearney won a Western lawn chair from the sustainability prize draw
Our sustainability team offers some great programs for enhancing sustainability education on campus Whether yoursquore looking to engage your team in a fun workshop or infuse your office with sustainability we have programs to deliver information on environmental initiatives on campus and ways to reduce our footprint We also recognize individuals on campus who are dedicated to enhancing sustainability on
campus Follow the links to check out some of our programs
Sustainability Lunch amp Learns
Green Office Program
Green Awards
Sustainability Programs
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods
p 2
Environmental Events Calendar (September-November 2013)SeptemberSeptember 22 International Car Free Day
International Car Free Day (ICFD)first started in Europe in the mid nineties and is a global movement in over two thousand towns and cities in over thirty countries ICFD promotes the awareness of alternative forms of transportation and the public health benefits associated with an active lifestyle To celebrate this year try walking cycling or taking public transit instead of the car
September 19-26 Take Care Fair
The Sustainability Team will be talking to residences about campus sustainability during the Take Care Fair from 530pm-730pm Swing by to learn more green tips and tricks and get some sweet giveaways
September 25 National Tree Day
National Tree Day is an opportunity for us to appreciate all of the great benefits that trees provide us- clean air wildlife habitat reduced energy demand and connection with nature This year celebrate by purchasing a tree on campus September 24 in the McIntosh Courtyard
OctoberOctober 7-11 International Walk to School Week
International Walk to School Week is an opportunity to be a part of a global event that celebrates the many benefits of walking to school International Walk to School Week encourages physical activity raises awareness and allows for time spent with local community leaders Try to walk to school this week
October 21-27 Waste Reduction Week
Since its inception in the mid eighties Waste Reduction Week calls on Canadians to reduce waste in all facets of daily living The event has been organized by a coalition of non-government not-for-profit environment groups and governments from 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada Remember to Reduce Reuse and Recycle
October 16 World Food Day
Founded by the United Nations in 1945 World Food Day was established to increase the awareness of world hunger and poverty and to inspire solutions for change Every year World Food Day Canada hosts a variety of different
events to raise awareness Check out their website to learn more
October 17 International Day for Eradication of Poverty
Since 1993 the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year and promotes awareness of the need to eradicate poverty in all countries At the Millennium Summit world leaders committed to cutting the proportion of people living in extreme poverty (less than $125 a day) in half by 2015
November
November 21 World Fisheries Day
The United Nations reported that more than two-thirds of the worlds fisheries have been overfished and more than one third are in a state of decline because of loss of habitat pollution and global warming Learn more about sustainable seafood on our blog
p 3
Earlier this year lsquoCreating a Sustainable Western Experiencersquo Westernrsquos formal sustainability strategy was launched by the Presidentrsquos Advisory Committee on Environment and Sustainability (PACES) The strategy aims to embed sustainability in four key areas of campus life Operations Community Teaching amp Learning and Research
Four working groups have been established to achieve the goals outlined in each of the four areas The academic components of the strategy fall under the portfolio of the Centre for Environment and Sustainability and they are required to report annually to the PACES committee Community and Operations initiatives are led by Beverley Ayeni Energy and Environment Manager at Facilities Management
With the establishment of
a formal strategy and devoted working groups Western is well on its way to creating a greener future for students and staff alike ldquoCreating a Sustainable Western Experiencerdquo can be found on our website where you can learn more about the different initiatives and goals driving sustainability at Western
Creating a Sustainable Western Experience
Get it fresh from the market
Donrsquot miss out on Westernrsquos annual Farmerrsquos Market Every Tuesday starting September 3 to mid November there will be a Farmerrsquos Market in the courtyard across from the Social Science building The market will be open from 10am-4pm This year vendors will be selling an array of products including honey flowers breads and of course fresh produce Be sure to stop by and support local farmers by picking up some seasonal treats
10-Year Goals amp 5-Year Outcomes for Sustainability
P
Presidentrsquos Advisory
Sustainability (PACES) November 2012
There are plenty of great organizations at Western that support sustainability efforts on campus Why not get involved this year and make a difference in your community
Follow the links to get involved in some great initiatives for the upcoming year
Enviro-Western
SOGS Sustainability
Environment amp Sustainability Society
Volunteer
p 4
Western LEEDs the wayBy Kailyn Smith
The 2013-2014 academic year welcomes two new buildings to Westernrsquos campus Ontario Hall and Ivey As a part of Westernrsquos commitment to sustainability the University has vowed that all new buildings on campus will achieve a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification Both Ontario Hall and Ivey demonstrate environmental leadership in their design and operations
Ontario Hall is the newest residence gracing Westernrsquos campus to meet a growing population of first year students requiring accommodation The $90 million residence is expected to house 600 students this year with full occupancy of 1000 students expected for next fall after construction wraps up at Christmas The building is targeting LEED Silver and has been overseen by Project Manager Boris Pertout
ldquoThis is my 1st LEED project and I have been just fascinated by the process I am looking forward to getting all of the work done and seeing the final resultsrdquo Petrout explains
Leadership in energy efficiency is the epitome of this building Every room is outfitted with sensors that control lighting and heating based on occupancy which is expected to be a huge energy saver The building will also feature two water cisterns one for providing water needs and the other for storm water management The storm water management tank is capable of capturing approximately 580000 litres of water Other features include LED lighting high performance insulation and close proximity to bus routes and major amenities which will award the building LEED
credit for encouraging alternative transportation
In addition to Ontario Hall Westernrsquos new Ivey building opened its doors on September 9th The $110 million dollar building is targeting LEED Gold and will include an auditorium with over 600 seats lounge and terrace 70 break-out rooms conference rooms and the Deanrsquos suite boardroom The 270000 square foot stone and glass buildingrsquos energy efficient design will certainly reflect Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability
LEED awards credits to buildings where at least 75 of the spaces meet a certain daylighting level and if 90 of the space has views to the exterior The new Ivey building features ample windows and skylights to allow for natural lighting and is built around an open courtyard The building also features daylighting sensors on the second floor as well as automated shades to ensure that sufficient
lighting needs are met
Ivey also features lsquodisplacement ventilationrsquo which is a first for Western This is a ventilating system that distributes air from the floor level and then extracts it from above the occupied zone (ceiling height) providing more efficient and quieter ventilation for classrooms Additionally CO2 sensors have been installed as a control strategy to only ventilate areas when needed Other features include locally sourced natural materials a rain water cistern non irrigation landscaping and state of the art magnetic-bearing chillers
Undoubtedly these two new additions on campus will support Westernrsquos sustainability vision Interested in learning more about LEED buildings on campus Contact us to organize a tour
Construction of Westernrsquos newest residence Ontario Hall The residence is pursuing LEED Silver certification
p 5
In an effort to minimize campus waste Western provides extensive recycling and composting services for the campus community Composting practices have become more prevalent and rightfully so considering that approximately 25 of the waste in US landfills could have been recovered through composting organic waste
At Western there are a couple of different ways you can compost on campus one of which is our office program This is a voluntary program where interested offices or departments can contact Western Sustainability and request a small green bin for food scraps coffee grounds and tea bags They are then assigned either a garden cone or organics drop off location and are responsible for disposing the organic waste
This summer we are pleased to announce that we have recruited
four new offices to participate in the voluntary green bin program Our new participants are located in the History Department Philosophy Department Faculty of Law and in the University Student Centre
Additionally Westernrsquos suite style residences (Elgin Essex Alumni and London) have all received a green bin as a part of their room inventory It is hoped that first year students will become more aware of Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and will aid in the Universityrsquos mission to zero waste (90 waste diversion from landfill)
We would like to thank our office participants for taking the initiative to make their offices a little greener by composting on campus Interested in learning more about composting on campus Head to our website or contact us to receive a green bin today
Hospitality spearheads water bottle free zone Hospitality Services has initiated
a pilot test for a Water Bottle Free Zone this fall to address goals within Hospitality Servicesrsquo Sustainability Action Plan The pilot test will take place in Elgin Hall and Medical Science with the elimination of Evian and Dasani 500ml bottles in an effort to reduce waste and encourage students to bring reusable water bottles instead of purchasing plastic alternatives
ldquoThe ideal goal is to divert more waste from landfillrdquo Ruth Harland Conference Manager explains Hospitality Services will be examining data prior to the pilot test including previous waste audit information as well as
taking inventory of the counters of the water refill stations in these locations They will continue to monitor data throughout the pilot test as well as at the end to determine how many bottles were saved from landfill and track any changes in waste diversion rates Additionally Hospitality Services will be conducting focus groups in an effort to gain feedback and insights from students
ldquoThis pilot test will be a great way to set targets for future goalsrdquo Anne Zok Nutrition Manager says
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact foodcommentsuwoca to share your feedback
Western community takes on composting
Kara Brown contacted sustainabilityuwoca and initiated a composting program in the History Department this summer
The counters on the upper right of the Elkay water filling stations will help Hospitality Services track water bottles saved from landfill
p 6
On June 27 about 250 Facilities Management (FM) employees gathered for their annual summer barbeque While employees mingled and enjoyed their lunches our sustainability team was in full force to make the event lsquozero wastersquo
Of recent years the barbeque has been known to be a zero waste event demonstrating Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and providing opportunities to educate the community on proper recycling techniques This year two waste stations were in place each containing a receptacle for organics paper plasticsglassmetals and landfill Careful planning ensured
that the barbeque plates were compostable utensils recyclable and other serving items reusable As people went to discard their waste our sustainability team helped FM employees sort their waste into the appropriate bins Although overwhelming at times many of the employees were eager to learn and take responsibility for sorting their waste items
We are happy to announce that this yearrsquos barbeque was indeed a zero waste event With a total of 125 lbs of waste we managed to divert 96 from landfill- a 5 increase from last yearrsquos barbeque Special thanks to everyone who made the barbeque a huge success and to all
the employees who helped make this yearrsquos barbeque zero waste
If you are interested in making one of your events zero waste please contact us to get organized today
Facilities Management holds zero waste bbq
The Million Tree Challenge is an initiative headed by Reforest London that encourages Londoners to plant one million trees to enhance environmental and human health in the city
ReForest London is a non-profit organization that strives to empower community groups businesses and individuals to plant trees while improving Londonrsquos environmental health by naturalizing areas of the city ReForest London aspires to leave a legacy of trees an appreciation of the value of nature and build strong community partnerships for future generations
The challenge allows for organizations as well as individuals to plant trees and register them to count towards the challenge To date over 129000 trees have been planted in London helping to improve air quality and provide
greener recreation areas Londoners are encouraged to register trees they have planted since January 2011 to contribute to the count to a million lsquoany tree planted anywhere by anyone countsrsquo
Western University has pledged to plant 75 trees every year to meet a total pledge of 500 trees toward the challenge Western has already registered 194 trees in the count to a million since 2011 A wide variety of different species have been planted on campus such as the Blue Ash Red Maple White Pine Blue Beech and Red Oak
If you are interested in contributing to The Million Tree Challenge Western will be selling indigenous trees and shrubs in memory of the late Jane Bowles You can pick up your native tree on September 24 from 10 am-4 pm in the courtyard across from Social Science You can also pre-
order your tree online Once you have purchased your tree you can register it as your individual contribution to the challenge here and be in the count toward a million
Participate in the Million Tree Challenge
Western University has already planted 194 trees to meet their pledge of 500 for the Million Tree Challenge
p 7
O-Week 2013 gets a dose of greenThis year the Sustainability Team
put on a special O-Week activity for students to learn more about green infrastructure on campus The activity required students to visit four of Westernrsquos greenest buildings Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion Stevenson amp Lawson Hall McIntosh Gallery and Physics amp Astronomy There was a poster display in each building depicting sustainability facts as well as a question lsquokeyrsquo that students had to collect the answer for in order to be eligible for prizes
Once students collected all four keys they submitted them to the
prize draw at the Sustainability Booth on September 6 Later that afternoon our sustainability team drew our 3 grand prize winners
1 Cathy Chen
2 Dimuth Kurukula
3 Lyn Brown
We would like to thank all of those who participated in the scavenger hunt Be sure to check out our website for more opportunities to get involved with sustainability on campus and win great prizes
Cathy Chen was the first place winner of the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt She won a 2013 GIANT hybrid bike
Lyn Brown was the third place winner for the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
Erin Kearney won a Western lawn chair from the sustainability prize draw
Our sustainability team offers some great programs for enhancing sustainability education on campus Whether yoursquore looking to engage your team in a fun workshop or infuse your office with sustainability we have programs to deliver information on environmental initiatives on campus and ways to reduce our footprint We also recognize individuals on campus who are dedicated to enhancing sustainability on
campus Follow the links to check out some of our programs
Sustainability Lunch amp Learns
Green Office Program
Green Awards
Sustainability Programs
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods
p 3
Earlier this year lsquoCreating a Sustainable Western Experiencersquo Westernrsquos formal sustainability strategy was launched by the Presidentrsquos Advisory Committee on Environment and Sustainability (PACES) The strategy aims to embed sustainability in four key areas of campus life Operations Community Teaching amp Learning and Research
Four working groups have been established to achieve the goals outlined in each of the four areas The academic components of the strategy fall under the portfolio of the Centre for Environment and Sustainability and they are required to report annually to the PACES committee Community and Operations initiatives are led by Beverley Ayeni Energy and Environment Manager at Facilities Management
With the establishment of
a formal strategy and devoted working groups Western is well on its way to creating a greener future for students and staff alike ldquoCreating a Sustainable Western Experiencerdquo can be found on our website where you can learn more about the different initiatives and goals driving sustainability at Western
Creating a Sustainable Western Experience
Get it fresh from the market
Donrsquot miss out on Westernrsquos annual Farmerrsquos Market Every Tuesday starting September 3 to mid November there will be a Farmerrsquos Market in the courtyard across from the Social Science building The market will be open from 10am-4pm This year vendors will be selling an array of products including honey flowers breads and of course fresh produce Be sure to stop by and support local farmers by picking up some seasonal treats
10-Year Goals amp 5-Year Outcomes for Sustainability
P
Presidentrsquos Advisory
Sustainability (PACES) November 2012
There are plenty of great organizations at Western that support sustainability efforts on campus Why not get involved this year and make a difference in your community
Follow the links to get involved in some great initiatives for the upcoming year
Enviro-Western
SOGS Sustainability
Environment amp Sustainability Society
Volunteer
p 4
Western LEEDs the wayBy Kailyn Smith
The 2013-2014 academic year welcomes two new buildings to Westernrsquos campus Ontario Hall and Ivey As a part of Westernrsquos commitment to sustainability the University has vowed that all new buildings on campus will achieve a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification Both Ontario Hall and Ivey demonstrate environmental leadership in their design and operations
Ontario Hall is the newest residence gracing Westernrsquos campus to meet a growing population of first year students requiring accommodation The $90 million residence is expected to house 600 students this year with full occupancy of 1000 students expected for next fall after construction wraps up at Christmas The building is targeting LEED Silver and has been overseen by Project Manager Boris Pertout
ldquoThis is my 1st LEED project and I have been just fascinated by the process I am looking forward to getting all of the work done and seeing the final resultsrdquo Petrout explains
Leadership in energy efficiency is the epitome of this building Every room is outfitted with sensors that control lighting and heating based on occupancy which is expected to be a huge energy saver The building will also feature two water cisterns one for providing water needs and the other for storm water management The storm water management tank is capable of capturing approximately 580000 litres of water Other features include LED lighting high performance insulation and close proximity to bus routes and major amenities which will award the building LEED
credit for encouraging alternative transportation
In addition to Ontario Hall Westernrsquos new Ivey building opened its doors on September 9th The $110 million dollar building is targeting LEED Gold and will include an auditorium with over 600 seats lounge and terrace 70 break-out rooms conference rooms and the Deanrsquos suite boardroom The 270000 square foot stone and glass buildingrsquos energy efficient design will certainly reflect Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability
LEED awards credits to buildings where at least 75 of the spaces meet a certain daylighting level and if 90 of the space has views to the exterior The new Ivey building features ample windows and skylights to allow for natural lighting and is built around an open courtyard The building also features daylighting sensors on the second floor as well as automated shades to ensure that sufficient
lighting needs are met
Ivey also features lsquodisplacement ventilationrsquo which is a first for Western This is a ventilating system that distributes air from the floor level and then extracts it from above the occupied zone (ceiling height) providing more efficient and quieter ventilation for classrooms Additionally CO2 sensors have been installed as a control strategy to only ventilate areas when needed Other features include locally sourced natural materials a rain water cistern non irrigation landscaping and state of the art magnetic-bearing chillers
Undoubtedly these two new additions on campus will support Westernrsquos sustainability vision Interested in learning more about LEED buildings on campus Contact us to organize a tour
Construction of Westernrsquos newest residence Ontario Hall The residence is pursuing LEED Silver certification
p 5
In an effort to minimize campus waste Western provides extensive recycling and composting services for the campus community Composting practices have become more prevalent and rightfully so considering that approximately 25 of the waste in US landfills could have been recovered through composting organic waste
At Western there are a couple of different ways you can compost on campus one of which is our office program This is a voluntary program where interested offices or departments can contact Western Sustainability and request a small green bin for food scraps coffee grounds and tea bags They are then assigned either a garden cone or organics drop off location and are responsible for disposing the organic waste
This summer we are pleased to announce that we have recruited
four new offices to participate in the voluntary green bin program Our new participants are located in the History Department Philosophy Department Faculty of Law and in the University Student Centre
Additionally Westernrsquos suite style residences (Elgin Essex Alumni and London) have all received a green bin as a part of their room inventory It is hoped that first year students will become more aware of Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and will aid in the Universityrsquos mission to zero waste (90 waste diversion from landfill)
We would like to thank our office participants for taking the initiative to make their offices a little greener by composting on campus Interested in learning more about composting on campus Head to our website or contact us to receive a green bin today
Hospitality spearheads water bottle free zone Hospitality Services has initiated
a pilot test for a Water Bottle Free Zone this fall to address goals within Hospitality Servicesrsquo Sustainability Action Plan The pilot test will take place in Elgin Hall and Medical Science with the elimination of Evian and Dasani 500ml bottles in an effort to reduce waste and encourage students to bring reusable water bottles instead of purchasing plastic alternatives
ldquoThe ideal goal is to divert more waste from landfillrdquo Ruth Harland Conference Manager explains Hospitality Services will be examining data prior to the pilot test including previous waste audit information as well as
taking inventory of the counters of the water refill stations in these locations They will continue to monitor data throughout the pilot test as well as at the end to determine how many bottles were saved from landfill and track any changes in waste diversion rates Additionally Hospitality Services will be conducting focus groups in an effort to gain feedback and insights from students
ldquoThis pilot test will be a great way to set targets for future goalsrdquo Anne Zok Nutrition Manager says
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact foodcommentsuwoca to share your feedback
Western community takes on composting
Kara Brown contacted sustainabilityuwoca and initiated a composting program in the History Department this summer
The counters on the upper right of the Elkay water filling stations will help Hospitality Services track water bottles saved from landfill
p 6
On June 27 about 250 Facilities Management (FM) employees gathered for their annual summer barbeque While employees mingled and enjoyed their lunches our sustainability team was in full force to make the event lsquozero wastersquo
Of recent years the barbeque has been known to be a zero waste event demonstrating Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and providing opportunities to educate the community on proper recycling techniques This year two waste stations were in place each containing a receptacle for organics paper plasticsglassmetals and landfill Careful planning ensured
that the barbeque plates were compostable utensils recyclable and other serving items reusable As people went to discard their waste our sustainability team helped FM employees sort their waste into the appropriate bins Although overwhelming at times many of the employees were eager to learn and take responsibility for sorting their waste items
We are happy to announce that this yearrsquos barbeque was indeed a zero waste event With a total of 125 lbs of waste we managed to divert 96 from landfill- a 5 increase from last yearrsquos barbeque Special thanks to everyone who made the barbeque a huge success and to all
the employees who helped make this yearrsquos barbeque zero waste
If you are interested in making one of your events zero waste please contact us to get organized today
Facilities Management holds zero waste bbq
The Million Tree Challenge is an initiative headed by Reforest London that encourages Londoners to plant one million trees to enhance environmental and human health in the city
ReForest London is a non-profit organization that strives to empower community groups businesses and individuals to plant trees while improving Londonrsquos environmental health by naturalizing areas of the city ReForest London aspires to leave a legacy of trees an appreciation of the value of nature and build strong community partnerships for future generations
The challenge allows for organizations as well as individuals to plant trees and register them to count towards the challenge To date over 129000 trees have been planted in London helping to improve air quality and provide
greener recreation areas Londoners are encouraged to register trees they have planted since January 2011 to contribute to the count to a million lsquoany tree planted anywhere by anyone countsrsquo
Western University has pledged to plant 75 trees every year to meet a total pledge of 500 trees toward the challenge Western has already registered 194 trees in the count to a million since 2011 A wide variety of different species have been planted on campus such as the Blue Ash Red Maple White Pine Blue Beech and Red Oak
If you are interested in contributing to The Million Tree Challenge Western will be selling indigenous trees and shrubs in memory of the late Jane Bowles You can pick up your native tree on September 24 from 10 am-4 pm in the courtyard across from Social Science You can also pre-
order your tree online Once you have purchased your tree you can register it as your individual contribution to the challenge here and be in the count toward a million
Participate in the Million Tree Challenge
Western University has already planted 194 trees to meet their pledge of 500 for the Million Tree Challenge
p 7
O-Week 2013 gets a dose of greenThis year the Sustainability Team
put on a special O-Week activity for students to learn more about green infrastructure on campus The activity required students to visit four of Westernrsquos greenest buildings Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion Stevenson amp Lawson Hall McIntosh Gallery and Physics amp Astronomy There was a poster display in each building depicting sustainability facts as well as a question lsquokeyrsquo that students had to collect the answer for in order to be eligible for prizes
Once students collected all four keys they submitted them to the
prize draw at the Sustainability Booth on September 6 Later that afternoon our sustainability team drew our 3 grand prize winners
1 Cathy Chen
2 Dimuth Kurukula
3 Lyn Brown
We would like to thank all of those who participated in the scavenger hunt Be sure to check out our website for more opportunities to get involved with sustainability on campus and win great prizes
Cathy Chen was the first place winner of the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt She won a 2013 GIANT hybrid bike
Lyn Brown was the third place winner for the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
Erin Kearney won a Western lawn chair from the sustainability prize draw
Our sustainability team offers some great programs for enhancing sustainability education on campus Whether yoursquore looking to engage your team in a fun workshop or infuse your office with sustainability we have programs to deliver information on environmental initiatives on campus and ways to reduce our footprint We also recognize individuals on campus who are dedicated to enhancing sustainability on
campus Follow the links to check out some of our programs
Sustainability Lunch amp Learns
Green Office Program
Green Awards
Sustainability Programs
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods
p 4
Western LEEDs the wayBy Kailyn Smith
The 2013-2014 academic year welcomes two new buildings to Westernrsquos campus Ontario Hall and Ivey As a part of Westernrsquos commitment to sustainability the University has vowed that all new buildings on campus will achieve a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification Both Ontario Hall and Ivey demonstrate environmental leadership in their design and operations
Ontario Hall is the newest residence gracing Westernrsquos campus to meet a growing population of first year students requiring accommodation The $90 million residence is expected to house 600 students this year with full occupancy of 1000 students expected for next fall after construction wraps up at Christmas The building is targeting LEED Silver and has been overseen by Project Manager Boris Pertout
ldquoThis is my 1st LEED project and I have been just fascinated by the process I am looking forward to getting all of the work done and seeing the final resultsrdquo Petrout explains
Leadership in energy efficiency is the epitome of this building Every room is outfitted with sensors that control lighting and heating based on occupancy which is expected to be a huge energy saver The building will also feature two water cisterns one for providing water needs and the other for storm water management The storm water management tank is capable of capturing approximately 580000 litres of water Other features include LED lighting high performance insulation and close proximity to bus routes and major amenities which will award the building LEED
credit for encouraging alternative transportation
In addition to Ontario Hall Westernrsquos new Ivey building opened its doors on September 9th The $110 million dollar building is targeting LEED Gold and will include an auditorium with over 600 seats lounge and terrace 70 break-out rooms conference rooms and the Deanrsquos suite boardroom The 270000 square foot stone and glass buildingrsquos energy efficient design will certainly reflect Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability
LEED awards credits to buildings where at least 75 of the spaces meet a certain daylighting level and if 90 of the space has views to the exterior The new Ivey building features ample windows and skylights to allow for natural lighting and is built around an open courtyard The building also features daylighting sensors on the second floor as well as automated shades to ensure that sufficient
lighting needs are met
Ivey also features lsquodisplacement ventilationrsquo which is a first for Western This is a ventilating system that distributes air from the floor level and then extracts it from above the occupied zone (ceiling height) providing more efficient and quieter ventilation for classrooms Additionally CO2 sensors have been installed as a control strategy to only ventilate areas when needed Other features include locally sourced natural materials a rain water cistern non irrigation landscaping and state of the art magnetic-bearing chillers
Undoubtedly these two new additions on campus will support Westernrsquos sustainability vision Interested in learning more about LEED buildings on campus Contact us to organize a tour
Construction of Westernrsquos newest residence Ontario Hall The residence is pursuing LEED Silver certification
p 5
In an effort to minimize campus waste Western provides extensive recycling and composting services for the campus community Composting practices have become more prevalent and rightfully so considering that approximately 25 of the waste in US landfills could have been recovered through composting organic waste
At Western there are a couple of different ways you can compost on campus one of which is our office program This is a voluntary program where interested offices or departments can contact Western Sustainability and request a small green bin for food scraps coffee grounds and tea bags They are then assigned either a garden cone or organics drop off location and are responsible for disposing the organic waste
This summer we are pleased to announce that we have recruited
four new offices to participate in the voluntary green bin program Our new participants are located in the History Department Philosophy Department Faculty of Law and in the University Student Centre
Additionally Westernrsquos suite style residences (Elgin Essex Alumni and London) have all received a green bin as a part of their room inventory It is hoped that first year students will become more aware of Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and will aid in the Universityrsquos mission to zero waste (90 waste diversion from landfill)
We would like to thank our office participants for taking the initiative to make their offices a little greener by composting on campus Interested in learning more about composting on campus Head to our website or contact us to receive a green bin today
Hospitality spearheads water bottle free zone Hospitality Services has initiated
a pilot test for a Water Bottle Free Zone this fall to address goals within Hospitality Servicesrsquo Sustainability Action Plan The pilot test will take place in Elgin Hall and Medical Science with the elimination of Evian and Dasani 500ml bottles in an effort to reduce waste and encourage students to bring reusable water bottles instead of purchasing plastic alternatives
ldquoThe ideal goal is to divert more waste from landfillrdquo Ruth Harland Conference Manager explains Hospitality Services will be examining data prior to the pilot test including previous waste audit information as well as
taking inventory of the counters of the water refill stations in these locations They will continue to monitor data throughout the pilot test as well as at the end to determine how many bottles were saved from landfill and track any changes in waste diversion rates Additionally Hospitality Services will be conducting focus groups in an effort to gain feedback and insights from students
ldquoThis pilot test will be a great way to set targets for future goalsrdquo Anne Zok Nutrition Manager says
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact foodcommentsuwoca to share your feedback
Western community takes on composting
Kara Brown contacted sustainabilityuwoca and initiated a composting program in the History Department this summer
The counters on the upper right of the Elkay water filling stations will help Hospitality Services track water bottles saved from landfill
p 6
On June 27 about 250 Facilities Management (FM) employees gathered for their annual summer barbeque While employees mingled and enjoyed their lunches our sustainability team was in full force to make the event lsquozero wastersquo
Of recent years the barbeque has been known to be a zero waste event demonstrating Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and providing opportunities to educate the community on proper recycling techniques This year two waste stations were in place each containing a receptacle for organics paper plasticsglassmetals and landfill Careful planning ensured
that the barbeque plates were compostable utensils recyclable and other serving items reusable As people went to discard their waste our sustainability team helped FM employees sort their waste into the appropriate bins Although overwhelming at times many of the employees were eager to learn and take responsibility for sorting their waste items
We are happy to announce that this yearrsquos barbeque was indeed a zero waste event With a total of 125 lbs of waste we managed to divert 96 from landfill- a 5 increase from last yearrsquos barbeque Special thanks to everyone who made the barbeque a huge success and to all
the employees who helped make this yearrsquos barbeque zero waste
If you are interested in making one of your events zero waste please contact us to get organized today
Facilities Management holds zero waste bbq
The Million Tree Challenge is an initiative headed by Reforest London that encourages Londoners to plant one million trees to enhance environmental and human health in the city
ReForest London is a non-profit organization that strives to empower community groups businesses and individuals to plant trees while improving Londonrsquos environmental health by naturalizing areas of the city ReForest London aspires to leave a legacy of trees an appreciation of the value of nature and build strong community partnerships for future generations
The challenge allows for organizations as well as individuals to plant trees and register them to count towards the challenge To date over 129000 trees have been planted in London helping to improve air quality and provide
greener recreation areas Londoners are encouraged to register trees they have planted since January 2011 to contribute to the count to a million lsquoany tree planted anywhere by anyone countsrsquo
Western University has pledged to plant 75 trees every year to meet a total pledge of 500 trees toward the challenge Western has already registered 194 trees in the count to a million since 2011 A wide variety of different species have been planted on campus such as the Blue Ash Red Maple White Pine Blue Beech and Red Oak
If you are interested in contributing to The Million Tree Challenge Western will be selling indigenous trees and shrubs in memory of the late Jane Bowles You can pick up your native tree on September 24 from 10 am-4 pm in the courtyard across from Social Science You can also pre-
order your tree online Once you have purchased your tree you can register it as your individual contribution to the challenge here and be in the count toward a million
Participate in the Million Tree Challenge
Western University has already planted 194 trees to meet their pledge of 500 for the Million Tree Challenge
p 7
O-Week 2013 gets a dose of greenThis year the Sustainability Team
put on a special O-Week activity for students to learn more about green infrastructure on campus The activity required students to visit four of Westernrsquos greenest buildings Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion Stevenson amp Lawson Hall McIntosh Gallery and Physics amp Astronomy There was a poster display in each building depicting sustainability facts as well as a question lsquokeyrsquo that students had to collect the answer for in order to be eligible for prizes
Once students collected all four keys they submitted them to the
prize draw at the Sustainability Booth on September 6 Later that afternoon our sustainability team drew our 3 grand prize winners
1 Cathy Chen
2 Dimuth Kurukula
3 Lyn Brown
We would like to thank all of those who participated in the scavenger hunt Be sure to check out our website for more opportunities to get involved with sustainability on campus and win great prizes
Cathy Chen was the first place winner of the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt She won a 2013 GIANT hybrid bike
Lyn Brown was the third place winner for the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
Erin Kearney won a Western lawn chair from the sustainability prize draw
Our sustainability team offers some great programs for enhancing sustainability education on campus Whether yoursquore looking to engage your team in a fun workshop or infuse your office with sustainability we have programs to deliver information on environmental initiatives on campus and ways to reduce our footprint We also recognize individuals on campus who are dedicated to enhancing sustainability on
campus Follow the links to check out some of our programs
Sustainability Lunch amp Learns
Green Office Program
Green Awards
Sustainability Programs
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods
p 5
In an effort to minimize campus waste Western provides extensive recycling and composting services for the campus community Composting practices have become more prevalent and rightfully so considering that approximately 25 of the waste in US landfills could have been recovered through composting organic waste
At Western there are a couple of different ways you can compost on campus one of which is our office program This is a voluntary program where interested offices or departments can contact Western Sustainability and request a small green bin for food scraps coffee grounds and tea bags They are then assigned either a garden cone or organics drop off location and are responsible for disposing the organic waste
This summer we are pleased to announce that we have recruited
four new offices to participate in the voluntary green bin program Our new participants are located in the History Department Philosophy Department Faculty of Law and in the University Student Centre
Additionally Westernrsquos suite style residences (Elgin Essex Alumni and London) have all received a green bin as a part of their room inventory It is hoped that first year students will become more aware of Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and will aid in the Universityrsquos mission to zero waste (90 waste diversion from landfill)
We would like to thank our office participants for taking the initiative to make their offices a little greener by composting on campus Interested in learning more about composting on campus Head to our website or contact us to receive a green bin today
Hospitality spearheads water bottle free zone Hospitality Services has initiated
a pilot test for a Water Bottle Free Zone this fall to address goals within Hospitality Servicesrsquo Sustainability Action Plan The pilot test will take place in Elgin Hall and Medical Science with the elimination of Evian and Dasani 500ml bottles in an effort to reduce waste and encourage students to bring reusable water bottles instead of purchasing plastic alternatives
ldquoThe ideal goal is to divert more waste from landfillrdquo Ruth Harland Conference Manager explains Hospitality Services will be examining data prior to the pilot test including previous waste audit information as well as
taking inventory of the counters of the water refill stations in these locations They will continue to monitor data throughout the pilot test as well as at the end to determine how many bottles were saved from landfill and track any changes in waste diversion rates Additionally Hospitality Services will be conducting focus groups in an effort to gain feedback and insights from students
ldquoThis pilot test will be a great way to set targets for future goalsrdquo Anne Zok Nutrition Manager says
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact foodcommentsuwoca to share your feedback
Western community takes on composting
Kara Brown contacted sustainabilityuwoca and initiated a composting program in the History Department this summer
The counters on the upper right of the Elkay water filling stations will help Hospitality Services track water bottles saved from landfill
p 6
On June 27 about 250 Facilities Management (FM) employees gathered for their annual summer barbeque While employees mingled and enjoyed their lunches our sustainability team was in full force to make the event lsquozero wastersquo
Of recent years the barbeque has been known to be a zero waste event demonstrating Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and providing opportunities to educate the community on proper recycling techniques This year two waste stations were in place each containing a receptacle for organics paper plasticsglassmetals and landfill Careful planning ensured
that the barbeque plates were compostable utensils recyclable and other serving items reusable As people went to discard their waste our sustainability team helped FM employees sort their waste into the appropriate bins Although overwhelming at times many of the employees were eager to learn and take responsibility for sorting their waste items
We are happy to announce that this yearrsquos barbeque was indeed a zero waste event With a total of 125 lbs of waste we managed to divert 96 from landfill- a 5 increase from last yearrsquos barbeque Special thanks to everyone who made the barbeque a huge success and to all
the employees who helped make this yearrsquos barbeque zero waste
If you are interested in making one of your events zero waste please contact us to get organized today
Facilities Management holds zero waste bbq
The Million Tree Challenge is an initiative headed by Reforest London that encourages Londoners to plant one million trees to enhance environmental and human health in the city
ReForest London is a non-profit organization that strives to empower community groups businesses and individuals to plant trees while improving Londonrsquos environmental health by naturalizing areas of the city ReForest London aspires to leave a legacy of trees an appreciation of the value of nature and build strong community partnerships for future generations
The challenge allows for organizations as well as individuals to plant trees and register them to count towards the challenge To date over 129000 trees have been planted in London helping to improve air quality and provide
greener recreation areas Londoners are encouraged to register trees they have planted since January 2011 to contribute to the count to a million lsquoany tree planted anywhere by anyone countsrsquo
Western University has pledged to plant 75 trees every year to meet a total pledge of 500 trees toward the challenge Western has already registered 194 trees in the count to a million since 2011 A wide variety of different species have been planted on campus such as the Blue Ash Red Maple White Pine Blue Beech and Red Oak
If you are interested in contributing to The Million Tree Challenge Western will be selling indigenous trees and shrubs in memory of the late Jane Bowles You can pick up your native tree on September 24 from 10 am-4 pm in the courtyard across from Social Science You can also pre-
order your tree online Once you have purchased your tree you can register it as your individual contribution to the challenge here and be in the count toward a million
Participate in the Million Tree Challenge
Western University has already planted 194 trees to meet their pledge of 500 for the Million Tree Challenge
p 7
O-Week 2013 gets a dose of greenThis year the Sustainability Team
put on a special O-Week activity for students to learn more about green infrastructure on campus The activity required students to visit four of Westernrsquos greenest buildings Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion Stevenson amp Lawson Hall McIntosh Gallery and Physics amp Astronomy There was a poster display in each building depicting sustainability facts as well as a question lsquokeyrsquo that students had to collect the answer for in order to be eligible for prizes
Once students collected all four keys they submitted them to the
prize draw at the Sustainability Booth on September 6 Later that afternoon our sustainability team drew our 3 grand prize winners
1 Cathy Chen
2 Dimuth Kurukula
3 Lyn Brown
We would like to thank all of those who participated in the scavenger hunt Be sure to check out our website for more opportunities to get involved with sustainability on campus and win great prizes
Cathy Chen was the first place winner of the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt She won a 2013 GIANT hybrid bike
Lyn Brown was the third place winner for the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
Erin Kearney won a Western lawn chair from the sustainability prize draw
Our sustainability team offers some great programs for enhancing sustainability education on campus Whether yoursquore looking to engage your team in a fun workshop or infuse your office with sustainability we have programs to deliver information on environmental initiatives on campus and ways to reduce our footprint We also recognize individuals on campus who are dedicated to enhancing sustainability on
campus Follow the links to check out some of our programs
Sustainability Lunch amp Learns
Green Office Program
Green Awards
Sustainability Programs
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods
p 6
On June 27 about 250 Facilities Management (FM) employees gathered for their annual summer barbeque While employees mingled and enjoyed their lunches our sustainability team was in full force to make the event lsquozero wastersquo
Of recent years the barbeque has been known to be a zero waste event demonstrating Westernrsquos commitment to environmental sustainability and providing opportunities to educate the community on proper recycling techniques This year two waste stations were in place each containing a receptacle for organics paper plasticsglassmetals and landfill Careful planning ensured
that the barbeque plates were compostable utensils recyclable and other serving items reusable As people went to discard their waste our sustainability team helped FM employees sort their waste into the appropriate bins Although overwhelming at times many of the employees were eager to learn and take responsibility for sorting their waste items
We are happy to announce that this yearrsquos barbeque was indeed a zero waste event With a total of 125 lbs of waste we managed to divert 96 from landfill- a 5 increase from last yearrsquos barbeque Special thanks to everyone who made the barbeque a huge success and to all
the employees who helped make this yearrsquos barbeque zero waste
If you are interested in making one of your events zero waste please contact us to get organized today
Facilities Management holds zero waste bbq
The Million Tree Challenge is an initiative headed by Reforest London that encourages Londoners to plant one million trees to enhance environmental and human health in the city
ReForest London is a non-profit organization that strives to empower community groups businesses and individuals to plant trees while improving Londonrsquos environmental health by naturalizing areas of the city ReForest London aspires to leave a legacy of trees an appreciation of the value of nature and build strong community partnerships for future generations
The challenge allows for organizations as well as individuals to plant trees and register them to count towards the challenge To date over 129000 trees have been planted in London helping to improve air quality and provide
greener recreation areas Londoners are encouraged to register trees they have planted since January 2011 to contribute to the count to a million lsquoany tree planted anywhere by anyone countsrsquo
Western University has pledged to plant 75 trees every year to meet a total pledge of 500 trees toward the challenge Western has already registered 194 trees in the count to a million since 2011 A wide variety of different species have been planted on campus such as the Blue Ash Red Maple White Pine Blue Beech and Red Oak
If you are interested in contributing to The Million Tree Challenge Western will be selling indigenous trees and shrubs in memory of the late Jane Bowles You can pick up your native tree on September 24 from 10 am-4 pm in the courtyard across from Social Science You can also pre-
order your tree online Once you have purchased your tree you can register it as your individual contribution to the challenge here and be in the count toward a million
Participate in the Million Tree Challenge
Western University has already planted 194 trees to meet their pledge of 500 for the Million Tree Challenge
p 7
O-Week 2013 gets a dose of greenThis year the Sustainability Team
put on a special O-Week activity for students to learn more about green infrastructure on campus The activity required students to visit four of Westernrsquos greenest buildings Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion Stevenson amp Lawson Hall McIntosh Gallery and Physics amp Astronomy There was a poster display in each building depicting sustainability facts as well as a question lsquokeyrsquo that students had to collect the answer for in order to be eligible for prizes
Once students collected all four keys they submitted them to the
prize draw at the Sustainability Booth on September 6 Later that afternoon our sustainability team drew our 3 grand prize winners
1 Cathy Chen
2 Dimuth Kurukula
3 Lyn Brown
We would like to thank all of those who participated in the scavenger hunt Be sure to check out our website for more opportunities to get involved with sustainability on campus and win great prizes
Cathy Chen was the first place winner of the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt She won a 2013 GIANT hybrid bike
Lyn Brown was the third place winner for the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
Erin Kearney won a Western lawn chair from the sustainability prize draw
Our sustainability team offers some great programs for enhancing sustainability education on campus Whether yoursquore looking to engage your team in a fun workshop or infuse your office with sustainability we have programs to deliver information on environmental initiatives on campus and ways to reduce our footprint We also recognize individuals on campus who are dedicated to enhancing sustainability on
campus Follow the links to check out some of our programs
Sustainability Lunch amp Learns
Green Office Program
Green Awards
Sustainability Programs
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods
p 7
O-Week 2013 gets a dose of greenThis year the Sustainability Team
put on a special O-Week activity for students to learn more about green infrastructure on campus The activity required students to visit four of Westernrsquos greenest buildings Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavillion Stevenson amp Lawson Hall McIntosh Gallery and Physics amp Astronomy There was a poster display in each building depicting sustainability facts as well as a question lsquokeyrsquo that students had to collect the answer for in order to be eligible for prizes
Once students collected all four keys they submitted them to the
prize draw at the Sustainability Booth on September 6 Later that afternoon our sustainability team drew our 3 grand prize winners
1 Cathy Chen
2 Dimuth Kurukula
3 Lyn Brown
We would like to thank all of those who participated in the scavenger hunt Be sure to check out our website for more opportunities to get involved with sustainability on campus and win great prizes
Cathy Chen was the first place winner of the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt She won a 2013 GIANT hybrid bike
Lyn Brown was the third place winner for the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
Erin Kearney won a Western lawn chair from the sustainability prize draw
Our sustainability team offers some great programs for enhancing sustainability education on campus Whether yoursquore looking to engage your team in a fun workshop or infuse your office with sustainability we have programs to deliver information on environmental initiatives on campus and ways to reduce our footprint We also recognize individuals on campus who are dedicated to enhancing sustainability on
campus Follow the links to check out some of our programs
Sustainability Lunch amp Learns
Green Office Program
Green Awards
Sustainability Programs
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods
p 8
Sustainability Tips Tricks amp FactsKn w
Did You
Xchange 4 Change
Energy Dashboard Re-LaunchWestern University has recently re-launched the Real Time Energy Dashboard In the past the Dashboard has been instrumental in sustainability initiatives such as lsquoRez Powers Downrsquo allowing for students and staff to track electricity consumption The Dashboard is currently expanding to incorporate water and steam demand of some buildings on campus Additionally the Dashboard provides historical data of electricity demand and includes green facts about Westernrsquos campus Check out the dashboard here
Over 5000 eco-tainers have been purchased for this yearrsquos incoming first year students The Xchange 4 Change program is an initiative run by Hospitality Services that encourages students to use re-usable lsquoeco-tainersrsquo instead of disposable containers for food purchases Each student will receive an Xchange 4 Change card at the beginning of the year in which students can submit to cashiers in the cafeterias to receive their eco-tainer Once the student is finished with their eco-tainer they can return it to a designated drop off zone for cleaning in exchange for a new card
The Xchange 4 Change program will eliminate plastic clamshell containers and paper plates will no longer be displayed for purchase It is hoped that the Xchange 4 Change program will reduce the reliance on disposable containers and waste to landfill
Eating Locally Did you know that currently 43 of food purchases in residence operations are deemed lsquolocalrsquo meaning that they are produced in Ontario Hospitality Services has been working hard to expand our local food programs on campus This year in residences they are launching lsquoField to Forkrsquo - a program that will encourage local eating by providing local menu options for students Over 40 of Hospitality Services suppliers are local including Westernrsquos main food distributor Western always looks for partners that share our commitment to environmental sustainability Hospitality Services is also working on many other sustainable food options such as vegan vegetarian and organic foods