OCFMA Spring Conference October 29, 2013 Spencer Wood, Associate Director Maintenance and Operations Lindsay Walker, Sustainability Manager www.humber.ca/sustainability @SustainHumber Sustainability “Meeting contemporary needs without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their needs.” - UN World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987 In Humber’s 2013-2018 Strategic plan, Sustainability is one of our 6 values, and there is a success outcome: “Humber has embraced a comprehensive sustainability strategy that is embedded in our integrated planning and resource allocation model” Overview: Sustainability Engagement at Humber Past •Limited engagement and communication •Action Plan • Sustainability Committee • Operational changes • Some student involvement Present • Building engagement & communication • STARS Silver • Curriculum • Partnerships Future • A culture of sustainability • Sustainability Strategy • New LRC building LEED Silver Sustainability at Humber: Present We are Building Engagement through: STARS Communication & Events Curriculum & Partnerships Sustainability at Humber: STARS • AASHE: Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education – Humber became a member in August 2012 • STARS: Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System – Widely adopted throughout North America – Provides a meaningful, transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance You can only manage what you measure. Sustainability at Humber: STARS STARS: There are four main categories to earn credits Education and Research Operations Co-Curricular Education Curriculum Research Buildings Climate Dining Services Energy Grounds Purchasing Transportation Waste Water Planning, Administration & Engagement Innovation Coordination & Planning Diversity and Affordability Human Resources Investment Public Engagement These credits recognize: • Creative and innovative strategies implemented on campuses • Areas where a campus has exceeded credit criteria Sustainability at Humber: STARS First college in Ontario and third college in Canada! Sustainability at Humber: STARS Sparks communication and collaboration throughout the college Raise awareness about sustainability throughout college See tangible work on the commitment Humber has made to sustainability Supports achievement of strategic goals Provides rigorous, nationally recognized assessment framework Benchmark with peers Incorporate STARS initiatives into courses, projects Makes information on what Humber does publicly available, easily accessible to everyone BUILDING ENGAGEMENT Use information from STARS results supporting information for new initiatives Sustainability at Humber: STARS • What’s involved: Staff time Money Communication Buy-in Tracking • 1 full time staff – 6 months • 1 full time workstudy student – 4 months • 10 volunteers – 6 hours each • AASHE membership • STARS membership • Launch events (food, marketing, etc.) • Launch Event • Updates • Awareness • Need help and information from many departments • Build buy-in through communication and executive support • During process • For future questions • For future re-assessment Sustainability at Humber: STARS • Some of the ‘tough’ stuff: – Curriculum inventory • Student volunteers to read course outlines – Yard waste numbers (we did track it previously) – Vehicle mileage (we tracked, but it needed updating) – “You don’t know (to ask) what you don’t know” – Collecting student volunteer hours – Getting others to understand the full breadth of sustainability – e.g. Human Rights Sustainability at Humber: Communication and Engagement Sustainability at Humber: Communication and Engagement Green Team Events! Sustainability at Humber: Curriculum and Partnerships Approach: Act as a Catalyst Integrate with curriculum as much as possible Engagement through events, collaboration and participation Coordination with Operations and reviewing infrastructure The more we communicate and engage, the more momentum grows, and the more we can do Sustainability at Humber: Curriculum and Partnerships • Recycling and Waste Management – Curriculum Partnership: 2013 recycling campaign created by graphic design students – Operations Partnership: Work collaboratively with food services, cleaning and hauler Sustainability at Humber: Curriculum and Partnerships Sustainability at Humber: Curriculum • Now: – Business students researching on-site composting technologies • Future: – SEBT students to do energy auditing – Event Planning students run events (?) • Faculty connection: – Asking directly how sustainability could be integrated (through Deans, Associate Deans) Sustainability at Humber: Future Create Sustainability Strategic Plan Align with Humber’s Strategic Plan, student and staff input, findings from STARS Grow Green Teams & create support structure Review Committee Structure Continuous Improvement Engagement Annual Sustainability Report Measure: energy, water, waste, engagement, curriculum, etc. Thank you! Questions? To find out more go to our website, email us and follow us on twitter! Website: www.humber.ca/sustainability Email: sustainability@humber.ca @SustainHumber