Koami Hayibo, an engineering postdoctoral scholar from Western University, develops wood-based racking for solar panels to replace more costly metal racks.Supplied
When Western University launched its new climate and sustainability strategy this year, Heather Hyde knew it would inspire the campus community to take even more action to reduce waste and increase energy efficiency.
“There’s a lot of energy on campus right now. People really care about this work and want to be part of it,” says Hyde, director, sustainability.
That energy is helping move the university closer to net-zero emissions from campus operations by 2050, enhancing long-term climate resilience, promoting campus biodiversity, decarbonizing its extensive infrastructure, and minimizing waste as the campus continues to expand.
“We’re really staying true to the commitments we make to furthering this sustainability work,” says Lynn Logan, vice-president, operations and finance. “We understand that it’s not a revolution, it’s an evolution, and you just have to keep at it because it’s hard work.”
Western’s record shows a commitment to doing the work. Based in London, Ont., it ranks high among universities worldwide for sustainability by offering more than 2,700 courses related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also supports experiential learning and research through initiatives like the Campus as a Living Lab program.
“The program is a great engagement tool,” says Logan. “These are projects that take place within Western’s main campus and involve teaching, research or community service and we want to build on and expand these initiatives.”
During one recent project, led by students and faculty in partnership with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, about 75 native tree live stakes were planted on the banks of Medway Creek in an area prone to flooding. Further from the water’s edge, another 200 native shrubs were planted to resist erosion and minimize flooding.
Several new initiatives to reuse and reduce the use of resources are underway to help Western reach its waste diversion goal of 60 per cent reduction by 2035, says Hyde. Last fall, the Free Store opened on campus. Staff and faculty donate small items they no longer use and the campus community takes them home for free. The store supports a culture of circularity and reduces carbon emissions associated with making and transporting new goods, says Hyde.
A partnership with Goodwill Industries is keeping items out of landfill on move-out day at Western’s 13 student residences. The 6,000 students living on campus can now drop off unwanted goods in collection boxes instead of throwing them out. Nonperishable foods and e-waste are also collected.
“It’s amazing to see how this is changing habits. Students are finding new ways to reuse items instead of throwing them away,” says Hyde.
Western’s procurement services group launched a new program to embed sustainability considerations into all aspects of procurement. For example, through the university’s online purchasing platform, most of the campus community now uses sugar sheet — a carbon-neutral paper made from recycled sugar cane fibre.
“We need collective action to meet our ambitious goals,” says Logan. “We are creating a culture where everyone can play a role and feel a sense of shared responsibility.”
The university has also made significant investments to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions on campus, from developing green roofs on three of its buildings and adding solar panels to its engineering building to installing two new electric boilers to replace aging natural gas boilers.
Hyde says a deep energy retrofit program is upgrading more than 100 campus buildings. This work has resulted in a 32 per cent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels, during a time when the campus has grown by 40 per cent.
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Video: Western University