How green is your university?

Robert Corry, an associate professor of landscape architecture at the University of Guelph, questioned whether his campus is doing all it could to reduce climate change in another article in Academic Matters this month. “My campus is not green,” he wrote. “It has a greenish hue.” He commends Guelph’s five-year plan to reduce energy use and a recent decision by the students’ union to put $4 million over 12 years (which will be matched by the university) towards improving water, light and heating systems on old buildings. But he also notes that delayed maintenance and outdated infrastructure makes the task of greening campus daunting.

Although Guelph has recently updated their recycling program, has an active sustainability coordinator, and participates in a Zerofootprint program launched by Guelph president Alistair Summerlee, Corry isn’t satisfied. “Universities ought to be places for innovation, leading-edge thought, field experimentation, observation, and reporting,” he wrote, adding that Guelph doesn’t offer one of his students a suitable place to observe the green rooftops he’s studying.

Corry sees many possibilities for Guelph, including experimentation with alternative sources of energy such as solar and wind power. He also points out in his article that Guelph’s science complex opened in 2007 earned no Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating, a set of sustainability standards for new construction.

Wardle also points to LEED standards as a way for universities to improve sustainability. “New campus buildings should be built to LEED standards,” Wardle and Wakelin wrote. “Our research has shown that cities across Canada are mandating minimum LEED performance for their own buildings — universities have not followed suit.”

Seven of the 20 universities have a policy mandating LEED standards (two more are considering policies), and about half have some LEED certified buildings. 10 per cent of current LEED certified construction projects in Canada are higher education buildings, compared to five per cent in the US. Considering that 30 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions comes from construction, universities could be leading the way in this regard.

LEED isn’t necessarily the only way for institutions to implement sustainable designs for new buildings. For instance, although Simon Fraser University is gearing away from LEED standards, they are designing buildings with energy conservation technology, green roofs, and rainwater collection, Wardle says.

Designing sustainable buildings isn’t only about installing efficient light bulbs. “When designing a new building, you need to look at unique opportunities and synergies with surrounding buildings.” One example of possible synergies is using heat from a lab in neighbouring dorms.

All in all, Wardle is optimistic about the future of sustainability at Canadian universities. “They are heading in the right direction. They are not saying that climate change is not real,” she said. “The next step is implementing.”