Sustainability Plan 2015–2020
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SUSTAINABILITY PLAN 2015–2020 life.changing The goals and values of Royal Roads University speak directly to sustainability – especially in how integral it is to our university brand. The sustainability plan is integrated into our business plan, a key component of moving forward as Royal Roads continues to grow and expand its student base worldwide. INTRODUCTION At Royal Roads University, environmental investment for sustainability through the plan’s efforts, increased sustainability focused sustainability is not only intrinsically linked 10 areas of focus. curriculum and for the implementation of new to our teaching and research mandate, sustainability initiatives on campus. Our commitment to sustainability has long it is a challenge that calls for the kind of been reflected in our policies such as the We connect people, ideas and experiences to interdisciplinary and collaborative problem- Environmental Stewardship Policy of 2000, change lives and the world. solving at which we excel. the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of This sustainability plan is nested in the overall We see climate change as one of the most 2005, and we bring these commitments to strategic direction of the university. The Office critical challenges of our time. Achieving the the table in partnership documents such as of Sustainability has the lead responsibility to targets in this sustainability plan highlights the the Talloires Declaration on Climate Change implement the plan, in collaboration with the environmental leadership needed to meet this signed in 2007, and the University President’s academic, operations and community relations challenge. We exemplify our desire to live in declaration in 2008. divisions of our university, under the leadership harmony with the traditional lands and peoples Royal Roads University’s first sustainability of the Royal Roads executive team. of the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Lekwungen plan (2008) clearly demonstrated to the (Songhees) families, the friends of the Hatley We are leaders and partners creating an community our commitment to environmental Park National Historic site, our staff, faculty enduring prosperity. Transformation in sustainability and mitigating climate change. and students, our alumni and citizens of the career and life results from our teaching and Westshore community Welcome attention came from energy and utility research applied to solve problems and create companies, the B.C. government and granting Royal Roads University is reducing its impact opportunities in the world. agencies, which enabled us to complete a full on climate change. We will meet the B.C. The Office of Sustainability provides support for energy audit and conduct building energy government legislated target of reducing student projects, community partnerships and retrofits throughout the campus. As described in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the research projects at Royal Roads and within the the Energy & Emissions area of focus, the results B.C. public sector by 33 per cent by 2020; community. of these retrofit activities have been excellent. we will work to meet our Board of Governors’ We reduced our GHG emissions by 22 per cent target of reducing GHGs by 50 per cent by in 2013 and are well on our way to achieving a 2020 and we will achieve a platinum level 29 per cent reduction in 2015. ranking in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) of At the same time as the university undertook the Association for the Advancement of retrofits, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) – Science (BSc-ES) students submitted the the highest rating possible among universities university sustainability activity results to the and colleges in North America. STARS ranking of AASHE, and Royal Roads achieved a silver star – the first university in The sustainability plan will allow us to Canada to do so. In 2013, this silver was turned measure our success. We will track our to gold, based on improvements in operations performance and determine our return on Sustainability Plan 1 TARGET AREAS 1. Energy & Emissions 5. Purchasing 8. Curriculum & Research ■ Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) ■ Work towards 100% environmentally ■ Continue to directly sponsor at least one by 11 per cent by 2020 responsible purchasing by 2020 applied learning student project per year ■ Reduce energy use within our existing ■ Achieve a 11% reduction in fleet vehicle ■ Seek out and support interdisciplinary built environment by 10 per cent in order emissions and fuel consumption by 2020 learning opportunities and continue to maintain current usage level per unit to provide students with projects ■ Establish a sustainable procurement policy area, to account for growth of the campus. that address real world sustainability challenges. ■ Ensure new construction is built to LEED 6. Transportation gold (or equivalent) standard ■ Reduce the number of single occupant 9. Engagement ■ Take further action to reduce GHGs vehicles used to commute to campus ■ Increase campus-wide sustainability by 50 per cent by 2020 by 13 per cent by 2020 engagement through participation ■ Achieve a 10 per cent increase in the use 2. Paper & Printing in 100 per cent of the orientation of alternative commuting options by 2020 programs on campus, for both new ■ Reduce printing by 20 per cent ■ Promote options, develop incentive employees and students ■ Reduce single-sided printing to 20 per cent programs and improve amenities ■ Implement a strategic sustainability by 2020 for environmentally friendly and communications plan safe commuting. 3. Composting & Recycling ■ Create a sustainability team on campus composed of staff, faculty and student ■ 7. Stewardship Achieve 80 per cent waste diversion rate representatives ■ ■ Continue practicing responsible and Achieve a 20% increase in composting ■ sustainable stewardship in collaboration Increase the number of sustainability ■ Continue to expand our network of with the Xwsepsum and Lekwungen activities/projects supported by the branded compost and recycling stations families and the neighbouring Scia’ Office of Sustainability annually on campus new and T’Sou-ke families, as well 10. Community Partnerships ■ Provide recycling orientation training to as the communities of the Westshore. ■ Continue to create and nature all new students, faculty and employees ■ Develop and implement a five-year plan partnerships and provide opportunities for the removal of invasive plant species for student projects and cooperative work 4. Water Conservation on the campus core. experiences within the Westshore and ■ Maintain current water usage level ■ Study and protect the ecological Greater Victoria communities. ■ Expand our network of water bottle significance of the campus lands, filling stations with special recognition of the rare Garry Oak ecosystem ■ Include our message of water conservation in orientation for new students, ■ Create outdoor learning space on campus staff and faculty. Sustainability Plan 2 Energy conservation started as a team ENERGY & EMISSIONS culture and continues to prosper. — Stewart Ralph, Director, Physical and Environmental Resources Royal Roads University achieved carbon neutrality Royal Roads University GHG Emissions (t CO2e) and Emission Reductions vs. 2007 Baseline (%) in 2010 through the purchase of carbon offsets as for 2007-2013 and Projected Reductions from CNCP Projects (dashed lines). mandated by the Province of B.C.’s Carbon Neutral 2000 0% 0 Government program. 1500 -5% 1558 t CO e 1212 t CO e 2 2 1102 t CO e -10% The university has achieved a reduction in energy 2 1000 -15% usage of 26 per cent and a reduction in GHG emissions -20% of 22 per cent while expanding our built environment 500 -22% -25% and educational programs. -30% 0 -29% -35% 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-2013 2013-14 2014-15 Emission Reduction Vs. Baseline (2007) We have attained these reductions by implementing Reduction Vs. Baseline GHG Emissions energy efficiency retrofits throughout the campus, eliminating the use of fuel oil in our buildings, Indicator: Annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Target: 11% further reduction by 2020 and though energy conservation efforts by our campus community. Energy consumption (GJ) and area of built environment (m2) 60000 Through the province’s newly formed Carbon Neutral 59126 m2 Capital program, Royal Roads has received funding to install additional energy efficiency technologies. 50000 These retrofits will further reduce the overall GHG 40897 GJ reductions to 29 per cent compared to our 2007 40000 emissions baseline. 33267 GJ 36046 m2 30000 Over the next five years we will rely on our campus 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 and community partnerships to build on our success Built Environment Energy Consumption towards further reductions in our energy consumption Indicator: Energy consumption per square meter and GHG emissions. Target: Maintain energy consumption per square meter OUTCOME We acknowledge that the energy we use to heat our buildings and power our classrooms has an impact on the environment. Our ultimate goal is to mitigate the extent to which our activities contribute to the changes in our global climate change. Sustainability Plan 3 We have made great strides in reducing PAPER & PRINTING paper use and will continue to do more. — Cecelia David, Manager, Computer Services and Helpdesk In 2011, the IT-Services department at Royal Roads Paper use (packages) and associated GHG emissions (t CO2 e) implemented quarterly notifications