Sustainability at RRU
Royal Roads University (RRU) has taken the initiative to create a sustainability plan. They have come up with several goals to become a green, sustainable university.
GHG Management
RRU has set a goal of reducing GHG emission on campus by 50 % from 2007 levels by 2020. They also hoped to be carbon neutral by 2010. The later has been achieved. In 2010, RRU was able to become carbon neutral, by carbon offsets. This is a system where you measure your emissions, and once a year, pay $25/tonne for that total.
Going “Grid-Positive”
I believe this is the loftiest goal RRU has set for themselves. They hope to be off the grid by 2018. Between 2001 and 2005 energy consumption on campus was reduced by 30%. Further efforts include installation of Solar Thermal hot water systems on the Nixon building and the Learning and Innovation Centre (LIC). Solar Thermal hot water systems involve the installation of solar panels to collect energy and heat the water system to a constant temperature, as to reduce the amount of energy required to heat the water from cold to hot. There is also potential for a shallow well geothermal system on campus. Further research must be completed to determine if this is feasible for the site.
Transportation Demand Management
RRU would like to achieve a pedestrian friendly campus, and reduce the presence of single occupancy vehicles. They are currently looking into the feasibility of implementing a U-pass for the Victoria bus system, with the hope to increase ridership, as well as increasing the bus service to campus. They are also trying to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles onsite by encouraging carpooling. The idea of providing priority parking for carpoolers, as well as reducing the price for parking for those that carpool are being looked at. Also, as a deterrent for single occupancy vehicles, there is the potential of increasing the yearly parking fee, possibly making it a monthly fee, or reducing the amount of parking available on campus.
Ecological-Sensitive Siting and Heritage Conservation
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| http://www.royalroads.ca/news-release/1-million-awarded- royal-roads-help-save-energy-lower-emissions |
RRU is located on a National Historic Site, and is required to maintain the history located here. New development is only permitted on disturbed areas. Recently, $1 million was awarded to RRU to retrofit the heritage buildings on-site to make them more energy efficient. Completion of these retrofits will reduce RRU's carbon footprint.
RRU is also in the process of re-establishing a wetland. There is an area, approximately 10 acres in size located between the Mews Conference Center and Cedar Building, down to the Esquimalt Lagoon. It was originally a wetland, but was drained and used for pastureland 100 years ago by the Dunsmirs. The area is linked to Esquimalt Lagoon, local stream and a pond system that is a habitat for Cutthroat Trout and Coho Salmon. There is also a fish ladder connecting the pond system to Esquimalt Lagoon. Recently, the practice of draining the area has been ceased, and natural vegetation and water flow have returned to the area.
University Stewardship
A program has been set in place to get the staff, faculty, and student body more involved in an on campus program called Campus Green. Currently, an extensive recycling and composting program is present on-site, which successfully diverts approximately 73 % of waste from the local landfill. The composting program diverts 10 tonnes of paper towel a year through composting.
Habitat Cafe, the on campus cafeteria, was the first Green Table Certified establishment on Vancouver Island (http://green-step.ca/?page_id=40). The on-campus custodial staff have been using a chemical free cleaning system for the past 10 years. The use of micro-fibre cloths and chemical free products has been successfully maintained.
As part of their sustainability plan, I believe that RRU needs to get the on-campus students more aware of the actions being taken. A Sustainability committee has been created, made up of representatives from the on campus cohorts, however, the remaining student body needs to become involved in some way. It would be beneficial during on campus orientation to have an introduction to the Sustainability Plan that RRU has developed so that new learners can become aware and potentially take part; either by volunteering their time, or providing suggestions or new ideas.
RRU has a large resource within the student body that should be utilized. The sustainability group is a step in the right direction.
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