Sustainability
With growing concerns about global energy shortages and the impacts of human activity on the environment, FM has turned a great deal of attention to the advancement of green technology and sustainability. FM staff want to help Western become a leading educational institution in sustainability and stewardship and this page is dedicated to their recognized efforts.
2019
Green Building Excellence Award for New Construction
Recognized for “making a difference” in Canada’s green building industry, the Amit Chakma Engineering Building has been presented the Green Building Excellence Award for New Construction by the Canada Green Building Council. Read the Western News article.
2018
Bee City Canada Designation
In 2018, Western became the first university to obtain “Bee City” designation from Bee City Canada. The designation recognizes communities that establish healthy pollinator habitats and communicate their importance with the community.
Chakma building wins ‘green’ award
Western’s newest facility – the Amit Chakma Engineering Building – has won a provincial award of excellence for new green buildings. The award, presented at an Ontario Green Building Excellence and Leadership ceremony earlier this month, also qualifies it as a nominee for the national awards competition to take place in Vancouver.
The building opened officially in mid-October, as engineering enrolment is set to increase by 25 per cent, and its architectural consultants are Perkins + Will and Cornerstone Architecture. Accepting the award on behalf of the university were Facilities Management project managers Boris Pertout and Glen Armstrong.
2016
Water Efficiency Award
Western received the 2016 Water Efficiency Award, recognizing excellence in water conservation and strategic action at the annual Ontario Water Works Association conference. Taking top honours in the Private Sector category, Western has focused its water strategy around metering, utility management, and engagement. Read the Western News article.
2015
Western recognized for environmental leadership
Purple Pride turned a bit ‘green’ as Western was named among only nine recipients of the Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence, an honour announced today by the provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
Launched on World Water Day in 2011, the award recognizes local environmental and sustainable achievement, leadership and innovation, honouring individuals and organizations working to enhance and protect the environment. Since its inception, the program has recognized the environmental achievements of 40 organizations.
Pictured: Arthur Potts, parliamentary assistant, Dan Larkin and Mary Quintana from Facilities Management, and Glen Murray, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
Western is featured in Annual Princeton Review for third straight year
Western joined British Columbia, Calgary, Victoria and Windsor as the only five Canadian universities profiled in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2015 Edition. In this sixth edition of the guide, The Princeton Review profiled 353 schools in the United States and Canada, that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.
2014
STARS Gold Accreditation
Western shot for the STARS and landed on Gold.
The Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) recently awarded Western a Gold rating for its sustainability on campus. The university is one of three in Canada with a Gold rating under STARS 2.0, the most recent version of the system. Simon Fraser and Victoria join Western on the podium with the rating.
The achievement is a welcome improvement from Western’s Silver ranking in 2011. <Read More>
For more information on STARS, visit the Western Sustainability page.
Annual Princeton Review recognizes Western
For the second consecutive year, Western joined The University of British Columbia as one of only two Canadian universities profiled in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges: 2014 Edition.
In this fifth edition of the guide, The Princeton Review, in collaboration with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, profiled 332 schools in the United States, and two in Canada, that demonstrated notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.
2013
Recycling Council of Ontario Waste Minimization Award
Stefanie De Adder and Paul Martin accept the RCO Award
Representatives from the Facilities Management Division received the university’s third consecutive Waste Minimization Award from the Recycling Council of Ontario. The annual recognition, honours organizations across the province for their efforts in waste reduction and diversion.
Several recent advancements to the waste collection process can be directly linked to the university’s success. [Read more in our News section]
WesternU Recognized in Annual Princeton Review
Less than three months after releasing its universitywide sustainability strategy, Creating a Sustainable Western Experience, Western joined The University of British Columbia as the only two Canadian universities profiled in The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2013 Edition. In this fourth edition of the guide, The Princeton Review, in collaboration with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, profiled 320 schools in the United States, and two in Canada, that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. Western was mentioned for its commitment to energy-related retrofits and renovations in the last three years and noted the institution’s commitment to embed “sustainability into every facet of daily life.” More than 2,300 North American schools, including more than 100 Canadian, responded to The Princeton Review survey. Institutions were required to achieve a score of 83 on a variety of sustainability criteria to be profiled.2012
Ontario Business Achievement Award (OBAA) - Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAO) Corporate Governance Award
Jim Galbraith accepting award from ICAO President & CEO, Rob Barr
The win highlighted dozens of Western’s green initiatives including:
- Its commitment to environmentally viable buildings and operations
- Energy reductions
- Transportation enhancements
- Waste diversion
Western has demonstrated excellence in leadership, awareness and education for initiatives such as the creation of the President’s Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (PACES), residence recycling awareness nights and the introduction of a new environment and energy manager position.
(Read more from Western News)
Business Achievement Award for Environmental Leadership
FM team recieves award from Mayor of London, Joe Fontana
Western’s sustainability efforts reached a “significant milestone” last night as the university took home the Environmental Leadership Award presented by the London Chamber of Commerce at its annual Business Achievement Awards, the largest business awards gala of its kind in Canada. The university was nominated by recycling service provider BFI Canada Inc.
(Read more from Western News)
2011
Recycling Council of Ontario Waste Minimization Award
Jim Galbraith, Paul Martin, and Beverley Ayeni
The Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization involved in policy, education and project work around the issues of consumption, waste generation, reduction and diversion, and recycling.
The Waste Minimalization Award was granted to Western for demonstrated environmental commitment to waste reduction and diversion.
Oracle Eco-Enterprise Innovation Award
Energy & Environment Manager, Beverley Ayeni, accepting the Oracle award
Western University was the recipient of the 'Eco-Enterprise Innovation' award at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco.
This award was presented to Western University for taking an environmental lead to improve business efficiencies using green business practices. The university deployed an Oracle-based solution to reduce costs and redundancy, improve efficiency and service, and simplify and optimize processes.
For specific improvements made by the University, visit the Western Sustainability Awards & Recognitions page.
Zero Waste Status Recognition
ZWIA defines zero waste as "businesses or communities that achieve over 90% diversion of waste from landfills and incinerators"
With a strong recycling program and a committed group of occupants, Westminster Hall was Western University's first building to be recognized by the Zero Waste International Alliance for achieving Zero Waste status, making Western University the first higher learning institution in the world to be recognized by the ZWIA.
Facilities Management (formerly Physical Plant) commissioned environmental consulting group, CD Sonter to complete the audits, reduction plans, and submit their application to the Zero Waste International Alliance on their behalf. The project is a natural extension of the recycling program as it provides recognition to compliant buildings.
STARS Silver Accreditation
Western University submitted its first STARS report in August 2011
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a framework for colleges and universities in Canada and the United States to measure their sustainability performance. A common set of measurements within the categories of Education and Research, Planning Administration and Engagement, and Operations allows post-secondary institutions to compare their sustainability progress over time. The results and answers of each STARS assessment are displayed at: https://stars.aashe.org/institutions/rated/ for all to see, creating incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability. This public forum also facilitates information sharing about sustainability practices, performances and policies.
For more information on STARS, visit the Western Sustainability page.
2010
Urban League of London Green Brick
Denis O'Carroll, George Qubty, Andrew Hrymak, Roy Langille
The Green Brick Award recognizes development projects that encourage community participation during design and construction phases.
Western received the Green Brick Award for its incorporation of green features in the Claudette MacKay Lassonde Pavilion, as well as its inclusion of engineering students during the preliminary design process of this building.
(Read more from Western News)
