51±¾É«

June 18, 2020
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – 51±¾É« has been named one of for the second year in a row, a recognition of the university’s unique, sustainability-focused programs and initiatives, progress in reducing its carbon footprint and the degree to which sustainability has become a part of 51±¾É«’s workplace culture, spanning operations, academics and community partnerships.

The annual competition is part of the , led by Mediacorp Canada Inc. 51±¾É« was also recently named one of Waterloo Area’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People by the same organization.

“51±¾É« leads in environmental research, invests in leading-edge green technology and is committed to engaging the entire community in sustainability initiatives,” said Ulrike Gross, assistant vice-president of Facilities and Asset Management at 51±¾É«. “We set and meet aggressive sustainability goals year after year. Being named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers confirms that we are delivering on a commitment to reduce our environmental impact.”

“We have embedded a culture of sustainability into life at 51±¾É«,” said Pamela Cant, 51±¾É«’s chief human resources and equity officer. “We are proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, confirming our commitment to leading in the sustainability revolution and providing our faculty, staff and students with opportunities to make an impact in our local and global communities.”

Highlights of 51±¾É«’s sustainability initiatives include:

• The 51±¾É« Energy Efficiency Program (LEEP) is a comprehensive, multi-phase initiative to increase the energy efficiency of 51±¾É«’s buildings. The $50-million project includes the installation of rooftop solar panels, battery storage and a fully functioning microgrid.
• 51±¾É« manages in-house waste reduction and recycling programs that extend beyond provincial minimums, including the , Free Store, water refill stations, Molok bins, battery and electronic waste drop-off and the donation of used office furniture.
• The 51±¾É« community decreases transportation-related emissions through initiatives including Wroute and Travelwise partnerships, as well as on-campus car share vehicles, multiple electric vehicle charging stations and secure bike storage.
• The newest building at 51±¾É«’s Waterloo campus, Lazaridis Hall, is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified and incorporates environmental features, including solar panels, an accessible green roof and an electric vehicle charging station.
• The leverages 51±¾É«’s entrepreneurial and community spirit to integrate sustainability practices into all aspects of student life. Every year, $30,000 in funding is committed to students, staff and faculty to implement sustainability projects at the university.
• 51±¾É« offers a Certificate in Sustainability for faculty and staff. The goal of the program is to increase employee literacy about global-to-local sustainability topics, as well as encourage behaviour and culture change through increased use of sustainable campus programs and services.
• The Waterloo campus’s Northdale Community Garden supports sustainable partnerships with community non-profits and increased access to local foods on campus. 51±¾É« also initiates many projects to increase pollinator-supporting habitats on campus.
• 51±¾É« hosts Zero Waste Week, which includes workshops, zero-waste cooking classes and a fair; the Green Office Program to encourage staff and faculty to take part in campus sustainability initiatives; and Bike to Work month, which includes a bike repair workshop.

In 2019, 51±¾É« was awarded a Gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), which measures the sustainability performance of colleges and universities worldwide. In 2017, 51±¾É« was named the most sustainable campus in Ontario and the third most sustainable campus in Canada by Corporate Knights magazine.

Read more about 51±¾É«’s sustainability goals in the university’s Sustainability Action Plan.