Environmental Goals
A – Reduce Our Ecological Footprint
What it means at Algonquin:
Algonquin College develops strategies and action plans to track and reduce the College’s ecological footprint.
Why it’s important:
To demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship, Algonquin College is committed to lowering its ecological footprint by managing such things as: carbon emissions, water consumption, waste, energy, and food consumption.
How are we doing?:
- Entered into Energy Savings Contracts (ESCO) with to reduce utilities consumption and greenhouse gases
- All new buildings at Algonquin are being designed to a minimum LEED® Gold accreditation
- Ancillary Services has made many changes to reduce waste and improve recycling
- See more…
B – Facilitate Debate on Environmental Issues
What it means at Algonquin:
In fostering dialogue and facilitating debate on environmental issues confronting the world, Algonquin College increases awareness in our community and encourages movement towards solutions.
Why it’s important:
The environment is under pressure on many fronts such as climate change, access to clean water, and contamination with toxins. It is incumbent on higher education to explore and debate these issues and to build the critical thinking skills in its graduates and its community necessary to face these challenges.
How are we doing?:
- The Sustainability Champions Speakers Series
- The Annual Community and Corporate Social Responsibility Conferences
- Special events to raise awareness: e.g., Perth Sustainability Week, Sustainability Days at Pembroke and Woodroffe
- See more…
C – Restore and Regenerate Our Environments
What it means at Algonquin:
Algonquin College researches new processes and innovative thinking related to restoring and regenerating the natural and built environments and implements them into curriculum, operations, and campus planning.
Why it’s important:
Algonquin College’s vision of sustainability is one of “striving to thrive” rather than “striving to survive”. We aspire to travel along the path of sustainability – progressing from “green” to “sustainable” , and then as we increase our understanding and abilities in applying innovative thinking and processes and move to “restorative”, “regenerative” and beyond.
How are we doing?:
- The Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence (ACCE) is a “living lab” showcasing green building technology, a biowall, a green roof and integration with transit
- The Student Commons has created a social heart for the Woodroffe campus
- The Perth Renewal and Pembroke Relocation projects reinvigorated our rural campuses and are revitalizing their communities
- See more…