Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Some Challenges in Reaching for that Silver STAR...

According to Google dictionary, the definition of an adventure is an activity that is both 'daring and exciting...calling for enterprise and enthusiasm'. This statement cannot be truer of my colleague and my epic journey in completing the STARS sustainability report.

It is with excitement (and alumni pride) to be involved with Western's first ever campus-wide assessment of its sustainability. But an adventure would not be one without involving some challenges right?

One of the major obstacle that we faced as we are wrapping up was the busier schedule and shortage of staff/faculty in the summer (hey, some of us gotta run the show and some deserves a break too!). While this delayed data collection, the upside of the engagement and dialogue with various stakeholders was the opportunity to have one-on-one discussions on sustainability at Western!


A common confusion found through these engagements was how certain departments, such as Human Resources and Investments, play in a sustainable academic institution. One of the reasons is that many people often associate the meaning of 'sustainability' as the preservation of our environment, when this thinking needs to be re-examined. Modern thinkers need to see sustainability as a 'simultaneous pursuit of economical prosperity, environmental quality, and social equality' - famously known as the triple bottom line.

In the same vein, the ambiguity of the sustainability definition is another challenge as it varies from one industry to another and for an institution of higher education, between faculties and staff.

Lastly, the lack of the STARS brand recognition may raise some concerns for our stakeholders. What is it? Why are we doing this? Regardless, it is one of the more comprehensive sustainability assessments for academic institutions right now. The fact that Western has decided to conduct a sustainability report is a positive direction towards embodying a sustainable institution.

In addition, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's STARS program, Sierra magazine, the Sustainable Endowments Institute (Green Report Card) and Princeton Review will be collaborating to 'develop common sustainability survey language' to prevent survey fatigues for institutions.

Until next time,

Your friendly neighborhood EPC




Wednesday, July 13, 2011

What is your perception of sustainability at Western?

Hello again,

It's your friendly neighborhood EPC again! So through my voyage with the STARS report and investigation of Western's current sustainability practices, out of curiosity, I am wondering:

What is your current perception of Western's sustainability?
What should a sustainable Western look like in the future?
How do we get there?

Until next time...

Cheers,
Wendy

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Western's 1st Silver STAR!

Hello fellow Westerners!

While many of you have been busily lounging at the beach or feverishly working in an office, Facilities Management's (previously 'Physical Plant') environmental project coordinators (EPC) are currently wrapping up Western's first sustainability report this summer!

The sustainability report is the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) program (https://stars.aashe.org/) that allows academic institutions to benchmark its sustainability performance relative to other North American institutions. The beauty of this self-reporting program is that it is fully transparent and will be made public online once completed. As well, dependent on an institution's sustainability progression in areas such as education, operations, and administration, a rating of bronze, silver, gold or platinum certification is given.

Thus, we would like to end with a special announcement that it is with confidence that Western will achieve a SILVER certification! We would be the first Ontario University to receive this rating! Goooooo Western!

Check out Western's sustainability website for further updates and ways that you can get involved with sustainability! Remember, EVERYDAY is Earth Day!

http://sustainability.uwo.ca/

Cheers,
Your friendly neighborhood EPC