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plants absorb up to three-quarters of rainfall; reducing
drainage of contaminants. A green terrace’s natural cooling
properties improve insulation, and the terrace improves
air quality.
“It’s a win-win proposition,” says Hastings, adding that
Leddy Library also has a green roof.
Small Steps
It is about taking “one step at a time” Hastings says. Simple
things like, “occupancy censored” lighting and introducing
local plant life, can make a dramatic difference.
For John Regier, manager of Grounds and
Housekeeping, it’s the little things being done that make
all the difference. The University has been extremely
supportive in terms of funding, Regier says, and he is
optimistic about the future. It is a gradual fazing out of
harsh chemicals and return to nature that is most exciting
in grounds developments, he says.
An increasing amount of green products are being
introduced and there are “virtually no pesticides or
herbicides” being used anymore, says Regier. Even the
aesthetics of the school are shifting toward the natural.
Research has been done on local birds, and bird houses have
been added to campus, he says. A re-introduction of local
biodiversity to the gardens has been getting mixed reviews; a
sign that not everyone is quite on board, says Hastings.
Participation can be a challenge, Hastings says. There
are recycling bins and garbage cans in every classroom
and in every building. But that does not mean everyone
is using them. There is still littering and still some cross
contamination in the recycling waste stream. However,
over time and with some positive promotion, the University
hopes to improve the recycling goals.
Student Commitment
Many University of Windsor students are committed to the
green cause. On October 24, 2009, 150 UWindsor students
took part in the International Day of Climate Action, their
on-campus event one of more than 5,200 events in 181
countries – the most widespread day of environmental
action in the planet’s history. Locally organized by the
Social Work Students Association, the event was an appeal
to world leaders to take action against climate change.
The Environmental Committee also has many
students doing their part to propel the University forward
environmentally, participating in campus waste audits, for
example. The experience is eye opening for many because
of the sheer volume of recyclable material found in waste
bins. “I was shocked by the things people threw in the
garbage,” said a third-year environmental engineering
student, in an interview with the University’s
Daily News
.
“Water bottles, yogurt containers—this stuff could be going
in the recycling stream.”
Teaching Sustainability
UWindsor was the first Canadian university to offer
an environmental engineering program in Canada
and is “a leader” in energy efficiency, says Dr Rupp
Carriveau, associate professor of Civil and Environmental
Engineering. UWindsor’s engineering program, in
particular, has multiple innovations underway.
“Sustainability practises are a hot topic in engineering
at the moment,” says Carriveau, “and the Faculty of
Engineering offers a variety of options for students
interested in getting involved.”
For instance, Carriveau has developed the new
Advanced Professional Certificate in Engineering
Management course. Funded by the Ontario Power
Authority, its students participate in a 12-hour weekend
course, followed by one year of case studies and in-field
work. They participate in energy audits and learn applied
energy theory.
The course is designed for engineers, technicians,
and maintenance/facility managers, working for large
consumers of energy in Ontario’s industrial, commercial
and institutional sectors, Carriveau says. The goal is to
teach energy managers how to operate their companies
most efficiently. “These green collar jobs are good for
Students are often passionate about the green cause.
