At Humber College, a focus on sustainability across all areas of learning has had a transformative impact. Climate action initiatives, such as tree planting and a focus on advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, are embraced with enthusiasm.supplied
Education can be a powerful driver of sustainability. Among other things, it can help to equip change-makers with the knowledge and skills to make a difference today as well as lay the foundation for future generations to live in respectful, reciprocal and responsible relationships with natural ecosystems.
At Humber College, a focus on sustainability across all areas of learning has had a transformative impact, says Lindsay Walker, Humber’s associate director, Sustainability. “There is growing awareness that to meet climate goals worldwide, nationally and locally, we need to embed sustainability into everything we do,” she says. “We need to create the knowledge and skills to do things differently. We also have to empower everyone – from nurses and graphic designers to educators – to know how to make a contribution.”
An example comes from the college’s Two-Eyed Land-based Play and Co-Learning course, which connects early childhood educators, children and their families with nature to create reciprocal relationships with “all relations” – land, water, animals, plant life and other beings. It embraces multiple perspectives and honours the strengths of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of being, knowing and doing, says Ms. Walker. “It’s a different way of teaching and learning from one another, and it is having a real impact on those in the program and in the community.”
The idea of coming together to catalyze change has been embraced widely – and enthusiastically – in the Humber community. Opportunities to get involved include the sustainability ambassador program, capstone projects focused on sustainability, efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of campus activities, and the community of practice group on sustainability that offers teaching and learning resources and has grown a great deal over the past years, she explains.
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Humber’s commitment to embracing sustainability as a core value is outlined in the college’s strategic plan as well as its climate action plan, says Spencer Wood, Humber’s director of facilities management. He credits Humber’s Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) with laying the groundwork for achieving significant reductions in energy, water and greenhouse gas emissions.
This comprehensive plan includes a strategy for operational energy savings, like using low-energy lights and turning them off when they’re not needed. It also requires making sustainability a part of every retrofit and building upgrade decision, notes Mr. Wood.
“We’ve seen a financial payback from applying green building practices to new buildings as well as retrofits; for example, our NX building retrofit, which is built to passive house standards,” he says. “In total, we are now saving about $2-million a year on utilities, compared to 2014, and about 20 per cent of our total energy use.”
Green buildings also have lower emissions, better ventilation and more natural light, adding to the comfort of occupants, reports Mr. Wood. “Further to that, this has helped to build our reputation as a leader in green building practices. Everyone involved in these projects – from architects, engineers and contractors to multidisciplinary teams of students – comes away with sought-after skills.”
Across Canada, building codes and standards are changing – and the discussion about green buildings has also evolved, he says. “Five years ago, energy efficiency was the primary focus; now, it is carbon emission reductions.”
Ms. Walker has also noticed a change. “I no longer have to persuade people that it is urgent we keep global warming under 1.5 degrees,” she says. “They are eager to get involved and want to understand how we can make our systems more sustainable. That’s not easy, but at least we’re now focused on action.”
This momentum can help to propel Humber toward the goal of continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the source – rather than buying offsets – to the point of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Advertising feature produced by Randall Anthony Communications with Colleges and Institutes Canada. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.