The RRU website defines sustainability as,” Living and managing activities in a way that balances social, economic, environmental and institutional considerations to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Royal Roads University has become fully involved in the sustainability trend sweeping the nation. While all government of BC institutions have agreed to become “Carbon Neutral,” RRU has decided to take it a few steps further. As we all know, to become carbon neutral, institutions do not have to change any present practices. All that is required is to pay a tax to offset their emissions. In turn this money is supposed to go towards reducing emissions elsewhere while the institution can continue polluting as long as they pay. RRU has made the goal to not only reduce their total emissions and reduce their total impact, but be”off the grid” by 2018. Although this seems like a lofty task, they have already begun installing solar thermal heating on the Nixon building and brainstorming ideas to further their efforts. One example that deserves further investigation is a capital district heating system. Geothermal power may be too expensive for RRU to install by themselves, but if surrounding businesses and community invest in a common system the project will have higher pay outs for everyone.
Royal Roads cleaning staff have also done a few very simple things to make a huge difference on the road to making our school sustainable. To start off, I have noticed there is way more recycling bins around the Grant building and library then garbage cans. Not only recycling for paper, but plastic, metals, and organic waste compost bins too. This has caused a 72.6% diversion of wastes from Hartland landfill. Including over 10 tonnes of paper towel! (Wilken, 2011) Along with waste reduction, the cleaning staff has switched to chemical free cleaning. Now all they use are anti-microbial microfiber clothes and water. This reduces staff and student contact with harsh cleaning chemicals, waste and cost from chemical cleaning supplies, and still provides a clean environment for everyone to work and learn.
Not only has the school management team made changes towards a sustainable future, but they have created sustainability committee to innovate creative solutions to issues on campus. Some ideas for development proposed by our class representative include things such as; roof-top gardens, community gardens, local food markets, and bicycle workshops, and bicycle rental opportunities. All of these ideas are designed to encourage students and the surrounding community to think local. Through workshops and seminars, encourage society to act as a community, in a self sustaining manner with the goal of reducing our ecological footprint. We can increase RRU’s sustainable efforts by encompassing these things into our everyday personal lives and causing a more widespread affect.
Habitat cafe on campus has been labelled as stewards of the environment. By composting all organic wastes, providing compostable take out dishes, recycling for non-restaurant wastes, they minimize waste, divert mass from the landfill and contribute to healthy compost materials used for further food production. They use local, fair trade, sustainable, and ethical goods. As people become more aware of sustainable food choices and environmentally conscious businesses hopefully the trend will continue and expand beyond the few such as Habitat Café or Spinnekers Pub and becomes more common place and celebrated. As mentioned before rooftop gardens were proposed by a student group, this could be integrated further into rooftop gardens used by habitat to provide a place to use local compost and take advantage of Victoria’s mild climate with the ability to grow herbs, and some produce year round with the ultimate local supplies. Recently I had watched a TED video about a man who is determined to create the ultimate sustainable restaurants. So far he has expanded his business and has incorporated some inspiring designs.
Royal Roads University. (n.d.). Sustainability at Royal Roads University. Retrieved Feburary 2, 2011, from http://sustainability.royalroads.ca/sustainability
Wilken, N. (2011, January). RRU Sustainability Plan PPT. Victoria.
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