BCIT
From ClimateNetworkWiki
According to the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, [1] British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) [2] "builds pathways for career success in the global marketplace. Located at campuses in Burnaby, North Vancouver, Richmond and Vancouver, BCIT delivers full-time and part-time courses of study leading to certificates, diplomas and degrees in technologies, trades, business and health sciences. BCIT also conducts applied research, technology transfer activities, and corporate and industry training and upgrading."
Please add to this "Place" page as information becomes available, so that in sharing information we can learn from each other and strengthen our effectiveness in carbon-neutral and beyond carbon-neutral planning.
Contents |
Signatories to Statement of Action?
No.
Beyond Carbon Neutral Planning Contacts
- BCIT Student Association [3]
The BCITSA is working to integrate climate action into their planning, and is working on a local food initiative.
- School of Construction and Environment [4]
This school offers courses and programs on sustainable development and environmental stewardship, housing and habitat technologies, natural resource management, building science and construction management.
- Environmental Action Centre (EAC) [5]
Carbon Neutral and Beyond-Carbon Neutral Planning Initiatives
Policy
BCIT has many climate-change related policies and commitments. Passed in 1993, the BCIT Environmental Management Policy [6] set the direction for many of the current climate change-related initiatives. BCIT has been registered with the Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR) [7] since 1995, winning a silver award from the Canadian Standards Association for their 2001 Energy Management Action Plan [8] The plan commits the institution to increasing energy efficiency through such measures as light fittings and upgrades, boiler upgrades, compressed air improvements and an expanded education and awareness program.
Within BCIT, the School of Construction and the Environment has adopted a Sustainability Framework to inform all educational programs, research and operational activities [9].
Governance
This section is incomplete.
The Campus Planning Director is responsible for ensuring the energy efficiency and other sustainability concerns are taken into account in building and campus planning. [10]
The School of Construction and the Environment has a Director of Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship who is a member of the office of the Dean.
Buildings
At the Great Northern Way Campus, green roofs are being tested for their influence on, among other things, thermal performance and energy efficiency, and quality of stormwater runoff and the environmental implications. The information gathered will be evaluated and disseminated to architects, engineers, developers, and regional policy makers.
Energy
BCIT was presented with a PowerSmart Excellence Award from BC Hydro in 2004 for its impressive energy reduction program, which saved the institution over $1.3 million in energy costs in under four years, and resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. [11] See BCIT's Energy Action Management Plan [12] for more details.
A photovoltaic "Power Tower" was built in 2003 to serve as a demonstration and teaching aid for providing solar power for both on- and off-grid applications. [13]
Transportation
BCIT's Green Initiative website offers information on alternatives to Single-Occupancy Vehicle trips, including suggested bike routes, links to transit information, and car and vanpooling options for staff and students [14].
Food
Beyond carbon neutral initiatives in this area are not known. Please add as they become available!
Waste
In 2002, BCIT diverted 43% (665 metric tonnes) of their waste stream from the landfill (compared to 1990 levels) [15] through recycling and composting efforts. BCIT has also adopted a "zero waste" policy that aims to further decrease the volume of garbage produced. [16] The recycling program has paid for itself since 1992, and revenues are obtained by marketing "waste" products such as wood and metal [17].
BCIT has been composting waste from their cafeterias since 1997, reducing campus waste by about 16 tonnes per fiscal year, resulting in a $1600 reduction in garbage disposal costs annually. In 2004, the composting program was expanded, further reducing the amount of organic matter ending up in the landfill. [18]
The recycling program (for paper, cans, glass, beverage containers, organics, wood waste, gyproc, scrap metal, tires, batteries, used oil, toner cartridges, antifreeze and cardboard) has resulted in savings for the institution. For example, diverting paper from the landfill saved the institution $5,305 in one year, and recycling metal generated over $16,000 in revenue. [19]
Purchasing
Beyond carbon neutral initiatives in this area are not known. Please add as they become available!
Investments
In June 2008, BCIT, with the support of the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, established the "Real Estate Foundation of BC Endowment for the Adoption of Green Value Strategies in Development," which will support the School's ongoing work to research, develop and equip students to provide real-world green construction innovations to the building industry. (See Media Release [20] for more information.)
Budgeting
Beyond carbon neutral initiatives in this area are not known. Please add as they become available!
Offsets
Beyond carbon neutral initiatives in this area are not known. Please add as they become available!
Education and Research
BCIT excels in applied research with relevance to carbon-neutral and beyond carbon-neutral planning. Some of these initiatives include:
- The Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof Technology (CAGRT), through collaborations with industry, government and academic partners, provides research and demonstration projects around living wall technology, and aims to provide tangible applications for the sustainable building design and construction sectors. Green roofs help reduce energy consumption while providing other social and environmental benefits. For more information, see the CAGRT website [21] and a recent media release [22].
- The Centre for Sustainable and Environmental Initiatives (CSEI) employs non-traditional teaching practices in the emerging areas of sustainable education, including curriculum-based applications and project based applications. An integrated approach on a variety of applied sustainability strategies is a research theme. [23]
- The Centre for Energy Systems Applications (CESA) develops, coordinates and supports research and training in renewable energy (photovoltaics, micro-hydro, biomass, etc.) and emerging energy systems (hydrogen, geoexchange, etc.). It aims to apply findings to address waste management, climate change, and overall global energy challenges. [24]
- The Photovoltaic Energy Applied Research Lab (PEARL) is a world-class facility for applied research and development of grid connected and stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Civic and Community Engagement
BCIT has partnered with various levels of government and with industry to advance applied research in alternative energy, green building design, and other climate-change related initiatives. It has also hosted seminars for the university and wider community on topics such as understanding the BC carbon tax, retrofitting homes for energy efficiency, and other topics related to climate change.
