From ClimateNetworkWiki

This page is part of the Places section of the Knowledge Base

According to the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, [1] Vancouver's Langara College provides first and second year arts and science university transfer courses, career programs and continuing studies courses and programs. Curricula are based on an integrated and cross-disciplinary approach. Langara's facilities include two main instructional buildings that house lecture theatres, multi-use classrooms, study and seminar rooms, science laboratories, technical-vocational workrooms, athletic facilities & studios for cultural & performing arts."

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 1 External Climate Change Commitments 2 Beyond Carbon Neutral Planning Contacts 3 Carbon Neutral and Beyond-Carbon Neutral Planning Initiatives 3.1 Policy 3.2 Institutional Structure 3.3 GHG Inventory 3.4 Buildings 3.5 Energy 3.6 Transportation 3.7 Food 3.8 Waste 3.9 Purchasing 3.10 Investments 3.11 Budgeting 3.12 Offsets 3.13 Education and Research 3.14 Civic and Community Engagement 3.15 Other

External Climate Change Commitments

CSA Greenhouse Gas Registry (Gold status achieved 5 times in a row for their energy Action Plans)

Beyond Carbon Neutral Planning Contacts

Transforming Langara is composed of staff, faculty and students who are working to transform Langara College into a leading model of comprehensive sustainability by piloting innovative operational practices on campus and in the community, and integrating the study of these practices into the curriculum.

The Langara Environmental Committee is a student-based group continually striving to improve the well-being of our community. By creating awareness for environmental issues and providing the resources for action, we hope to empower students towards meaningful change.

Langara Student's Union

Langara SU Environmental Coordinator

Carbon Neutral and Beyond-Carbon Neutral Planning Initiatives

Policy

Langara College’s Environmental Policy commits the college to “protecting and enhancing the environment for future generations” and states that “the College will actively demonstrate leadership by identifying and adopting best practices in the areas of environmental responsibility, sustainability and energy efficiency, beyond those legislated.” (Environmental Responsibility Policy, 2001 ^[1]).

Institutional Structure

GHG Inventory

Buildings

• Langara's new library building is LEED certified [2].
• Vancouver City policy requires a minimum LEED Silver rating for any expansion of the Langara campus (City of Vancouver, 2005. ^[2]).

Energy

• Geothermal energy is used in Langara's new library building (Owens and Moore 2007 ^[3]).
• Langara College has been purchasing Green Power Certificates for 5% of its total electrical energy consumption since the date it was offered by BC Hydro (Energy Management Action Plan 2006 ^[4]).

Transportation

Langara students voted in favour of the U-Pass in 2007 [3].

Food

Waste

Langara has a recycling program.

Purchasing

Investments

Budgeting

Offsets

Education and Research

• The Environmental Studies program at Langara is a two-year interdisciplinary diploma designed to equip students to confront issues of environmental sustainability.
• The Continuing Studies Department offers a courses on sustainable and healthy living, including a Building Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Energy Workshop Series [4].

Civic and Community Engagement

Other

Transforming Langara has a wiki site, have put forward a plan for achieving carbon neutrality at Langara, and have hosted a Carbon Neutral College Conference.

References

1. ↑ Langara College Board of Governors. 2001. Board Governance Policy A1011: Environmental Responsibility. http://www.langara.bc.ca/about-langara/policies/media/pdfs/A1011.pdf. Accessed August 2008.
2. ↑ City of Vancouver, 2005. Langara College Policy Statement. http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/Guidelines/L004.pdf. Accessed August 2008.
3. ↑ Owens, Cameron, and Moore, Janet. 2008. Taking Stock 2008: The current state of sustainability in BC Universities and Colleges. Walking the Talk - BC Working Group and Network on Sustainability Education. http://www.walkingthetalk.bc.ca/files/TakingStock2008_0.pdfAccessed August 2008.
4. ↑ Langara College. 2006. Energy Management Action Plan. http://www.ghgregistries.ca/registry/out/rf_3460_2314.pdf Accessed August 2008.