Chosen as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2011:
By Kristina Leung and Richard Yerema, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editor
(
Apr 20, 2011)
Some of the reasons why Georgian College was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2011):
has recently developed an Environmental Mission Statement and Guiding Principles document (called "Vision 2015"), which is enshrined within the College's overall strategic management plan, and commits the college to build sustainability through innovation and promote environmental sustainability across all campus locations and throughout the curriculum
recently established an "Environmental Sustainability Coordinator" position to lead an in-house environmental committee that oversees the college's many environmental initiatives -- the College is also a signatory to the Association of Canadian Community Colleges Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability
celebrates the annual Waste Reduction Week and has put in place ambitious waste reduction goals to reduce by 50% percent of its waste (over 2008 baseline audit) that's destined for the landfill and has updated procurement and purchasing processes to incorporate environmental considerations into its purchase of supplies and services
advocates energy reduction in its offices with no measure considered too small, from adjusting window blinds to using power bars to turning-off unused lights during the day
has implemented aggressive paper use reduction strategies, moving to electronic documents where possible, use of two-sided printing as a default and reinvesting the savings into the purchase of paper with higher post-consumer recycled content -- and has even recycled old paper-based marking systems into "Trashy Notes" notepads that are made available for purchase at the campus bookstore, with profits returned to students for green initiatives on-campus
has introduced a number reduction and recycling initiatives, including composting programs, hydration stations (to encourage students to use refillable water containers), recycling and waste bins throughout campus, a battery recycling program, and a used electronics recycling initiative (called "Anything with a Cord") that's hosted on Earth Day each year
is helping to develop the next generation of environmental stewards, completing an 18,000 square foot "Centre for Sustainable Technologies" that is home for existing and newly introduced courses, skilled trades programs, as well as the expanding environmental and technology programs
and is currently developing a new "Health and Wellness" building that will incorporate a variety of environmental technologies, such as solar energy, energy efficient lighting as well as rainwater recovery and geothermal heating systems
