Sustainability Initiatives

Laurier offers a wide variety of programs and initiatives that support a sustainable and healthy space for our community members to work, study and research. By providing environmentally friendly and socially conscious options, we can enable students, staff and faculty to contribute to Laurier’s sustainability goals and emissions reduction targets.

By equipping students with the knowledge and skills to address issues related to climate change, mitigating human impact on the environment, and creating resilient communities, we can help shape the next generation of sustainably-minded researchers and innovators.

From waste reduction to alternative transportation, sustainable food systems, and increasing naturalization on campus, Laurier provides programs and initiatives that address the various dimensions of sustainability.

The areas we support include:

academic and research,
engagement opportunities,
student and campus experience, and
campus infrastructure.

Supporting Sustainable Academic and Research Opportunities

Laurier is committed to creating a more sustainable future through innovative research that seeks out solutions to local and global challenges. Through our sustainability-related programs and various research centres across our campuses, we can support initiatives that create solutions to current problems without compromising future generations.

Programs

Our programs offer degree options, concentration, and options that span across all pillars of sustainability including, environmental, social, cultural, and economic. Each faculty is embedded with sustainability-focused and sustainability related courses which incorporate sustainability themes, concepts, and practices.

Sustainability-focused courses are entirely dedicated to the concept of sustainability, including its cultural, economic, environmental and social dimensions. Alternatively, sustainability-focused courses may examine an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens.

Sustainability-related courses incorporate sustainability as a distinct course component or module, or concentration on a singular sustainability principle or issue. The principle or issue being discussed is connected to the larger concept of sustainability including its cultural, economic, environmental and social dimensions.

Research

As a leader in sustainability research, Laurier is dedicated to exploring and developing new solutions to sustainability issues and the associated impacts they have on communities. Understanding the interconnectedness of climate change, the environment, and the way individuals and communities interact with it is central to sustainability themed research.

Sustainability research focuses on scientific analysis, communication, creation, and maintenance of conditions that enable societies to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Keep up to date with the most recent sustainability research being conducted at Laurier in the Office of Research Services’ Annual Research Report.

Collaboration with Laurier's Research Centres

With strengths in mitigating environmental impacts, supporting food security, promoting innovative economic decisions, and fostering sustainability through societal choices, Laurier is effectively addressing the different dimensions of sustainability. This research is supported and promoted through collaborations facilitated by Laurier’s research centres, institutes, and partnerships including:

Supporting Innovation Through Engagement

By providing opportunities for our student, staff, and faculty to lead sustainability on campus, we can effectively equip our community to create innovative solutions to environmental and social issues by bringing different perspectives, strengths, and experiences together. This includes facilitating experiential learning, awarding funding, and providing logistical support to bring sustainable projects to fruition on campus.

Initiative Snapshot

Available to all students, staff, and faculty across Laurier’s campuses, the Sustainable Hawk Fund awards up to $30,000 annually to sustainability projects. Past projects include the Food Justice Garden, the Honeybee Apiary, Low impact development, and the Climate Action Mural.
The Green Office program provides guidance and resources to Laurier’s staff and faculty to create a more sustainable work environment on campus and helps facilitate participation in sustainability themed events on campus.
The Sustainability Office provides employment opportunities for students each semester to assist in creating, running, and reporting on sustainable programs on campus and gain practical experience in the sustainability sector.

“The mural is a powerful symbol for the campus. It will greet thousands of new students every year with the message that sustainability is part of our Laurier community identity and remind us all to integrate sustainability and climate action into our decision making.”

Kai Reimer-Watts, PhD student in Community Psychology

Providing a Sustainable Student and Campus Experience

Laurier strives to create and implement programs that provide sustainable options for our community members. By offering sustainable options and alternatives in all areas across campus life, we allow for our students, staff, and faculty to engage where they can so they may continue to incorporate sustainable habits into their lives.

Circularity and Waste Reduction

The Waterloo and Brantford Freestores allow for our community members to consider gently used items before buying something new. They also provide an avenue for community members to donate quality items they no longer need without resorting to landfill. This partnership between the Sustainability Office, the Dean of Students Office and Martin Luther has served hundreds of students and has supported the reuse of thousands of items.
Laurier’s Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science (CCRWS) is a Platinum certified Green Lab. This partnership between the CCRWS, the Sustainability Office, Safety, Health, Environment, and Risk Management, and the My Green Lab Program outlines practices and process to ensure campus laboratories are meeting the necessary requirements across a variety of areas including energy, waste, engagement, and procurement.
Laurier’s partnership with Friendlier provides reusable containers in five of our dining areas on the Waterloo campus reducing single use packaging going to landfill.
The Move Out program runs annually at the end of the academic year to support students moving off campus by collecting and repurposing gently used items. This program supports both our campus Freestores and local community groups by circulating items back into the community.

Household items in the Freestore — *Some household items you can find in the Laurier Freestore.*

Staff loading yellow move-out bins — *A Laurier staff member loading full move-out bins.*

Sustainable Transportation

All full-time students are provided public transit passes to get to and from campus.
Our partnership with Neuron Mobility offers an easy, fast, and affordable e-scooter and e-bike share program across the Waterloo Region.
Our campuses are also equipped with 14 level-2 photovoltaic chargers for electric vehicles.
Through our partnership with TravelWise, students have access to the Laurier Student Carpool Network and the Emergency Ride Home program.

Two students using the neuron e-scooters.

Sustainable Food Systems

Laurier’s Waterloo campus features a 14,000 sq. ft. community garden for students to either grow their own food or purchase produce grown by community partners. This space is shared with the Graduate Students’ Association, the Indigenous Student Centre, Young City Growers, and KW Urban Harvester. The Northdale community garden also features an asparagus patch and edible forest which are accessible to Laurier students.
Across Laurier’s food service areas, students have access to low impact meals that are created with healthy, locally sourced products. This partnership with Coolfood designates meals based on the emissions produced from growing the food and in the transportation process.

Northdale garden.

Supporting a Resilient Campus Environment

To support the sustainable campus experience, Laurier has implemented a variety of installations and features in the campus grounds and buildings which collectively contribute to a healthy working and learning environment.

The implementation of our campus ground initiatives support the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change preparedness. Investing in these changes now also helps to create a resilient campus that will support future cohorts of students.

Two certified LEED buildings, the Research and Academic Centre (RAC) in Brantford (LEED Silver) and Lazaridis Hall in Waterloo (LEED Gold). This third-party certification focuses on innovative design and minimizing resources used during construction, and in consumption of water and energy.
Solar reflective roof on Research and Academic Centre East and West, Brantford.
Heat pump systems at the Northdale campus and Post House.
Upgraded boiler system in the Dr. Alvin Woods Building.
Rooftop solar panels on seven buildings across the Laurier campuses contributing to 550 kW of solar power generated on campus.
Two solar thermal walls supporting heating and cooling at the Library and Bricker Residence on the Waterloo campus.
6 MW of battery storage.
25,000 conventional lights upgraded to LED lighting.
Highly efficient windows, doors, and skylights.
13,000 low-flow water fixtures.
A microgrid on the Waterloo campus.
Four green roofs addressing stormwater management and boost thermal performance.
Low impact developments (LIDs) across the grounds featuring native plant species to support pollinators and address stormwater management.
Pollinator garden and spiral on the Waterloo campus.

*Rooftop solar panels at Lazaridis Hall, Waterloo.*

*Pollinator spiral installed on campus.*

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