One of Laurier's green roofs.
Headlines (News Releases)
WLU
Laurier a pledging partner of Regional Carbon Initiative
Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing
May 17/12| For Immediate Release
| Contact: | Claire Bennett, Sustainability Coordinator |
| or | Kevin Crowley, Director, Communications & Public Affairs |
WATERLOO – Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus and Kitchener location have become pledging partners for Sustainable Waterloo Region’s Regional Carbon Initiative (RCI). As a bronze-level partner, Laurier has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent over the next 10 years.
“Laurier takes pride in playing a leadership role in the local community,” said Laurier President and Vice-Chancellor Max Blouw. “We believe that our commitment to reduce the environmental impact of our operations is the right thing to do, and we are confident that it will have a positive effect on the university and the larger community.”
Laurier is one of four former “observing organizations” of the RCI to convert its membership to a pledging partner. To reach Laurier’s reduction target, the university recently created its Sustainability Action Plan. The plan outlines initiatives and related milestones for sustainability progress in multiple areas of the university, including education, operations and community partnerships. Emissions reductions will come from, in part: lighting retrofits and controls, improving the efficiency of existing buildings, water harvesting, outreach and awareness through student groups, recycling and organics programs, and real-time energy metering and management systems.
“Today's announcement gets at the heart of what the Regional Carbon Initiative is all about: supporting organizations from all sectors in our community to make ambitious and realistic greenhouse gas reduction commitments, and, in so doing, positioning them to be more profitable and successful in the low carbon economy,” said Mike Morrice, executive director at Sustainable Waterloo Region and a Laurier alumnus. “I'm thrilled that these organizations have put in the time and effort required to make these commitments, and our team is excited to help them achieve their goals over the next 10 years.”
In 2010, the university collaborated with the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union to establish the Laurier Sustainability Office and to hire a full-time sustainability coordinator. The goal of the office is to integrate sustainability into Laurier’s daily operations and culture. The office coordinates sustainable practices within construction, conservation, energy, food, procurement, transportation, waste and water through education, operations and community partnerships. Visit www.wlu.ca/sustainability for more information.
Sustainable Waterloo Region advances the environmental sustainability of organizations across Waterloo Region through collaboration. Sustainable Waterloo Region's flagship program is the Regional Carbon Initiative, which facilitates voluntary target-setting and reductions of carbon emissions by organizations across Waterloo Region. More than 40 local organizations are part of the Regional Carbon Initiative. For a list of all members, visit www.sustainablewaterlooregion.ca/members.
