Lakehead Highlighted in Ontario Universities’ Going Greener Report

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University is doing its part to help Ontario’s university campuses and students shrink their environmental footprints, according to the fourth annual Going Greener report released today by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).

“Ontario’s universities have so many responsibilities to society, whether it’s facilitating the success of future generations, or helping protect the world in which they will succeed,” said Lakehead University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson. “I am very proud of how Lakehead and Ontario’s university community has taken a leading role in environmental initiatives.”

Lakehead University’s environmental initiatives highlighted in Report:

  • Its entire Orillia campus is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards
  • The University began generating its own geothermal energy in 2012
  • Moved forward with plans to install organic waste conversion system in main cafeteria
  • Biorefining Research Institute continues to grow

Partnership with other universities to create Sustainability and Education Policy Network

The Going Greener report was released, today at 9:30 a.m., at a media conference at University of Toronto’s St. George campus. Offering her remarks to media and guests was COU President and CEO, Bonnie M. Patterson.

“Whether it’s protected bike racks, discount transit passes, low-flow toilets or local food at campus cafeterias, Ontario universities and their students are showing they really care about the environment,” said Patterson.

Universities also have expanded their own commitment to teaching about environmental sustainability, with 15 of 22 campuses across the province introducing new courses related to the environment in the past year.

Going Greener concludes that Ontario universities made significant progress on environmental sustainability in 2012, despite the challenges of budgetary restraints.

Going Greener Report highlights:

  • Two-thirds of campuses in Ontario now have staff dedicated to environmental sustainability
  • The majority of Ontario campuses measure emissions and energy consumption
  • 86 per cent of campuses offer free or discounted transit passes
  • More than 85 per cent of campuses have installed low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucets

Local foods are available at the majority of campuses

All Ontario university executive heads signed a sustainability pledge in 2009, called Ontario Universities: Committed to a Greener World, committing them to environmental sustainability with measurable outcomes and mandatory reporting.

The pledge, as well as further background information on previous Going Greener reports and events, can be found on the COU website (www.cou.on.ca).

Click here to view the COU’s 2012 Going Greener Report: http://www.cou.on.ca/publications/reports/pdfs/goinggreenerreport2012

 

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Media: For more information about Lakehead University’s environmental initiatives, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177.

 

Lakehead University is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. More than 8,700 students and 1,850 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. For more information about Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.