About Ryerson
Sustainability Initiatives
Welcome to the Ryerson University website on Sustainability Initiatives. Ryerson plays a significant role through teaching, scholarly research and creative activities in challenging conventional wisdom, advancing innovation and supporting a civil society, among many other things.
The University also has a role, as an academic institution, in demonstrating commitment to values such as equity, accessibility, and sustainability. While there are many different understandings and operating definitions of sustainability, it is useful to share information about those areas in which the University is making a difference. In doing so, it is apparent that Ryerson has moved beyond energy conservation to a new, more holistic approach in reducing the University's footprint.
The list of initiatives on the right is clearly a work in progress and everyone is encouraged to provide ideas and suggestions for improvement and expansion. This website may be viewed as both a catalyst and a challenge for further action.
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Highlights
2010 On November 2, 2010 Ryerson received a Garden of Recognition award from the City of Toronto - the inscription reads: "Horticulture is a passion shared by many that showcases creativity and imagination. Your love of gardening and tremendous efforts have contributed enormously to the beauty of our city and earned you recognition for your artistic and inspired works." In June 2010 Ryerson students, faculty and staff participated in Toronto Hydro Day, the third annual information fair held at Yonge-Dundas Square - the theme for this year was "Going Green Together". Ryerson's booth showcased the University's many innovative research projects on energy and green technologies and highlighted Ryerson's commitment to sustainable practices on campus. In January, 2010 KPMB Architects and Daoust Lestage inc. in association with Greenberg Consultants Inc. and IBI Group were awarded the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2010 Institute Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design for the Ryerson University Master Plan. The Jury's comments included: ... this master plan strives to create a recognizable presence and community connection oriented to comfortable, secure pedestrian use and a commitment to design excellence as the university grows over time. |
2009 In October 2009 Ryerson University received a Gold Ontario Waste Minimizaton Award from the Recycling Council of Ontario in recognition of excellence and commitment to a sustainable environment. In March 2009 Ryerson University received LEED Gold Certification for the renovation of 101/105 Bond Street. In March 2009 Toronto Public Health awarded the the Eat Smart Award of Excellence to Food Services and the ILLC for having the highest standards in food safety, offering a variety of healthy food choices and being 100% smoke-free with no designated smoking room or smoking on the patio. In February 2009 the Hotel Association of Canada awarded 3 Green Key Rating to the ILLC for taking significant steps to protect the environment through environmental programs, best management practices, training programs, and engineering solutions that have been implemented and which have benefited the environment and the local community. In January 2009 the City of Toronto presented Ryerson with the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards for Best Bike Parking and Best Large Business to encourage sustainable transportation in the City to sustain its health and well being.
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2008 In the fall of 2008 Ryerson received a Gold Award from the Recycling Council of Ontario in recognition of excellence and commitment to a sustainable environment. In October 2008, Ryerson won an Honour Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS). The award program brings international recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. In September 2008 Ryerson purchased a ride-sharing program, RideShark.com, that allows students, faculty and staff to find carpool partners within the University and beyond. Additional information can be found at www.ryersonrideshare.ca. Starting in September 2008, Ryerson's campus-wide bicycle program expanded to include an indoor bicycle storage facility. Located at the rear of 110 Bond Street, the facility can accommodate up to 65 bicycles. Additional information on the program can be obtained by calling Susan Hum Poon at (416) 979-5008. In March 2008, Ryerson participated in Toronto's Earth Hour - Lights Out. Ryerson's growing demand for paper comes at a high cost to the environment. To reduce copy paper use and to encourage double-sided copying/printing, Ancillary Services has posted signs at each copy/print station on campus.
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2007 Ryerson University was honoured with a Gold Award at the 2007 Ontario Waste Minimization Awards hosted by the Recycling Council of Ontario that recognizes those who demonstrate excellence and leadership in the creation of waste reduction/diversion. The criteria included waste diversion, energy savings, population education, social and environmental consciousness, innovation and uniqueness, internal procurement policies and continuous improvement initiatives. The University competed with leaders in private property management as well as with several public corporations. Ryerson University students placed first and third out of 73 submissions from five countries in the Gould Street International Student Design Competition, which was part of the 8th Annual International Pedestrian Conference, Walk 21 "Putting Pedestrians First" held in October 2007. The competition was co-sponsored by Ryerson and the City of Toronto and co-hosted by the City of Toronto and Green Communities Canada. Organized by Interior Design faculty member, Andrew Furman, the competition centred around transforming the existing Gould Street into a pedestrianized environment. In addition to the awards mentioned above, Ryerson students also received an Honourable Mention. Ryerson University won the 2007 Green Toronto Award for the "green roof" on the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre in May 2007. Finalists were selected on the basis of their "outstanding achievements and contributions to making Toronto a healthy, green city." There was a winner in each of 10 categories and each received $5,000 to donate to the environmental organization of their choice. In May 2007 Ryerson University received the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Design Excellence Award for the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. This award recognizes and profiles the "the innovative, expanding skills of Ontario architects in creating spaces, buildings and communities that enrich and support work and leisure activities, promote business success, respect the environment while enhancing unique context." |
2006 Ryerson University was honoured with a Bronze Award at the 2006 Ontario Waste Minimization Awards hosted by the Recycling Council of Ontario that recognizes those who demonstrate excellence and leadership in the creation of waste reduction/diversion. The criteria included waste diversion, energy savings, population education, social and environmental consciousness, innovation and uniqueness, internal procurement policies and continuous improvement initiatives. The University competed with leaders in private property management as well as with several public corporations. The renovation of 101/105 Bond Street is undergoing LEED Certification. "Sustainability and Design Excellence - Ryerson's commitment to quality and the environment" is one of eight themes being considered by the Master Planning Team. To promote bicycle ridership on campus, Ryerson University has distributed 25 new bicycle racks at strategic locations across campus. The racks are part of a campus-wide bicycle program developed in conjunction with the City of Toronto's Bicycle Friendly Campuses Project. See http://www.ryerson.ca/cpf/bikeracks.html Thousands of plants (most of them indigenous to Ontario) were added across campus as part of an extensive landscaping program. David Horowitz, a Ryerson business graduate, and head of Creative Landscaping, developed the campus-wide design. The plants are supported by new sprinkler systems, including a drip system, and a tree-trimming program to increase sunlight exposure. The day lilies that make up the "green roof" of the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre bloomed for the first time in the summer of 2006. This was the first year for full blooms since the building opened in 2004. In 2006, SAS (Student Administration System) began emailing billing reminders for students instead of mailing out paper invoice statements. The 170 Markview document management system, in operation since December 2004, has imaged 446,853 pages to date which has reduced the need for maintaining, storing and making paper copies of invoices. |
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