Waterloo scores gold for sustainability

Home to the largest  Faculty of Environment in Canada, Waterloo has catalyzed environmental innovation, solutions and talent for 50 years.  

For many years, our researchers have been responding to the climate crisis with purpose-driven research and sustainable technologies to help design policies that will protect our environment and support a sustainable future.  

That’s why, as a sustainability research and education leader, we are proud to have achieved a Gold rating through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), a comprehensive sustainability evaluation program specifically for higher education institutions.  

“I am thrilled that Waterloo has achieved the STARS Gold rating,” says Jacinda Reitsma, vice-president, Administration and Finance. “Sustainability is an integral part of the long-term vision for Waterloo at 100, as well as our near-term priorities. The STARS system is helpful to bring a holistic framework for what sustainability can mean in a university campus.”   

The STARS program, which is developed and administered through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, measures various ways that colleges and universities are supporting sustainability. The framework includes more than 60 indicators that cover academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.  

More than 370 institutions across North America are currently rated through STARS. Across U15 research-intensive campuses in Canada, nine others are rated Gold, two Platinum, and one Silver.  

“Reaching STARS Gold was an overarching objective for Waterloo’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy,” says Mat Thijssen, director of sustainability. “It is exciting to see Waterloo’s longstanding strengths in teaching and research and investments in campus infrastructure and practices leading to this rating.”  

In the past decade, Waterloo has steadily improved on its environmental sustainability performance with an 8.8 per cent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, 5 per cent reduction in water intensity since 2015, and more than 20 per cent of our workspaces certified Green Office Bronze or higher.  

This is Waterloo’s third submission through the STARS program, and the first time the University has achieved the Gold rating. Institutions are required to resubmit the application every three years, and Waterloo received a Silver rating in 2018 and 2021. “Many thanks to the hundreds of individuals across campus who continue to support sustainability actions that are reflected in this rating, as well as those who contributed to data collection for the submission, particularly Patricia Huynh from the Sustainability Office,” Thijssen says. 

Looking ahead, the University will continue to make investments in energy efficiency, decarbonization, student and employee engagement, and linking sustainability within our academic mission.  

“We are excited to bring innovative projects and initiatives forward, including a major heat recovery system between MC/QNC, the launch of a new Sustainability Leadership Certificate for students, and ongoing efforts to support instructors and curriculum developers to integrate sustainability in curriculum,” Thijssen adds. 

For more information about Waterloo’s sustainability performance, including through STARS, visit the progress page on the sustainability website.