Project Ideas: SDG 13 - Climate Action

Many of the University of Waterloo's campus buildings were built at a time when insulation, air sealing, and thermal bridging were not major concerns. Consequently, these buildings are not optimal for saving energy and are a large source of greenhouse gas emissions. How can we improve these buildings by prioritizing high-performance building envelopes?

As part of the Sustainable Land Care Standard, it is important for the University of Waterloo to understand the impact of current landscaping on soil health. In particular, how do landscaping practices affect carbon storage in soils? How can we increase carbon sequestration?

While we must all eat, there is great variation in the emissions impacts of the foods we choose to eat. Would the introduction of a climate-impact food label and communication tool help patrons make more sustainable food choices?

Some co-op work terms require students to have access to a vehicle for their work. The University of Waterloo is concerned that the convenience of a personal vehicle may result in decreased use of sustainable travel choices for commuting to campus. How can the university better understand the challenges of personal vehicle access for students on co-op terms? 

How do we reach the broader community about sustainability initiatives on campus? What kind of communication tools can we use? What are some important topics to share to others?

Natural gas is the main resource used for heating on campus. The steam-based district heating system operates year-round and supplies steam for much of the university's heating needs. Can electrified alternatives be used in the summer months to reduce annual gas use?

Information Technology (IT) uses a lot of electricity, and often the computers, servers and supportive technologies are not optimized for energy efficiency. What strategies can the University of Waterloo use to reduce electricity use in computer labs and server rooms on peak demand days and throughout the year?

The University of Waterloo has a large untapped potential for renewable energy production that can reduce peak electricity demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy systems are an important solution to the climate crisis and can also reduce the power draw during the five peak demand days that impact electricity costs throughout the year.

Food services currently uses natural gas for much of its cooking. With natural gas being the single largest source of energy emissions, is there a way to transition to electrified alternatives?

Action item 41 of the University of Waterloo's Shift Neutral climate action plan is the development of an institutional Transportation Demand Management Plan. Part of this plan involves finding creative ways to convince commuters to choose sustainable means when traveling to and from campus. What information does the university need to inform staff and students about the full environmental, social and economic costs of driving?

Is there a potential for ground source heat pumps in existing buildings on campus? How can we implement UN Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13, for affordable and clean energy and climate action?

Too often, important decisions are made based almost entirely on very narrow economic factors: upfront costs, operational costs, payback periods, etc. and do not take into consideration other implications like health. What communication tools can the University of Waterloo use to highlight the health-based benefits of sustainable practices on campus?

How do we improve landscaping on campus? How do we better understand these barriers and develop value propositions to address sustainable landscaping practices?

At the University of Waterloo, commuting contributes an estimated 19% of emissions associated with the university. Parking fees can be a tool for incentivizing alternative commuting choices. However, an increase in parking fees alone is often a highly unpopular strategy. How can the university introduce best practices from other institutions to promote sustainable transportation?

The use of e-bikes is a great mode of alternative transportation. The University of Waterloo has 18 EV chargers. However, parking in these spots is limited to 4 hours. Additionally, there are no dedicated e-bike parking or charging stations. To what extent should the university adopt and support electric alternatives and their required infrastructure?

Consumers are often unaware or have misconceptions about the magnitude and factors that contribute to the environmental footprint of their food choices. How do we effectively communicate this to the public?

There are 4 air handling units in the Quantum Nano Centre (QNC) that have a poor design which results in excessive stratification of inlet air. Past attempts to improve this situation have failed. How can these units be improved to more effectively mix incoming and outlet air?

How can Waterloo expand deployment of renewables on campus? Where would they make sense to go? What is their generation potential, and what is the financial commitment and payback? What other considerations should be explored?

Many buildings and rooms at the University of Waterloo are not performing at the level they were designed to operate at. Recommissioning involves identifying and addressing systems that are not operating at optimal levels and considering how these systems interact to affect overall performance. Which rooms on campus require the greatest improvement and how can we determine this?

Canadians have some of the highest personal water footprints in the world. At the University of Waterloo, water is heated using natural gas and therefore contributes to our total operational emissions. Since students are the main users of campus showers, how can we promote the importance of reducing shower duration among the student population? 

Shrubs play an important role in our urban ecosystems and their climate impacts tend to be underestimated. The University of Waterloo wants to conduct a shrub inventory and impact assessment to determine the biodiversity and health of campus greenspaces. 

One of the key mechanisms for showing what matters to students is the conversations that they have amongst each other, with their instructors, with university staff, with administrators and other campus members. How can the University of Waterloo encourage more students to engage in sustainability-related conversations?

The presence of trees on campus provides many benefits from sequestering carbon dioxide to supporting mental health. Despite this, the planting and maintaining of trees costs money, and therefore may be among the first services cut when budgets are tight. The University of Waterloo wants to conduct a tree inventory and impact assessment to determine the biodiversity and health of campus greenspaces. 

It might be hard to visualize what the University of Waterloo campus might look like by the year 2050. The university plans to be net zero by this time, but what other changes could/should occur? The university is looking for student ideas about what makes a sustainable campus.

There is a growing interest in wastewater heat recovery as an innovative approach to decarbonizing buildings.Can this approach be implemented on campus to reduce the energy and fuel needed to operate the district heating system? Can the system be reversed to provide cooling in the summer months?

What is the best way to reduce the University of Waterloo's operational emissions by 35% below 2015 levels by 2030? Should we start replacing end-of-life landscaping equipment with zero-emission alternatives?