Sustainability Action Fund announces fall 2018 recipients
The President's Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (PACES) is excited to provide funding for eight new campus sustainability projects in fall 2018 through the Sustainability Action Fund (SAF). Launched over a year ago, SAF supports projects and initiatives that advance sustainability at Waterloo by connecting to our academic mission, improving operational practices, and/or fostering a culture of sustainability through campus engagement.
Fall 2018 projects:
Biology Growth Chamber
This project will support integrating more efficient LED lighting into the design and fit-out of a new growth chamber in biology. The walk-in chamber supports student learning and research, and the lighting will significantly reduce power consumption. This project is Led by the Faculty of Science.
Campus Waste Sorting Improvement
This Living Lab project will work with student researchers to complete applied research to identify the most efficient combination of messaging and signage to encourage proper waste sorting. The project will pilot signage and various normative messages at several waste sorting stations and complete before/after waste audits to determine recycling behaviours and contamination. The signage designs and findings will be standardized across campus. This project is led by faculty and students within SEED.
Engineering Waste Receptacles
This initiative will support the expansion of standardized recycling infrastructure to hallways and common spaces throughout Engineering 5, 6, and 7. Partial funding will be provided by the Sustainability Action Fund, with Engineering providing funding support as well. This project is led by the Faculty of Engineering.
Lobby Waste Receptacles
This project will expand the standardized waste infrastructure to hallways and lobbies across campus. As part of an ongoing update to the waste stations, the standardized bins will ensure proper sorting and waste separation. This project is led by Plant Operations - Custodial Services.
Palm Oil Project
This student-led documentary was filmed in Indonesia to educate people on the health and environmental impacts of palm oil production, and highlight efforts underway to produce palm oil more sustainably. A virtual screening will take place at the University of Waterloo. This project is led by a student filmmaker from the Faculty of Environment.
SCI Day
This student-led conference will engage more than 100 students from across campus on a series of sustainable living workshops and presentations, encouraging involvement on campus and in their personal lives. The conference will have a theme around career pathways in sustainability, and feature speakers from local non-profits, entrepreneurs, government agencies, research institutes, and the Indigenous Student Association. This project is led by the Sustainable Campus Initiative.
SDG Youth Training
This student-led conference will engage students from across campus on the role that youth can and do play in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With partnerships on-campus and in the community, attendees will participate in a day-long series of panels and workshops to encourage action and provide skills and resources to enable change to accelerate the global SDGs. Information about the conference is available on the conference website, as well as the video summary. This project is led by Impact Alliance, and supported by the Sustainability Office.
Waste Management Promotional Campaign
This initiative will support efforts to educate users on proper waste sorting on campus. It will include a mix of promotional signage, posters, video production, events, and other activities to improve recycling and composting, while reducing contamination. This project is led by Plant Operations - Custodial Services.
Since 2017, SAF has distributed over $200,000 in funding to projects across campus. To learn more about the funding criteria, application details, and upcoming funding rounds, please visit the Sustainability Action Fund webpage.
Explore recently funded projects below or check out all past SAF projects using the Sustainability Action Fund tag on our news feed →