Energy Management Programme
The following are key elements Established an Energy Management Working Group in the early 1990's:
- The EMWG meets monthly and identifies, analyzes and implements energy savings initiatives
- Complete campus inventory of all lighting systems
- New external lighting standards and over the past six years all new exterior lighting and most retrofits has been to this standard. We utilize more efficient luminaries providing uniform light where needed. Reduced power consumption by up to 36%. Considerably reduced upward light pollution.
- Annual relamp and reballast of lighting systems to reduce energy
- Integrated approach on renovation projects to install new energy efficient fixtures
- Procurement of energy savings fixtures on all minor replacements
- Environmentally friendly storage and disposal of PCB ballasts
- Monitoring and tracking of all utilities consumption and cost by building
- Reduction of utilities demand by implementing energy savings programs and using high efficiency equipment
- Energy and costs savings by increasing the energy efficiency of the central utilities plant
- Customer-focused activities: increasing awareness and involvement in energy savings and conservation activities
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB's) are a designated substance strictly controlled by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and other provincial and federal statutes. Like most institutions York University has an inventory of PCB ballasts and other PCB contaminated materials. These items are stored in accordance with strict government guidelines. Facilities Management began to transport PCB ballasts and capacitors to the Swan Hills, Alberta PCB destruction facility in September 1999. Approximately 25,031 kilograms of PCB containing ballasts and capacitors were transferred from the Keele campus storage area to the Swan Hills facility for destruction. Glendon College Physical Plant also reduced their inventory at the same time by 2,200 kilograms. In March 2001, an additional 16,950 kg of PCB ballast waste was sent out for destruction from the Keele Campus.
Landscaping
- Reduction of grass cutting and the use of fertilizers, outlying fields are left to naturalize and replacement of high maintenance turf with lower care shrubs and native plant material.
- Increase in naturalized spaces.
- Pesticide applications have been eliminated in areas outside of the central campus and reduced in the core. Interior pest control relies generally on baiting, live trapping, regular inspections, closing entry points and improved sanitation.
- Increased use of porous paving materials like interlock rather than asphalt to improve groundwater infiltration. Interlock is also a longer wearing, reusable material, in contrast to asphalt. However, we are also recycling concrete and asphalt by grinding this material and using it as a base.
- Use of low-care shrubs, native plant materials, and porous paving materials
- Snow removal activities to reduce run-off water contamination
Planning and Construction
The Department of Facilities Services has made a conscious decision to include sustainable development principles in new building projects. Green building approaches include:
- Natural light in every office with operable windows where possible
- Energy consumption less than 50% ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers) standards - Retrofitted all laboratory fumehoods on campus to conform to recent CSA standards, some of the benefits of these retrofits include: Improved air quality in labs, less exterior air contamination from method of dispersion. Energy savings from more efficient systems and variable speed drive fans. Safer environment for users.
- Passive air circulation system utilizing convection through core atrium
- Building materials with low embodied energy coefficient
- Exterior sunshades to minimize cooling requirements/direct sun
- Redirecting waste heat source to building heating
- Roof storage of storm water with planted spongy roof
- Utilization of recycled construction materials where possible
- Design interior partitions for flexibility and simple renovation or reconfiguration
- Control noise travel from public areas to "working" areas
- Use of 100% recycled plastic/wood for picnic and common benches
- Use of external lighting standards that are more efficient in providing uniform light and contributing less upward light pollution. Power consumption also reduced by up to 36%
- Improved space planning and increase in the use of "open concept" office space. Open concept planning results in savings of building materials, energy, HVAC requirements, and reduced lighting requirements
- Improved space planning which emphasizes increasing the efficiency of existing space. York University is the most efficient university in Ontario in terms of utilization of built space.
Solid Waste Management
York University has also made significant inroads in the area of solid waste management. Adopting early on the philosophy of integrated solid waste management, our community has established a leading edge waste diversion programme. Between 1987 and 2000 we have recovered more than six million kilograms of recyclable materials, we achieved nearly a 70% waste diversion level and diverted thousands of kilograms of waste through reuse, and various reduction initiatives.
Increased solid waste diversion through growth of the organic waste collection program: number of on-campus organic waste digesters to double in 2005
Effective storm water management practices to prevent contamination of surrounding water table: excess water storage in pond; on parking lots; underground tanks; Stormceptor manholes in parking lots.
