Sustainable Department of the Month – MSA

Each month the Sustainability Office will highlight a College department that is addressing sustainability as a part of their day to day operations. The MSA has been actively supporting the new policy on single-use plastics, making their team a perfect fit for Sustainable Department of the Month. We contacted Steve Kosh, Marketing and Communication Manager of the MSA, and here’s what he had to say: 

1) Why is the MSA supporting the new policy on single-use plastics?

The MSA is supporting the policy, because we recognize the impact that plastic bags and bottles have on the environment. The MSA has made a firm commitment to sustainability, and this is just another prime example of that commitment.

2) What actions is the MSA taking to support the new policy?

The MSA will be launching a full awareness campaign to support the new policy. We will be wrapping all of the filtered water stations around the campus with information about the campaign. Also, all of our food services employees have been educated on the campaign, and can explain to customers why the bottled water option no longer exists.

3) What has the student response been to the BYOB campaign?

I personally have been at a booth handing out the free multi-use water bottles to students, and so far the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The students that we have interacted with think it is a fantastic idea, and some even stated they wish we had started the initiative sooner.

4) How does this initiative fit in with other sustainable initiatives at the MSA?

Last year the MSA board initiated a program to ensure that all of our food services outlets were using compostable containers, serving utensils, etc. With one less item going to landfill, it ultimately reduces our carbon footprint and aligns with our current composting initiatives.

Single Use Plastics, Be gone!

Did you know? As of January 1, 2013, Mohawk College will no longer sell or distribute plastic bags and water bottles intended for single use.

Why? This policy, introduced by the Sustainability Office and the MSA, supports the EMP’s reduction target which calls for a 20% reduction of 2007 baseline carbon emissions by 2020. Additionally, the policy assists in lowering waste management costs associated with the disposal of single use plastics.

What’s the alternative? Please BYOB (bottles and bags). Reusable bottles can be refilled at water stations across campus, each equipped with a unique feature that tracks how many plastic bottles have been diverted from landfill. Reusable bottles are sold at campus stores, andremember to bring your tote-ally reusable bags, too!

Please note: Due to licensing agreements, Starbucks and Tim Hortons do not comply with the Single Use Plastics Policy.

Questions: Contact us at gogreen@mohawkcollege.ca

For more information: http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=27801

Sustainable Tip of the Month

Attention Mohawk staff and faculty: register to send your Mohawk College pay stubs to an ePost mailbox today! This service saves paper, is easy to access, and keeps your information secure. Canada Post offers the FREE ePost digital mailbox, a convenient place for all your bills and statements like utilities, credit cards, property taxes and more! Go paperless today. Register two bills and you’ll have a chance to win $1,000 in their ongoing monthly draw! 

Sustainable Champion of the Month – Jeremy Dowling

Jeremy Dowling, a member of Mohawk’s class of 2003 in Architectural Technology, has played a pivotal role in the success of one of the largest projects in Mohawk’s history, the Fennell Renewal Project. As part of his current role as Project Manager of the Mohawk Recreation Centre, Jeremy ensures that the construction of the Mohawk Recreation Centre adheres to LEED standards. A building achieves LEED certification by accumulating point across five major credit categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, plus additional points for Innovation in Design and Regional Priority.

Dowling conducts ongoing monitoring to ensure that all the targeted LEED points are met. Dowling says, “Every point is important to achieve LEED Gold status, including all the waste and recycling. For example, we receive two LEED points for diverting at least 75% of  construction waste from going to landfill. This requires constant attention to make sure all the waste is sorted properly, all the time. Our diversion rate is at 96% right now.” Dowling also takes the time to educate those involved in the project about the LEED system to ensure that everyone is on track.

Outside his normal duties, Dowling also helps tend a garden located in the Mohawk Recreation Centre Construction Offices. Dowling says, “We mainly had tomatoes, with some lettuce, cucumbers, peppers and peppermint mixed in. We have two office trailers side by side, with an open area that is covered with a plexi material, so it made a great greenhouse.”

Jeremy has previously held a number of other important titles at the college including Engineering Services Assistant, and Assistant Construction Manager for the Fennell Renewal Learning Exchange Project. He has also been previously been recognized with the Mohawk Award of Excellence and the 2011 Mohawk President’s Award. And now, Sustainable Champion of the month!

Mohawk College and AASHE join forces

Mohawk is now a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in HigherEducation (AASHE), which supports post-secondary institutions in reaching their sustainability goals.

As a member, Mohawk is able to fully utilize the Sustainability Tracking, Assessmentand Rating System (STARS), a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to collaborate and measure their sustainability performance.  This system directly correlates with Pillar 7 (Tracking, Reporting and Communication) of the EMP, which allows the College to measure and track its progress in reaching a 20% reduction of 2007 baseline carbon emissions by 2020.

Mohawk proudly joins leading North American schools like Harvard University, and University of Toronto, along with other local peers including Seneca College and Fanshawe College. Mohawk now has access to a large, diverse network and a valuable information database that will help us become even more sustainable. Mohawk and AASHE: a perfect match!

Sustainability eNews Gift Package Winners

The Sustainability Office is pleased to announce the winners of this month’s Sustainability eNews gift packages. Drumroll please … congratulations to Jim Allez, Cassandra Cope and Telia Deeley!

Your new water bottles can be filled at water refill stations across campus! Your reusable mugs will save you 25 cents off each hot beverage purchased at Tim Hortons, Starbucks or eCafe! Better yet, your ‘Sprouts in a Box’ will be sprouting in 14-21 days!

If you’d like a chance to win, be sure to subscribe to Sustainability eNews. Every 100^th subscriber wins!

Your32 Campaign

Share your answer @ your32.com/mohawk

Carpool and Park for Free!

Current carpoolers and new members who purchase a carpool parking permit from the Parking Office (F101) between Janruary 7 and Feburary 1 are entered into a draw to win a reimbursement for their one semester carpool parking permit.

Email christopher.chevrier@mohawkcollege.ca your name and everyone in your carpool to be entered into the draw!

Find your match on carpoolzone.ca

Carpooling in the New Year

Happy New Year to all Mohawk College staff, students and faculty! We hope you had and enjoyable holiday and are looking forward to a successful winter semester and start to 2013. 

To kick off the New Year, the Sustainability Office is working to inform students and staff about the ease of carpooling to Mohawk College. The Carpool Parking Program helps to reduce the number of single occupant vehicles travelling to Mohawk by connecting students and staff who are interested in carpooling, saving money, and reducing their personal carbon emissions. This will help the College achieve its carbon reduction targets and will reduce the demand for parking on campus.

Carpool Permit Eligibility: a minimum of any two or more students, staff, or faculty who meet the following criteria:

•           who have made a commitment to carpooling and will travel together in the registered carpool for the duration for which their carpool parking permit is valid

•           who can provide proof of access to two separate vehicles

•           who live beyond a 3 km radius of Mohawk College Campus

•           who have registered with the Parking Office and on www.carpoolzone.ca 

•           whose members do not possess any other Mohawk parking permit

Click here to learn about how the program works & the many benefits that come with participating.

Today is the day to get your Sustainability eNews!

Today sees the launch of the Mohawk College Sustainability Office's monthly newsletter, Sustainability eNews. Click the link and subscribe for monthly updates! Share the link with your friends and co-workers. Every 100th subscriber wins a Sustainability Office Gift Package (mug, water bottle and tote-bag included)!

Transit: You're Closer Than You Think Follow-Up

During November's Transit Campaign, over 250 Mohawk College students and staff realized the ease of taking public transit to and from Mohawk College. 80 students and staff placed pins on the Transit Map and saw just how close they live to public transit routes. Congratulations to the four prize winners of the $50 prepaid MasterCards!

1^st year Mechanical Engineering student. Usually takes transit to campus.

3^rd year Energy Systems Engineering Technology student. Usually takes transit to campus.

2^nd year Office Administration student. Usually takes transit to campus.

Continuing Education student taking “Quick Books.”
Usually drives to campus but is considering transit for the winter.

The average bus trip emits 77g CO2e/km compared to the average vehicle trip which emits 240g CO2e/km. By taking the bus you reduce your commuting carbon footprint by 70%! Public transportation is a great way to not only dip less into our natural resources but also to help save a good deal of money on the cost of getting around. For students, the cost of an HSR bus pass is built into their tuition fees. Mohawk employees pay a discounted rate of $65.25 instead of the regular adult monthly pass price of $87.

Public transportation also benefits those not using it because it helps reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gases and other pollutants, resulting in improved air quality, alleviate traffic congestion, and noise.

Smart Commute Award Winners

On November 29, 2012 the Sustainability Office staff hopped on a GO Bus to Toronto to attend the 2012 Smart Commute Awards with Mohawk College President Rob MacIsaac.

Each year, Smart Commute honours the top regional employers who successfully implement Smart Commute programs in the workplace (ie. Carpool, Transit, and Bike). Smart Commute Employers of the Year are selected for outstanding achievement in areas of commitment, leadership, innovation and results.

This year Mohawk College was awarded the inaugural Parsons Brinckerhoff Employee Engagement Award, which recognizes a Smart Commute employer that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and success in getting employees to re-think their daily commute.

Mohawk is recognized for our Smart Commute programs that cover a full-time student population of about 12,000 as well as 1,100 staff distributed over four campuses. The success of our program is attributed to the following:

·         Budget is allocated to Smart Commute initiatives and supporting infrastructure

·         Focus groups are used to gather opinions about the program

·         Smart Commute info is included in new-hire orientation (kits and presentation)

·         Innovative Transit Pass program for staff offers 50% discounts for peer referrals

·         Students’ input is sought and the program is adjusted based on their ideas

·         Tracking system measures social, financial and environmental as well as participation rates

This year’s award builds on our success in 2011, when Mohawk College was named the Hamilton Region Employer of the Year for establishing a weather-protected, members-only, monitored bike facility that accommodates 44 bicycles. We were also recognized in 2011 for our bike loan program, geared to providing students and staff with temporary access to bicycles, thereby reducing their reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.

Thank you to the Awards Review Panel Members who evaluated all of the nominations, and who recognized our efforts to protect the environment, conserve resources, promote healthy lifestyles and support vitality and safety in the workplace. Congratulations to the other award winners: York University, Loblaw Companies Limited, York Region, City of Pickering, Tim Hortons, McMaster University, GENIVAR Inc., McCormick Rankin, Enbridge Gas Distribution, Transat A.T. Inc. and Top Drawer Creative Inc. 

Mohawk Campus Stores: Plastic Free ... Yippie!