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OCAD U recognizes the intersectional nature of thethe United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and strives to weave sustainability into all facets of our activities.
The University’s specific sustainability objectives are outlined in the Academic & Strategic Plan 2022-2028 and the Sustainability Curriculum Strategy 2022-2028., and OCAD U’s integrated approach to sustainability is growing through community initiatives, teaching and learning activities, research, building improvements, and supply chain decisions.
Major activities and accomplishments include
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STARS rating
OCAD U earned a STARS rating of Silver from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) because of its achievements over the past three years. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
Fuel switching
The University is in the preparation phase for fuel-switching – the process of replacing equipment that uses fossil fuel to heat air and water with electric-powered alternatives. This will help OCAD U achieve its goal of moving toward net zero by 2030.
Improved HVAC
Improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in the Plastics and Jewelry Studios is now enhancing the extraction and studio capabilities so that any fumes or smoke from processes are more quickly and completely vented outside. This allows students to work with a wider range of materials in plastics and simplify the exhaust process in jewelry.
Energy efficiency upgrades
Energy efficiency measures have included replacing windows and upgrading inefficient equipment. All windows on the south side of 100 McCaul St. were replaced with energy-efficient ones in 2022. At the Sharp Centre for Design, new high-efficiency water booster pumps are expected to save $10,000 annually in electricity and water and the Centre was entirely retrofitted with LED lighting in summer of 2024. Over 60 percent of all lighting on campus has been converted to LED.
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Retrofitting lighting
Energy-saving initiatives include retrofitting the lighting to LED. Over 60 per cent of all lighting on campus has been converted, including the Sharp Centre for Design, which was entirely retrofitted in the summer of 2024.
Green cleaning
The University maintains strict standards for its green cleaning products and has implemented green cleaning services that seek to remove toxins and hazardous materials in cleaning supplies and minimize product packaging and waste. This results in reduced air and water pollution while contributing to safer working conditions;
Sustainable procurement
OCAD U is a co-founder of a new Canada-wide university working group on sustainable procurement known as CASPAR that is working together to align their spending with sustainability objectives. This involves incorporating social and environmental considerations as part of their acquisitions of goods, services and construction works.
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Sustainable curriculum
The Sustainability Curriculum Strategy 2022-2028 serves as the foundation for OCAD U in reaching its sustainability curriculum development goals. The five-year strategy aims to embed sustainability learning outcomes in over 80 per cent of curriculum by 2028.
Research Labs
Opportunities are expanding for students to learn about how their art and design material choices can improve impacts on local and global. Two examples are the new Sustainable Colour Lab and a Life Studies Lab.
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