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St. Lawrence College (SLC) has won the first ever Green Economy Builder Award from Green Economy Canada, a national organization working with community organizations to launch and grow Green Economy Hubs across Canada. The award was announced Tuesday, November 5 at a ceremony held in Toronto, and was accepted by SLC’s director of Facility Management Services, Beth Sills.
The Green Economy Builder Award recognizes an organization that has not only demonstrated leadership through its own organizational sustainability initiatives but also increased sustainability interest and action among its employees and in the wider community.
SLC is one of 250 businesses and organizations in Green Economy Canada and was nominated by Sustainable Kingston for the work that the college has done to integrate sustainability into its operations, academics and research as well as the community.
Operationally, the college has demonstrated leadership by conducting tri-campus retrofits, integrating geothermal into its targeted 80,000 ft2 LEEDTM Gold Student Life and Innovative Centre as well as its targeted LEEDTM certified historically designated Centre for Behavioural Studies. To support sustainable transportation for students and employees, SLC offers a tri-campus carpool program, and at the Kingston campus, electric vehicle charging stations as well as a secured bike storage facility.
At the academic and research level, the college has made a positive impact on the green economy through its Energy Systems Engineering Technology (ESET) and Wind Turbine Technician programs as well as research conducted through the Sustainable Energy Applied Research Centre (SEARC). The college has led low carbon forums in the community, has committed to sustainability in its new strategic plan,SLC in Five, targeting an 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050.
“We’re so proud to receive this award,” said Glenn Vollebregt, President and CEO, St. Lawrence College. “It’s recognition for the hard work the college has undertaken on sustainability initiatives and is also a reminderof our responsibilityto continually strive to incorporate sustainable practices in all that we do.”
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