The President’s Sustainability Council today released its Sustainability Report for 2010, in conjunction with Earth Hour on Saturday, March 26.

The 2010 Sustainability Report, which highlights York’s commitment to sustainability on its campuses, profiles the University’s efforts to function in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner over the past year.

“I would like to thank the Sustainability Council for all of their hard work throughout the year,” says York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “We are a university that is committed to enhancing our environmentally and socially responsible practices, for the benefit of all members of the York community.”

Jennifer Foster, chair of the President’s Sustainability Council, added, “The work of the council continues to provide the foundation for York’s sustainability efforts. York has already made great strides in being recognized as a Campus Sustainability Leader in the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card, and by the many initiatives on our campuses, including our Res Race to Zero.”

In the report, the council says it finds “considerable progress in York’s standing in relation to the three pillars of sustainability. York continues to lead the way in innovative yet contextually-specific approaches to building an ecologically resilient, economically robust and socially just institution.”

At the same time, says the report, “the council finds that there is opportunity to continue enhancing a pan-University strategy with new recommendations that expand and deepen York’s commitment to sustainability.”

To view the full report, please click here or visit www.yorku.ca/susweb.

A sustainability project by two York students to revitalize the forest surrounding the Glendon campus has garnered second place in the fourth annual TD Go Green Challenge. The students, one from each of York University’s two campuses, combined their vision and collaborated on the project – “The Future of Our Forest: A Sustainability Vision for York University” – which included a video detailing their idea.

Right: From left, Glendon Principal Kenneth McRoberts, TD FEF regional manager Farzana Syed, Caitlin Langlois Greenham, Darnel Harris and FES Dean Barbara Rahder with the students’ TD GO Green Challenge prize cheque

The second-place team of fourth-year Glendon history student Darnel Harris and masters of environmental studies student Caitlin Langlois Greenham, of the Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) at the Keele campus, received a cheque for $15,000 presented by Farzana Syed, regional manager of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF), at Glendon on March 16.

When:

Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30pm.  Pizza and refreshments will be served at 6pm.

Where:

University of Toronto, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

230 College St. Room 103 (map)
Speakers:

Ian Sinclair, Enermodal Engineering

Leonard Allen, CEO of Solera Energies

Mitch Gascoyne, Halcrow Yolles

Buildings are the leading use of energy in North America and represent a tremendous opportunity to lower our environmental footprint.  Greening existing buildings means taking steps to improve building performance, energy efficiency and the indoor environment while saving money and decreasing our impact on the planet.

Come listen to a panel of experienced industry professionals who will describe the process of retrofitting existing buildings.  Our speakers will provide an overview of the process, describe the current landscape for building retrofits in Ontario and provide examples from their experience on a wide variety of projects.

What: Second annual GreenEdge conference
Where: York University’s Schulich School of Business
When: Saturday, March 12

This year’s conference, GreenEdge 2011: Business in Balance, will feature presentations and panels led by specialists in the areas of socially responsible finance, social entrepreneurship, good governance and green supply chains.

The one-day conference brings together students, alumni and professionals to share knowledge, build networks, and develop skills in the various fields related to sustainability. The speakers are leading thinkers in their field and will be sharing valuable insights with students and professionals throughout the keynote presentations and breakout sessions. GreenEdge 2011: Business in Balance is sure to inspire and educate attendees of all backgrounds, whether they are 1st year MBAs or seasoned professionals, finance analysts or die hard environmentalists!

Please see the website for more information or to register!

HNES 140
Tuesday March 1 2011
11:30 am – 2:00 p.m.

The Sustainable Energy Initiative of FES invites you to a Seminar on clean-tech communication strategies and current advances on solar technologies

Tyler Hamilton
Toronto Star

Farid Bensebaa
National Research Council