Sustainability Framework for the Vancouver School Board

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Amos Potter
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1 Sustainability Framework for the Vancouver School Board September 2010

2 The process of developing the sustainability framework There has been action on sustainability within the VSB for a long time. A variety of programs and projects, usually driven by someone s personal passion, propelled a great deal of activity and effort. The District has developed respected curriculum, been a recognized leader in energy use reduction, piloted projects and led conferences on sustainability. This framework document is both an acknowledgment of the work that has already taken place in regards to sustainability within the VSB and an attempt to provide a grounding and a foundation for future sustainability planning within the District. Immediate events which have led to this framework include: a district-wide student sustainability conference held in the fall of 2008, hiring the first Sustainability Coordinator in May 2009, and hiring the first Energy Manager Climate Action in June In the school year two gatherings of secondary staff were held to discuss sustainability in the VSB, a student driven sustainability conference called C3 was organized in conjunction with the climate change talks in Copenhagen, a two-day leadership forum was organized for elementary schools, district-wide recycling was rolled out, the VSB formed a partnership with UBC on food, the district became a carbon neutral PSO and much, much more. In early 2009 a sustainability working group was formed with District staff to help coordinate sustainability-related action and to guide our planning process. A draft framework was developed and a workshop held with Trustees. Through the summer we joined the City of Vancouver s Greenest City Action Plan process. All of this work has gone into the framework in this document and will shape our sustainability planning process. This framework is meant to be a starting place, a foundation that will guide sustainability planning in the VSB and help provide coherence, direction and focus both for our own internal sustainability efforts and will help those looking to work with the VSB understand our priorities. 1

3 VSB Sustainability Vision Statement The Vancouver School Board will be the greenest, most sustainable school district in North America. Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks 2

The VSB is aware that climate change is a significant environmental challenge and threat to the health of the planet and the well being of our species.

4 The VSB is aware that climate change is a significant environmental challenge and threat to the health of the planet and the well being of our species. The impacts of climate change are already being felt globally and locally. In order to adequately address the overlapping environmental and humanitarian challenges the world faces, we require approaches that combine thoughtful analyses, holistic understanding and connection of causation with bold, creative and empowering action. Within great challenge resides great opportunity. The VSB is committed to supporting our students and staff to explore and showcase the many opportunities that addressing our environmental challenges provide. As environmental challenges increase in scope and intensity, they have a more pronounced impact on humanitarian and human rights issues. The VSB is a recognized global leader in the realm of Social Responsibility and has invaluable experience infusing Social Responsibility into its culture and way of working. This experience provides a template that the school district can build upon which will combine it s expertise on Social Responsibility with action on the environment. In essence, the VSB will be a leader in implementing environmental processes and solutions which enhance equity and equality. The VSB will take an approach which merges both sound ecological understanding with thoughtful action. As an institution whose purpose is the education of young people and the preparation of those young people with the skills and capacity to engage in community as active citizens, the VSB takes seriously its responsibility to support and educate young people on sustainability. The VSB will make sustainability a core, embedded and pervasive element in our school system, something that is an integral part of everything we do, from what and how we teach and learn, to how we retain employees, maintain our facilities, balance our budgets and cultivate relationships within our system and with the community. 3

5 Sustainability framework guiding principles The VSB will be a sustainability leader in all aspects of our operations. The VSB will be the school district that others look to for inspiration and innovation on ideas that connect education and sustainability. The VSB will incorporate sustainability into all aspects of how we as a district function. Sustainable thought and action will be integral to what we do and how we do it. The VSB will look for best practices from other jurisdictions and school districts and seek and support innovative internal solutions to our sustainability challenges. The VSB will establish strong goals and targets in Key Result Areas and will establish a process to continually review our progress towards those goals. Where appropriate, the VSB will work with other entities to ensure its goals and targets connect with complimentary sustainability plans and goals. 4

6 Framework Key Result Areas (KRAs) and goals 1. Education & Organizational Culture Goal: Educate staff and students on environmentally sustainable workplace and lifestyle practices (as it pertains to the sustainability framework) and develop a culture of sustainability within the organization. 2. Procurement and Supply Chain Management Goal: Purchase products with low environmental impact. Give consideration during procurement processes to suppliers who demonstrate socially responsible work practices in the areas of social accountability, environmental sustainability, ethical business behavior, and equitable employment processes. 3. Resource & Waste Management Goal: Reduce resource consumption and the generation of waste while maintaining or enhancing operational effectiveness and workplace productivity. 4. Energy & Climate Change Goal: Reduce electricity and heating loads in an effort to conserve energy and reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions while maintaining or enhancing user comfort and convenience. 5. Technical Design Standards Goal: Build or retrofit buildings to qualify for or exceed LEED building standards. 6. Transportation Goal: Reduce transportation related emissions. 5

An Explanation of Key Result Areas (KRAs) KRAs are categories of work in which we expect to have the most organizational impact. KRAs break down the vision into distinct categories of work.

7 An Explanation of Key Result Areas (KRAs) KRAs are categories of work in which we expect to have the most organizational impact. KRAs break down the vision into distinct categories of work. KRAs are not goals, but categories of goals. In the planning process KRAs are broken down into goals, objectives & targets and actions and timelines for completion. The subsequent pages contain a snapshot of current actions and commitments for each of our sustainability KRAs. In these pages current actions are sustainability related efforts that VSB staff are currently involved in or support while current commitments indicate official agreements, partnerships or commitments that the VSB has signed on to, in regards to sustainability. 6

Education and organizational culture GOAL Current Current Actions Commitments Educate staff and students on sustainability focused workplace and lifestyle practices (as it pertains to the

8 Education and organizational culture GOAL Current Current Actions Commitments Educate staff and students on sustainability focused workplace and lifestyle practices (as it pertains to the sustainability framework) and develop a culture of sustainability within the organization. Produce a monthly e-news update of sustainability initiatives/ opportunities in the district Establish online sustainability portal on VSB site - a one stop shop for all things sustainability related* Maintain student driven district sustainability network Hold annual sustainability gathering for secondary students Host monthly sustainability café s at the Education Centre Develop behaviour engagement strategies* Hold annual gathering for Elementary Schools Establish tools and processes for schools to connect with one another* Expand and deepen sustainability related pro-d in various areas Establish Earth School Pilot green jobs urban agriculture project Expand school salad bar program* Support the Vancouver Schools Food Network *in process BC Climate Action Charter Think & Eat Schools - UBC Food security and gardens project BC Hydro Workplace Conservation Awareness Pilot Program Destination Conservation partnership 7

Procurement & supply chain management GOAL Current Current Actions Commitments Reduce the environmental impact of our procurement practices.

9 Procurement & supply chain management GOAL Current Current Actions Commitments Reduce the environmental impact of our procurement practices. Give consideration during procurement processes to suppliers who demonstrate socially responsible practices in the areas of social accountability, environmental sustainability, ethical business behavior, and equitable employment processes. Update VSB purchasing policy to include a commitment to sustainability this includes both environmental sustainability and ethical purchasing* Insert language and criteria for office supply RFP s in regards to sustainability and ethical purchasing requirements* Set baseline for all paper purchased to have at least 30% recycled content (target 100%) Work with vendors to access more sustainable product options* Purchase energy star rated appliances purchased Pilot a lifecycle assessment calculator for the purchase of major items such as fridges and stoves* Test fair trade sports equipment in the VSB* * in process Provincially mandated to buy offsets to be carbon neutral in terms paper consumption, fleet fuel use and energy use. 8

10 Resource & Waste Management GOAL Reduce resource consumption and the generation of waste while maintaining or enhancing operational effectiveness and workplace productivity. Current Actions Implement district-wide recycling program for paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and plastic Investigate options for district-wide composting* Investigate district-wide battery-recycling program* Promote the purchase of copy paper with at least 30% re-cycled content Produce a new recycling guide for schools* Pilot industrial composting project at 3 schools * Establish composting guidelines and standards for schools Promote and support composting at VSB schools Conduct waste audits at various VSB schools Use bio-degradable garbage bags in VSB facilities Retrofit and upgrade to a more water efficient infrastructure* Set Education Centre printers to double-sided capacity Recover per-use charges back to departments at the Education Centre Investigate further Extended Producer Responsibility programs for materials and appliances* Use vegetable-based inks and recycled paper stock at VSB print shop Install hand dryers to reduce paper towel consumption* Combine weekend rental programs into fewer schools to reduce utilities and costs 9

11 Energy & Climate Change GOAL Current Current Actions Commitments Reduce electricity and heating loads in an effort to conserve energy and reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions while maintaining or enhancing user comfort and convenience Install Power Management Software on all VSB computers (completed) Conduct lighting upgrades (on going) Install Solar Thermal (water) panels on 5 VSB schools (expected completion Sept 2010) Install Solar Electric panels on 1 elementary school and 1 secondary school Establish Solar Schools - a grouping of all schools with solar projects to support and develop awareness on the benefits of renewable energy Begin BC Hydro Workplace Conservation Awareness Pilot Program (to begin Fall 2010 in 19 Schools) Conduct Thermal Imaging Pilot Program to explore opportunities for improving thermal insulation, reduce costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (completed) BC Hydro 2 GWH reduction of energy consumption by 2010 Smart tool implementation Carbon Offset Payments begin 2010 (estimate $600k-$700k) Annual submission of Carbon Neutral Action Report to Ministry of Environment Energy upgrade projects Develop a comprehensive and strategic Energy Management Program Conduct Thermal Imaging of various schools to explore opportunities for improving thermal insulation and faulty electrical equipment 10

12 Energy & Climate Change cont. Current Actions Current Commitments Submit annual Carbon Neutral Action Report to Ministry of Environment (on going) Submit annual report on the district s Greenhouse Gas Emissions (using SmartTool) to Climate Action Secretariat, Ministry of Environment (on going) Conduct Energy Studies to evaluate energy reduction potential (on going) Develop a Strategic Energy Management Plan (underway) Conduct a Refrigerator Energy Conservation Pilot Program to reduce district Electrical Plug-Loads (underway) Install low energy consuming lighting equipment across the school district - Improve Boilers and HVAC system efficiency Demonstrate leadership with renewable energy installations Reduce computer server energy consumption through server virtualization Become a carbon neutral PSO Spot The Energy Savings Training Program for Building Engineers and Head Custodians (on going) Prepare quarterly reports and update to BC Hydro on the districts efforts and performance on Energy Conservation (on going) Improve Boilers and HVAC system efficiency (on going) 11

Technical design standards GOAL Current Current Actions Commitments Build or retrofit buildings to qualify for or exceed LEED building standards.

13 Technical design standards GOAL Current Current Actions Commitments Build or retrofit buildings to qualify for or exceed LEED building standards. Develop a design standards manual Implement materials recycling for new construction and renovations Implement carpet waste recycling program Construction of new buildings to The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System Seismic projects are striving for high sustainability standards 12

14 Transportation GOAL Current Actions Reduce transportation related emissions. Implement Employer Transit Plan for VSB employee s (15% discount) Establish VSB Bike Committee advising on cycling issues Support Translink, City of Vancouver and community partner cycling and transit programs Rationalize process for schools to attain a bicycle rack Support Trip-Ed program Install 50 Olympic bike racks for the district Support bike training programs Organize professional development on cycling programs, issues and advocacy Establish ride-share website for VSB staff on the Jack Bell online ride-share system Investigate car-sharing program options for the Education Centre * Establish bicycle hub at Tupper Secondary School Prepared for the Vancouver School Board by Kevin Millsip, Sustainability Coordinator 13

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN: CAMPUS OPERATIONS, Sustainability Highlights

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN: CAMPUS OPERATIONS, 2009-2014 Sustainability Highlights 2009-2011 ON THE RIGHT PATH In 2008, the University of Victoria developed the Sustainability Action