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By Melanie Groves
Webb
“Pesticide-Free Naturally” says a sign above Sarah Webb’s desk. Another reads, “So where did you two meet? Our carpool.” There’s no doubt the university Sustainability Coordinator—a year-round cyclist without a driver’s license—practices what she preaches.
Webb’s new position is located within the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability, directed by Neil Connelly. The office develops policy and acts as a resource for research and learning about sustainable initiatives, from green building design and recycling to cycling initiatives and community green mapping.
Webb describes the office as a “hub” of sustainability, connecting the operational, administrative and academic realms of the university. She acts as a facilitator, bringing students, staff and faculty together to advance environmental stewardship across campus. “If I do it right, I’ll work myself out of a job,” she says.
The university has a long history of environmental responsibility and in 2007 established leadership in sustainability as a key strategic goal for the future. Webb looks forward to the creation of a new university sustainability policy and management system over the next year. The plan will set out broad objectives and actions related to “triple bottom line sustainability” (environmental, social and economic) on campus. It will also create an evaluation and monitoring system for sustainability initiatives.
The stack of coloured file folders on Webb’s desk speaks to the number of projects she currently has on the go, which include:
Bike to Work Day Oct. 17, sponsored by the UVic Bicycle Users’ Committee and the Bike to Work Society. The goals of the event are to encourage people to cycle year-round, and to raise awareness of cycling as a sustainable transportation option. Look for the tent near the Henderson Road campus entrance, and stop for treats and give-aways.
Car Share Program for UVic employees. The university will purchase a number of memberships in the Victoria Car Share Co-op for employees willing to trade-in their regular parking passes. See the September Ring or www.uvic.ca/sustainability for details.
Naturescape project outside the Elliott building—a partnership between facilities management, the restoration of natural systems (RNS) program and the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability. RNS students will design and plant a natural landscape with assistance and guidance from UVic grounds employees. The result will be a water-efficient, low-maintenance natural landscape that will attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
Residence sustainability project, in collaboration with the Residence Life Office. Residence students will gain skills and volunteer experience while educating students and increasing awareness about sustainability.
Green events program. This new program will provide guidelines and checklists to event organizers to help them reduce the environmental impact of events on campus.
New sustainability website: visit www.uvic.ca/sustainability. Webb plans to add more tips and practices to assist departments in adopting and using sustainable practices and products.
A UVic alumnus (biology/environmental studies) who has been employed at UVic since 2003, Webb cites the university’s green building program as one of her favourite sustainability success stories. UVic has already received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the Medical Sciences and Engineering / Computer Science buildings, and several new facilities are also being constructed to LEED standards. “It’s very exciting to see how our development practices have become more sustainable and how several different departments can collaborate to make it happen,” Webb says.
When not busy working on this multitude of projects, Webb fields many inquiries from the campus community and general public. On a recent afternoon, for example, she enthusiastically discussed with a student his idea for a business importing recyclable bamboo plates.
Helping students to understand and champion sustainability is all in a day’s work for Webb. “Our goal is to make UVic a leader in sustainability—not just in operations but in what we teach. I would like to see every graduate have an awareness of sustainability and the tools to put it into practice in the real world,” she says. “Sustainability offers so many opportunities to improve our quality of life, save money, attract the best students and staff, and reduce our impact on the planet.”
For information about sustainability at the University of Victoria, visit www.uvic.ca/sustainability.
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