Sustainability

As a signatory of the SDG Accord, College of the Rockies is committed to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our annual SDG Progress Reports highlight the strides we’ve made in fostering sustainability on campus and beyond. These reports reflect our dedication to transparency and continuous improvement as we work towards a more sustainable future.

SDG Progress Report 2022-2023

SDG Progress Report 2024 coming soon.

The Sustainability Committee at the College of the Rockies collaborates to oversee, advocate and promote policies and actions related to sustainable development. We are a multi-disciplinary Committee including representatives from senior management, facilities, faculty, the student body and other key employees to ensure comprehensive engagement with key initiatives. The Committee works closely with the Business Department and alongside 4^th-year BBA Students in Sustainable Business Practices, among other academic areas to ensure sustainability is adequately researched and part of the overall work-integrated learning process.

Living Lab Project

College of the Rockies became part of a national research program aiming to encourage post-secondary institutions to become leaders for climate action through innovation.

Learn how the COTR Sustainability Committee is contributing to this team research effort.

Find out more about the Living Lab project

SDG Week

The College hosts events during SDG Week which is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and promoting action toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The College’s SDG Week generally aligns with the “SDG Action and Awareness Week” which is a global event coordinated by the University Global Coalition generally held in the first week of March each year, aiming to inspire higher education institutions to participate in SDG-focused activities on their campuses and in local communities.

These events provide platforms for institutions like ours to collaborate, share ideas, and take meaningful actions toward achieving the SDGs.

Composting Project

College of the Rockies is converting food waste generated by its Cranbrook campus’ cafeteria, Professional Cook program, and Class Act Dining Room into compost thanks, in part, to $30,000 in grant funds from Columbia Basin Trust. We operate a commercial composter through a collaborative effort between the Sustainability Committee, Facilities and Students on an annual basis.

Learn more about the launch of this effort.

Solar Energy on Residence Building(s)

The Cranbrook campus’ residence building utilizes two types of solar technology on the facility’s roof – photovoltaic and solar thermal – which allows the system to pull in as much heat as possible.

Learn more here.

Kootenay Centre Solar Project at Cranbrook Campus

The College also installed photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Cranbrook campus’ Kootenay Centre building which was determined to be the biggest consumer of electricity and had the best physical space for the solar panels.

The project generates 109,000 kilo-watt hours of electricity per year, enough to operate 14 houses for a year – while reducing the College’s greenhouse gas emissions by 12,000 kilograms of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent). Combined, the solar systems have saved 26 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

The Pinnacle Hall trades building has a solar wall along one side which helps to draw heat into the building, improving indoor air quality and reducing heating and operating costs.

Leed Certified

The south entrance expansion, completed in 2010, achieved certification by the Leadership in Energy in Environmental Design (LEED) certification program, indicating the new construction meets the highest environmental performance criteria in Canada.

Lights Out Campaign

The Lights Out concept has been applied to all our computer labs and in-office computers. All students and employees are actively encouraged to be part of this campaign. “When you finish working on a computer, please shut them down completely. Shutting down the computer not only saves energy, but it also gives students a fresh boot-up when they access a machine.”

Recycling

Blue recycling bins are placed throughout our campuses. The College Community is asked to please make note of which bins accept which material. Also, a complete recycling center is located at the east side of the main parking lot at the Cranbrook Campus — wherein Students and Employees can deposit cans, newspaper, paper, glass and milk jugs. There are similar drop off centres, which also accept plastics with the triangle number logo, located at the east side of the Wal-mart parking lot in Cranbrook, and at transfer centres throughout the Kootenay Region.

Water Bottle Filling Stations

Our Facilities Department have installed “Water Bottle Filling Stations” throughout Kootenay Centre. These machines dispense chilled, filtered water into your own reusable water bottle. Our goal is to reduce the amount of plastic waste created through purchased water. With that in mind, we have also phasing out water bottles in the Kootenay Centre Vending machines altogether!