Focus Areas
From Common Energy UVic
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Effecting change in the Victoria region by moving the University of Victoria beyond climate-neutral brings diverse challenges. To allow us to tackle these challenges systematically, Common Energy has identified six areas in which to focus our efforts. Collectively, groups working on issues in these focus areas formed a planning partnership that produced Building on Progress: A Guide to Moving UVic Beyond Climate-Neutral.
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[edit] New Focus Areas
With the Guide complete Common Energy has shifted its focus from facilitating a collaborative planning process to implimenting many of the ideas that came from the process.
- We have launched the goBEYOND project. goBEYOND is a province-wide initiative that Common Energy is piloting.
Find out more at our Projects page.
[edit] Initial Focus Areas
Common Energy initially broke the problems of climate change into six key areas.
[edit] Business and the Economy
Businesses and the economy must be transformed to reduce the impact of our lifestyles while maintaining a prosperous region. UVic has an enormous impact on the economy of the region, from direct purchasing, to its student population, to new business development and technology transfer. There are significant opportunities for green innovation in businesses and the economy, particularly when firms are tightly networked, however, these opportunities are not widely recognized or utilized.
The Business and the Economy Working Group initially asked these questions:
- How can the University create a green business cluster in the region?
- What particular advantages does the region enjoy for creating a green business cluster?
- What policies could UVic adopt to spur the development of local green businesses, and how could this be done in conjunction with local municipalities?
- How can UVic's business school, Innovation and Development Corporation, Vancouver Island Technology Park, and the local green business community work together on a coordinated strategy?
Our answer so far: Guide: Business
[edit] Civic Engagement and Governance
Citizen involvement is essential for developing the best solutions for climate change, and seeing those solutions implemented. At UVic, establishing policy requires the involvement of many decision-making bodies. Ultimately, transforming the region will require integrated and innovative planning from the household to the region, and beyond.
The Civic Engagement and Governance Working Group initially asked these questions:
- How can Common Energy work with the University, and engage citizens in university governance and regional planning?
- With whom are we trying to communicate, and what are the best ways to communicate with them, both individually and through networks?
- What are the best ways for Common Energy to engage with university governance structures?
- How do existing regional planning bodies operate, and how can the university and Common Energy engage them?
Our answer so far: Guide: Civic Engagement and Governance
[edit] Energy
Climate change is the unintended consequence of the ways in which we harness and use energy. UVic is a major energy consumer from a provincial grid currently beyond capacity, and UVic has already committed to reduce energy consumption by 10% by 2010.
The Energy Working Group initially asked these questions:
- How can the University radically reduce the impact of the region's energy use?
- What green energy policies best fit the campus, and how can the University implement them in conjunction with a regional transformation?
- How can energy researchers and energy policy makers be better linked?
Our answer so far: Guide: Energy
[edit] Food
Production and distribution of our food has a large impact on the climate, and our region meets very little of its demand with locally and sustainably produced food. UVic purchases a substantial quantity of food and is one of the largest producers of waste in the region. UVic is a major landowner in the region and the largest educational institution.
The Food Working Group initially asked these questions:
- How can the University develop the local and sustainable food supply in the region?
- What are the opportunities and barriers to local and sustainable food production for UVic and for the region?
- What food policies and practices should UVic adopt?
- How can UVic use its land base and academics as part of a strategy to develop a local and sustainable food system?
Our answer so far: Guide: Food
[edit] Buildings
Our buildings and infrastructure contribute to climate change by perpetuating inadequate uses of resources like energy and water. Previous community and city planning and development do not reflect our current understanding of how a sustainable, resilient society needs to be physically embodied. Transforming buildings and infrastructures by adopting more efficient ways to manage resources will ensure we remain resilient in our changing environment. Universities like UVic have been crucial in the development of solutions that transform our built environment. Examples include campus green building initiatives and innovative research and policy development by projects like POLIS. Developing sustainability and resiliency in our buildings and infrastructure is an opportunity to create healthy, beautiful, and efficient places to live.
The Buildings, Infrastructure, and Ecology Working Group initially asked these questions:
- How can the University catalyze the revitalization of our buildings and infrastructure?
- How can we integrate a strategy to revitalize our community with a strategy that restores the natural environment?
- Can we place water demands within the changing local eco-hydrological limits? Can we focus on matching quality of water supplied to quality required by the end users?
- What are the best building, retrofitting, and restoration techniques for our region?
- What policies can UVic adopt to promote a resilient community? This could include discussion about green building, retrofitting, municipal policy and planning coordination.
- How can we incorporate triple-bottom line accounting into all building and infrastructure decisions?
Our answer so far: Guide: Buildings
[edit] Transportation
Transportation contributes approximately 25% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and 53% of Victoria's emissions. UVic is a major transportation hub and destination, and has a highly successful Transportation Demand Management program. With the land and ridership bases that UVic represents, the university has the potential to become a sustainable transportation hub in the region.
The Transportation Working Group initially asked these questions:
- How can the University create a safe, efficient, and climate-friendly transportation system in the region?
- How can the different modes of transportation be integrated into a seamless and flexible system?
- How can UVic improve its current policies as part of a strategy coordinated with municipalities and the province?
Our answer so far: Guide: Transportation
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