Projects - Bishop's University

Waste Management Program

Bishop’s Waste Management Program was adopted on February 2, 2018 and is to be revised every three years. Based on the 3R Principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), the program aims at reducing the amount of waste that goes to the landfill up until only the ultimate waste remains, that which cannot be reused, recycled or composted.

If you want to get involved in the waste management initiative, please contact the Sustainable Development Student Intern at sdsi@ubishops.ca.

Waste Management Program (PDF)

Discount for reusable mugs

Did you know that every time you bring your reusable mug, you get a 25₵ discount on your coffee or tea ? We want to encourage everyone to bring their own mugs and to decrease the waste generated by disposable coffee cups.

La Tasse project

As much as members of our community love their coffee, we love reducing our environmental footprint even more ! An easy step to do so was to figure out a way to reduce disposable cups on our campus.

Bishop’s University is taking another step towards reducing waste on its beautiful campus. As much as members of our community love their coffee, we love reducing our environmental footprint even more. An easy step to do so was to figure out a way to reduce disposable cups on our campus.

In Spring 2019, a proposal to participate in the La Tasse project was presented to the Green Levy fund.

In partnership with Sodexo, reusable and refundable mugs are available on campus. La Tasse participants pay $5 deposit to get a mug which they can swap for a clean mug the next time they purchase a beverage at any participating establishment. The returned cups are washed and put back into circulation.

The La Tasse participating establishments also return the deposit if the mug is no longer required.

You forgot your own reusable mug? Three easy steps to remember:

Get a La Tasse reusable cup in exchange of a $5 deposit
Bring your La Tasse mug back to any participating establishment
Receive a clean mug for your new drink or get a reimbursement of your $5 deposit.

Learn more about the project on their website.

Fair Trade Coffee

During the 2009-2010 school year, SDAG and the Dinning Committee researched and replaced Bishop’s coffee with Fairtrade certified coffee. By purchasing fair trade coffee, Bishop’s demonstrates its commitment to supporting proper pricing of products (through floor pricing and premiums) for small scale farms and their laborers in the volatile international coffee market. This creates strong, long-term trading relationships between partners.

Tray-less Cafeteria

This student led initiative with help from Sodexo, was able to remove trays in Dewhurst Cafeteria. With no trays, students are forced to make thoughtful food choices, instead of filling their trays with food that goes to waste. This project has reduced food waste, water and energy consumption.

Community Fridge

Did you know that Bishop’s has a Community Fridge ?

The Sustainable Development Action Group in cooperation with Bishop’s Alumna Camie Lamarche and the Bishop’s University Environmental Club set up a community fridge in 2018 to reduce food waste on campus!

The goal is to help share fresh food that will not be consumed and would otherwise end up wasted.

The community fridge is managed by the SDSI and anyone can add extra fruits and veggies to share. Unopened dairy products, sealed packaged items, canned goods and other non-perishables are also appreciated as long as they are still fit to eat (see guidelines here). The wooden shelves under the fridge are for non-perishables.

Come check it out in the SUB lobby and follow the Bishop’s University Environmental Club Facebook page to stay posted on what’s happening !

Bottled Water Free Campaign

In 2010, Bishop’s University became the First in Quebec to Ban Sale of Single-Use Bottled Water. The initiative of a campus free of plastic water bottles was spearheaded by the Environmental Club and supported by SDAG. The plastic bottled water free team informed Bishop’s students of the social, environmental, economic and health outcomes that accompany the production, consumption, waste and policies of bottled water.

The Environment Club wrote and implemented a 2-year plan for making Bishop’s a bottled water free campus. The plan was launched with a campaign which included a presentation given by students and guest speakers, many informative posters and booths and finally a Rock-4-Water concert.

Thanks to the support of Bishop’s student body and community, we were to achieve our goal of a plastic water bottle free campus.

The Water Bottle Free commemorative art mural in the S.U.B.

- The Campus Water Bottle Free campaign — The Campus Water Bottle Free campaign

Geothermal

In 2008, Bishop’s started a Geothermal project to replace the old steam heating and cooling system, which operated on natural gas and oil, by a new system running on natural energy from the earth. This project allowed Bishop’s to take advantage of cost effective, reliable, sustainable and environmentally friendly energy.

With technological advancements we no longer need to be located next to tectonic plate boundaries to access geothermal energy. Below our very own Abbott soccer field are 57 geothermal wells drilled 160m in depth which tap into the thermal energy emanating from the earth. Heat pumps were then installed on campus to transform this low grade thermal energy into high grade usable power. Finally we installed an underground energy loop connecting all of Bishop’s buildings to the main central energy plant.

Our new source of geothermal power consists of 25% electricity from Hydro-Québec and 75% from free underground thermal energy. Bishop’s is currently saving more than 2300 tons of CO2 per year compared to our 2006 consumption, and more than 1 million cubic meters of natural gas per year (equivalent to heating 337 big single family houses at 2,000 sq.ft. each).

This effort made Bishop’s University the first geothermal district heating system in Canada.

For more details, see the following documents:

Carbon Care Certified Campus

As of February 2014, Bishop’s has become a Carbon Care Certified Campus. By attaining the Carbon Care Certification, Bishop’s has demonstrated its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and its responsibility to preventing climate change.

Bishop’s quantified its total direct GHG emissions and the carbon capture factor of our woodlands a first time in 2012, with the help of Sherbrooke Enviro-Accès consulting firm.

A new assessment was carried out in 2021 with Addere. We are happy to announce that our emissions have reduced by x % since 2012. This is good news for reaching the third objective of our first goal in the SD plan: becoming carbon neutral by 2030!

To learn more, please consult :

The 2012 GHG Inventory Report and presentation (in French)
The 2021 GHG Inventory Report (will soon be available online)

Sustainable Transportation

Sustainable transportation sits in the first objective of our SD plan as it is closely linked with carbon emission reduction ! See below some initiatives :

Bishop’s is also working on a plan to increase the amount of racks available on campus !

Pedestrian Friendly Campus

Throughout campus, roadways are being altered to encourage a non-motorized campus. The roadway extending from the library to the intersection near Morris House is prohibited for regular vehicles (access is allowed for emergencies, deliveries and security). The Campus Master Plan includes measures to minimize motorized transport within the heart of the Campus.

ECO-WEEK

Eco-Week is designed to promote and share ecological knowledge with the Bishop’s and Lennoxville community. This interactive week is organised by the BU Environmental Club and consists of various forms of media such as film screenings, guest speakers and a round table, to generate open discussions among faculty, students and the community.

For more information, contact the BU Environmental Club.

Gaiter Gears and Snowshoes

Thanks to the efforts of the BU Environmental Club and SDAG we were able to assemble Bishop’s first bicycle and snowshoe rental fleet. The aim of this project is to provide sustainable recreational activities to all. Biking and snowshoeing create minimal negative impacts on the environment, whilst rental fees are kept within their respective accounts in order to maintain and purchase new equipment. The goal is to create a self-sustaining project.

Drop by Patterson to rent a bike, or contact Residence for prices and regulations.

Stop by the Sportsplex in the winter to rent some snowshoes!

Peter D. Curry Conservation Project

In 1989, Bishop’s University approached Ducks Unlimited Canada to establish a wetland conservation project on University Grounds using a donation received from Mr. Peter D. Curry, a former student and longtime Ducks Unlimited supporter.

The site chosen for the project is located in the eastern section of the Bishop’s campus, adjacent to open countryside and near the St. Francis River. The quiet location, with its adjacent fields, proximity to wooded areas and to the river, offers a potentially attractive site for waterfowl and had the advantage of being situated close enough to campus to provide an easily accessible and easily controlled field laboratory and observation area.

Peter D. Curry Conservation Project (PDF)

Lennoxville Farmers’ Market

The Lennoxville Farmers’ Market was established by our very own Professor Bardati. The aim of this initiative is to bring quality fruits, vegetables, and other goods from within a 50km radius of Lennoxville to its citizens. This aids in creating a sense of community, provides buyers with product knowledge (where it comes from, how it’s grown, who grows it), supports small scale farms and reduces transport emissions and the need for preserving chemicals. Visit their website for more information.

Guide for Eco living

These booklets were written by students for students to help you understand the small but important changes that you can make in your daily choices on campus to help the planet!

CSA organic baskets drop point

Bishop’s will be hosting a weekly Farmers’ Market from September 2^nd to October 28^th 2022 in the Quad !

Les Hôtes Épinettes, a local farm based near Cookshire-Eaton (24 km from campus) is now offering Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) weekly baskets on campus !

Les Hôtes Épinettes will also be on campus for the Farmers’ Market each Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Friday afternoon with more produce (eggs and vegetables) for purchase.

If you are interested in signing up for the weekly CSA baskets, please access the attached Google form and fill out the necessary information as soon as possible, as we have a limited number of baskets available for this first phase of the project.

For further details on the project and the CSA concept, please consult the PDF document.

Thank you for your support ! This is a great way to encourage a local and sustainable food system while eating fresh, healthy food !

Kind regards,

The Sustainable Development Team ♻️

Annual Garage Sale

For the last 20 years or so, Bishop’s Community has been doing a garage sale to raise funds for the Student Refugee Program, a local branch of he World University Service of Canada (WUSC-EUMC). The SD Office is now giving a new wave to this important tradition, by including the environmental aspects of sustainable consumption and social engagement of the community.

Media – TVA reportage

Media – The Record