TORONTO, ONTARIO – Humber College is one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the sixth year in a row, as named by MediaCorp Canada. The award recognizes employers that lead the nation in making environmental values part of their organizational culture.
"Sustainability is vital in everything we do, from how we construct new buildings and retrofit existing ones, to how we teach sustainability concepts inside and outside the classroom and how we partner and collaborate with our community," said Lindsay Walker, associate director, Office of Sustainability. "It is an honour to be recognized for the sixth year in a row. While we have a lot more work to do, we see the commitment of the college community in action every day and are excited to see what more we can do to create a better future for all."
At Humber, all campus developments and operations begin by incorporating sustainability into the design and building process. This includes considering how the building will support the health and wellness of users, be accessible to all, connect students and the community to real-world learning opportunities, and ensuring it is low energy and low carbon. Humber has also committed to ensuring that all new college buildings are constructed to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
The college's sustainable initiatives include:
Humber's award-winning Building NX retrofit now uses 97 per cent less heating energy and 70 per cent less energy than before. This retrofit has set a new standard for building retrofits that prioritize the conservation of resources. The building was awarded the Zero Carbon Building - Design Certification by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), making it the first existing building in Canada to be zero carbon certified. It is also the first institutional Passivhaus Institut EnerPHit certification in Canada.
Humber is the first college in Ontario to have multiple campuses Fair Trade designated. Recently, the college received the 2020 Fair Trade Campus All-Star award for engagement.
Humber's 20-year Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) aims to reduce energy and waste consumption by 50 per cent while reducing carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2034. One of the IEMP's goals is to connect students into the process of real-world experiences in energy and building design.
Humber's Learning Outcomes (HLO) framework includes three key mindsets that are crucial to the well-being and prosperity of individuals and communities: equity, diversity & inclusion; sustainability; and, systems thinking.
Humber launched the Social Innovation Awards to catalyze sustainable, innovative ideas through a fund to support projects that benefit our environment and the community. In 2020, three student groups were awarded for their projects.
To learn more about Humber's long-term sustainability vision and goals, visit humber.ca/sustainability.
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About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Humber College is focused on our students' future. As a global leader in polytechnic education, Humber students receive in-depth theoretical learning and hands-on experience with applied research and extensive industry connections. Humber provides career-focused education to more than 33,000 full-time and 23,000 part-time and continuing education students across three campuses. A comprehensive range of credentials, including honours undergraduate degrees, Ontario graduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates, prepare career-ready global citizens to move seamlessly from education to employment. More than 86 per cent of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca.
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Humber College - Media Relations
416.675.5095
mediarelations@humber.ca