How UTM is fostering a culture of sustainability on its campus and among students
University of Toronto Mississauga is building a culture of sustainability, right before our eyes.
The New Science Building, currently under construction on campus, will feature a geothermal system that will cover most of the building’s energy load.
Just like the system that already heats and cools the Instructional Building, this geothermal system will use the earth to act as a natural battery. Except, instead of storing electricity, this natural battery stores heat.
In the summer, the geothermal system will strip excess heat from inside the NSB and store it inside a network of pipes, deep underground. Then in the winter, that same heat will be pumped back into the building to warm it.
But dedication to sustainability at UTM extends beyond just construction projects. In fact, UTM’s first-ever Sustainability Strategic Plan has 102 targets and 26 goals aimed at embedding sustainability into all facets of campus: academics, research, engagement, human resources & infrastructure.
As part of the Sustainability Strategic Plan, every undergraduate and graduate student, regardless of their degree program, will have access to sustainability education. By 2030, 30 per cent of students will have graduated across all disciplines with a sustainability certificate or minor.
At UTM, “Grow smart, grow green” is the guiding principle for campus development, balancing the need for growth with environmental sensitivity and responsibility.
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