Office of Campus Sustainability

Change the story: help us make a better world.

Campus view over the Rideau Canal
For us, at the University of Ottawa, sustainability isn’t just a job; it’s a lens through which we see the world.

The Office of Campus Sustainability (part of Facilities Services) strives to have sustainability integrated into daily life on campus in as many ways as possible, big and small — from taking notes on scrap paper to designing more energy-efficient campus facilities. It all matters, and often results in significant cost savings to the University and its students in addition to reducing our impact on the environment. 

4

LEED certified buildings on campus

1st

Campus in Ontario to become bottled water free

7th

Fair Trade Certified campus in Canada

Model of Sustainability

The University of Ottawa’s Sustainable Development Committee (SUSCOM) has adopted the 4C model of campus sustainability developed by Plymouth University to address different aspects of sustainability specific to a campus context.

The 4 Cs are:

  • Campus — Everything involving procurement for and the physical aspects of the campus, from buying to building, repairing, and everything in-between.
  • Community — The social relationships between community members on and off of the campus.
  • Culture — The values and policies forming the cultural foundation and influencing the governance of the campus.
  • Curriculum — The academic pursuits, the courses and the research activities that constitute the body of knowledge on campus.
students planting a potted garden on campus
A student spreads her arms out in front of a bird themed window mural
Volunteering

“Small actions can make a big difference. Helping achieve sustainability goals that are not only meaningful and important to me, but to my community as well, is highly rewarding.”

Mariana Carrillo Miranda

— 4th year student, Faculty of Arts

uOttawa Sustainability in the News

Emissions and climate change
plants from the living wall stretch out towards sunlight coming from the skylight
Emissions and climate change

Clean Economy, Innovation Chair tackles sustainable economic solutions

Amidst increasing public demand for equitable, climate-friendly policies in a low-carbon future, the University of Ottawa and the Jarislowsky Foundati…
Biodiversity
COP 15 in Montreal colourful
Biodiversity

Climate crisis and biodiversity: CELGS goes international to expand outreach

Creating better cities for the future. That’s the goal of the University of Ottawa Sustainable Cities Initiative, which will bring together a critical…
Emissions and climate change
A green branch on a green background
Emissions and climate change

uOttawa is continuing its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint

The University of Ottawa is following through on commitments to making environmental sustainability a core tenet of its long-term investment portfolio…
Tabaret building in the fall

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