Resource Library

This report includes a draft engagement strategy for the UBC Wellbeing Initiative’s  “Conversations in Wellbeing” program. The strategy proposed in this report is intended to help build and support a network of students, staff and faculty working on wellbeing-related issues, define community-based wellbeing priorities and inform the draft UBC Wellbeing strategy.

Partner: UBC Wellbeing
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainability in education

The purpose of this report is to provide a snapshot of local government commitments to renewable energy projects in BC as of early 2015. It provides a reasonable base of renewable energy and district energy initiatives from the past five years, as well as a ‘heads up’ on what to expect from local governments. Additionally it will enable the Province time to ‘tool up’ in proactive support of anticipated local government efforts. Finally, it will provide other agencies with insights into future local government needs for policy, technology or funding support.

Partner: Community Energy Association
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change

The purpose of this project was to gain a broad historical perspective on conflict in the workplace, and to gain an explicit understanding of organizational learning and development initiatives as they relate to workplace conflict. 

Partner: UBC Human Resources
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainability in education

The GreenCare community works to instill sustainable practices throughout the lower mainland health authorities. This report describes a project to identify where opportunities for sustainable practices could be implemented in the GreenCare community as well as help move the lower mainland health authorities towards zero waste.

Partner: Fraser Health
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, waste management & recycling

The City of Victoria has a target of reducing community greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020. The purpose of this project was to help the City conduct energy and water benchmarking of its own buildings and explore development of a policy to require the same of large buildings in the community in order to improve data access, transparency, demonstrate leadership and advocate early adoption with regard to building energy use.

Partner: City of Victoria
Keywords: green buildings, water

This report evaluates the challenges and opportunities of campus engagement. The document includes an explanation of Wellbeing at UBC, the ‘Conversations in Engagement’ project, a literature review, and the lessons learned from three vehicles for engagement including Staff Tune-ins, the Graduate Student Wellbeing Network, and the Faculty Wellbeing Cohort.

Partner: UBC Wellbeing
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainability in education

In order to better understand the toxic substances in building materials and furnishing, the Fraser Health Lower Mainland Facilities Management is focusing on the toxic substances in resilient flooring and fire stopping sealants used in acute and chronic care facilities. This report elucidates on the possible toxic substances used in 1) resilient flooring, their installation, care, and maintenance, and 2) fire stopping sealants.

Partner: Fraser Health
Keywords: green buildings, social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy 

This report details a best practices review for building volunteerism capacity to support waste reduction at special events. The objectives of this research include: investigate best practices employed by other municipalities to engage volunteers as recycling educators at special events; and provide analysis and recommendations that could be used by the City to create and maintain volunteer resources and to promote waste diversion. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: zero waste, social sustainability, waste management & recycling

The Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services are exploring options to reduce their fuel usage without sacrificing safety or effectiveness of their fleet. This study identified two strategies to explore: expanding the Medic vehicle program and moving some training from Chess Street Training Grounds to “satellite training locations” including Firehalls 9, 10, 15 ,17, 18, and City Hall. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, transportation