Develop Evaluation Tools, Survey Questions and Methods to Measure Impact of Workplace Health and Wellbeing Programming at UBC

This purpose of this project was to facilitate the Healthy UBC program in running an effective, evidence based health promotion program and to help UBC realize their goal of creating a progressive, sustainable work culture. The objectives were: build an evidence base to inform programming; identify how the organization can support and enable sustainable health promotion initiatives implemented at the department level; review existing evaluation tools; and make recommendations on how to best assess and demonstrate the unit’s overall impact on campus.

Partner: UBC Human Resources
Keywords: social sustainability

Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2014
Andrea Jones

Building Conflict Resilience through Theatre for Living: Exploring UBC Experiences of Engaging in ‘Conflict Theatre’ as a workplace learning strategy

This project intended to explore how an interactive theatre-based learning strategy affects participants’ awareness and understanding of conflict in the workplace. We developed a qualitative study that recognized the multicultural context that participants were immersed in, focusing on concepts like power and equality. This study was concerned with the potential shifts in participants’ abilities and thoughts on conflict in the workplace after participating in several sessions of Conflict Theatre. We were also interested in understanding the participants’ resilience capacity around conflict and difficult conversations in the workplace.

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

Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2014
Paola Adarve Zuluaga

Community Engagement Towards a More Sustainable University

Beginning in Fall 2013, the University of British Columbia began one of its largest public engagement processes to guide and inform the 20-Year Sustainability Strategy. This project involved the production of an engagement summary as well as identification of UBC climate action targets that will be used to monitor the implementation of UBC’s climate goals.

Partner: UBC Sustainability Initiative
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability

Climate Change & Energy
Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2014
Grant Diamond

Single-Resource vs. Combined-Resource Demand Side Management Project

The over-arching goal of this project was to compare single resource versus combined resource Demand Side Management (DSM) Programs, primarily in North America. The research examined the costs and benefits of combined DSM programs, as well as clarifying whether combined DSM programs do indeed provide increased savings for utility providers. Following on from this the hope was to be able to draw on the research findings to inform future DSM program development at BC Hydro.

Partner: BC Hydro
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, water

Climate Change & Energy
Natural Resources
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2014
Cluny South

How can we use City-run concession stands to advance local, sustainable, and healthy food objectives?

In response to a number of City of Vancouver and Park Board plans, the City’s Sustainability Group and Park Board piloted a local food menu at park and beach concessions. This report aimed to evaluate best practices for local, sustainable, and/or healthy food procurement in other North American municipalities as well as to review current research regarding consumer preference for local or sustainable food. The report also discusses the findings from a survey on the public response to the Park Board concession local food pilot. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: local food, food systems, social sustainability

Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Naseam Ahmadi

Opportunities for Local Food Cycles in Vancouver’s Community Centres

Vancouver has the opportunity to be a leader in local food systems by engaging and supporting the community in its 24 community centres. This report supports the city's prorities around urban food systems by identifying the best opportunities and barriers to closing the local-food loop in Vancouver’s community centres.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: local food, zero waste, social sustainability

Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Sophia Baker-French

Economic Development in the False Creek Flats Industrial Area: Establishing the Greenest Place to Work in the World

This report aims to address the challenges involved in establishing a Green Enterprise Zone in the False Creek Flats industrial area by outlining a number of tactical, on-the-ground actions that can be taken by the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC). It demonstrates ways in which the tools employed by the VEC can be leveraged to ground pieces of the greater economic development vision for the False Creek Flats and support local planning initiatives as VEC works towards a complementary Eastern Core Local Area Plan.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green economy, sustainable development & green economy

Policy, Economics & Governance
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Pietra Basilij

Transit Expansion and How Vancouver Compares

The project was informed by Goal 4 of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, seeking to make walking, bicycling, and public transit preferred transportation options. Specific to the research performed was the following question: “How does Metro Vancouver’s transit expansion compare with that of other cities around the world?”

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green transportation, transportation

Built Environment & Mobility
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Zachary Bennett

Bird-Friendly Landscape Design Guidelines

Urban wildlife animates our green spaces and birds bring our city to life with their songs and flight, creating excellent opportunities to experience biodiversity in the city. Birds also provide ecosystem services in the form of pest control, pollination and seed-dispersal The “Bird-Friendly Landscape Design Guidelines” will support the development of bird habitat throughout the City of Vancouver. The document is intended for policy makers, developers, planners, landscape architects, operations staff and residential gardeners. When used in conjunction with the “Bird-Friendly Building Guidelines,” urban design throughout our city can become more bird-friendly.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, biodiversity, ecological systems

Ecological Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Michele Campbell

Understanding the Scope of Reuse in Vancouver: Final Report

This report serves as a preparatory study into the scope of the reuse sector and the current perceptions, challenges and prospects of Reuse organisations. It is written as an exploratory study which contributes to the Green Economy (Goal 1), Climate Leadership (Goal 2), Zero Waste (Goal 5), as well as the Lighter Footprint Goals (Goal 7) of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. This report serves as a preparatory study into the scope of the reuse sector and the current perceptions, challenges and prospects of Reuse organisations. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, waste management & recycling

Production, Consumption & Waste
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Lorenzo Lane

False Creek Waterway Creek Daylighting

This report explores how daylighting be integrated into the City's plans for the restoration of Trout Lake waterway between Trout Lake and False Creek Flats. It includes a context map and background, key policy linkages, design principles, and a concept plan.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, water

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Niall McGarvey

Greening Events in the Greenest City: Achieving Sustainable Event Waste Management in the City of Vancouver

The primary purpose of this report is to explore the potential means of addressing the contamination of recycling and food scraps at city-serviced events. The secondary purpose of this report is to explore the means by which the City of Vancouver might encourage the adoption of contamination- and waste-reduction strategies by event organizers. Finally, the report provides recommendations regarding potential ways that the City’s Sanitation Operations could enable the minimization of waste through the logistical and advisory supports that are provided to event organizers.

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

Production, Consumption & Waste
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Annie Merritt

Creating a Square in the Heart of the City

This report identifies the challenges and opportunities of returning the 800-block of Robson Street to its pedestrian roots on a permanent basis. Using case studies from around the world, this report provides examples of how streets can contribute to, rather than detract from the pedestrian experience on Robson Square. This study provides a variety of options and inspirations that can be used to create a truly vibrant public space in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: healthy city, social sustainability

Built Environment & Mobility
Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Ryan O'Connor

Changing Idling Behaviour at the VPD: Vancouver Police Department’s Idle Management Program

This report outlines the goals and actions to be undertaken as part of the Idle Management Program. By using change management best practices, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) can successfully implement the new idle management technology (IdleRIght2), along with new driving practices to achieve high compliance. Consultation with VPD patrol officers has been an important part of planning the Idle Management Program. Recommendations in this report were made on the basis of feedback from the patrol officers who will be most impacted by this practice change.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, transportation

Built Environment & Mobility
Data & Technology
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Erin Rennie

Water Use Feedback Processes for Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Water Users

The purpose of this literature review is to create an understanding of water use feedback strategies and their effectiveness in reducing water consumption. Due to the lack of academic literature, particularly for Institutional, Commercial and Industrial (ICI) water users, information was integrated from the energy sector and energy conservation literature. The summary identifies key points of reference from various fields spanning behavioral economics, conservation psychology, business operations and human-computer interactions from computer science.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, water

Climate Change & Energy
Production, Consumption & Waste
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2013
Hana Sherin Galal

Business Improvement Associations: VEC Partners in Greening Small Business

This paper examines the role Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) and their members could play in reaching the City's Greenest City Action Plan targets. In particular, this work draws on existing literature and interviews with BIA executives throughout the City to evaluate potential impacts of a Green Small Business Awards initiative.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green economy, sustainable development & green economy

Policy, Economics & Governance
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Hamish Stewart

Studying the Health Impacts of Active Transporation Projects: Methods

This project provides a description of research methods for studying the health impacts of active transportation projects. It details study types, challenges, measures of health and measurement tools. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green transportation, social sustainability

Built Environment & Mobility
Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Anastasia Frank

What is the highest and best use of organic solid waste: production of compost or production of energy?

This project attempts to answer the question “What is the highest and best use of organic solid waste: production of compost or production of energy?” As the City of Vancouver is determined to divert solid waste from going to the landfill or incinerator by 50% from 2008 levels, organic waste diversion is an important strategy in achieving that goal. This report outlines the results of an organic waste audit and environmental assessment of 1) demolition waste, 2) yard waste from CIty operated programs, and 3) food waste to understand the relative suitability of composting versus anaerobic digestion as a solution. 

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

Climate Change & Energy
Production, Consumption & Waste
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Siduo Zhang

Centralized Composting and Food Waste Disposer (FWD) Use as Competing Organic Waste Management Strategies in Vancouver Multi-Family Homes

The diversion of organics from multi-family homes in the City of Vancouver is a critical component of meeting the Greenest City Action Plan target of reducing the amount of landfilled or incinerated solid waste by 50% compared to 2008 levels. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the environmental impacts of a centralized composting program versus the use of garburators (herein referred to as food waste disposers, FWDs) as organic waste management strategies for multi-family residences in the City of Vancouver.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: zero waste, food systems, waste management & recycling

Production, Consumption & Waste
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Alison McKenzie

Residential Tree Planting Programs: A Review of Best Practices

This report is intended to inform the development of a local community-based program aimed at encouraging increased residential tree planting throughout Vancouver. While a number of non-profit organisations have developed programming that mobilises community participation on issues of environmental stewardship and urban forestry, there has been no sustained and systematic campaign that engages residents to enhance the city’s urban forest through planting on private property. This report identifies pertinent best practices that have emerged from efforts happening within North America.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, ecological systems, green buildings

Built Environment & Mobility
Ecological Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Jason Hsieh

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