Sustainability

Reducing the energy used to heat and cool our buildings is an important part of reaching our net zero greenhouse gas emissions target. Electrifying our heating systems and integrating renewable energy generation on campuses are two key ways to reduce our emissions and lower our dependence on fossil fuels like natural gas.            

Conestoga also reduces energy consumption on our campuses by implementing innovative technologies to monitor usage patterns and optimize our lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.            

Geothermal fields

Conestoga has installed a ground source heat pump, also known as geothermal, for heating and cooling at our Cambridge – Fountain Street campus as part of our journey to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Upcoming geothermal projects are also planned for Waterloo, Kitchener - Doon, and Cambridge Skilled Trades (Reuter Dr.) campuses.         

What is a ground source heat pump?            

The air temperature can vary greatly from season to season, but the temperature below the surface of the earth remains relatively constant. A closed-loop geothermal system (e.g., Cambridge – Fountain Street) uses the temperature difference between the air and the earth to move heat from the ground to our buildings to heat in the winter and from our buildings to the ground to cool in the summer. Open loop geothermal systems (e.g., Kitchener - Doon, Waterloo, Skilled Trades (Reuter Dr.) campuses) work similarly but use water from groundwater aquifers to extract and reject heat rather than the ground itself.            

Geothermal systems are powered by electricity, allowing us to reduce our dependence on natural gas and significantly lower the greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling our buildings. The system is highly efficient because the heat pump works by moving heat from one place to another rather than using electricity or natural gas to generate heat directly.            

Thermal ice storage

The Waterloo campus has a thermal ice storage system for efficient cooling. The chiller produces ice during off-peak hours at night, which is stored for later use. The ice is then used during the day to make chilled water for cooling systems, which helps reduce energy consumption during peak hours.            

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Rooftop Units (RTU)

Rooftop units (RTUs) provide building heating, air conditioning, and ventilation. All new RTUs are ultra-efficient with economizers that help the unit run efficiently based on the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. For example, the economizer will shut off the air conditioning compressor and instead bring cool air from outside to cool the building if the outside temperature is below 18⁰C. This reduces energy consumption when operating the unit and increases the system's life expectancy.            

Opportunities to install air-source heat pumps are also being explored to electrify our heating systems. Air source heat pumps extract heat from the outdoor air to provide heating in the winter and move heat out of the building to cool in the summer.         

Solar panels

The solar field at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus

Conestoga has three large-scale solar projects to generate renewable energy across the Waterloo, Cambridge – Fountain Street, and Kitchener - Doon campuses.             

Waterloo campus has 396 solar panels to support a 158-kW system, generating 210,000 kWh of electricity per year - equivalent to 18.3 homes’ electricity use for one year.             

Cambridge – Fountain Street campus has 1800 solar panels to support a 500-kW system, generating 750,000 kWh of electricity per year – equivalent to 65.4 homes’ electricity use for one year. This solar array provides enough renewable energy to power 100% of the heating and cooling at the Cambridge campus. Watch a YouTube video to learn more.               

Kitchener - Doon campus has 3009 solar panels to support a 1.3 MW system, generating 1.6 million kWh of electricity per year – equivalent to 145 homes’ electricity use for one year. Learn more about the Doon campus solar project. Watch a YouTube video to learn more.             

Building Automation System (BAS)

Conestoga has a Building Automation System (BAS) that allows us to remotely monitor and adjust our facilities' temperature, airflow, and lighting controls.                  

Our buildings are equipped with demand-controlled ventilation systems, which use occupancy schedules and feedback sensors to adjust the temperature and ventilation of a room depending on the number of people using the space. We also use occupancy sensors to turn off lights when rooms are not in use and daylight harvesting sensors to reduce overhead lighting when there is enough natural sunlight to light a space.                  

Our BAS helps to lower energy use, reduce operating costs, and keep our facilities comfortable.             

Demand response

Conestoga became a participant in the Demand Response program for the Kitchener - Doon campus in 2017. Demand Response involves lowering electricity use to reduce stress on the provincial electric grid when extreme demands occur, such as on a hot summer day. Conestoga is committed to using less electricity during critical times to lower the potential for brownouts and reduce the need to construct new power plants.                  

Utility sub-metering

Conestoga has sub-metering for electricity and natural gas at the Kitchener - Doon campus to collect detailed information about consumption. Sub-metering can help detect times and locations with high electricity and natural gas use to identify improvement opportunities.             

LED lighting

All new construction and renovations include LED lighting with motion and daylight harvesting sensors to reduce energy consumption. LED light bulbs can be up to 80% more efficient than fluorescent light bulbs and last up to five times longer.             

Cool roofing

All roofing upgrades since 2015 have been completed with calcite materials. Calcite roofs, also known as cool roofs, are light in colour and reflect more of the sun’s energy back into the atmosphere, reducing the energy required for cooling.             

Cambridge - Fountain Street campus LEED Accreditation

Conestoga’s Cambridge – Fountain Street campus was designed and constructed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver accreditation, an internationally recognized certification. The 260,000-square-foot facility has a passive energy design to promote sustainable energy management. Interior and exterior windows provide natural light, which reduces energy consumption and positively affects personal health and academic performance.             

Reporting

Conestoga reports on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions annually. These reports help to evaluate our energy performance on an annual basis and plan for the implementation of future conservation measures.             

• Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan 2024-2029 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2023 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2022 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2021 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2020 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2019 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2018 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2017 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2016 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2015 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2014 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2013 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2012 (pdf)
• Energy Consumption 2011 (pdf)

Conestoga has a waste diversion target of 80% by 2030. At least 80% of the waste produced on campus should be reduced, reused, recycled, or composted rather than going to the landfill. Annual waste auditing, sorting education, and implementation of specialty recycling programs help monitor and manage the waste produced on our campuses.         

Waste audits and waste reduction work plans

Conestoga is legislatively required to conduct a waste audit and develop a waste reduction work plan each year. Waste audits gather data about the types and amount of waste that are produced on campus and can help inform the development of effective waste management plans and initiatives. Waste is collected on campus over a 24-hour period to get a snapshot of how much is recycled, composted, and sent to the landfill. Surveying the waste from each stream (paper, cans & bottles, organics, landfill) helps us determine if waste is properly sorted and how much waste we are sending to the landfill could be avoided.         

A waste reduction work plan lists recommendations to decrease the amount of waste produced on campuses and increase waste diversion through reusing, recycling, and composting.         

Conestoga’s waste audits and waste reduction work plans are available upon request. Reports are available from 2009 to present. Please email facilitiesmanagement@conestogac.on.ca for a full copy of the report.         

Centralized waste management

Centralized waste sorting station

Conestoga is transitioning to a centralized waste management system in common areas. Removing waste bins from individual desks and classrooms helps to promote waste diversion and streamline waste collection on campus. All classrooms and office spaces should have waste and recycling stations within a short walk.                    

E-waste

Conestoga offers free E-waste collection at the IT service desks at the Kitchener - Doon, Waterloo, and Guelph campuses. All personal information should be cleared from electronic devices prior to drop off.        

Accepted items include:         

Computer equipment

• Laptops, desktops, personal computers
• Monitors up to 27”
• Tablets, iPads
• Keyboards, mice, cables, wires
• Hard drives, memory, motherboards
• Desktop printers/scanners up to 20 lbs
• CD-ROM and optical drives
• Power supplies

Audio-visual & communication

• Digital cameras
• iPods, MP3 players
• Radios, speakers
• Gaming consoles
• Car audio equipment
• DVD players, VHS players
• Cable/satellite receivers
• Cell phones, pagers, GPS
• Telephones, fax machines

Items not accepted include:

• Large/bulky/heavy items
• Household appliances
• TVs
• Air conditioners
• Fans
• Power tools
• Gas-powered equipment
• Mercury switches and thermostats
• Household hazardous waste, liquids, and chemical waste

Furniture reallocation program

The Furniture Reallocation Program started in March 2022 to reduce waste from renovations on campus. The program rehomes used office furniture and equipment no longer needed by the college, using three main pathways:                    

1. Donations to community partners (local non-profit organizations);
2. Employee giveaway events;
3. Third party reselling.

In the program's first two years, over 1800 pieces of furniture were repurposed instead of being sent to the landfill. These efforts continue, corresponding with clean-up events and construction projects. Registered charitable organizations interested in benefiting from this program can email facilitiesmanagement@conetogac.on.ca to learn more.  

Specialty recycling programs

Conestoga College has several initiatives to reuse and properly recycle specialty waste, including waste from academic programs and departmental functions and construction and renovation waste. These include:  

• Wood, metal, construction waste/clean fill, masonry materials, wire
• Wood pallet recycling
• Biomedical waste
• Hazardous waste

Conestoga promotes sustainable transportation by providing opportunities for students, employees, and campus visitors to access low-carbon modes of transportation, including public transit, active transportation, carpooling, and electric vehicle charging.

TravelWise

Conestoga is a member of the TravelWise program, which encourages employees to take public transit, cycle, and carpool to work instead of driving alone. All Conestoga employees have access to:

• Reduced Grand River Transit (GRT) rates for monthly passes and stored value to access public buses and light rail transit in Waterloo Region.
• Carpool matching platform to organize carpool trips.
• Trip logging software to track the environmental and financial benefits of sustainable commuting.
• Emergency ride home reimbursement.
  

Visit the Travelwise website to sign up and learn more.

Micromobility

Conestoga has partnered with Neuron Mobility to help students and employees get to and from campus using e-scooters and e-bikes throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Designated parking zones for e-scooters and e-bikes are available at the Kitchener – Doon (including residence), Kitchener – Downtown, Cambridge – Fountain Street, and Waterloo campuses. Learn how to get started with Neuron.

Active transportation

Conestoga has bike racks at all campuses, and we are working to increase secure bike and scooter storage facilities. Conestoga continues to expand walking paths on campuses and connections to community trails.

Public transportation

Conestoga’s campuses can be accessed by public transportation, with bus routes available through Grand River Transit (Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge), Guelph Transit, Brantford Transit, and Milton Transit.

CSI Shuttle Service

CSI provides a complimentary shuttle service for Conestoga students, faculty, and staff. For more information, please visit The CSI Shuttle.

EV charging stations

Fully electric service fleet vehicle

Conestoga has established a goal to equip 1.5% of parking spaces with EV chargers by 2030 to support the needs of students and employees. This goal is supported by an EV Charging Network Plan, which prioritizes underserved campuses.    

Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are currently available at the 3065 King Street office and the Kitchener - Doon, Waterloo, Cambridge – Fountain Street, Guelph, and Milton – Parkhill Drive campuses.

Electric service fleet vehicles

Conestoga has four electric cargo vans in the service fleet and a fully electric John Deere Gator utility vehicle. The college will continue to prioritize replacing gas-powered fleet vehicles with hybrid or fully electric options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation.

Conestoga’s water conservation initiatives help protect groundwater supplies and minimize our impact on our campuses' aquatic ecosystems.  

Water softeners

Newly installed water softeners reclaim brine water, reducing water consumption and lowering the amount of salt going down the drain to protect our local aquatic ecosystems.  

Utility sub-metering

Sub-metering for water usage at the Kitchener - Doon campus collects detailed information about consumption. Sub-metering can help to detect times and locations with high water use to identify opportunities to improve efficiencies.  

Buildings across our campuses have Flowie water flow sensors to monitor real-time water usage and receive alerts when consumption is abnormally high.       

Water discharge

Bioswale at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus

The Cambridge – Fountain Street campus discharges water into Blair Creek, one of the last cold-water fisheries in Kitchener. Conestoga has constructed an innovative system with bioswales, infiltration galleries, detention ponds, oil-grit separators, and a cooling trench to ensure there is no impact on this sensitive ecosystem.  

• Bioswale: a trench containing vegetation that slows the flow of stormwater runoff, removes pollutants, and promotes infiltration to recharge groundwater.
• Infiltration gallery: permeable material installed underground to promote infiltration of stormwater to recharge groundwater.
• Detention pond: a basin that provides a place for excess water to pool and be slowly released into surrounding bodies of water to prevent flooding from large rainfall events.
• Oil-grit separator: a device that removes pollutants from stormwater runoff as the water flows through the chambers of the system to prevent oil, debris, and sediment from entering the receiving water system.
• Cooling trench: a trench that allows the discharged water to cool before entering the receiving water system. Wildlife could be negatively impacted if the discharged water entered the cold-water stream before cooling.

Protecting existing habitats and implementing new green spaces around our campuses are two important ways to promote a healthy environment and support the well-being of Conestoga students and employees on campus.         

Pollinator gardens

The Cambridge – Fountain Street campus has a pollinator garden that provides a habitat for pollinators like bees, birds, and butterflies. Pollinators are vital to crop production and help promote biodiversity to maintain a healthy and resilient environment.  

Pollinator gardens have native plant species that are adapted to our local climate and require minimal care to thrive. The gardens attract and support pollinators by providing food, shelter, and a pesticide-free environment.         

Naturalization initiatives

Naturalized landscape at the Kitchener - Doon campus

The Student Recreation Centre slopes at the Kitchener - Doon campus are home to native grasses and flowering plants that provide a pesticide-free source of food and shelter for pollinators. Naturalized landscapes require minimal maintenance, improve soil health, and promote biodiversity. The vegetation on the slopes also helps to slow down and collect rainwater to manage stormwater runoff on campus.        

Transforming traditional urban landscapes into naturalized green spaces can improve air quality, enhance well-being, and create educational opportunities to learn about environmental issues.  

Green roofs

Green roofs are installed at the Kitchener - Doon campus outside the library and E-Wing. Green roofs get their name from vegetation that is planted on rooftops. Plants on green roofs support pollinators like birds and butterflies and provide a unique opportunity to absorb carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.

The vegetation also keeps the roof cool on hot summer days to reduce cooling needs and helps to collect and slow down rainwater to reduce runoff into our water systems.         

Solar grazing

A flock of sheep has joined the Cambridge – Fountain Street solar field as part of Conestoga’s solar grazing initiative. Solar grazing is a landscaping method using grazing sheep to control vegetation under solar panels where it’s difficult to mow. This method eliminates the need for herbicides and gas-powered landscaping equipment, integrates urban agriculture into our operations, and provides education and engagement opportunities for the college community. Future integration of college-raised resources into programs, such as sheep’s milk, cheese, wool, etc., are also being explored.