Walking down the hall of any building on campus, one would expect a foul stench of compost from the various recycling stations. Surprisingly, we found this is not the case as most rooms at TRU are scent free. Each department has different initiatives to encourage eco-friendliness on the campus. For instance, healthy food options are offered, recycled materials are used for art, and biohazard precautions are taken. Additionally, TRU has double flush toilets to save water, battery waste stations for safe disposal, a reward system for those who turn off lights, and “Sweater Day” where heating is reduced.

Ezzy and Vicky at a Zero Waste Station on campus

We found that most buildings have solar heating in classrooms and sensor-activated lights to reduce energy consumption. The Brown House of Learning, the heart of TRU, is a LEED certified building and is home to the university’s generator.

During our adventure, we met up with Michael Mehta, a passionate environmental scientist and professor, who told us that TRU does more than we as students care to notice. For instance, Mehta notes that TRU is very aggressive toward sustainability and as a result has won multiple awards including a gold rating for sustainability in the Star report by ASHEE in March, 2015. One project that Mehta is eager about is his work on solar lighting in the Arts and Education building which uses less energy than the standard model. (http://inside.tru.ca/2016/03/11/four-new-sustainability-projects-approved/). He also noted that TRU is working towards creating more charging stations for electric cars to save fuel.

Along with his duties at TRU, Mehta also runs a solar company called Sweet Spot Solar Company, which works with BC Solar Energy. It is globally connected to India which promotes solar cooking in developed and developing countries. He noted that in his beliefs, it is not only about the technology, but also about the behaviours that we as individuals hold towards sustainability. With his invention of solar power and energy, he hopes to encourage change with the culture of sustainability as more of an individual practice than an institutional one.

Michael Mehta and one of his solar cookers

Afterwards, we ran into Aaron Wiebe, an enthusiastic CO-OP student at our Sustainability Building, located next to the Aboriginal Cultural center. Inside this cozy little building, he told us about the new and exciting ideas that TRU has toward becoming a fully sustainable campus, including the car share program, electric bicycle rentals, and sustainable grant funds (http://www.tru.ca/sustain/funds.html). One project that is being developed is the bio-heating project in the Trades and Technology building in which 10% of its natural gases (geothermal energy) will be reusable.

Sustainability Building

Before leaving, Jim Gudjunson, TRU’s director of Sustainability and Environment who travels quite a bit for sustainability projects, made a brief appearance during our visit. Aaron mentioned Jim is always searching for new and exciting ways to be energy efficient on campus and encourages students from any background to visit.

Zip Car

Lastly, the theme of this year’s TRU World International Days is about changing our ecological footprint in direction to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This is an incentive to encourage faculty and students to think more sustainably (https://www.tru.ca/internationaldays/un-sustainable-development-goals.html).