Sustainable TRU
Sustainability is one of our core values
We strive for energy efficiency, seek to engage the TRU community with sustainability events, and encourage involvement in sustainability projects. We are proud to have earned the highest overall score in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) report.
TRU signs Global Climate Letter for Universities and Colleges
TRU President Brett Fairbairn has signed the Global Climate Letter for Universities and Colleges that commits universities to move toward climate change action.
TRU has worked for years to expand its leadership in environmental sustainability. The letter encourages universities to move forward on climate change research and skills creation, and to increase environmental education institution-wide. The letter also asks universities to pledge to reach net-zero by 2030 or 2050 at the latest. President Brett Fairbairn said he was pleased to sign on behalf of TRU.
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The Sweater Dance
On Friday, Feb. 5, the TRU Sustainability Office invites you to join The Sweater Dance — a virtual living-room dance party to raise awareness about climate change.
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Update on Bike Sharing
The TRU Bike Share program is being revamped for spring 2021. In the meantime, you can try out a variety of bikes for free — including electric bikes! — during Try a Ride sessions in front of Old Main on Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m. Also, get information on bikes and purchase incentives. COVID-19 safety measures are in place so bring a mask in case it’s required. All participants must sign a waiver.
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Working from Home
Check out our PDF for tips on how to conserve energy while working from home. Did you know that as long as a device is plugged in, it uses energy — even if it's turned off?
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Apply for a grant
Sustainability Research Grants for faculty and students, and regular Sustainability Grants
Campus Strategic Sustainability Plan 2020-2025
Highlights
- Plan for a carbon neutral and net-zero energy campus.
- Eliminate single-use items, including plastics.
- Integrate sustainable purchasing throughout campus operations.
- Conserve potable water.
- Advance sustainability performance of the campus built environment.
- Champion sustainability beyond the TRU campus for global impact.
Show leadership, earn a credential
The Leadership in Environmental Sustainability certificate is documented evidence of your knowledge, skills, awareness and attitudes as a sustainable-minded citizen.
How to become a leaderSustainability News
Industrial Training and Technology Centre strikes LEED Gold
Another Gold-certified building by the Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Canada Rating System brings TRU that much closer to achieving carbon-neutral status.
Environment and COVID-19: The good, bad and correctable
James Gordon, TRU’s Zero Waste and Environmental Programs Coordinator, shares some small changes you can make to counterbalance some of the unfortunate, but necessary environmental offenses that come with COVID-19.
Green is cool: TRU stands out for sustainability
TRU has been ranked as North America’s third Coolest School by the Sierra Club, and made the Princeton Review’s 2021 Green Honour Roll.
How we became super STARS
STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities around the world to measure their sustainability performance. In May 2018, TRU received a platinum rating — the highest ever achievement by any institution.
Key increases in points that took us from gold in 2015 to platinum in 2018:
84%
Using more renewable energy and using less energy overall
95%
Building a culture of sustainability at TRU
93%
Teaching students to be the sustainability leaders of tomorrow
