2018 - 2019

Sustainability
Report
Learning. Living. Leading.™ Sustainability at Mohawk
Table of Contents
3 4 5

By The Numbers Letter from the President Our Timeline

6 7

Climate & Energy

8 9 10 11

Transportation Waste

13

Buildings & Grounds

12

Participation Food Systems

14 15

Academics & Applied Research

By The Numbers

2,000+
63%
2,000+ annual participants in local food
programs

167,705 63% reduction in absolute

167,705 square feet of LEED® and Zero greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon certified green buildings
(Scopes 1 & 2) since 2007

63%
63% diversion of waste from landfill 1 st
1st college in Ontario to
18 receive AASHE STARS® Gold
18 campus sustainability initiatives rating for sustainability
implemented from student ideas

100%
100% of academic departments offer
sustainability courses

65%
65% of trips by sustainable modes of
transportation

Page 03
Letter from the President

Mohawk College committed to being a leader in

environmental sustainability when we adopted our
first comprehensive Environmental Management
Plan (EMP) in 2011.

The plan was the first of its kind for an Ontario college. It was
a plan that set bold targets for energy and waste reduction,
and included a call for a 20% reduction in 2007 baseline carbon
emissions by 2020. We exceeded this target in 2014, six years
ahead of schedule. A second plan, EMP 2.0, followed in 2015
and committed the college to a 30% reduction in 2007 baseline
emissions by 2020.

We’ve come a long way since then. Today, we have reduced

carbon emissions by 63%, more than double our 2015 target. At
the same time, we have taken aggressive action to reduce waste
and introduce policies and initiatives that encourage sustainable
practices among students, employees and the community. We also
built Canada’s largest and the region’s first zero carbon institutional
building, The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation.

These successes have established Mohawk as a climate change leader and innovator within the community
and the education sector, and have helped to develop strong connections with government and industry that
are leading to new and exciting opportunities for our students and community.

The following report highlights the work that has been done to improve the sustainability of our campuses
and the success of EMP 2.0, with a special focus on 2018 and 2019. It was during these years that Mohawk
celebrated a number of key milestones, including becoming the first college in Ontario to achieve a Gold
rating through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS®) of the Association for the
Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

One of the achievements that contributed to the STARS® Gold rating was the opening of The Joyce Centre for
Partnership & Innovation. At 96,000 square feet, The Joyce Centre is an example of what can be done to fight
climate change. It is also a unique living lab for our students, faculty and staff. In its first year of operation,
the building exceeded its design goals, generating 115% of the energy it needed to operate through
renewable sources, and quickly becoming a case study in zero carbon building operations.

The report also provides a snapshot of sustainability initiatives and progress in campus operations, student
engagement, and curriculum and research. While we’ve made great progress, we know that much work
remains to be done, and new challenges present themselves each day. That’s why we’re continuing our
mission to ensure students have the opportunity to Learn. Live. Lead.™ in sustainability at Mohawk College.

Ron J. McKerlie
President, Mohawk College

Page 04
Our Timeline

2008 2010 2011

Mohawk establishes the The Sustainability Steering Mohawk publishes its first
Sustainability Office and the Committee (SSC) is formed. Environmental Management
Go Green Committee (GGC). Plan, 2011-2014.
Baseline greenhouse gas
inventory commissioned for
the 2007 calendar year.

1 2 3

2012 2014 2016

Mohawk achieves 24% New, five-year Environmental Completion of first AASHE
reduction in carbon footprint Management Plan (EMP 2.0) STARS® rating, achieving
(CO2e) against the 2007 is published. Silver.
baseline.

4 5 6

2017 2018 2019

Centre for Climate Change The Joyce Centre opens Mohawk achieves Gold rating
Management at Mohawk as a national pilot project in AASHE STARS®.
(CCCM) launches as a demonstrating the Canada
regional hub for collaboration Green Building Council’s IDEAWORKS Research
on climate action. new Zero Carbon Building Chair in Sustainability is
Standard. established.

7 8 9

Page 05
Climate & Energy
As a leader in our community and the higher education sector, Mohawk is
committed to reducing the college’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that
contribute to climate change. By measuring and reducing GHG emissions,
we improve the sustainability of our college.

Mohawk’s main sources of GHGs come from heating and cooling the
buildings, student and staff commuting, and from using electricity.

Mohawk has made great strides in improving the energy efficiency of

college operations through a combination of facility upgrades, on-site
renewables, effective space planning, and stakeholder engagement.

Key Energy Initiatives

Installation of 3,296 solar panels, enough Extension of Building Automation
to power 130 homes System (BAS)

Efficient lighting upgrades Replacement of one natural gas boiler

with a 1 MW electric boiler and 1 MW
Updated heating, cooling and battery storage
ventilation equipment
Replacement of boilers and generators
Forming of a new Energy Conservation with more efficient and cleaner natural
Committee to lead energy conservation gas burning equipment
initiatives
Page 06
GHG Inventory Results
Mohawk has made significant progress in reducing our Since 2012, the campus’ population has grown
GHG emissions. Since 2007, the college has reduced significantly. While Mohawk has continued to reduce
Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 63%. its GHG emissions on campus, the quantity and share
of emissions from student and staff commuting has
These emissions result directly from college operations (e.g.
risen sharply. This is because the number, length and
heating, cooling, electricity and fleet fuel). This reduction
frequency of commutes has grown.
demonstrates that the college’s investments in green
initiatives are working to create a more sustainable campus. Although transportation is outside the direct control of the
college, Mohawk is committed to measuring, reporting and
supporting programs to reduce Scope 3 emissions caused
GHG Emissions by Source: 2018/2019 by commuting.
Scopes 1 & 2: Owned Scope 3: Not Owned
GHG Emissions over Time: All Sources
Fleet & Emergency Fuel Business Travel, Waste
Electricity & Paper Use 16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

Tonnes of CO2e
8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000
Natural Gas Commuting

0
2007 2012 2018 / 19
Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3
Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3 Change in Scopes 1 & 2 (63% Reduction)

Spotlight on

Centre for Climate

Change Management
at Mohawk College
Supporting the transition to a thriving, low-carbon
economy in the greater Hamilton-Burlington area

Addressing climate change requires unprecedented levels of

collaboration and partnership. Mohawk launched the Centre
for Climate Change Management in late 2017 to connect
industry, community and public sector organizations to co-
create community-centered climate solutions.

The Centre brings together partners to collaborate and

design climate change and sustainability solutions that
improve our neighbourhoods, businesses and public
institutions.

The Centre is uniquely situated at Mohawk College,

enabling connections to applied research, training
solutions, award-winning project managers, experiential
learning programs, and a campus that acts as a living lab
where solutions are piloted and studied on campus.
Page 07
 Buildings & Grounds
Mohawk is committed to providing state-of-the art
equipment and modern facilities that accommodate
growth without increasing our carbon footprint. Since
2009, both the Fennell and Stoney Creek campuses have
undergone significant renewal and growth.

Redesigned as a welcoming place to live and learn,

this renewal has created modernized spaces while
enhancing energy efficiency, barrier-free access
and more.

Facilities like The Joyce Centre for Partnership &

Innovation at Mohawk’s Fennell Campus provide
opportunities for students and researchers to learn from
leading-edge technologies and building design. The
grounds incorporate native planting and climate-resilient
design.

Key Initiatives
High performance Zero Carbon and LEED®
buildings

College-wide facility and infrastructure

upgrades

New 20–30 year Campus Master Plan

(2019) which supports net zero and low
carbon development

Sustainable Landscape Plan (2016) for

enhancing and developing outdoor spaces
in accordance with the principles of
sustainability and climate adaptation

96,700 ft2 2.25 acres of 1st building in 71,705 ft2

Zero Carbon grounds managed with Canada to achieve of LEED® certified
certified building and organic approach dual-certification in buildings
Zero Carbon

Page 08
Spotlight On:

The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation

In August 2018, Mohawk College opened The Joyce Centre

for Partnership & Innovation—a 96,700-square-foot net
zero carbon building.

Highly energy efficient, The Joyce Centre’s solar

photovoltaic (PV) system is designed to generate
721,000 kWh of clean, renewable electricity annually.
A geothermal system heats and cools the building.

The addition of this building supports a growing student

population but does not add any corporate carbon emissions.

1,980 730,00
solar panels installed as part of this project kWh generated annually through solar PV

28 ft 228,000
geothermal wells dug to a depth of 605 ft for liters of rainwater runoff collected through
heating and cooling underground cisterns

115% 460
of energy needed to operate generated in the sensor-controlled LED lights to reduce energy
first year of operations demand

Page 09
Transportation
Transportation, particularly staff and student
commuting, accounts for a significant proportion
of Mohawk’s carbon footprint.

Mohawk partners with Smart Commute Hamilton

to provide Transportation Demand Management
(TDM) programs that reduce single-occupant
vehicle travel to campus.

The college actively promotes carpooling,

bussing, cycling and walking. The Mohawk
Students’ Association (MSA) provides a universal
transit pass to full-time students.

Key Initiatives
Continuation of the Universal Bus Pass for Addition of 16 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging
full-time students stations at Fennell and Stoney Creek campuses

Expansion of the Bike Loan Program to Mohawk College Transit Terminal

13 bikes
Green Fleet Strategy for fleet vehicles
Parking pass sharing for carpoolers

65% of trips 200+ annual 24% of fleet 187 unique users

by sustainable modes participants in campus vehicles electric or of EV charging
of transportation cycling programs hybrid stations in 2019

Green Fleet Strategy

In 2019, Mohawk College implemented a five-year Green
Fleet Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
operating costs associated with fleet vehicles.
By 2024, Mohawk aims to improve fleet fuel efficiency by
20%, reduce fleet associated greenhouse gas emissions
by 20%, ensure 75% of fleet vehicles targeted for
replacement will be a hybrid or electric vehicle, reduce
annual fleet kilometres driven by 10%, and reduce
number of total fleet vehicles by 10%.

Page 10
 Waste
Reducing waste on campus helps us lower our
environmental impact. Benefits include lower
GHG emissions, less plastic pollution, less
waste to landfill, cost savings and less use of
natural resources.

Waste is also one of the more visible dimensions

of sustainability, making it a major concern to
students, employees and the community.

Mohawk is addressing waste across campus

operations through collaboration, behaviour
change programs, and reduction and
recycling initiatives.

Key Initiatives
Continuation of the Single Use Plastics Policy Introduction of PaperCutTM software to reduce
(2013) banning the sale of plastic bags and paper waste
most bottled water
Partnering with Chartwells to replace
Continuation and expansion of water foodservice packaging with recyclable and
bottle refill stations compostable materials

New centralized waste sorting stations at Waste outreach program, anchored by Waste
Fennell and Stoney Creek campuses Reduction Week

Continuation of electronic waste recycling

program

63% 50,000+ 7 million+ 500,000+

diversion of waste pounds of electronic plastic bottles saved plastic bags saved
from landfills in 2019 waste diverted since from use of water refill through campus-wide
2012 stations since 2016 ban since 2013

Centralized Waste
Stations
New centralized waste stations were opened at the
Fennell and Stoney Creek campuses in 2019, creating
a single collection point for waste in the cafeterias.
The new stations place a greater emphasis on sorting
and provide organics bins and rinsing stations to help
reduce contamination in the recycling streams. The
opening of the stations was coupled with an education
program and the introduction of new compostable
packaging in the cafeterias.
Page 11
 Participation
As a college, Mohawk helps prepare Future
Ready students by emphasizing hands-on
learning. Mohawk offers a wide range of
opportunities for students to gain experience
in sustainability and support climate action.

This includes providing volunteering, work

placements, and on-campus employment
opportunities, as well as special events,
training workshops and conferences.

Student and employee participation helps

integrate sustainability into the campus
culture and encourages behaviour change.
Volunteering, work placements and other
forms of participation give Mohawk students
the ability to deepen and apply their
understanding of sustainability principles.

Key Initiatives
“Greening Orientation” activities to engage Co-curricular and volunteer opportunities
new and returning students on Day One offered through Campus to Community

Annual Sustainability Initiatives Fund (SIF) Capstone projects and experiential learning,
Idea Bank campaign encourages students using the campus as a living lab
to share their campus sustainability ideas
Student co-op placements and employment
Partnership with WWF-Canada’s Living with sustainability-focused companies
Planet @ Campus program to support
student leaders

6,000+ 75 pounds of 150+ youth 18 campus

people engaged through electronic waste attended the Bay Area sustainability initiatives
events, talks, tours and diverted since 2012 Climate Change Youth implemented from
outreach in 2019 Summit in March 2019 student ideas since 2015

Greening Orientation
Orientation is among the first experiences Mohawk
students have on campus, setting the stage for future
sustainable behaviours. More than 1,000 incoming
students are provided with a reusable water bottle and
sign the “plastic-free” pledge, committing to reduce
single-use plastics. A waste sorting tent was introduced
at the 2019 orientation, improving waste diversion at
the event and providing an opportunity for incoming
students to learn the habit of sorting their waste.
Page 12
 Food Systems
A sustainable food system strengthens local
production and distribution infrastructures,
and makes nutritious food accessible and
affordable to all.

Mohawk supports sustainable food systems

by working to expand access to local food on
campus, supporting pollinator populations,
promoting the health and environmental
impacts of everyday food choices, and
developing knowledge through hands-on
learning.

Key Initiatives
Expansion of the Community Garden to Local food Farm Stand and Bounty Bag
forty-nine plots programs established

Thirty-six tree fruit orchard established New six-hive honey bee apiary at
in honour of Fennell Campus’ Fennell Campus
agricultural heritage

Annual Thanksgiving at the Farm Stand

event to build awareness and celebrate
local food

300+ annual 10,000 lbs 354 Bounty Bags 300 lbs of

Community Garden of local food and Eat Better Bags food donated to local
participants learn to purchased from the purchased in 2019 food banks in 2019
grow their own food Farm Stand in 2019

Local Food Framework

for Ontario Colleges
Increasing the amount of local food served on
Ontario college campuses is an important opportunity
for colleges to better serve their students and
communities. “Increasing Local Food Procurement
at Ontario’s 24 Colleges” was a multi-stakeholder
project led by Mohawk College in partnership with the
Greenbelt Fund and the Government of Ontario.

The resulting Framework is a step-by-step guide to

increasing local food procurement at Ontario’s 24
colleges, providing templates, tools and resources to
help college and foodservice staff procure, prepare and
promote more local food on campus.
Page 13
 Academics & Applied Research
Mohawk offers students in every discipline
the opportunity to integrate sustainability
into their studies through coursework, applied
research and experiential learning programs.
Many students work on sustainability-focused
applied research projects as part of their
capstone courses, co-ops and part-time jobs.

IDEAWORKS, Mohawk’s applied research hub,

supports innovative research that provides
expertise and support to companies to develop
solutions that improve efficiency and resilience.

Key Initiatives
Energy and Power Innovation Centre Establishment of IDEAWORKS Research
Chair in Sustainability
Establishment of Natural Sciences
Launch of Climate Change Management for
andEstablishment of NSERC Industrial
Business, a free micro-course available to
Research Chair for Internet of Things (IoT)
all students
Additive Manufacturing Innovation Centre

100% 78% 15 industry applied 340+

of academic of research-producing research projects with students participated in
departments offer departments engaged a sustainability focus sustainability-focused
sustainability courses in sustainability through IDEAWORKS capstone projects in
research 2018/2019

Validating the Effectiveness of

an Energy-Efficient LED Light
LED lighting is a standard feature in Canadian buildings
due to their energy efficiency and lower operating
costs. However, as LEDs are DC devices, energy is still
lost when AC power from the grid is used to power the
lights. Burlington-based iLLUMA-Drive developed an
innovative low voltage smart control system (CENSE)
that can reduce the energy that is lost during the AC/
DC power conversion.

iLLUMA-Drive asked Mohawk College’s Energy and

Power Innovation Centre to conduct the validation and
testing of their system. The project results confirmed
that powering LEDs using the CENSE unit provided lower
losses and higher light quality than conventional LEDs.

Research Area Funder

Energy and Power Innovation Centre Ontario Centres of Excellence

Page 14
Spotlight On:

Using the Internet of Things (IoT) to

create a modern smart farm

Smart farming is key for the future of agriculture, as it

provides the agricultural industry with the infrastructure
to leverage advanced technology—including big data, the
cloud and the internet of things (IoT)—for tracking,
monitoring, automating and analyzing operations.

As champions of sustainable agriculture, Schuyler

Farms Limited in Simcoe, ON invest heavily in a
number of environmentally friendly, sustainable
farming operations, such as strip tilling and
rotational grazing.

The owners of the farm were interested in exploring if

technology could make their farm more sustainable, by
preventing the spread of fungal disease in their apples
and reducing crop waste and pesticide usage.

The research team at Mohawk College’s Sensor

Systems and Internet of Things (IoT) lab
developed a software system that could be used
in conjunction with a number of small, localized
weather stations at the farm.

These weather stations are able to monitor the

moisture levels on the leaves of the apple, calculating
the risk of a fungal infection and alerting the farm
where and when localized spraying is necessary.

The collaboration with Mohawk College has

helped Schuyler Farms Limited improve the
quality of their apples, reduce food waste, and
lower their maintenance and monitoring costs.

Research Area Funder

Energy and Power Innovation Centre Ontario Centres of Excellence

Page 15
About Mohawk
Mohawk College has been providing a quality, higher education experience to students in Hamilton, Ontario and the
surrounding area since 1967. The college educates and serves more than 31,700 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and
international students at three main campuses, and at learning hubs across Hamilton.

Mohawk is among the leading colleges in Canada for applied research. It has been named one of Canada’s greenest
employers for six years in a row, and is also home to the country’s largest net zero energy institutional building. More than
120,000 people have graduated from Mohawk since it was founded.

Land Acknowledgment
Mohawk College derives its name from the Mohawk Nation, one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The
Confederacy marks a union of peace and friendship, and Mohawk College honours that union by recognizing the Six Nations
of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

We acknowledge that the territories on which Mohawk College and its campuses are situated are governed by the Between
the Lakes Treaty, the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement, and the Upper Canada Treaty Agreement. These
agreements are binding to this day and represent our mutual commitment to maintain healthy, reciprocal and respectful
relationships with the many Indigenous nations and peoples of this area. We acknowledge this and iterate our dedication to
inclusivity, to friendship and to valuing the ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples and communities.

Learning. Living. Leading.™ Sustainability at Mohawk

mohawkcollege.ca/sustainability

905-575-1212

/mohawkcollege /@MohawkCollege /mohawk.college Mohawk College Official