Sustainable Development Goals
program, donor awards and government support, as well supporting our employees with a standard above minimum wage. The university further offers a cross-faculty minor in sustainability to promote educator leaders for the future, in hopes to minimize poverty on a global scale.
Ontario Tech has a community garden in which excess produce is donated back to local food banks and soup kitchens for those in need.
Ontario Tech further carries on a variety of food donation drives.
Ontario Tech emphasizes its efforts of water conservation through exceptional grey water and storm water systems.
Research on clean water and sanitation is also conducted, including Stormwater management.
Ontario Tech has a variety of energy conservation and clean energy strategies. Theres include
Solar Panels
- Ontario Tech has solar panels located at 61 Charles, CERL, SIRC, West Colonnade of Polonsky Commons, and at the Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability.
- These panels generated over 2254800 kwhs in 2019 alone.
Geothermal System
- Ontario Tech has the largest geothermal system in Canada, with 1500 tonne Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System.
- This system links to the buildings to minimize heating, ventiliation and air conditioning demands on these buildings.
Phase Change Material (PCM)
- Phase Change Material is a non-toxic, naturally occuring substance insulation with a thermal capacity of 100btu's per square foot minimizing the energy consumption of these buildings even further.
Ontario Tech also includes a variety of energy efficient features, including vegetative roofs, solar shading, natural lighting, and more.
Ontario Tech recieved the Healthy Workplace Award (Gold) in 2016. Through the Healthy Workplace Committee, and the inclusion of a gym pass in tuition, Ontario Tech promotes a healthy environment for students, staff and faculty. This includes Mental health services, health resources, Campus Connected, and events such as Yoga in the Park, We Grow Trees, Ontario Tech Community Garden, Yoga in the Dark and more!
Ontario Tech further provides students work opportunities on campus.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Initiatives On Campus - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
The office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability promotes sustainability infrastructure throughout campus and a strong emphasis on innovation through out institute.
Sustainable Infrastructure includes:
Solar Panels
- Ontario Tech has solar panels located at 61 Charles, CERL, SIRC, West Colonnade of Polonsky Commons, and at the Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability.
- These panels generated over 2254800 kwhs in 2019 alone.
Geothermal System
- Ontario Tech has the largest geothermal system in Canada, with 1500 tonne Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System.
- This system links to the buildings to minimize heating, ventilation and air conditioning demands on these buildings.
LED Lighting Retrofits
- Each building is designed around a central atrium providing natural light to all floors, however additional high efficiency LED retrofits were done in each building.
This also includes consultation with OCIS prior to RFPs, continuing energy retrofits, upkeeping building standards and more.
Ontario Tech is an Employer Partner with the Canadian Centre of Diversity and Inclusion, which provides a variety of resources, and has a Diversity and Equity Committee on campus.
Ontario Tech offers cultural competence training and activities available to all students, staff and faculty.
Additionally, Ontario Tech has a Presidents Equity Taskforce, focusing on groups most likely to experience barriers, such as indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ persons, racialized persons and women to promote equity, diversity and inclusion.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Initiatives On Campus - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production
Initiatives On Campus - Responsible Consumption and Production
Ontario Tech has a variety of consumption standards, including E-waste management, Ink cartridge, pen and battery recycling programs, as well as ensuring appropriate disposal of metal and lightbulbs throughout campus.
Ontario Tech additionally has Step Forward Paper; an 80% tree-free and chlorine free paper from agricultural waste. The institution also installed 32 hydration stations, and gives reusable water bottles to each campus member to reduce single-use plastic bottles in landfills.
Ontario Tech enforces Green Procurement Goods and Services policies.
Ontario Tech Blue team runs Thrift Swap to reduce waste and give to those in need.
Ontario Tech promotes life on land through natural landscaping practices, nature cleanups and the Campus Apiary.
Campus Apiary
- There are currently over 40 beehives at the Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability. Bees are a keystone species, and therefore support of honey bees supports the surrounding environment as well. These are supported through pollinator friendly habitats and foods, such as our wildflower gardens on campus.
Tree Nursery
- Our tree nursery is home to a variety of native coniferous and deciduous trees. With the Ontario 50 million tree program, Forest Ontario and Ethic Tree we planted 7520 trees in 2019 alone.
Ontario Tech promotes Peace and Justice thorough a variety of social justice related guest speakers through each department.
Ontario Tech also offers a Political Science degree in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. This interdisciplinary major draws on faculty strengths in political science,
sociology, public policy, history, geography, philosophy, legal studies and economics
to give you a multidisciplinary integrated background.
