Sustainability
The UNA is committed to providing leadership, education and support services to promote a sustainable community life.
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NOTICE: UNA facilities are currently closed and service operations have been suspended due to COVID-19.
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Community is strengthened. As connectivity within a society increases at a local scale, social conditions are improved globally.
The natural environment is protected and enhanced. Environmental effects are considered within all decisions.
Economic prosperity increases. Financial success supports and is bolstered by environmental and social priorities.
The Green Depot offers an easy and accessible way for UNA and UBC Community members to responsibly dispose of a wide-variety of waste not accepted by residential waste recycling services.
Learn MoreThe Green Depot accepts all clean clothing and textiles, including rips and worn clothing and odd socks and shoes. Items are donated to Development Disabilities Association (DDA). DDA sells the items to Value Village and the funds are used towards their programs and services.
Clothing Fix-it Events
These free, drop-in events are hosted by Frameworq and the UNA. Supplies and skills to fix your favoutire garments are provided. The goals of this event is to divert textiles from the landfill and to pass on valuable repair skills.
Clothing Swaps
Clothing swaps are a chance for community members to pass on items they no longer want, as well as to pick up new ones from the other donations.
Yard Sales encourages community members to reduce unnecessary production and waste, by reusing and extending the life of material goods. The Yard Sales are one way in which the UNA builds community and reduces environmental and economic waste. The more hands an item passes through, the more environmental and economic value it provides. Reusing items keeps materials out of the landfills and oceans, and decreases costs associated with purchasing and disposing of multiple, new items.
Yard Sales are held annually, in both Hampton Place and Wesbrook Place.
A new bikeshare program launched in July 2019 at the university campus and neighbourhoods. The bikeshare company – HOPR – shares a parent company with Mobi by Shaw Go in the City of Vancouver.
The launch started with 100 bikes and will expand to 200 bikes in September 2019.
For more information, visit the HOPR website.
Free charging is available to all Electric Vehicle (EV) users, through the UNA’s collaboration with BC Hydro’s Electric Vehicle Charging Initiative. By providing this service, the UNA is making it practical to own an EV or hybrid vehicle, significantly reducing the production of carbon emissions.
The UNA has designated parking stalls for car-share vehicles throughout its neighbourhoods. This priority parking encourages community members to participate in car-share programs. This reduction in the number of vehicles on the road reduces the community’s emissions of greenhouse gases.
Every year, the UNA and UTown@UBC team up to bring Walk’n Roll School Celebration week. Community volunteers lead a ‘walking-school-bus’ and a ‘bike train’ from each of the UNA neighbourhoods to the local elementary schools. These events encourage biking and walking to school and provide kids and parents with the education and the confidence to do so.
Mason bee structures and nests have been installed at Rhodo Community Garden, Hawthorn Community Garden, as well as the Children’s Garden at Old Barn Community Centre. These nests were built by families who participated in the UNA’s Mason bee nest-building workshop, run by community members. With these nests, we are supporting the native pollinators and the local plant populations!
The Seeds Lending Library is a free resource that eliminates the need for gardeners to purchase new seeds. The Lending Library also provides opportunities to learn about gardening, seed saving, and agricultural research and teaching at UBC. The Lending Library has participated in UNA community events, offering its services and expertise to UNA gardeners.
The UNA has partnered with UBC Sustainability’s SEEDS program to advance UBC’s strategic plans and priorities.
The UNA’s collaboration with Strata Energy Advisory Program provides strata buildings the opportunity to receive a free building energy assessment and recommendations on how to reduce their energy use and associated costs.
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