Sustainability Tips – November
The UNA is committed to providing leadership, education and support services to promote a sustainable community life.
PICK-UP WALKS
Pick-Up Walks is a stewardship program of self-organized walks where community members actively participate in keeping our neighbourhoods tidy. This program encourages residents to explore new places in their neighbourhoods and participate in a practices that is good for their health, the community, and the environment.
All safety information, and pick-up supplies are provided. Participants are also provided with conversation cards that encourage interesting conversation around the environment and our communitiy.
Participants can do a one-time walk, or commit to monthly walks and receive a recognition sign in the community.
WASTE REDUCTION
Green Depot
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.
Green Depot
The 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.
Upcoming Event:
Sunday, Sept 29, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wesbrook Community Centre
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.
Upcoming event:
Sunday, Sept 29, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wesbrook Community Centre
Community Yard Sales
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.
SUSTAINABILITY TIPS
TRANSPORTATION
BIKE SHARE
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.
Reduced rates for residents
HOPR’s pricing model includes monthly and annual plans with reduced rates for student/faculty/staff and residents. Residents will be required to submit their postal code to receive this rate.
- Monthly Plan: $15
- Annual Plan: $129
Restricted bike parking
Bike parking will be restricted, which will keep bikes in specific parking locations and prevent bike abandonment.
For more information, visit the HOPR website.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
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.
CAR SHARE
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 vehicles on the road reduces the community’s emissions of greenhouse gases.
Walk n’ Roll
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.
FOOD SUSTAINABILITY
The UNA has four community gardens, providing families and community members with the opportunity to produce their own food (as local as it gets!). Our gardens follow organic practices, which reduces harmful effects on the surrounding environment.
Mason Bee Project
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!
Collaboration with the UBC Seeds Lending Library
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.
COLLABORATION
Research and Education
The UNA has partnered with UBC Sustainability’s SEEDS program to advance UBC’s strategic plans and priorities.
Energy Reduction
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.
People: Community is strengthened. Connectivity within a society increases at a local scale, while social conditions are improved, globally.
Planet: The natural environment is protected and enhanced. Environmental effects are considered within all decisions.
Profit: Economic prosperity increases. Financial success is not compromised, but supports and is bolstered by environmental and social priorities.
We are continuously working to advance our practices and services to reduce our environmental impact, while increasing the economic and social wellness of our community members. We strive to make it easier and more accessible for community members to incorporate sustainable practices into their own lives.
UNA follow the triple-bottom-line approach and considers sustainability as the balance between social, economic, as well as environmental factors.