Campus Sustainability Office - What we are doing

Land Use

Academic architecture is in fact a kind of crystallized pedagogy.

                 ~ David Orr~

The University’s Land Use Planning Policy addresses land use planning, landscape design and construction, grounds maintenance, cleaning practices, and new building construction projects.  The policy aims to reduce and eventually eliminate negative impacts associated with these practices.

The University’s Physical Plant (responsible for landscaping, grounds maintenance, and cleaning) and the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation (responsible for new building projects) take a leading role in helping the University meet these goals.  

In 2011/2012, Land Use Planning priorities are to:

• Monitor performance of new LEED buildings (McFeetors’ Hall, Buhler Centre, Richardson College for the Environment, and the new childcare facility).
• Ensure LEED standards are met with ongoing building projects (Field House).
• Finalize plan and begin work on existing building retrofits.
• Ensure that green cleaning practices and provisions are maintained in existing buildings and included in cleaning contracts for new buildings as they are commissioned.

Since 2005, the University:

• Began using xeriscaping techniques on 100% of the University’s landscaped areas.
• Established green cleaning practices and products into its cleaning contract.
• Has required that all new building projects target at minimum LEED Silver with an emphasis on energy efficiency.