Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Wilfrid Laurier University is embracing clean energy practices, promoting energy efficiency, conducting research, integrating sustainability into education, engaging with the community and adopting a holistic approach to sustainable energy solutions in our efforts to advance SDG 7.
The work that Laurier completed in 2023 to advance SDG 7.
For the fifth year in row, Laurier was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. The national recognition reflects Laurier’s continued commitment to its sustainability-focused programs and initiatives, progress in reducing its carbon footprint, and the degree to which sustainability has become a part of Laurier’s workplace culture, spanning operations, academics and community partnerships.
Laurier's Enactus team claimed the national title at the Enactus National Exposition. A total of 44 teams competed from across Canada at the event held May 1 to 3 in Montreal. Enactus Laurier was represented by student-run enterprises including Kuponya Innovations, which is building affordable, sustainable tiny homes in remote Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories. The homes will be constructed from structural insulated panels that upcycle more than 40,000 plastic water bottles per home. Unlike traditionally built homes, these tiny homes can be assembled in days rather than months and are built on climate-resilient ground screw foundations. Kuponya Innovations’ homes also incorporate Passive House and Net Zero principles into their designs to lower operating costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Led by undergraduate students dedicated to creating social change through innovation and entrepreneurship, Laurier's Enactus team was awarded the 2023 Hazelview Sustainable Cities Project Accelerator Best Project title at the 2023 Enactus Canada National Exposition Opening Ceremony.
Adjusting humidity levels makes up most of the energy consumption in HVAC systems, the biggest energy user in a building. A Laurier-based research team suspects that the higher humidity levels on the first floor are due to more exposure to outside weather conditions, especially when both doors of the entrance are open at the same time.
Laurier research centres advancing SDG 7.
The Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) is an interdisciplinary and community-engaged research centre striving to be a catalyst and nexus for the transition toward strong cultures of sustainability. The centre understands cultures of sustainability “as characterized by shared values, symbols, rituals and practices grounded in sustainability principles leading to individual and societal choices that promote environmental protection, social justice and well-being, and a supportive economy." A culture of sustainability may exist within an organization, a building with multiple organizations or a community.
The Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability facilitates and coordinates research related to business and environmental sustainability. The centre ensures regular communication between researchers and practitioners, including strategic decision-makers in the local sustainability community. Located in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Laurier, the centre hosts seminars, conferences and roundtables to discuss relevant topics aligned with practitioner needs and assists in disseminating research findings in a timely fashion to those who can use them.
The Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Modelling in Scientific Discovery, Innovation and Sustainability (MS2Discovery) connects researchers working in mathematical and statistical modelling in various disciplines, from natural sciences and technology to finance, business and economics, and social sciences. MS2Discovery strives to create a dynamic and engaging environment conducive to interdisciplinary research, collaboration and communication.
Laurier initiatives in 2023 that advanced SDG 7.
Today’s climate of environmental challenges demand an ever-evolving approach to raise awareness and inspire action to create a more sustainable future. Laurier’s Sustainability Office is committed to this mission. Through projects that span operations, education and community partnerships, our goal is to create a culture where sustainability is embedded into university life.
As a leading postsecondary educational institution and a responsible corporate citizen, Laurier is committed to practicing environmental sustainability through education and corporate practices, and balancing future growth with the protection of the environment. Implementing a strategic ECDM Plan addresses the interconnected issues of indoor environmental quality, energy use and facility operations. Our goal is to continuously monitor our current practices so that maximum operating efficiency can be reached and resources can be allocated more appropriately to serve our community.
Discover how Laurier is contributing to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets.
