UNBC - Canada's Green University

While the campus is a showpiece for natural materials, its capacity for being green goes far beyond aesthetics. Connectivity of the main campus buildings enables efficient distribution of heat, air conditioning, electricity, telecommunications, and water. A utility corridor links the main campus buildings to a central power plant and provides the infrastructure necessary for UNBC to make the transition to green energy sources.

Watch a video about Canada's Green University, produced by the BC Government.

Successes

	UNBC is the first university in BC to receive an award from Philips for its energy-efficient lighting. The campus has 33,000 fluorescent lights.
	UNBC's campus in Quesnel has been built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold standard and uses only 34% of the energy and 59% of the water than a building of the same size built to regular specifications.
	Variable-speed drives and new air cooling equipment have been installed. The goal is a 40% reduction in gas consumption.
	The thousands of windows around the campus allow for passive solar heating in winter. Plus, their insulation value is equivalent to a 2x4 insulated wall.
	Not one building is taller than the surrounding trees, ensuring a close connection with nature.
	The new Northern University Student Centre is being built largely from previously used materials. All of the doors, lights and toilets are being brought in from elsewhere.
	Sustainability is a core principle of the campus plan.

UNBC Power Plant

Click to view a diagram of the efficient means by which heat is conducted through the Prince George Campus.

Bioenergy
UNBC is on its way to becoming the first university in Canada to be powered largely with renewable energy. Recently, the goal came closer to becoming a reality as UNBC received $3.5 million from the BC Government’s Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) fund to go towards the project.

Green Stories

Let us know about courses, research, student activities, and campus improvements that are helping to make UNBC more green. Email communications@unbc.ca.