Energy & Emissions

SFU is committed to institutional energy savings and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. In order to achieve our goals, the university not only relies on operational changes, but behavioural changes as well.

Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In 2010, SFU committed itself to institutional energy savings goals as a means to support the Sustainability Policy. Since that year, we have been measuring, reporting and offsetting the university’s operation GHG emissions. Our commitments are to:

  • Reduce total energy consumption by a minimum of 2% per year
  • Develop achievable and practical plans to achieve our reduction goals
  • Support the provincial government’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33% below 2007 levels by 2020, to achieve the goal of 80% reduction by 2050
  • Implement a rigorous measurement and verification procedure, and strive to be fully accountable for our actions
  • Exercise leadership in engaging the university community to contribute to saving energy through behavioural change and educational events

SFU has also been working towards a provincial interim target of 18% below 2007 emission levels by 2016, which it exceeded in the 2014 calendar year.

energy and emissions

Buildings are SFU’s greatest source of operational emissions. As such, they provide the greatest possibility for substantial reductions in the university’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Breakdown by Source

96.6%Stationary Fuel Consumption (Building Heating and Generators) and Electricity
1.8%Mobile Fuel Consumotion (Fleet and other mobile equipment, biomass)
1.6%Supplies (Paper)

SFU will work to minimize its consumption of non-renewable energy, minimize water consumption and contamination, reduce the quantity of solid, organic and hazardous wastes it produces, enhance the ecological integrity of our grounds and employ sustainable building design and construction principles wherever possible.” — Sustainability Policy – GP 38

Total Energy Use

In 2014, SFU Facilities Services adopted the Strategic Energy Management Plan 2013/14-2015/16 (SEMP), supporting SFU’s Sustainability Strategic Plan, Sustainability Policy (GP 38) and the University’s commitments to long-term energy efficiency and conservation. The SEMP provides a framework for minimizing energy consumption, building on past successes and providing direction for the next three years to meet the University’s commitment to reduce the energy consumption of the Burnaby campus by 2% per year.

Maintaining efficient buildings is key to managing the University’s GHG emissions. SFU manages demand through the systematic “tuning-up” of buildings and by implementing retrofits to older building systems (e.g., HVAC, lighting). Retrofitting is done in conjunction with expanding and improving behaviour change programs designed to make students, faculty and staff better ‘energy tenants’ in campus buildings.

Energy & Emissions

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SFU Sustainability Office
Burnaby Campus
Strand Hall Annex
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC
Canada
V5A 156
SFU Sustainability Office
Vancouver Campus
Harbour Centre, Room 102
515 W Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada
V6B 5K3