Project requirements & ideas

Microclimate studies – weather stations installation

Install weather stations to monitor localized climate changes and test adaptation strategies.

Biodiversity monitoring via air quality sensors

Monitor the impacts of vegetation cover on campus air quality.

Heat-resilient landscaping

Test native or drought-tolerant plants to reduce water use while maintaining campus greenery.

Emergency preparedness response

Simulate extreme weather events to refine campus resilience and update emergency response plans.

Climate risk assessment  

Perform a climate risk, vulnerability and resilience assessment in order to assess Concordia’s ability to withstand and adapt to climate change and its physical and community impacts.  

Pollinator gardens

Conversion of existing ornamental gardens into pollinator gardens featuring native perennial species. Monitor newly planted areas to document effects on pollinator species.

Pollinator meadows

Establish pollinator-meadow zones, considering the Campus Master Plan. Compare pollinator species and herbivore insect communities between areas intentionally seeded with native species and spontaneous vegetation.

Tree mapping and ecosystem services calculator

Create a geographic information system (GIS) map of campus trees and develop a calculator to estimate ecosystem services (such as carbon storage, stormwater retention and pollution removal) based on tree growth.

Green roofs – container garden project

Pilot a container garden project on EV.11, pending approval of a Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding request, to enhance living wall/green roof research.

Bird-friendly buildings

Assess campus buildings using FLAP assessment tool, use citizen science to monitor bird strikes, adapt bird-friendly design standards and run awareness campaigns.

Wildlife-friendly lighting assessment

Assess the impact of outdoor lighting on wildlife and integrate findings into broader biodiversity monitoring studies.

Motus tower wildlife monitoring on HB roof (Loyola Campus)

Monitor tagged wildlife passing within range of the HB roof antenna to better understand Loyola Campus’s positions within wildlife migration patterns.

Renewable energy integration

• Install renewable energy prototypes (solar, wind, geothermal). 
• Assess the use of the existing Future Buildings Laboratory (old Solar House). 
• Explore the transformation of the unplugged solar wall at MB building.

Real-time sustainability analytics dashboard

Develop an integrated dashboard tracking sustainability metrics using existing JOOL cloud-based data from Facilities Management.

Student research partnerships for live campus data

Enhanced student research through accessible, real-time data.

Smart campus technology implementation

Implement Internet of Things (IoT) devices to monitor lighting, temperature and occupancy for optimized resource management.

Scope 3 GHG emission calculations

Assist in the implementation of a methodology to calculate our Scope 3 emissions from purchasing and other sources.

Bicycle infrastructure pilot

Introduce and evaluate bike lanes, racks and secure bike parking solutions. Test temporary bike lanes per the Loyola Campus Master Plan and install modular secure bike parking.

Electric bike stations

Evaluate and install e-bike stations in collaboration with BIXI while developing a business case to address a prior $10K funding gap.

Sustainable mobility tool

Electronic boards installed on both campuses or app to give real-time information about sustainable mobility options.

EV charging stations pilot project

Install and test various electric vehicle (EV) chargers to assess their impact on EV adoption. Evaluate current usage of the existing stations to better inform future targets and scenarios.

Mackay Street pedestrianization

Within the scope of the Concordia’s Campus Master lan, test pedestrianization of Mackay Street between Maisonneuve and Sherbrooke.

Transportation campaign  

Develop a communications and education campaign to increase the use of public and active transport.

Stormwater management strategies

Develop rain gardens or permeable pavements to manage stormwater runoff and prevent flooding. Measure rainwater absorption in biodiversity/tree surveys.

Water consumption reduction and smart water use systems

• Evaluate our current water consumption rate and define water reduction strategies. 
• Evaluate existing and upcoming regulations in relation to water consumption.
• Test smart irrigation systems to optimize water usage and improve the rainwater collection system at LOY-PS in collaboration with campus garden groups.

Greywater recycling pilot project

Pilot greywater reuse systems in student residences or cafeterias for non-potable uses.

Adaptive reuse of underutilized building spaces and outdoor spaces

Transform underutilized buildings and outdoor areas (e.g., potential outdoor classrooms at Loyola Campus’s north border) into functional spaces.

Equipment-sharing platform

• Analyze our usage of space, hardware, software and machinery/equipment. 
• Develop an integrated plan to maximize shared use of space, hardware and materials, and promote use of open-source software and processes. Pilot with Faculty of Fine Arts spaces.

Campus-wide composting enhancement

Enhance composting by reviewing service contracts and supporting micro-composting initiatives (e.g., Black Soldier Fly composting, worm composting at MB alley, yard waste composting and collaboration with garden groups).

Waste auditing and tracking 

Conduct waste audits to identify inefficiencies, inform on area-specific interventions to address the particular material-disposal problems and propose improvements.

Construction waste management tools

Implement tools to measure and assess construction waste, as well as potential options for reuse, starting with an ongoing project.

Salvaging of waste and promoting circular economy

Promote the salvaging of waste (including e-waste) and promote circular economy structures for researchers and students to exchange tools.

Machine learning for waste reduction  

Support development of algorithmic approaches to track and drive reuse at the Concordia University Centre for Creative Reuse (CUCCR), for detection of waste to help with waste tracking and waste-sorting education.

Create new signage for waste bins in the Faculty of Fine Arts

• Survey on what currently does/does not work. Integration into Facilities renewal process.
• Survey on impact/effectiveness post-implementation and expand to the entire university.

Waste education campaign  

A campus-wide educational effort to encourage waste reduction and sorting efforts is needed. The campaign should focus on uncovering current motivations, understanding, systemic challenges and promoting tailored messaging based on these results.

Becoming campuses that promote health and wellbeing  

Conduct a needs and opportunities assessment: Map existing health-promoting initiatives and practices taking place at Concordia, improving the feasibility, sustainability and reach of our proposed program.

Indoor air quality monitoring

Install sensors in university spaces to analyze the impact of air quality on student performance.

Faculty mentorship program

Create a voluntary mentorship program between junior and senior professors, staff and students across departments.

Toolbox sustainability initiative incubation and impact tracking  

Create a toolbox to support local sustainability initiative incubation and impact tracking. Include carbon counters, an IT usage sensibilization guide, various tools, best practices, recognized sustainability programs by discipline and metrics for progress evaluation.

Decarbonize and transform the logics of the campus food system 

Plan and implement a socially and ecologically just and integrated “farm-to-plate” model for the campus food system. 

Urban agriculture on campus 

Support existing urban agriculture projects and develop a collaborative framework for the evaluation and implementation of new projects. 

Increase culturally inclusive food options 

Consult our community to find ways and resources to increase our culturally inclusive food options and to support Indigenous food sovereignty. 

Food sourcing 

Review Food Services Request for Proposals (RFP) to increase the requirement for the proportion of total food purchases that qualify as local/sustainable food.