[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/erc.jpg” caption=”McMaster’s Environmental Report Card”]McMaster has received a glowing report card for its impact on the environment.

A new McMaster Environmental Report Card, that measures solid waste, hazardous waste, air quality, energy, transportation, water and groundskeeping at the University, has received high ratings for having met most of its goals in these areas related to ensuring McMaster's commitment to sustainable development and environmental practices.

The report card was developed by the McMaster Environmental Steering Committee, which implements, monitors and assesses the principles set out in the policy. The committee is composed of students, staff, faculty and alumni and meets quarterly.

The Committee used the Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework (CSAF) to help guide the development of the report card. The CSAF is a model that has been implemented at other university campuses to set specific targets for continuous reduction in environmental impact. Each element of the SCAF is comprised of a different number of indicators that were selected to help identify universities' practices in each particular area.

“At the beginning of the year the Environmental Steering Committee established targets to shoot for in each one of those categories,” says Bob Dunn, chair of the Environmental Steering Committee. “At the end of the year we took a snapshot of what was happening and we did our own evaluation of whether or not we met our targets. Some got a lower ranking because we didn't hit the mark, while some were met and others exceeding our targets. Overall, however, I think we achieved well over 80 per cent of what our targets were.”

Dunn feels the report card is a good reference point for future environmental initiatives. “Not only does it show we are energy conscious, it shows we're actively trying improve the environment,” he says. “We use new equipment that has to be at a certain efficiency rating, we buy better, more efficient equipment that are better received by the environment for all new buildings, and we purchase products that are recycled or 'green', without compromising the strength or feasibility of the product.”

Every year, new targets will be established and then reviewed and reported on. New categories could be added in subsequent years.
To see the results of the report card visit http://www.mcmaster.ca/envcomm/erc2005.pdf