yvonne kwok

It’s five o’clock in the morning, snow has been falling for a few hours in Vancouver and slowly accumulating on the roads across the city. Building Operations crews are already brining, salting and plowing roads and pathways on the Vancouver campus but the staff on the call know students will wake up to snow and ask — are my classes or exams cancelled?

Every action counts! This holiday season help save energy as part of UBC’s Seasonal Shutdown, which lowers the temperature in buildings during the winter break to reduce energy use and emissions on campus.

The weather outside is cooling down, which means its time to wear warmer layers and close our windows to stay comfortable and save energy over the winter.

This year, several members of the VPFO team were recognized in particular for their outstanding contribution to the organization through the President’s Staff Awards. Manjit Sound, a Head Service Worker in the Custodial Services unit, was singled out for his ability to foster positive work environments and experiences, and the admirable leadership he demonstrates in his work.

Energy & Water Services had an operational need to provide heat to the university community and reduce emissions, and researchers in the Faculty of Applied Sciences had an interest in generating new ideas about how to do it efficiently. Together, they were able to create and demonstrate a system that not only reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, but also created operational efficiencies and saved money.