Campaigns
The sustainability office runs several annual campaigns, if you have a suggestion for a campaign or would like to get involved please contact us at action@uvic.ca.
Climate action campaigns
Limit your minutes Campaign
Did you know...
- heating water uses 15-20% of the total energy in an average home.
- the average student in residence uses 70 litres of water PER DAY!
- when asked, most people underestimate their average shower length by THREE MINUTES!
- frequent, hot showers can lead to dry, itchy skin.
There are many benefits to shorter showers. Limit your minutes, UVic - and help save water, save energy, and save time!
Limit Your minutes challenge - Take the pledge!
Do you live in Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ or Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ? Join the UVic student residence Limit Your Minutes Challenge and help reduce energy consumption, water use, and carbon emissions—all by taking shorter showers! Running from January 31 – February 21, 2025, this challenge encourages campus residents to rethink their shower habits while learning about the environmental benefits of saving hot water.
Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ and Sŋéqə ʔéʔlə residents can pledge to shorten their showers by 2–3 minutes or aim for a quick 6-minute shower. Small changes can make a big difference—cutting down shower times reduces water waste, lowers energy use, and is safer for your skin!Here’s how it works:
- Make a pledge to reduce your shower time.
- Take Action!! Reduce your shower length by 2-3 minutes, or try to stick to a 6 minute shower.
To keep you inspired, we’ll share energy-saving tips, stats, and real-time updates throughout the challenge.
You’ll not only make an impact but also have the chance to win one of ten $100 grocery store gift cards! Contest open for students living in Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ and Sŋéqə ʔéʔlə only.
Ready to take the pledge and save water, energy, and the planet? Stay tuned for updates and start tracking your showers!
For more information or to participate, contact us at action@uvic.ca. Let’s make every minute count!
UVic staff earth day pledge
Last Earth Day, April 22nd 2023, Uvic Staff and Faculty on campus were supported on making a pledge! Climate Action has been defined as a top priority in the recently released Climate and Sustainability Action Plan (CSAP 2030).
Purchasing and food campaigns
Fairtrade campus week
Fairtrade Campus Week is an opportunity to celebrate, educate, and promote the Fairtrade movement and Fairtrade certified products on Campuses across Canada! We partner wish students, volunteers, food services and local Fairtrade producers to plan activities and projects to raise awareness on the topic.
Did you know that UVic is designated as a Fairtrade Campus? As a consumer, you can have a positive impact on the environment by choosing to buy ethical products that are fairtrade but also by choosing to buy plant-based foods that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
Activities:
- Stay tuned!
Transportation campaigns
Employee e-bike loan pilot program
The 2-year pilot program will provide 100 eligible Uvic employees with an interest-free loan of up to $3,000 towards the purchase of an E-bike. Loans will be re-paid over a 2-year period by payroll deduction, to cover the cost or partial cost of their E-bike purchase.
The OPCS received approval for $13,500 in funding through the Strategic Framework Impact Fund in Fall 2020 to cover the cost of the internal loan's (max. $300,000) interest over the 2-year period.
- Available to all regular, continuing staff and faculty
- Participants will be asked to complete a 3 minute survey
The pilot program has officially launched! If you'd like to learn more about the pilot program and how to apply for pre-approval, check out the project webpage.
Go by bike week / bike to work week
For Go By Bike Week, UVic joins Capital Bike to host a series of events to celebrate cycling as a safe, healthy, fun and convenient way to get around the city. It is an excellent excuse to enjoy good exercise and fresh air, and take climate action!
When: Sept. 23 - Oct. 06, 2024
How to register
Visit the GoByBike website to sign up and register for the event and to get more information on the events happening around victoria. Once you've got your team registered, email the team name to action@uvic.ca so we can track our progress collectively as a university!FALL 2024 UVic celebration station
- Wednesday October 2nd at PETCH FOUNTAIN from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Drop by to celebrate cycling, grab a snack and coffee, get your bike tuned up, and get prepped for summer cycling by entering our table raffle prize draw.
- There will be celebration stations set up around the city for you to visit as you bike!
Prizes
- Draws for team leaders
- Newbie biking prize for a new participant - newbie name draw
- Celebration Station Raffle Prize Draw
Lighten up
The end of Daylight Savings Time can sneak up on us, each year on the Monday after the clocks "fall back," we give out free bike lights to cyclists who are riding without any lights. At the end of the school day we'll be out on campus to help you Lighten Up!
When? TBD
#ShareTheSpace
To help make sure UVic stays both pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, please #sharethespace!
"Shared Space and Safety" is Strategy 2 of the Campus Cycling Plan. In the shared space model, the pedestrian is considered the primary path user and has the right of way at all times. In the future, UVic will establish designated slow zones within Ring Road to keep both pedestrians and cyclists safe.
Tips for cyclists:
- Yield to pedestrians
- Slow down
- Leave room while passing
- Use a bike bell
- Use hand signals
- Dismount in congested areas
When? This is an ongoing campaign, #sharethespace is year round!
Waste reduction campaigns
Love-a-Mug week
During UVic's Love-a-Mug Week, we encourage you to reduce waste and break up with your paper cup and love your mug. Look out for the UVic Green team and Muggo, if they see you carrying a reusable mug they will give you a coupon for a free coffee or tea!
When? TBD
Energy campaigns
Green labs
The Green Labs program is run in partnership with the Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, and Facilities Management departments. The program runs energy reduction, chemical substitution, lab glassware recycling, and mercury thermometer replacement projects.
See the OHS website for more details.
When? Ongoing, contact our office at action@uvic.ca to get involved!
Holiday shutdown
Did you know that office electronics continue to draw energy even when they are turned off, yet still plugged in? This is known as the standby power and when added together this could account for approximately 10% of the university's energy consumption!
You can help reduce your department's standby power by participating in the Holiday Device Shutdown!
When? December 25th - January 2 (or when you leave for holiday)