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.
Transportation campaigns
Go By Bike Week at UVic
Leave the car at home and join the UVic community in celebrating Go By Bike Week from September 19 to 26.
Whether you ride a bike, trike, scooter, unicycle, or rollerblades, every active trip counts. By logging your rides throughout the week, you'll be entered to win prizes while helping reduce emissions, improve air quality, and support a healthier campus community.
Ready to ride? Register and log your trips through the GoByBike website.
Visit UVic's Celebration Station
Stop by the UVic Celebration Station on Wednesday, September 23, from 8 a.m. to noon to:
- Enjoy free coffee and cycling-themed treats
- Connect with fellow riders
- Learn about active transportation options at UVic
- Enter to win exclusive prizes available only at this event
New to cycling or active transportation? Go By Bike Week is a great opportunity to try a new way of getting around, whether you're commuting to campus, running errands, or exploring the community.
Lighten up
The end of Daylight Savings Time can sneak up on us, each Fall Go By Bike Week, we give out free bike lights to cyclists who are riding without any lights. At the end of the school day, make sure you Lighten Up!
#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!
Employee e-bike loan pilot program (Inactive)
The Employee E-Bike Loan Pilot Program was a pilot initiative that provided eligible UVic employees with access to interest-free loans of up to $3,000 to support the purchase of an e-bike. Participants repaid their loans through payroll deduction over a two-year period.
The pilot was funded through the Strategic Framework Impact Fund, which supported the cost of interest associated with the internal loan program.
Program status: This pilot program is currently inactive and is not accepting new applications.
The program was available to regular, continuing staff and faculty and helped support sustainable transportation options for UVic employees.
Climate action campaigns
Limit your minutes Campaign - Shorten your shower!
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!
UVic staff earth day pledge
Every Earth Day, UVic Staff and Faculty on campus are encouraged to make a pledge! Climate Action has been defined as a top priority in the 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.
Default Veg
Waste reduction campaigns
Love-a-Mug
At Thunderfest, we give out thrifted ceramic mugs to encourage students to bring their own mugs to campus cafes. There is even a discount to sweeten the deal!
Sustainable Move Out
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)