Our Commitment to Saving Energy

Langara has been able to reduce our energy usage and emissions on campus while we grow. Since 2001, when Langara established its first Environmental Responsibility Policy, the campus area has increased by 48%. In 2017, Langara College renewed its Sustainability policy to affirm its ongoing commitment to and responsibility for fostering an institutional culture characterized by leadership in environmental, social and financial sustainability.

In 2019, our new Sciences and Technology building received LEED Gold certification, making it the fourth LEED Gold building on campus. The construction of this building also included phase one of a renewed central heating plant on campus. Langara is also upgrading many end-of-life systems to more efficient alternatives including upgrading lighting to LED throughout campus.

The Ministry has established 2007 as the base period year for GHG reductions. As we grow, incorporating area in our reporting is important to understand progress.

2019: Comparing our campus level buildings energy usage and emission per unit area for 2019 compared to 2007*:

  • our energy usage per GSM of campus area has decreased by 23% and

  • our GHG emissions in tCo2e per GSM of campus area has decreased by 48%.

2021 (includes Covid 19 impacts): Comparing our campus level buildings energy usage and emission per unit area for 2021 compared to 2007:

  • our energy usage per GSM of campus area has decreased by 29% and

  • our GHG emissions in tCo2e per GSM of campus area has decreased by 43%.

Other benefits of energy saving initiatives, beyond energy, emissions and cost savings, include upgrades to aging infrastructure, and occupant comfort from improved controls. Our most recent Strategic Energy Management Plan was developed to align with the College's new 2025 Strategic Plan – Weaving a Shared Future.

*This is used as reference as the last pre-Covid year.


Our Goal

Our goal is to foster and provide leadership to create more environmentally sound, socially just, and economically vibrant communities. More specifically, our energy goals are:

  • To optimize the campus energy usage with the existing technology and controls;
  • To reduce Langara’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
  • To reduce and control energy costs and minimize exposure to energy price volatility;
  • To upgrade building systems with the most efficient alternative through capital improvements and maintenance where feasible, considering the life cycle cost of the equipment;
  • To raise awareness of the need to use energy efficiently among the college community;
  • To minimize the load on BC’s electrical infrastructure and as a result, minimize the environmental impact of new generation capacity.

Case Studies