Sustainability Tour

A Guide to Sustainability at Carleton University

The full guide includes a Sustainable Campus Walking Tour and a location guide to key programs and developments. The guide can be downloaded here, or is available in hard copy from the Sustainability Programs office (Room 120c, Facilities Maintenance Building).

Sustainable Campus Walking Tour

Carleton University’s approach to environmental stewardship is focused on building a sustainable campus for our community.

Building Stops

1. Robertson Hall

Robertson Hall, built in 1969, was the first building selected as part of an ongoing and expansive energy retrofit program. The building’s lighting, mechanical systems and water systems were improved, resulting in significant energy reductions and associated cost savings.
Adjacent to Robertson Hall, Parking Lot 9 houses sustainable transport options such as secure bike storage, a student car share program and an electric vehicle charging station.

2. River Building

The River Building, constructed in 2012, is located alongside the scenic Rideau River and has been awarded a four Green Globes
rating for building sustainability. The building itself features an accessible green roof with native and drought resistant planting, highly efficient passive solar lighting through the use of skylights and curtain wall systems, low-flow water saving fixtures in washrooms and a spectacular three-story living green “bio” wall.

3. Herzberg Addition

The Herzberg Laboratories Addition is home to the departments of Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and the Integrated
Science Program. The Herzberg Laboratories Addition has been awarded a four Green Globes rating for building sustainability. The Herzberg addition is at least 30 percent more efficient in energy use than the National Energy Code. Building materials with recycled content were used in the construction and chemically inert materials such as carpets and paints were used throughout.

4. Canal Building

The Canal Building is home to the Bachelor of Engineering programs in Aerospace Engineering, Architectural Conservation and
Sustainability Engineering, and Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering. The building was awarded a 5 Green Globes
Rating, the highest rating awarded. Features include a 10 kWh array of 25 rooftop solar panels, a green roof with native and drought resistant planting and an energy display screen in the foyer. The building also acts as a living lab for academic research at Carleton University.

5. Residence Commons

Carleton’s new Residence Commons is at the heart of residence life. It was awarded a four Green Globes rating for building
sustainability. The building includes features such as low-flow water saving fixtures, high efficiency lighting with light controls and optimal amounts of natural light penetration. In addition the building is home to an interactive energy display screen, showing live energy data. A bike share station, located near the main reception desk, is available for the Carleton community to use.

6. The C-Rise House

The Carleton Research and Innovation in Sustainable Energy (C-RISE) house makes use of solar thermal energy, seasonal thermal storage and provides a test bed for various innovative concepts with the aim of reducing overall energy demands. This is the newest building on campus with a sustainability focus and acts as a living lab for finding ways to reduce energy consumption in the residential sector.