Land Use

The University’s Capital Construction and Renovation Procedures and Outdoor Maintenance Guidelines addresses land use planning, landscape design and construction, grounds maintenance, and new building construction projects.  The policy aims to reduce and eventually eliminate negative impacts associated with these practices.

The University’s Facilities Management Office (responsible for landscaping, grounds maintenance, and cleaning) and the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation (responsible for new building projects) take a leading role in helping the University meet these goals. 

Since 2005, the University:

• Has worked to green its landscaping practices in a variety of ways.
• In 2013 eliminated the use of cosmetic pesticides and herbicides in campus landscaping practices
• Established green cleaning practices and products into its cleaning contract.
• Has required that all new building projects target at minimum LEED Silver with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Monitoring of all LEED buildings is ongoing (McFeetors Hall, Buhler Centre, Richardson College for the Environment, and the childcare facility).
• Hosts Cultivate UW, a student-led rooftop gardening initiative made possible by the GESA Eco-Grant. Cultivate UW grows produce on unused roof space and sells this produce on campus in the fall.

Note: 

• Our current goals can be found in our 2017 Sustainability Strategy HERE. 
• Details on our most recent accomplishments can be found in our annual performance reports. 

Suggestions for changes to campus grounds can be submitted via this form.  For assistance developing your idea, contact the Campus Sustainability Office.