UBC’s campus a massive sustainability testbed

With 400 hectares and 15 million square feet of buildings, the University of British Columbia campus offers a natural laboratory for life-size green experiments. As part of its green initiative, and with its new Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability building almost ready for occupancy, UBC plans to coordinate some major investments in cutting-edge green design and technology. With the university’s green-spirited housing thrust (aiming to increase campus dwellers from 17,000 to 30,000 by 2025), and U-Pass public transit initiatives (which eliminated the need for significant parking spots), and having its own campus utilities, energy and water systems, UBC now hopes to conduct tests for society in a simpler, controlled space.  Vancouver Sun