Applications to the UBC/AMS Social Solutions fund will be evaluated on the following criteria in addition to the standard funding guideline. Projects applying to this targeted goal will gain priority in receiving funding.

This fund will support projects that:

1.  Reduce campus energy and water consumption, reduce amount of waste materials coming to or consumed on campus, increase waste diversion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift students, staff and faculty from single occupancy vehicles to public transit and cycling through behavior and organizational change initiatives.

2. Increase student engagement in the thematic areas of energy and climate, sustainable transportation, water and waste via peer-to-peer sustainability programs.

1. Research in Behaviour Change

• UBC is interested in uncovering the barriers and benefits to sustainable behaviours in a variety of campus environments including labs, offices, and student housing. What prevents individuals from integrating more sustainable lifestyle choices in their daily lives and what will motivate them to adopt new behaviours which support UBC’s sustainability targets? Projects that demonstrate a plan to conduct behaviour change research in these campus environments will receive priority consideration.

2. Behaviour Change Campaigns

• UBC has set ambitious targets around water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. To meet these targets we need every UBC community member to conserve energy and water and reduce or divert waste and choose more sustainable modes of transportation. The annual energy conservation competition in Totem Park and Place Vanier residences is an example of a behaviour change campaign that reduced energy use over a three week period by 17.4%. More of these types of campaigns are needed on campus. Projects that encourage the UBC community (students, staff, faculty and residential community members) to adopt sustainable behaviours in energy, greenhouse gas emission reduction, water, waste and transportation (via campaigns, competitions, challenges or other tactics) will be given preference in this category.

3. Organizational Change Projects

• UBC has a proven track record of transforming its operational practices within various departmental units. Examples include the purchase of electric vehicles for our fleet, operating a closed-loop composting system and promoting paper reduction practices across campus.  We want to do more. Projects which propose to research and/or change UBC’s operational practices to reduce energy and water use, reduce and/or divert more waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move students, staff and faculty to sustainable modes of transportation will receive preferential consideration.

4. Student Peer-to-Peer Sustainability Programs

• UBC has a model peer-to-peer program in Totem Park and Place Vanier: Sustainability in Rez. Students interested in sustainability can join their Residence Sustainability Committees and plan inspiring events and activities to encourage their peers to adopt sustainable lifestyle choices. We would like to see a similar student-led, university-supported program that engages students across UBC’s faculties and departments. Projects that support the development of campus-wide or faculty/department specific student peer-to-peer sustainability programs will be given preferential consideration. To be considered for funding from the Social Solutions Fund, peer-to-peer projects must focus on one of the four thematic areas: energy and climate, sustainable transportation, waste or water or a combination.