TORONTO, ON – March 25, 2008: The Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) will use Zerofootprint Toronto’s environmental footprint calculator to mobilize students, faculty and staff around sustainability and climate change issues, the university announced today.
“With the launch of the Zerofootprint Calculator at OCAD, our university will be able to measure its carbon footprint, track it over time, and learn how to reduce it,” OCAD President Sara Diamond explained. “As one of Toronto’s leading cultural and educational institutions, we’re committed to advancing responsible environmental practices and promoting sustainability through our academic and research programs, as well as in our day-to-day operations.”
OCAD’s Sustainability Task Force is spearheading the development of innovative solutions to reduce waste, improve recycling and lower carbon emissions. The university is a community partner of Zerofootprint Toronto (www.toronto.zerofootprint.net), which was established by the City of Toronto and Zerofootprint earlier this year.
“OCAD will be able to see how small changes made on behalf of its many stakeholders will have a massive positive impact in the aggregate,” said Ron Dembo, Founder and CEO of Zerofootprint. “Many universities face sustainability challenges that are unique to their specialized areas, and this is true for OCAD. By partnering with us, OCAD is engaging in a process that will have a direct and positive impact on the environment.”
About the Ontario College of Art & Design – OCAD: The Ontario College of Art & Design (www.ocad.ca) is Canada’s “university of the imagination.” OCAD is dedicated to art and design education, practice and research and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. The university is building on its traditional, studio-based strengths, adding new approaches to learning that champion cross-disciplinarity, collaboration and the integration of emerging technologies. In the Age of Imagination, OCAD community members will be uniquely qualified to act as catalysts for the next advances in culture, technology and quality of life for all Canadians.
About Zerofootprint and Zerofootprint Toronto: Recently nominated for a “Crunchie Award” as most likely to change the world, Zerofootprint’s goal is to mobilize and empower large groups of individuals and organizations worldwide, to reduce their collective carbon and ecological footprint. To do this Zerofootprint harnesses the power of social networking, the Internet and software. With clients ranging from Air Canada, City of Toronto, City of Boulder, City of Seattle, and University of Guelph . Zerofootprint is on a mission to empower you to create a sustainable world. To date there are more than 50 organizations and sponsors in Toronto committed to using Zerofooprint Toronto to power their environmental initiatives and challenges with their employees and families. The initiative was made possible with the generous support of Air Canada, First Capital Realty, Tridel, Unilever, Toronto Hydro and Ecomedia. To learn more, visit www.toronto.zerofootprint.net.
For more information please contact:
Deborah Kaplan, Executive Director, Zerofootprint 416.365.7557 info@zerofootprint.net
Sarah Mulholland, Media & Communications Officer, OCAD 416.977.6000 Ext. 327 (mobile Ext. 1327) smulholland@ocad.ca