Summary Results of SDS 2012-2015

This chapter summarizes CSC's performance against the 18 targets established in the departmental SDS 2012-15. As shown in the following table, of the 18 SDS targets set, CSC has achieved or surpassed 16 and two have been partially achieved.  The results of the 3% energy reduction, intensity based target, will not be known until the end of 2015, when CSC's annual energy consumption report will be published. Currently, for the two years already accounted for, the corporate energy consumption has decreased by nearly 7%. The other partially achieved target was to reduce the use of polystyrene food containers and single serving food packaging from its institutional waste stream. This target was challenging since after the publishing of the SDS 2012-15, a significant change occurred in the food services provided at institutions. This change is a significant reorganization of the system from production kitchens in every institution to centralized food services at strategic locations. However, it was reported that several institutions use reusable trays instead of polystyrene, except during emergency situations, such as at Bowden institution, Grand Cache institution and Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

The following pages describe and evaluate the goals, objectives, commitments and targets implemented in the SDS 2012-15 in greater detail.

Goals, Objectives, Commitments and Targets

The main goal of the SDS 2012-15 was “To contribute to the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources by minimizing the ecological impacts of government operations”.

Goal 1 – Contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources.

Objective 1 – Achieve a high level of environmental performance at selected institutions.

Commitment 1 – Improve design and construction practices by applying, where cost-effective, green building criteria.

Target 1.1 – By September 30, 2012, develop and implement an internal checklist on green buildings to be applied to regional and national construction & renovation projects.

Result – Target Achieved
The target was met in September 2012 when the internal Green Building Design Checklist and accompanied memo were sent from the Director General, Technical Services and Facilities office to design coordinators and project leaders at all regional headquarters, as well as national headquarters. The main purpose of this checklist was to promote the development of an environmentally responsible design.

Objective 2 – Support responsible and efficient use of natural resources that preserve and protect the quality of the environment.

Commitment 2.1 – Dispose, reuse or recycle all surplus electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) in an environmentally sound and secure manner.

Target 2.1 – By March 31, 2013, an internal environmental directive will be developed to provide direction on the disposal/reuse of EEE waste.

Result – Target Achieved
The target has been met with the Internal Services Directive (ISD) 318-7: Environmental Management of Waste, which included electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) in January 2014. The main objectives of the ISD were to contribute to the conservation of natural resources and to reduce pollution through EEE waste recycling and reusing initiatives, as well as prevent environmental contamination and negative ecological impacts on landfills.

Commitment 2.2 – Reduce paper consumption by limiting the number of printing units across CSC.

Target 2.2 – By September 30, 2014, CSC will achieve (where building occupancy levels, security considerations and space configuration allow) an 8:1 average ratio of office employees to printing units.

Result – Target Achieved
The target was met by the proposed date and Information Management Services has the intent to reach a 10:1 printing ratio in the future.

Commitment 2.3 – Increase awareness of paper reduction initiatives at CSC.

Target 2.3 – By March 31, 2014, CSC will develop and communicate to all operational units, a paper reduction awareness program.

Result – Target Achieved
NHQ-EPP, in collaboration with Communications, has published two articles in CSC's - Let's Talk Express to promote awareness on paper saving initiatives. The articles focussed on ways to reduce reliance on paper at work with simple and easy to apply initiatives.

Commitment 2.4 – Ensure that solid waste recycling programs are effective at all institutions.

Target 2.4 – By March 31, 2014, where recycling markets are available, all institutions will optimize their recycling program to divert paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, glass and wood materials from landfills.

Result – Target Achieved
NHQ-EPP published an Internal Services Directive: Management of Waste (ISD 318-7) to facilitate with the implementation of recycling programs. In addition, there were several sites that implemented initiatives for recycling of wooden pallets, electronic and electrical equipment waste and used batteries within the three SDS cycle.

Commitment 2.5 – Reduce non-reusable/non-recyclable materials from institutional waste stream.

Target 2.5 – By March 31, 2014, CSC will reduce the use of polystyrene (plastic based) food containers and single serving food packaging from its institutional waste stream.

Result – Target Partially Achieved
CSC continues to make an effort towards reducing its reliance on non-recyclable or non-reusable plastics in its operations. Although alternatives to the use of polystyrene food containers were implemented by some institutional food services, additional waste reduction initiatives are required in order to fully meet the spirit of this commitment. Of the institutions that reported on their use of polystyrene, it was noted that in many instances, reusable trays are employed unless emergency situations arise.

Commitment 2.6 – Adopt an internal guideline on Green Procurement

Target 2.6 – By September 30, 2012, CSC will implement an internal guideline on Green Procurement.

Result – Target Achieved
The Financial Directive (350-3) was updated and published in August 2012 which included an appendix on Green Procurement. In addition, a set of instructions were sent to procurement officers to help with the implementation of the guideline. Green procurement is the process of including environmental requirements in contracts and the purchase of goods and services that are considered “environmentally friendly”.

Goal 2 – Contribute to the protection of the atmosphere.

Objective 3 – Reduce the negative environmental impacts of air pollution on ecosystems.

Commitment 3.1 – Reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions from the Central Heating Plant (CHP) boilers, which contribute to smog and acid rain.

Target 3.1 – By March 31, 2014, convert the only remaining CHP at Dorchester Penitentiary, that still consumes heavy oil no.6 (bunker fuel), as a primary fuel source to natural gas.

Result – Target Achieved
The project was completed by fiscal year 2012-13. The conversion allowed for a significant decrease in emissions of nitrogen oxides, by 60%, and dropped sulphur oxide emissions to zero, since natural gas burns cleaner than heavy oil no.6.

Commitment 3.2 – Maintain annual monitoring practices of NOx from Central Heating Plants, which contribute to smog and acid rain.

Target 3.2 – Optimize boiler operation, including NOx emission measurements, by maintaining in all regions, the annual tune-up of large boilers located in Central Heating Plants over 2012-2015.

Result – Target Achieved
The emission measurements were conducted and the annual tune-ups of large boilers were performed every year, over the three year period by Natural Resources Canada via a memorandum of understanding. The emission testing results and the data on the burner combustion tuning is used in a customized form to calculate the combustion efficiency and emissions for each institution with a central heating plant. CSC owns and operates 20 central heating plants across Canada.

Commitment 3.3 – Reduce the risk of halocarbon releases from large refrigeration and/or air-conditioning systems, which contribute to stratospheric ozone layer depletion.

Target 3.3 – By March 31, 2015, replace three large cooling systems that represent a high risk of halocarbon leaks.

Result – Target Achieved
Quebec region reported three large halocarbon system replacements and Ontario two systems in 2012-13.

Goal 3 – Contribute to the reduction of gaseous emissions that are responsible for global warming/climate change.

Objective 4 – Reduce corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in particular, carbon dioxide.

Commitment 4.1 – Reduce CSC's energy consumption (intensity-basis) to decrease related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Target 4.1 – By March 31, 2015, reduce the energy consumption per square meter, per year (intensity-basis), for all institutions and adjust for equal heating degree-days annually, by 3% relative to 2009-10. 

Result – Target partially achieved
Based on the CSC report for energy use and GHG emissions for 2013-14, it appears that CSC will meet (and most likely surpass) the energy reduction target relative to the reference year 2009-10.  However, the validation of this result will not be possible until the report for energy use and GHG emissions for 2014-15 is completed.  Therefore, the final result for the target 4.1 will only be available by December 2015.

Commitment 4.2 – Reduce indirect carbon dioxide emissions attributable to CSC's consumption of electricity.

Target 4.2 – By March 31, 2015, CSC implemented three new renewable energy demonstration projects (e.g. geothermal, solar, wind) to reduce GHG emissions and promote environmental leadership. 

Result – Target achieved
Two solar hot water projects were completed at Dorchester Penitentiary and Bath Institution and five geothermal projects for heating new units at Nova, Atlantic and Springhill Institutions were implemented.

Commitment 4.3 – Improve energy performance of targeted institutions.

Target 4.3 – By March 31, 2014, energy audits will be performed on the five institutions which use the most energy in terms of MJ/m2/year (based on CSC's energy use report for 2010-11.

Result – Target achieved
CSC has completed five institutional energy audits at Cowansville, Bath, Millhaven, Drumheller and Joyceville. Some of the proposed recommendations for reducing energy consumption, resulting from the audits, have been implemented at the above institutions and applied at other institutions across Canada.

Commitment 4.4 – Support energy conservation measures at institutions.

Target 4.4 – By March 31, 2014, all institutions will assess their energy consumption, set specific energy reduction targets and implement their customized energy conservation plan. 

Result – Target achieved
NHQ – EPP prepared an energy consumption template to assist the institutions in the development of their customized energy conservation plans.  The templates include guides on how to: i) form a planning team ii) characterize the current energy use iii) set a customized energy reduction target  iv) identify energy conservation opportunities and v) develop a schedule for monitoring and evaluation processes. All institutions have completed their customized energy conservation plan.

Goal 4 – Contribute to the protection of the hydrosphere.

Objective 5 – Reduce pollution to aquatic ecosystems.

Commitment 5.1 – Improve CSC's targeted (highest flow rate) wastewater treatment system.

Target 5.1 – By March 31, 2014, CSC will have an improvement strategy in place for the wastewater treatment system at Ste-Anne-des-Plaines (SADP) complex (Québec Region). 

Result – Target achieved
The improvement options have been analysed and the preferred design has been selected. The final design plans/drawings are nearly completed and it is anticipated that construction will begin in 2015-16.

Objective 6 – Reduce corporate water consumption.

Commitment 6.1 – Implement best management practices to improve water conservations at institutions.

Target 6.1 – By March 31, 2014, all institutions will prepare and implement an institutional water conservation plan including a customized water reduction target. 

Result – Target achieved
NHQ –EPP prepared a water consumption template to assist the institutions in the development of their customized water conservation plans.  The templates include guides on how to: i) develop primary goals ii) characterize the current and forecasted water use iii) set a customized water reduction target  iv) identify water conservation opportunities and v) develop a schedule for monitoring and evaluation processes. All institutions have completed their customized water conservation plan.

Goal 5 – Contribute to the protection of the lithosphere.

Objective 7 – Reduce environmental liabilities and improve soil quality on CSC properties.

Commitment 7.1 – Continuation of Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) of potentially contaminated areas, based on ecotoxicological risks.

Target 7.1 – By March 31, 2015, CSC will conduct a minimum of 12 Environmental Site Assessments of potentially contaminated sites. 

Result – Target achieved
Since April 2012, at least 12 assessments had been conducted on CSC properties, including but not limited to the following:

• Mountain Institution (British Columbia)
• Warkworth Institution (Ontario)
• Two sites at Pittsburgh Institution (Ontario)
• Three sites at Kingston Penitentiary (Ontario)
• Archambault Institution (Quebec)
• Montée St-François (Quebec)
• Leclerc Institution (Quebec)
• Montague Research Facility (closed in 2013-14) (P.E.I.)
• Springhill Institution (Nova Scotia)

Commitment 7.2 – Remediation of contaminated sites based on environmental risk assessments.

Target 7.2 – By March 31, 2015, CSC will remediate a minimum of three priority contaminated sites. 

Result – Target achieved
One remediation project of a contaminated site was completed in 2012-13 at Drumheller and two more were completed at Pittsburgh and Leclerc Institutions in 2013-14. A remediation project has been completed in 2014-15 at Collins Bay Institution because of a previous landfill site.