Established in 2006, the AMS Sustainability Office (SO) grew out of a growing recognition of the need to address sustainability-related issues at Queen’s and in the Kingston community. The Sustainability Office strives to support the environmental movement on campus by advocating for sustainable improvements within the AMS and at Queen’s. By incorporating environmental, social, and economic sustainability into its mandate, the SO is committed to working collaboratively with groups and services on campus to foster sustainable attitudes, behaviors, and initiatives. In addition to its advocacy and resource provision roles, the SO also oversees three student-run committees, each focused on pertinent sustainability-related issues.

This year, Queen's is hosting the 12th Annual Sustainable Campuses Conference wiith the AMS in partnership with the Sierra Youth Coalition. Visit http://www.sustainablecampuses2010.ca/ for more information.

The Role of the AMS Sustainability Office

The Sustainability Office works internally, on both the government and corporate sides of the AMS, to ensure that the Society is sustainable in its goals and operations. The Office also works to increase awareness of sustainability-related issues on campus and works collaboratively with the University’s Sustainability Office to strengthen the environmental stewardship of the University as a whole.

Last year, a student in the BIOL 422 class created a 12 step program to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices by Kingston businesses. Click here to download the complete list of actions taken, as well as the participating businesses.

The Structure of the Sustainability Office

All activities of the AMS Sustainability Office are overseen by one full-time Coordinator. Three volunteer Deputies coordinate the Communications, Committees, and Special Projects portfolios of the Office, respectively. The Office’s three committees – STRIVE, Greenovations, and Residence Energy Challenge – are each comprised of two volunteer Co-Chairs and a group of Committee Members. The Office provides opportunities for three First Year Interns to gain firsthand experience working with AMS Sustainability.

The Committees of the AMS Sustainability Office

Students Taking Responsible Initiatives for a Viable Environment (STRIVE)

STRIVE is an entirely student-run committee that focuses on awareness and advocacy on environmental issues. The committee encourages students to adopt positive attitudinal and behavioral changes through sustainability-related educational campaigns on campus. The committee generally selects two environmental issues per year on which to base their major campaigns, incorporating educational components, workshops, and guest speaker events.

If you are passionate about environmental issues and would like to actively participate in advocating for positive change on campus, become a member of the STRIVE Committee!

Residence Energy Challenge

The Queen’s Residence Energy Challenge (REC) is a collaborative project of the AMS Sustainability Office, Student Affairs, Physical Plant Services, and Residence Life. Started in 2007, REC provides students in residence with an opportunity to learn about campus sustainability issues. REC coordinates an annual inter-residence energy-saving competition in which the residence with the highest energy savings receives an awards banquet and an engraving on the REC trophy. 100% of the money saved during the REC is reinvested into sustainable upgrades in the residences. The Sustainability Office’s REC committee is responsible for coordinating all promotion for REC and the final awards banquet.

Contact the AMS Sustainability Coordinator to get involved!

Greenovations

Greenovations began in 2007 as a project to offset the carbon emissions generated by student travel through Destinations by completing free energy-saving retrofits on homes in the student village. The committee has since expanded to work with the Living Energy Lab to complete more home retrofits in addition to hosting retrofit workshops and providing home retrofit kits to students. This initiative encompasses all pillars of sustainability: the retrofits have environmental benefits with reduced energy consumption, economic benefits with lowered utility bills, and social benefits through the provision of information on energy use and urban sustainability to students.

Greenovations is now accepting applications from students to receive free energy-saving home retrofits. Click here to download the application form!

Getting Involved with the AMS Sustainability Office

Be a First Year Intern

• The Office hires three First Year Interns who work closely with the Coordinator on special project, gaining firsthand experience working in the Sustainability Office and for the AMS.
• Time commitment is approximately 3 hours/week, volunteer.
• Intern applications are due on September 30th. Contact Jodi Rempel, AMS Sustainability Coordinator ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), for more information, or Jamie Harshman, AMS Human Resources Officer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), to apply.

Chair a Committee

• Each committee of the AMS Sustainability Office is headed by two co-chairs. These co-chairs coordinate all aspects of the committee’s operations, from committee member hiring to regular meetings to special initiatives.
• Time commitment is approximately 5-10 hours/week, volunteer.
• Committee Chairs are hired in the spring and in the fall. Fall applications are due on September 30th. Contact Jodi Rempel, AMS Sustainability Coordinator ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), for more information, or Jamie Harshman, AMS Human Resources Officer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), to apply.

Sit on a Committee

• Each committee of the AMS Sustainability Office is comprised of a group of volunteer committee members. These members attend regular committee meetings and help to coordinate all projects of the committee.
• Time commitment is approximately 5 hours/week, volunteer.
• Committee Members are hired in the spring and in the fall. Fall applications are due on September 30th. Contact Jodi Rempel, AMS Sustainability Coordinator ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), for more information, or Jamie Harshman, AMS Human Resources Officer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), to apply..

Volunteer

• The Sustainability Office is always looking for volunteers to assist with new programs, committee activities, and Green Week initiatives.
• If you are interested in volunteering for the AMS Sustainability Office or for a specific initiative, contact Jodi Rempel, AMS Sustainability Coordinator ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), for more information.

Be a Deputy

• The Office hires three volunteer Deputies, who work closely with the Coordinator but also independently on one of three portfolios – Communications, Committees, or Special Projects.
• Time commitment is approximately 10-15 hours/week, volunteer.
• Deputies are hired in the spring. Check back for more information on how to apply.

Become the Coordinator

• The Sustainability Coordinator is hired in the spring preceding the term of employment. The Coordinator holds a full-time position in the Office for a 12-month term.
• The Coordinator is hired in the spring. Check back for more information on how to apply.

Orientation Week Sustainability Strategy

The AMS Sustainability Office is working collaboratively with the Orientation Roundtable to coordinate a sustainability strategy for Orientation Week 2009. This year’s focus is on bottled water reduction – simultaneously reducing waste generated from plastic water bottles and encouraging students to access public water sources on campus.
The AMS Sustainability Office, Student Affairs, and the Queen’s Sustainability Office will be providing each incoming first year student with a free aluminum water bottle, included in the Frosh Kits. Throughout Orientation Week, water tankers will be present at events to serve as water bottle re-fill stations. Additionally, the AMS Sustainability Office will host a map indicating the locations of all water fountains on campus.

This project will welcome first year students into a campus community that places high importance on all aspects of sustainability. By giving students a reusable water bottle, providing water bottle re-fill stations at Orientation Week events, and  supplying students with information on where to access public water sources on campus, this project will help students make sustainable choices each day. The project will also send a strong message to the Queen’s community that students are committed to protecting our public water sources.

Cross-Campus Environmental Forums

The AMS Sustainability Office hosts bi-weekly Environmental Forums, bringing together sustainability-related groups on campus and in the Kingston community. These informal meetings aim to foster collaboration between environmental groups, creating a space to share ideas, partner on initiatives, and meet new people who are passionate about environmental issues.

The next Environmental Forum will be held in late September.  All aligned groups and interested individuals are welcome to attend. Contact Jodi Rempel AMS Sustainability Coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , for more information.

Sustainability Guides

The AMS Sustainability Office has produced two guides to help you or your group to improve the sustainability of your operations.

The Sustainable Event Planning Guide provides ideas on how to lessen the negative environmental impact of your conference. Download the Sustainable Event Planning Guide!

The Sustainable Office Operations Guide provides practical tips on how to reduce waste and conserve energy in your office or club space. Download the Sustainable Office Operations Guide!

Contact Information

Jodi Rempel, AMS Sustainability Coordinator
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
P: 613-533-6000 ext. 75663
Or come visit the Sustainability Office in the AMS Front Offices, room 052.