Sustainability
Red Deer Polytechnic is a leader environmentally, reducing energy consumption on its campuses while enhancing learning, training and applied research related to alternative energy. The Alternative Energy Initiative is part of the organization's larger, future-focused Green Campus Master Plan, which works to incorporate and develop alternative energy systems that will provide learning and innovation opportunities for students, industry, and community partners while also working to reduce Red Deer Polytechnic's overall carbon footprint.
United Nations SDG Accord
On October 31, 2022, RDP signed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Accord, demonstrating our commitment to celebrate and advance the Goals.
Green Campus Master Plan
Through six sustainability pillars, interim goals help track progress and direct efforts that will lead RDP to achieve our overarching goal of becoming a net zero institution.
Green Campus Working Group
The GCWG aims to inspire, educate, and equip RDP and the surrounding community with the knowledge and resources to contribute to a more sustainable future.
ImpAct-Climate Challenge 2.0
October 11 – November 22, 2023
Join the challenge and win big for a sustainable future. There are over $3,000 in cash prizes + $12,000 in bursaries.
The College’s and Institutes Canada (CICan) ImpAct Challenge is back in a contest held exclusively for students, staff and faculty at Canadian colleges and institutes. All you need to do to participate is sign up!
Beginning on the week of October 11, and over the course of the next six weeks, we will learn more about greenhouse gas emissions and get practical tips to make a positive impact on campus and in our personal lives.
Each week, we will dive into a new theme: general greenhouse gas emissions, energy, food, transportation, waste, and Indigenous Stewardship. Contest organizers will send all participants helpful information about these topics, and effective strategies to reduce emission and make a difference.
Weekly challenges will test your knowledge of each of them and encourage you to take action to reduce your emissions. For every weekly challenge you tackle, you will get a chance to be entered into a weekly draw of $350, and a grand prize draw of $1000. If you complete all six challenges, you will have six chances to win the grand prize.
There are also institutional bursaries available to be won, based on participation in the challenge. Four colleges and institutes representing distinct size categories will each earn a $3000 bursary for a student climate leader, so the more people we have participate, the greater opportunity our students have of receive this bursary.
Participation in the ImpAct-Climate Challenge 2.0 supports Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 13 (Climate Action).
Awards and Recognition
Highly Commended in 2030 Climate Action category of the International Green Gown Awards
Red Deer Polytechnic received international recognition for its efforts in energy innovation and environmental sustainability at the 2023 Green Gown Awards.
Learn more about this award: Green Gown Awards website | RDP media release
Red Deer Polytechnic recognized with Blue Skies Award
Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is proud to have been awarded a Blue Skies Award from Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ) for taking exemplary measures to improve the air quality in the region.
Residence Sustainability Awards
Red Deer Polytechnic's newest residence building has received six national and international awards and nominations for leadership in sustainability.
Energy Generation on Campus
Red Deer Polytechnic has an impressive array of 4,100 photovoltaic solar panels on its main campus buildings, which helps decrease the demand for external energy. More than 2,500 of these solar panels are on the state-of-the-art Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, which received a gold ranking in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The newest Residence has 545 panels and the solar walkway holds an additional 276. The main building and Alternative Energy Lab (AEL), a LEED-Silver facility, house the remaining solar panels.
In addition to energy conservation, the AEL is a key component of alternative energy education and applied research opportunities for students and businesses. Data from the solar energy generation can be gathered and analyzed, providing real-world applications for learners.
Electricity is also produced at the Polytechnic through a 1 MW combined heat and power (CHP) unit, which was fabricated at Red Deer’s Collicutt Energy.
Red Deer Polytechnic aims to become a net zero energy institution, producing enough energy on campus to power its infrastructure. While significant strides have been made, the organization is exploring opportunities for further alternative energy growth.