Students and faculty breathing easier at Langara College

VANCOUVER — Students and faculty at Langara College may be breathing easier thanks to an investment from the federal and provincial governments.

Approximately $1.5 million was invested in two 1970s-era ventilation fans at the school, which were energy-intensive and reaching the end of their useful life, states a release.

“The new ventilation system at Langara College will not only improve everyday life for students, faculty and staff, it is more energy efficient – lowering costs and reducing Langara’s environmental footprint, said B.C. Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Melanie Mark in a statement.

Lane Trotter, the college president and CEO, says the $1.5-million investment has allowed the college to accelerate their commitments to sustainability on campus.

The new fan systems decrease operating costs for a building that houses 60 per cent of Langara’s teaching classrooms and all the lab spaces for the arts, business humanities and social science programs, the release reads.  

The $2.2-million total project cost includes funds provided by the Government of Canada’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, the Province of British Columbia and Langara College.  “The investment from the Government of Canada and the province of British Columbia have allowed us to meet our 2020 target of reducing 2007 greenhouse gas emission levels by 33 per cent,” Trotter said.