MIRANDA LIGHTSTONE
Students at John Abbott College could soon see moss-covered structures next to parking areas on the sprawling campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue as a group of students aims to decrease the college’s carbon footprint.
The initiative, inspired by European cities like Berlin that have implemented moss structures to curb CO2 emissions, was the winning entry in the latest edition of the CEGEP’s Green Innovation Challenge.
The challenge, born from a growing student interest in environmental issues, aims to provide students with a unique learning experience.
“We noticed a significant increase in student initiatives and inquiries regarding sustainability,” said Shannon Coulter-Low, a counsellor with the college’s Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship department. “The Green Innovation Challenge was born from this student-driven momentum, offering them a platform to translate their passion into tangible solutions.
“The focus is not just on generating ideas,” Coulter-Low added. “The challenge encourages students to develop executable business plans.”
Open to students from across the West Island’s college community, the challenge tasks teams of three to four students with developing an idea and producing a business plan focused on enhancing the environmental sustainability of the John Abbott College campus.
This year’s winning team presented their idea to combat air pollution: moss structures strategically placed around the college’s parking lot. These living walls would be constructed adjacent to parking areas to act as natural air filters, absorbing carbon dioxide emissions from idling vehicles. Proposed by Olivia Christopher and Talia Martin, students in the college’s Arts & Science program, the project won a $1,000 grant from Pfizer Canada.
According to research, moss captures up to six times more carbon than bare patches of soil, with a patch of moss measuring roughly 2 feet by 2.5 feet being able to absorb one kilogram of carbon per year, including in temperatures slightly below freezing. Moss can also filter particles like soot from the air.
Last year’s contest winners proposed using pickle brine as a more environmentally friendly de-icer for campus pathways. They are currently working on securing funding to implement their project, demonstrating the real-world application of their ideas, Coulter-Low said.