Sustainability

"Great Eastern Sun vision is a very ecological approach – it is fundamentally ecological, as ecological as you can be."\

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

"...while there's an element of joining heaven and earth, what "Sakyong" does is

protect the earth, the basis by which human society could come about"

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

Shambhala Sustainability Initiative

Sustainability is essential to ensure the health and continued prosperity of our planet’s human, animal and natural resources in the realization of enlightened society, the aspiration of the Shambhala Buddhist path.

The Halifax Shambhala Centre is one of 14 Sustainable Partners in the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative (ACSI).  As such, the Shambhala Sustainability Initiative has committed to the following goals:

• Developing and implementing a sustainability action plan.
• Incorporating sustainability into the culture of the Halifax Shambhala Centre.
• Achieving successes that will inspire further sustainability within Shambhala Centres worldwide.
• Contributing to the development of Atlantic Canada as an exemplary sustainability region.

The community workshops use The Natural Step, which is the core framework of the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative and is used by governments, businesses and organizations around the world.

Participants are finding it a useful tool as they establish a process for continuous evolution toward sustainability.

Accomplishments

Following is a list of changes and adaptations made by of the Shambhala Sustainability Initiative which are positive steps forward in realizing our sustainability vision. This list will be updated as we progress through our Action List.

Sustainability Workshops
Workshops were regularly offered to explore and define Shambhala’s sustainability vision. The community workshops use The Natural Step, which is the core framework of the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative and is used by governments, businesses and organizations around the world.

Community Sustainability Gatherings
A series of Shambhala community gatherings were successful in bringing forth the Halifax Shambhala Centre Sustainabiliy principles, objectives as well as an action plan that will guide sustainability for the Shambhala community.

Halifax Shambhala Centre Sustainabiliy Principles, Objectives and Action Plan
These will be submitted to the forming Shambhala Governing Council as one of the first acts of business for them to address.

Shambhala Centre Energy Efficiency Building Audit
Clean Nova Scotia consultants have completed a Shambhala Centre Energy Efficiency Audit Report. This provides instrumental knowledge for remediating energy efficiency issues.

Green Purchasing Guidelines
Provides suggestions to “going green” when shopping and orderings for the Centre and creating momentum towards systemic changes.

Monthly Communications
There is now a monthly sustainability column in the Banner newsletter.

Bio-Diesel Fuel
Halifax Shambhala Centre heating fuel is now supplied by Wilson Fuels. The fuel is processed from the discarded fish parts of a local pharmaceutical fish oil manufacturer and is 20% bio-diesel. We are working to make this fuel available to community members at a preferred group rate.

Hot Water Insulation
The Shambhala Centre hot water heater now has an insulation blanket and we are insulating the heating pipes in the furnace room.

Energy Conservation
We have shut off a continuously running fan that was expending warm air from the building.

Signage
Signs have been placed throughout the Shambhala Centre as reminders to maintain our sustainability practices.

Participation

The Shambhala Sustainability Initiative welcomes the participation of all community members and has held a number of workshops to encourage interested members to explore and define Shambhala’s sustainability vision.

The Shambhala Sustainability Initiative is coordinated by Richard Peisinger. Core members include: Will Martin, Andrea Doukas, Marguerite Drescher, Kyle Schaffhauser, Kristen Morse, Tony Matthews and Julia Creighton. We are looking forward to other people joining in. If you are interested, please contact Richard.

We welcome your comments and suggestions for this web page:

• Have you found a useful resource that may be of interest?
• You may have made a personal lifestyle change toward sustainability that you would like to share.
• Do you have a quotation or photograph that captures the essence of sustainability?
• Please direct all questions and suggestions for the Sustainability web page to Julia Creighton.

The Shambhala Sustainability Initiative is grateful for the generous support of the Kalapa Shambhala Society.

Learn more about meditation and buddhism at shambhala.org
Read more about meditation and buddhism at shambhalatimes.org

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Halifax Shambhala Centre
1084 Tower Road, Halifax,  NS B3H 2Y5
Tel. 902 420-1118 x10    Email: