Jarvis will discuss how better buildings are more than just valuable corporate assets – they are social and environmental assets as well. He will draw upon examples of university and college campuses across Canada and the United States which have incorporated environmentally sustainable buildings and raised the standards for design, construction, and operation in the buildings field. "Comprehensive approaches to renewing and upgrading the building stock are being developed across North America and around the world, involving governments, business, utility companies and non-profit organizations, as well as public- and private-sector building owners," says Jarvis. "University campuses can be microcosms of broader society in achieving and demonstrating sustainability."

Jarvis became a founding partner of Rose Technology Group in 1985. During his tenure, he was named the company's President and CEO, and served in this capacity until the company's sale to Cinergy Corp. and formation of VESTAR. In his current role as Executive Vice-President, Jarvis is focused on marketing and new business development initiatives.

David Bell, Director, York Centre for Applied Sustainability says Jarvis is one of a growing number of entrepreneurs who have made sustainability a core value of their business operations. "His company evolved from providing energy services to promoting sustainable practices and values as the modality for achieving this commitment. The emergence of businesses which defined their success in terms of the "triple bottom line" of economic prosperity, environmental excellence, and social responsibility, is one of the important developments that will help society "bend the curve" toward sustainability in the 21st century."

Jarvis's lecture is organized by the Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) and the York Centre for Applied Sustainability on behalf of the President’s Task Force on Sustainability. The Sustainability Speaker Series has provided public forums for discussion of sustainability issues in general, and in particular their relation to York University and the work of the Task Force in recommending measures that will achieve sustainability on campus.

As a further example of York's commitment to environmental sustainability on campus, York is putting the finishing touches on a new Computer Science Building, slated to open this fall, which follows the philosophy of people/earth-friendly, sustainable design featuring plenty of natural light and fresh air inside to maximize energy efficiency and to reduce health complaints and absenteeism of students, faculty and staff.

Jarvis's lecture will take place in the Senate Chamber, (N940 Ross Building), York University Campus, 4700 Keele Street.