Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.99
Liaison Deborah Steinberg
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Carnegie Mellon University
OP-10: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 2.00 Steve Guenther
University Engineer and Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management and Campus Services
Facilities Management Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
Area
Total campus area 147 Acres
Footprint of the institution's buildings 28.70 Acres
Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas 0 Acres

Area of managed grounds that is::
Area
Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan 0 Acres
Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and otherwise meets the criteria outlined 118.30 Acres
Managed organically, third party certified and/or protected 0 Acres

A copy of the IPM plan:
The IPM plan :

An Integrated Pest Management Program has been in place for over 20 years inside our buildings and our grounds are also maintained in accordance with an IPM Program.


A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:

The FMS grounds department follows an arboriculture program and maintenance plan to care for the campus trees. We have areas on campus that are minimally maintained to allow for natural growth and water retention.


A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:

The use of native plant species in Carnegie Mellon University landscaping is currently encouraged and recommended by Division 2, Section 02950 of the university design guidelines.


A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:

Carnegie Mellon University composts all plant materials waste through a recycling contractor.


A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:

The FMS grounds department uses mushroom manure and soil amendment purchased from AgRecycle, the same company that composts our campus food waste.


A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:

The FMS grounds department uses mushroom manure and soil amendment purchased from AgRecycle, the same company that composts our campus food waste.


A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:

A 6,000 gallon grey water system captures rain water in a storage tank to be used for irrigating the grounds around the MCIC building. The hillside near the Gates Hillman Complex was engineered to capture storm water runoff from the hillside. There are also over 41,000 sq ft of green roofs on campus buildings.


A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):

For campus walkways we use primarily a granular ice melter that is a combination of Sodium Chloride + Postassium Chloride and sometimes it may have Magnesium Chloride added or be coated with Magnesium Acetate.

We use liquid calcium in small amounts to treat masonary surfaces like steps - ramps- etc. This product functions as an anti-bonding agent, preventing water from creating a good "freeze attachment" to the masonary surface.

Roadway Rock Salt is generally pure Sodium Chloride mined and then treated with an anti-caking solution to prevent the salt crystals from binding up into clumps thus preventing their spreader distribution. We use bulk roadway rock salt on roads and parking lot surfaces at the university.

The ice melt products have a quicker melt response time and are effective at low temperatures and is milder to plant growth than straight Sodium Chloride, however they are much more expensive. We use ice melter products on campus pedestrian access areas (walks, steps, ramps, etc.)

The Randy Pausch Memorial Bridge and the Warner Hall Plaza are heated to avoid salt use and to prevent the breakdown of the concrete from the salt.


A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:
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Is the institution recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program (if applicable)?:
Yes

The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management programs and practices is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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