| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.50 |
| Liaison | Elaine Durr |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Elon University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.25 / 2.00 |
Tom
Flood Associate Director; Director Physical Plant; Landscaping and Grounds |
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach | 193.75 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials | 66.25 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 260 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
The land excluded from managed grounds is building footprints, impervious surfaces (parking lots, sidewalks, etc.) and areas not regularly managed or maintained.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
The goal of integrated pest management is to preserve and protect the landscape, while minimizing personal and environmental impacts, and establish sustainable landscape management practices. The integrated pest management protocol consists of six principles: 1 - identify the pest to be managed, 2 - define the management area, 3 - establish monitoring techniques, 4 - establish thresholds of tolerance (health, economic, aesthetic), 5 - develop predictive models for each target pest and 6 - develop a management plan and schedule for each target pest. Although specific practices vary widely, there are several guidelines.
First, the campus landscape will be maintained to meet established standards of landscape management and appearance. Typically, the thresholds of tolerance will be damage and/or appearance. Secondly, in accordance with IPM principles, the order of control options should be: plant species options; cultural; physical or mechanical; biorational; biological; and lastly synthetic chemical control. Thirdly, we will seek new options or products (especially concerning the difficult pest problem of weed control).
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
This area is simply maintained with periodic mowing. Beyond the period mowing there are no other landscape maintenance practices performed in this area. Inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are not used in this area.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
Elon collects and composts 100% of its own yard waste in a facility located on the edge of campus. The program closes the loop on the university's yard waste as the final compost product is used in campus landscaping to improve soil quality and reduce water and fertilizer requirements.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
On sidewalks, power brooms are used whenever possible as they will remove all snow, minimizing or eliminating the need for de-icing materials. Roadways and parking lots are generally plowed and de-icer is only applied when conditions become unsafe, and then as little as possible. When de-icing material must be applied, it is applied only by the grounds crew who are trained in the use of spreading equipment, which provides even coverage and minimal product use.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.