Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 64.43
Liaison Kelsey Beal
Submission Date Nov. 4, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
OP-10: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.25 / 2.00 Steve Stringer
Manager for Grounds Services
Campus Facility Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
Area
Total campus area 534 Acres
Footprint of the institution's buildings 62.02 Acres
Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas 17.25 Acres

Area of managed grounds that is::
Area
Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan 115 Acres
Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and otherwise meets the criteria outlined 0 Acres
Managed organically, third party certified and/or protected 0 Acres

A copy of the IPM plan:
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The IPM plan :

IUPUI pest control programs will follow the guidelines of Integrated Pest Management (http://policies.iupui.edu/policies/IN-FIAD.SUS.03.asp)

Prior to the application of any pesticide, the building space or exterior area is to be inspected. During these walk-around inspections, pest management applicators will note conditions (i.e., food or food waste left uncontainerized), exterior building envelope openings, and anything else that could be contributing to a pest infestation or pest control problem. These conditions will be documented and reported to Campus Facility Services personnel for corrective action.

When it is determined that a pesticide may need to be used in order to manage pests, the least hazardous material will be chosen. Additionally, prior to treatment, the plan will be shared with Campus Facility Services and Environmental Health and Safety personnel for approval to proceed with the application.

The purchase, application, storage, disposal, and documentation of all activities related to pesticide use for interior and exterior structural insect and pest control, and for insect and pest control in the campus landscape, will be managed by Campus Facility Services personnel.

Contracted and/or in-house applicators that apply Restricted Use Pesticides shall be licensed by the Indiana State Chemist Office (ISC). These licenses include, but are not limited to, the following categories as regulated by the ISC:
Interior Building Applications: 7A-Structural Pesticide
Exterior Landscape Application: 3A-Ornamental Pesticide; 3B-Turf Pesticide

Campus Facility Services personnel involved in the oversight of pesticide use will actively acquire and maintain their knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the importance of using IPM methods as it pertains to human and environmental health. Additionally, they will diligently seek “green” pest control methods and plant materials that resist insect and disease problems to reduce the need for pesticide use. They will also provide oversight of applicators and monitor that contract requirements are being met.

Application records will be maintained by Campus Facility Services personnel. The application records will be supplied to Environmental Health and Safety upon request. This information includes:
Pesticide used
Target of application
Formulation
Amount of finished spray applied
Date of each application
Name of person applying pesticide


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

- Use of Smart Irrigation
- Landscape waste is composted: eliminates sending yard and landscape wastes to landfill
- Knozone Action Day policy (see OP 2 for full policy)
- Tree Campus USA (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 in progress)
- Develop sustainable landscape standards with University Architect's office: Reduces turf-type landscape and increase native landscapes that require less irrigation and maintenance


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

- Preferred plants lists are provided to outside design consultants to guide their plant palette so that their design is in keeping with the overall character of the campus canopy. - Native plants are given preference when all other aspects are equal.


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

- Grounds Operation captures an estimated 95% of all yard waste into roll-off dumpsters or open-bed trucks and leaf vac boxes and ships to Ray’s Trash, Inc. Ray’s composts all yard waste collected.
- No grass clippings are bagged.


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

- Phosphate-free turf fertilizer: eliminates harmful chemicals from storm water runoff
- Blow sidewalks and other hard surfaces when applying granular fertilizer: reduces waste and reduces chemicals in storm water runoff
- Integrated pest management: uses several natural methods at eliminating pests and weeds in order to reduce the use of chemicals
- Mow at 3.5" and mulch: taller grass helps reduce weeds and mulch is a natural fertilizer
- Switching power equipment from 2 cycle to 4 cycle and recycling of used oil: reduces pollution by using more efficient equipment and reduces carbon footprint
- Use application equipment that lessens drift and reduces water usage: reduces waste and possible indoor air quality concerns
- Converting from bluegrass and rye grasses to turf type fescues: lowers water, pesticide, and fertilizer use


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

- Switched to safer biodegradable pesticides: reduces harmful chemical applications
- Use of collected rainwater for irrigation: reduces potable water use
- Bio-diesel used as fuel where appropriate: bio-diesel is a renewable fuel and reduces use of fossil fuels


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

- Lawn irrigation water use reductions from implementing smart systems (Smart Irrigation) utilizing weather stations and moisture monitors: conserves water by reducing irrigation and making systems more efficient
- Collect rainwater for irrigation: reduces potable water use
- Native plantings: reduced need for watering


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

- Meter snow melt product during application: reduces waste of product and application to turf
- Pretreat streets, sidewalks, and parking lots with salt brine mix: pretreatment allows for less salt to be used to melt ice and snow
- The IUPUI Campus Facility Services Grounds Operations has experimented with several non-chloride snow and ice melt products in an effort to reduce the volume of chloride based salts used for snow removal operations.
- NaCl salt brine is processed in a campus warehouse, with beet juice added. Brine pre-treatment on campus streets and parking lot drive lanes reduces the amount of NaCl road salt needed for snow removal operations.
- Potassium acetate and calcium acetate is used on the top level of our parking structures to prevent structure corrosion and eliminate the use of Cl- based ice melt products on garages.
-CFS Grounds will be experimenting with a corn-based solution that is chloride-free as a pre-treatment for snow and ice.


A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:

There are no certified or protected areas on campus.


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:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.