| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.71 |
| Liaison | Greg Kozak |
| Submission Date | March 6, 2020 |
Northwestern University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Sarah
Tulga Sustainability Program Coordinator Facilities |
Total campus area:
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides | 0 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 282 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 282 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
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:
Northwestern follows IPM practices for both the Evanston and Chicago campus. The University approaches all landscape related threats and issues with proper identification and overall ‘problem assessment.’ Strategies appropriate to the issue, without unnecessary harmful practices, are used. The IPM plan practices a pro-active/monitoring approach along with methods of prevention to avoid catastrophic issues and threats. If action is necessary to combat an exterior related pest and/or problem, effective and environmentally safe methods are selected rather than chemical-based and/or other “harmful” actions and/or methods.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Northwestern’s approach includes stewardship practices for all exterior environments above and below ground. Landscape preservation and optimal plant husbandry/cultural practices for all plant material and soils are practiced on both campuses.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Many exterior spaces on campus rely on natural hydrology and/or varied natural water filtration systems such as Daisy Basins and Bio-swales. A more recent new building -The Ryan School of Music- utilizes green water for landscape irrigation. Exterior watering systems when possible rely on water re-use and on an ‘as-need’ basis during “stress conditions.”
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
During construction events and when possible, the institution makes remarkable efforts to salvage all existing plant material for campus reuse. All yard waste is sent to a local composting site.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Northwestern uses plants that are adaptable and/or native to our campus climate and site-specific micro-climate. Northwestern strives to negotiate all exterior space design with foresight and integration into long-term maintenance practices that ensure optimal health and longevity for campus exterior environments. The University strives to salvage all native soil for reuse and source plant material locally. Landscape design is ‘site specific’ and looks at ways to mitigate heat islands, provide shade and wind breaks as appropriate, and supports wildlife/bird habitat and migration. Hardscape material specifications provide opportunities to mitigate water run-off and lessen impacts of snow and ice. Further, ice and snow strategies have included integrated hardscape snow-melt systems lessening ice-melt chemical and salt use.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
The University has taken recent strides with GIS mapping with tree and plant material inventories and assessment to help better manage all exterior environments.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program 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.