Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Carolyn Shafer
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Pratt Institute
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Tony Gelber
Dir. Admin. Sustainability
Facilities/Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
25 Acres

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 0 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 25 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 0 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 25 Acres

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

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):
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
0

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
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Organic Program

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
100

If reporting an organic program, provide:

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:
Inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides are not used, if necessary, organic materials are applied. An annual application of ¼ - ½ inch organic compost is broadcast over lawns and planting beds in lieu of fertilizers.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Grounds consist of predominantly lawn ground cover, large mature native trees and combinations of ornamental and naturalized trees and shrubs. Damaged or diseased materials are replaced in kind or with comparable species which will tolerate existing soil and climate conditions. New plant materials are chosen for their adaptability and tolerance of the same existing conditions. Native and naturalized species are first choice for new plantings.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
The grounds are irrigated through the use of well water and potable water. We have and are continuing to implement newer technology for the controllers to reduce the amount of irrigation based upon real-time rain infiltration and management of irrigated areas based upon vegetation and soil characteristics. The campus strives to install permeable pavement to reduce direct run-off into combined sewer systems. Included in the 25 managed acres, we have converted about 15% to permeable surfaces including 1 entire parking lot, 1 roadway, 1 walkway and areas under bicycle parking.

A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
All grass clippings, branches, pruning waste and leaves are collected and disposed of separately for off-site composting through our waste disposal vendor and landscape maintenance contractor.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Our campus has significant tree coverage. We have a combination of mature, midlevel and young trees to ensure sustainable coverage over time. I have measured the temp in summer and found that temps are 3 5F lower on much of our campus than at the local weather report. This is I believe because of the trees.

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):
This winter we are testing the results of using beet vegetable pellets and liquid as ice melt in lieu of calcium or salt for roads and pavement throughout the campus.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.