| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 40.64 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Collins |
| Submission Date | July 31, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Temple University
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution use Low Impact Development (LID) practices as a matter of policy or standard practice to reduce rainwater/stormwater runoff volume and improve outgoing water quality for new construction, major renovation, and other projects?:
A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:
The university has utilized a number of stormwater management features in its new construction and existing buildings, including: rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, underground cisterns, green roofs, a pervious pavement pilot and increased vegetative space.
Has the institution adopted a rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, or strategies that mitigate the rainwater runoff impacts of ongoing campus operations through the use of green infrastructure? :
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:
Storm water management is required on all new campus projects. Temple has incorporated stormwater management strategies throughout its 2014 Landscape Master Plan, including the use of tree plantings, vegetative bumpouts, and pervious pavers.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
The university has introduced grey water systems in the Montgomery Parking Garage, the first four floors of the Morgan Residence Hall and Pearson McGonigle renovation. The university uses stormwater harvesting for SERC.
Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
The university has three green roofs on campus. At the 2002 Philadelphia Flower Show, Temple University Ambler Landscape Architecture and Horticulture students provided the inspiration for the current green roof research taking place at the Ambler campus. Three years later, Temple University Ambler unveiled a working green roof atop the new Intercollegiate Athletics Field House, built with the assistance of a $50,000 grant from PECO, an Exelon Company. Extensive green roof systems generally have planting media depths of less than one foot that support low-growing plants with a shallow root base. The PECO Green Roof is of the extensive variety, supporting colonies of carefully selected plants, all native to the region, in approximately six inches of a lightweight medium.
The second green roof was located in the awnings of the Temple Towers Residence Hall. Small in size, this green roof allowed the university to test the material in an urban setting.
In 2012, the university unveiled a third green roof on the new architecture building. The project encompasses over 9,000 square feet of roof space and is visible to students from the third and fourth floor interiors.
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
The College of Engineering conducted a porous pavement pilot outside of the Engineering building. The university also employed pervious pavers in the Montgomery Garage and SERC hardscaping.
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
The Ernesta Ballard Healing Garden — the culmination of three years of work of more than 70 students, Landscape Architecture and Horticulture faculty and campus Arboretum staff supported by campus administration and facilities management — includes a central labyrinth, a woodland glade, meadows, a hedgerow, two pathways, a pond, which has proven very attractive to birds and wildlife, a wooden bridge constructed from the wood of a black walnut tree that once stood on the site, three rain gardens, and a vegetated swale. In addition, the Wetland Garden behind Cottage Hall on Ambler campus includes the following sustainable elements: recycled-glass pavers, biological filtration of campus storm water runoff, a solar fountain and native plant communities. In May of 2014, the university partnered with PWD to install a rain garden near the football training facility on Diamond Street.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
The Ernesta Ballard Healing Garden — the culmination of three years of work of more than 70 students, Landscape Architecture and Horticulture faculty and campus Arboretum staff supported by campus administration and facilities management — includes a central labyrinth, a woodland glade, meadows, a hedgerow, two pathways, a pond, which has proven very attractive to birds and wildlife, a wooden bridge constructed from the wood of a black walnut tree that once stood on the site, three rain gardens, and a vegetated swale.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
The university utilizes underground cisterns to capture stormwater during major storm events. In some buildings, the water captured in the cisterns are used to flush plumbing fixtures. In other areas, the water collected in the cisterns is released into the sewer system after the major storm event.
The website URL where information about the institution’s rainwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
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.