Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.94
Liaison DeLayne Miller
Submission Date Dec. 15, 2022

STARS v2.2

Tennessee Technological University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.44 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
2,867 Acres

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 267 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 346.25 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 613.25 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:
The land excluded from the area of managed grounds includes 90% of the Appalachian Center for Craft, which is primarily wooded, and 25% of the Tech Farm.

Organic program

Percentage of grounds managed organically:
0

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
---

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
43.54

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
TnTech's Integrated Pest Management Plan is to ensure environmental and human safety while eliminating pests through the utilization of sustainable control methods. Core elements of the IPM include: use of least-toxic chemical pesticides, minimum use of chemicals, use of chemicals and pesticides only in targeted locations and for targeted species, routine inspection and monitoring, and proactive communication.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
https://www.tntech.edu/sustainability/greenspace-projects.php

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Tennessee Tech currently has in place a storm water management system. Pervious pavement allows rainwater to flow through and deposit into a rain garden. This will protect water quality and decrease flooding by reducing the amount of storm water runoff. There is a drainage system under the sand volleyball court on campus and the runoff from it flows into the berms and permeable pavement. Then it is captured in rain gardens and monitored by students through the monitoring station.
Tennessee Tech also has low flow fixtures in place that decrease the rate of water flow and subsequently the amount of water wasted per minute. They are installed in all buildings renovated in the last five years and will be in new buildings such as the LED certified STEM center.

A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
Tree and shrub chippings are being processed to create mulch. Compost is processed from leaves, limbs, food waste and cardboard and used for landscape beds (incorporated) and used to plant new ground covers, shrubs and trees. Milorganite is mixed with the compost.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Trees are planted and maintained around all buildings and provide shade and temperature control in all buildings. In the Spring of 2019, the parking lot behind the University Center on campus was converted to a green space, adding to the overall campus green space.
With completion of the new LEED Certified Lab Science Building, the site includes addition of green space surrounding the building (attached below). Previously, this area was a parking lot.

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
---

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:
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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.