| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.28 |
| Liaison | Geory Kurtzhals |
| Submission Date | Jan. 4, 2022 |
University of Notre Dame
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.51 / 2.00 |
Geory
Kurtzhals Sr. Director Office of Sustainability |
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 | 209 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 200 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 409 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
The footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces have been excluded.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
Grass clippings are left on the fields. All planting, tree and shrub areas utilize organic fertilizers and are mulched as needed to retain moisture and provide additional nutrients.
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:
Our IPM program seeks to incorporate and coordinate various avenues of control and management, such as the use of disease-resistant plants, proper cultural methods, closely monitor our irrigation and only water as needed, and having thresholds in place when making decisions concerning any pesticide applications. We adhere to the four-tiered approach to integrated pest management for the 709 acres we currently maintain.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Notre Dame uses a zone planting system where plants specific to our zone are used throughout campus. Notre Dame works to use plants that have suitable hardiness to our zone’s temperature extremes, as determined by the lowest average annual temperature. Native grasses and perennials are used throughout campus plantings as well. Notre Dame also maintains a Sculpture Park on the south end of campus, which features a reconstructed native habitat with indigenous trees, shrubs, and grasses.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
The areas that are irrigated use a smart system that monitors moisture and adjusts the water application.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
The University of Notre Dame composts 100% of the yard waste from grounds keeping, including grass trimmings.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
The Joyce Center green roof is believed to be the largest at any U.S. college or university. Spanning nearly 2 acres of space along and between the double domes of the Joyce Center, the roof surface is the fifth living rooftop installed at Notre Dame. The University’s other greenscapes are atop the Morris Inn, Corbett Family Hall, Duncan Student Center, and O’Neill Hall. At more than 122,000 square feet, the University’s total living roof system makes up the largest vegetative roofscape in Indiana.
Green roofs provide immediate and long-term benefits to the structure and surrounding environment. They are proven to mitigate stormwater run-off, improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide, provide noise insulation, naturally insulate to keep indoor temperatures lower during warm months and higher in cold months, and conserve rainwater for release back into the atmosphere.
A green roof also shields a roof surface from ultraviolet radiation, thus limiting the photodegradation of the roofing components. It is estimated that the Joyce Center green roof could extend the life expectancy of the existing roof membrane by 200 to 300 percent.
Notre Dame’s green roofs address the conservation of water, energy, and other natural resources. By implementing green roofs, the University ensures that water sources are well-protected and naturally recharged.
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:
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.