| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.89 |
| Liaison | Jonathan Rausseo |
| Submission Date | Nov. 25, 2021 |
University of Ottawa
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.95 / 2.00 |
Pierre-Yves
Leroux Supervisor Grounds and Transport |
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 Hectares |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 9.30 Hectares |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0.50 Hectares |
| Total area of managed grounds | 9.80 Hectares |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
The only exceptions to the maintained lands on campus are leased spaces and community garden spaces.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
N/A
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:
The University of Ottawa contracts out its landscaping operations to a private contractor. In our contract we include the following requirements.
- Grass is mowed once a week. Less in the spring and fall, depending on growing conditions.
- Landscaped beds are maintained at least once a month. In the fall there is a blitz to deadhead perennials and remove annuals. We also plant tulips in the fall and annuals in the spring.
-We require that no pesticides be used on the premises for any reason unless it is related to a health and safety issue.
-Chemical fertilizers are not applied on campus except at the Tabaret Building. Organic compost is used from time to time.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Whenever possible, the University of Ottawa tries to use as many native plants as can be accommodated. The grounds are inspected on a regular basis for invasive species. Depending on the severity of the invasive species, the grounds team act to remove invasive species as quickly at possible.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
The University of Ottawa main campus has three irrigation systems in place (at the University Centre, at the University Plaza, and at the Tabaret Building). These highly efficient systems are controlled be using rain sensors. The three systems are connected to adjacent buildings which rely on City Water. As a matter of practice, the grounds team also fills a water tank used to water annual flowers around the campus that are not covered by any irrigation systems.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
All our green material (includings tree pruings, clipped wood from dead trees, plants that have been weeded, etc) is sent to a private off-campus composting facility. The only materials that are kept on campus are grass clippings for mulching.
The community gardens also collect green material and use backyard composters to transform their yard waste and reapply the compost on campus the following year.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Although spaces on not always designed with energy efficiency in mind, there are some notable exceptions on campus.
The University of Ottawa favours lighter tinted paving materials to reduce the heat island effect. In addition, depending on the location on campus, trees are selected for their shading potential. For example, we planted Amelanchiers and Maples in high traffic pedestrian areas to increase shade in the summer. And in the winter, these deciduous trees loss their leaves and allow for the spaces to be heated by the sun.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
N/A
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.