Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 47.06
Liaison Daniela Shebitz
Submission Date Dec. 11, 2023

STARS v2.2

Kean University
OP-22: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 2.00 AJ Whitmore
Director of Facilities
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
No written policies, plans or guidelines, but green infrastructure and LID practices are used

A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:
Kean University received the NJ Department of Environmental Protection award for stormwater management. The University is in full compliance with state regulations for public complex stormwater management.

Specifically pertaining to rainwater, in 2019, Kean University demolished a 70,000 sf building which was replaced by an outdoor learning pavillion. Rather than draining directly to the stormwater system and Trotter's Creek which runs directly through our campus, all of the water from this 5200 SF space now runs to the ground and is buffered by layers of plant beds with species specifically selected to absorb water and develop broad root systems.

In 2020, Hynes Hall was completed. This building has over 4100SF of living roof to aid in water absorbtion and filtration. Other buildings with living roofs include the Center for Science, Technology and Mathamatics (1222 SF), Liberty Hall Academic Center (2800 SF).

Additionally, when additional parking was needed in 2015, Kean University installed a green parking lot. This space is specifically designed to accommodate vehicles with a subterraneous grid support system. The parking lot is nearly 68,700 SF in area. It allows heavy equipment and vehicles to drive and park on it while still maintaining it's identity as a grass field.

Finally, at our grounds garage, we have installed a rainwater tower that collects rainwater and AC equipment condensation and is then used to fill mobile irrigation tanks that are used daily for watering hanging planters and beds.

A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
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A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:
No formal written policy, but best practices have been implemented in all new construction projects dating back to 2010.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Photos and maps of rooftop gardens and green parking lot attached.

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