| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.86 |
| Liaison | Isabel Savransky |
| Submission Date | June 19, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Ontario Tech University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.00 / 2.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
78.24
Hectares
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach | 0 Hectares |
| Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials | 0 Hectares |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 70.90 Hectares |
| Total area of managed grounds | 175.20 Hectares |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
Ontario Tech only uses organic fertilizers in community gardens (on the campus farmland), no herbicides or pesticides are used.
Ontario Tech recently started using the Steam and Weed system, which is a chemical free, environmentally friendly weed control equipment (more information can be found at https://www.steamnweeds.com/).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
0
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
We are in the process of creating an official IPM program; as we currently follow sustainable best practices for landscape management
Organic Program
0
If reporting an organic program, provide:
Ontario Tech is in the process of creating this official program/plan; as we currently follow best practices (we have eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides on our farmland).
Optional Fields
We participated in the Durham Region 5 Million Tree Program with Forests Ontario (as part of Ontario's 50 Million Tree Program) and planted over 8000 tree seedlings in 2018 and plans to continue planting yearly in our tree nursery and around campus.
Landscaping drawings include Native Plants in campus RFPs. Milkweed and purple coneflowers planted on our North Campus along with our 3 hectares of hydroseeded native wildflower gardens to help with pollinator populations. We Grow Trees tree planting challenge where staff grow, maintain and plant native trees on campus that are planted in our tree nursery of approximately 500 trees.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
We adhere to Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) policies and guidelines to protecting/restoring riparian, wetland, and shoreline habitats.
Storm water and grey water collection: https://sites.uoit.ca/gogreen/initiatives/on-campus/water.php
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
The Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability composts all food waste, gardening waste and grass cuttings on site. Fallen trees and wood is used in Indigenous ceremonies (and wood is also mulched on site).
We have piloted a composting program in 2018/2019; and we continue to look at methods to reintroduce this program
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Vegetated Roofs
Four buildings are constructed with extensive “green roofs” to total 1600 square meters. The use of grass and soil on rooftops to aid drainage, retain heat and improve air quality. Roof runoff water is collected in an underground cistern with a capacity of 250,000L. This water is then used for irrigation and flushing within the buildings surrounding the quad; reducing the fresh water consumption of treated water from municipal sources.
Three thermal energy recovery wheels are part of the university's ventilation system; renewable energy projects are considered on rooftops of new and existing buildings (currently have over 180kilowatts of solar on campus as of May 2019).
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
There are storm water management ponds on campus that reduce sediment load to the nearby creek. We also follow sustainable landscape management
Snow removal: use of Jet blue instead of Green Earth salt (extremely difficult to have supplied). OGS Property services also conducts brine spraying- anti icing/ pre-precipitation practice that is completed before snow removal; they are a 'Smart About Salt' accredited company, and are part of the Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA), snow professional in Canada to learn best practices and have well educated employees.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.