CALENDAR
Sustainability events around campus this academic year
- 11/12: Film - Dirt!
- 11/17: UNCG Sustainability Expo!
- 12/3: Film - Buyer Be Fair
- 1/27: A new Matthew Barr film on George McGovern
- 2/18: Film - A Sea Change
- 3/25-26: Sustainability Shorts (two nights with a celebration the second night!)
- 4/22: Film - Another Corleone: Another Sicily
Grounds Maintenance
Members
- Representative: Anne-Marie Taber
- Peter Ashe
- Chris Fay
- Nicolas Sam
The Grounds Maintenance Working Group of the UNCG Sustainability Committee is pleased to submit to the Committee this report on our findings. Although the Grounds Department has made several valuable improvements to the sustainability of its practices, as we will show, there remains much that could be done to establish our university as a leader in North Carolina’s effort to lighten our demands on Earth’s resources. As a result of our research on best practices in sustainable grounds maintenance for similar institutions, and in consultation with UNCG Grounds Department leaders, we have identified a list of priorities for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to consider funding and implementing.
Grounds Maintenance at UNCG has long demonstrated a concern for the responsible use of resources. The mowing of stream beds, now known to worsen rather than alleviate flooding, was discontinued within campus boundaries even before the city of Greensboro changed its practice several years ago. The principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guide campus practices that seek to reduce or eliminate the use of chemical insecticides and herbicides, by measures such as mulching and proper pruning for stronger, healthier plants that naturally resist insect and weed problems. Plant selections for turf, shrubs, trees, etc. are now done with drought tolerance in mind as well as resistance to pests. Organic and slow-release fertilizers are chosen so as to reduce harmful runoff. The large quantity of waste resulting from our beautiful trees is managed responsibly: trees that must be removed are chopped up for firewood and given away, their tops are chipped into mulch (some of which is kept for campus use), and a portion of the annual leaf fall is composted. Finally, the fleet of vehicles used by the Grounds Dept. has been reduced in numbers and is being gradually replaced by more fuel-efficient models.
The list of goals that follows represents the Working Group’s best efforts to identify those action items that could most efficiently and visible increase the sustainability of our Grounds practices. Visibility is an important factor for several reasons. We believe our institution wishes to set a good example for others, to position itself as a leader in campus sustainability efforts, and to educate both our students and the public about what can be and is being done to help ensure the survival of humanity. Accordingly, a high value has been placed on those goals that involve visibility and education. Also, selected goals that could be achieved with minimal investments of time and money have been given priority. These goals are a work in progress and we welcome your suggestions.