Sustainable Transportation and Grounds in UIC - University of ...

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Report to UIC 28 Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy maintenance of irrigation systems. Native species and plants that are suitable for Illinois climate without irrigation are being used near recent and new construction such as the east Recreation Center and Lincoln Hall. Evaluation and benchmarking improvements in environmental quality include the following: 1) Inventory grounds equipment owned and contracted, fuel consumption, supplies such as fertilizer, snow-melt, pesticides, 2) Identify equipment replacement options and guidelines for future purchase 3) Perform air, water, soil testing 4) Calculate costs for mowing, trimming, labor, equipment and supplies for tree planting, maintenance and removal, value of volunteer labor (# of hours × $18), contributions from student or civic organizations; maintenance of campus tree inventory, tree management and public education related to the campus tree care plan, professional training, and dues for related association memberships 5) Amount of water for used for irrigation or frequency and location of irrigation sites Primary Data Collection Effort • Tree Campus USA and Tree Care Plan Performance on STARS Standards The Sustainability Tracking and Rating Assessment (STARS) developed through a collaborative effort by the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is comprised of a credit system for sustainable operations. In the category of transportation UIC meets some of the criteria but could achieve more points. • Currently, the institution’s motorized fleet emits 0.2 carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 e) per passenger mile traveled, achieving one point. We could achieve 2 points by having no CO 2 e per passenger mile traveled (carbon neutral fleet). • Another credit is given for having a specified percentage of the institution's faculty, staff and students getting to and from campus by a means other than single occupancy vehicle for the majority of their daily trips. Alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle transportation include walking, bicycling, van or carpooling, taking public transportation, or riding a campus shuttle. Currently, 76% of 28
Report to UIC 29 Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy the campus community gets to and from campus by alternate means, giving us two points which is given to an institution that has more than 50% of the institution’s population primarily using preferable modes of transportation. We could achieve 3 points if more than 95% of institution’s population primarily would use preferable modes of transportation. We have not achieved credits for commuter options by meeting the criteria for being recognized by the Best Workplaces for Commuters program. This credit recognizes institutions with strong programs in place to encourage employees to use preferable modes of transportation. The National Standard of Excellence in commuter benefits, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is used to determine whether employers qualify for designation under the Best Workplaces for Commuters program. To encourage their employees to bike, walk, carpool, or take mass transit to and from campus, institutions can implement a variety of programs, incentives, and facilities. Examples of such tools include transit subsidies, bicycle facilities, awards programs, and parking incentives for carpoolers. UIC has some of these programs in place but would need more incentives to meet these criteria. We also have not achieved the credit for an Organic Campus which requires the institution to apply to its grounds only pesticides and fertilizers that are allowable under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s standards for organic crop production. We would be more likely to utilize Integrated Pest Management in the near term (a Tier 2 credit). Another STARS criterion relates to the percentage of irrigation water needs met with non-potable water. An institution that gets 50% of its needs met gets one point and 100% non-potable water for irrigation gives 2 points. UIC does not currently use any non-potable water for irrigation but will use some at the Forum from the cistern that will be installed as soon as the plaza is completed. UIC does meet the criteria for several Tier 2 credits including landscaping with native species, inventorying and mapping all campus trees and other landscape assets, and composting yard waste. UIC does not meet the criteria for the following: • Develop and implement a rainwater management plan to filter and mitigate rainwater runoff • Use permeable pavement • Follow best management practices for snow and ice removal • Is recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA program • Grass-cycles grass trimmings Excerpts from UIC Campus Master Plan Phase I Draft report (4-14- 09) 29
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