| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.36 |
| Liaison | Michael Chapman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 20, 2023 |
Nova Scotia Community College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.83 / 2.00 |
Martha
MacGowan Project Assistant- Sustainability Facilities & Engineering |
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 | 385 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 67 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 5 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 457 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Building footprint as well as undeveloped land have been excluded from the area of managed grounds.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
NSCC campuses do not use pesticides or fertilizers.
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:
All NSCC campuses have a contract with Abell pest control services. Abell's services include a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management Program focusing on pest prevention, not just pest management.
Abell's program incorporates the following:
Visual Inspection - to determine pest presence
Monitoring - to detect pests and assess the level of control success
Identification - to determine what the pest is, permitting the proper course of action
Sanitation - cleaning to eliminate pest food sources
Exclusion / Structural Maintenance - keeping pests out while preventing movement within the building
Harbourage Elimination - removing hiding areas for pests
Mechanical Control - using equipment such as mousetraps or vacuums to remove pests
Chemical Control - using insecticides and rodenticides to eliminate pests
Record Keeping and Analysis - looking for trends in pest activity to identify susceptible areas
Education - informing unit renters of their role in pest management
https://www.abellpestcontrol.com/en-ca/about-us/abells-ipm-organic-and-leeds-approach
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
At every NSCC campus, it is standard practice to prioritize native plants in landscaping. Other than when plants are established, there is no regular irrigation. Natural habitats are protected and restored where possible. Only native species are selected when integrating new plants. Non-native invasive species are removed if present on-site.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Apart from when plants are established, regular irrigation is not utilized at any NSCC campus. NSCC does not use irrigation for landscaping wherever possible. Campus design and operations support natural hydrology. Some examples include:
The Ivany and Lunenburg Campuses have bioswales to absorb and naturally filter surface runoff. All campuses are landscaped with native vegetation and thus do not require irrigation.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
All grass cutting generated from mowing is kept to keep the grass healthy. All other landscaping waste is removed, composted, and mulched. Many campuses also have onsite composting areas where clippings, leaves and other materials are composted and reused.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Landscape architects are to use LEED best practices when designing landscaping for new construction. NSCC chooses native vegetation, thus reducing irrigation requirements and other energy-intensive maintenance practices. What roofs are utilized at our Ivany and Marconi campuses to minimize the heat island effect.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
NSCC's procurement policy states that all purchases, including those for landscaping, must meet industry-recognized certifications for environmental performance. Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) strategies are the preferred landscaping strategies at NSCC and are used on all new construction projects when possible.
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.