Grounds New Service LevelsJanuary, 2010

• Impact of budget reductions and related sustainability efforts

IUPUI Grounds’ Budget Reduced by $101,069in FY10

Impacts:

Flowers (seasonal plantings)

Mulching

Trees

Roads and Sidewalks

Turf and Irrigation

Campus Portal Entry Beds will continue to be maintained at current levels

Budget Affect on Flowers

Reduction of Seasonal Plantings

• All general funded seasonal plantings will be eliminated other than those at campus entrances:– Includes plantings in

flower beds around buildings

– Includes potted plants and planters

– This results in approximately $30,000 in savings

• Resulting sustainability impact:– Reduces water usage

Examples of areas affected – flowers will be replaced with mulch:

Other areas affected:

Reduction of Mulch Applications

Reduce mulch applications to 1 per year compared to 2 per year previously

Results in appox. $19,000 per year in savings

• Resulting sustainability impact:• Negative impacts:

– Increases need for pesticides– Increases need for water

Other impacts:Makes weed control more

difficultCan negatively affect shrub

health

Reduction of Tree Plantings

• No longer able to fund tree plantings on general fund budget

• Results in approximately $7,000 in savings per year

• Resulting Sustainability impact:– Fewer tree’s has a negative

affect

Grants and other alternatives for adding trees are being explored

Further Deferred Maintenance for Repairs to Roads and Sidewalks

No longer able to fund concrete and street repairs through Grounds Budget

Results in approx. $30,000 in savings per year

Alternatives for funding being explored:R&R fundsOther maintenance funds

No impact on Sustainability

Reduction in Turf Maintenance

Reduce fertilizer applications from 5 to 3 times per year

Eliminate irrigation for a portion of campus (around MRLB, Lockfield Green, Taylor Hall, ET/SL, and Long)

Results in savings of approx. $8,500 per year

Resulting Sustainability Impact:

Less fertilizer – reduce chances of stream run-off.

Reduction of water use.

Military Park

GREEN SHADING = Continued Irrigation BROWN SHADING = Discontinued Irrigation

Sustainable Irrigation Solution Being Pursued:

Developing scope for a possible new irrigation control system:

Current system is controlled 100% manually. Operates on time clocks and does not take weather conditions such as rain and soil moisture into account

All system components are old and require significant labor to maintain and operate

Estimate soil moisture and rain sensors to cost approximately $25,000 with ability to save 30% in water usage and allow all irrigation areas to again be utilized.

Additional upgrades are estimated at $75,000 to $85,000.

Grounds Budget Reduction Impact Summary:

$102,000 Budget Reduction:

$30,000 from seasonal plantings

$19,000 from mulching

$7,000 from trees

$30,000 from roads/ sidewalks

$8,500 from turf/ irrigation

$7,500 misc materials

Status of partnerships• Indy Parks/City is planning on offering a citizen program in different areas but program is not operational at this time

• Meeting with IUPUI Sustainability Sub-committee to look into food composting options

Partnership possibilities• Partner with Indy Parks/ City

• IUPUI Sustainability Committee

Mulching/ Composting

Grounds Sustainability Summary:

Resulting new Sustainability Efforts: •Less water use for turf and flower maintenance•Less fertilizer run-off•Pursuing composting options with the city•Pursuing natural gas mowers•Pursuing smart irrigation system•Pursuing salt spreader metering to better understand winter salt usage and impact•Pursuing possible pre-treating roads and sidewalks w/ snow melt technology

Grounds Sustainability Efforts Already in Place:•Mow grass at 3-1/2 inches for more density•Reduced cart and power tool use during Knozone days•Fueling restrictions on Knozone days•Utilizing Integrated Pest Mgmt (IPM)•Utilizing phosphate free fertilizer•Blow hard surfaces after applying granular fertilizer