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Healthy Lawns RPI
An Initiative ByEJ McGlynnQiao YuThomas McGannSamantha Bliss
- Environmental Problems are evident in our everyday lives.
- We MUST take steps to preserve the environmental aspects of our campus home!
Running, Running
- Extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticide
- a threat to the welfare of all aspects of campus environment
The Problem
Background/History- Campus covers 275 acres
- Current lawn care team consists of 16 individuals
- Alumni fund many landscaping features
- Create a program entitled “Healthy Lawns-RPI”
To:- Educate the campus and community public - transition to the use of organic fertilizers and
pesticides
- Extend this program to facilitate greater change
Our Solution
- The EPA’s “Healthy Yards, Healthy Lawns, Healthy Environment”
http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/pesticideslawn.htm
- “Safer Pest Control Project”http://www.spcpweb.org/yards/?gclid=CP35mdGmxLoCFdGe4AodKzQAzQ
- Pest Control Blog Posthttp://blog.pested.psu.edu/2012/03/19/organic-pesticides-what-works-and-what-doesnt-2/
Related Projects
“To promote environmentally sound garden and
lawn options here at RPI to reduce environmental
impact in the form of toxic runoff, thereby resulting
in cleaner air, water, and soil benefiting wildlife and
the community as a whole.”
Mission Statement
Three main goals:
- Education and involvement , 25 people
- Reduction of non-organics, <10%
- Expanding our project, 5 other institutions
Goals/Aims of Project
Stakeholders
Students
Professors At RPI
RPI Administration(Finance/Budget)
- Fertilizers treat the grounds they walk, lay, play, and compete on
- Makes grounds safer and healthier to be on
- Student leadership- Support helpful for research
- Healthier work environment
- Approval to shift funding- Approval to use new
products
Stakeholders
RPI Lawn Care Team
Fertilizer Company
Environmental Clubs(At RPI)
- Have experience in this area - Will be implementing change - advice, ideas and concerns
- current company consultation
- change provider companies- provide manpower- Possibly provide funding- publicity
Environmental Organizations (Outside of RPI)
- provide additional support/funding
- quantitative data- scale up and out
- Educate public about little known issue
- RPI continuing to be a more sustainable institution
- improve the quality of life for students, faculty, plants and animals
- provide students and faculty with the tools to facilitate the switch
- Implement greater change
Why is it important?
The Plan
1. Contact those responsible for lawn care on the RPI campus
2. Attend meetings of
both the EcoLogic and SSTF clubs
3. Meet with higher RPI
authority to determine
budget shifts
4. Implement usage of organic
products
5. Record any changes, etc.
that result from this shift
6. Propose the idea to the Troy community, and further the NY
state
Propose first on the RPI campus:
- Sufficient amount of lawn/garden features for research
- Manageable project area
- Strong environmental science/sustainability studies programs
- All of the group members live on campus
Can expand into the Troy community and NY state
Location/Justification
Scaling Up And Out
implement at other college campuses
extend to the Troy community
propose project to the state of New York
State funded program
Barriers and Challenges
- Significant cost difference between organics and non-organics
- Convincing public to make behavioral changes
- Convincing school administration of the value of shift
- Securing funding necessary for research
- Breaks and holidays delaying approvals
- Government shut downs, etc.
Social and Political Aspects
- Project asks public to change behavior
- New project changes campus culture
- Extending to community and state requires policy change
- RPI would lead the community and state in this green initiative - provide a blueprint for future success -reputable, economic, and cleaner alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers
Conclusion
RensselearWhy not change the world?
Questions?
Thanks for watching!
