1. Landscaping and Maintenance: Feature Story | Specific Initiatives | Sustainability in Action
Feature Story: Greening the Campus
When you drive onto Furman’s campus, past the numerous fountains and the meticulously landscaped shrubs and flowers, conservation and sustainability are not the terms that come to mind. What might not be evident as you stroll one of the most beautifully landscaped campuses in the country is that the university has embraced sustainability in its landscaping and building processes.
While a number of these initiatives have been in place for years, Furman has recently undertaken several additional projects to encourage more responsible consumption of resources while building a more sustainable campus for future generations of Paladins.
With 750 acres of total property and 400 acres regularly maintained,
the university has a vast physical footprint.
The Division of Facilities Services is charged with the responsibility of campus
planning, landscaping and maintenance. The implications for sustainability in
this area are substantial, a fact not lost on Randy Eggenspiller, Furman’s
head landscape architect and campus planner.
“The school is really doing an outstanding job in this area,” says Eggenspiller. “They’ve committed a lot of financial resources to make it all possible, too, so it’s clear they’re willing to support these efforts in the long run.”
Water, water everywhere
Responsible water use is essential to any environmentally friendly strategy
for campus maintenance. Furman’s fountains recycle their own water after
being filled, preventing excessive use of treated city water. Irrigation is
a concern for Facilities Services, as well.
“We are able to irrigate almost half of the main campus around the academic buildings with recycled water from the lake,” says Eggenspiller. “Other areas, such as North Village, are too far away from the lake, so we use potable water there.”
Everyone enjoys Furman’s lush green grass during the year, and the school is finding ways to balance that scenic beauty with environmental compatibility. Fewer grassy areas are being planned so that natural vegetation can flourish, while existing grass is being allowed to grow taller. Air pollution is consequently reduced through less frequent operation of gas-powered mowers over a smaller area. Grass clippings are also being left behind on the turf, helping to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers.
“Our on-campus mulch and compost operation allows us to recycle tree branches and leaves that have fallen during storms,” says Eggenspiller. This fresh compost can then be used around campus in flower beds and along Furman Mall.
Moving Day
The start of a new school year brings Furman students back to campus, hauling
televisions, computers and furniture along with them. As everyone moves in,
the cardboard and plastic begin to pile up. Thanks to Furman’s sustainability
efforts, however, this potential waste is collected in recycling containers
next to residence hall and apartment dumpsters.
The end of the year presents an even larger challenge for the school, as students move out of campus residences and make major decisions about “what stays and what goes.” Furman has teamed with local charities such as Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill to provide separate 30-foot dumpsters to collect used goods for donation –– everything from couches to desk chairs to electronics. Local food banks have also benefited from the university’s work to collect canned goods from students as they clean out their kitchens at the end of the year.
Take a look at the Furman Water Cycle >
Energy efficiency
The rising cost of electricity, gasoline, oil and natural gas continues to present
a challenge to Furman. Jeff Redderson of Facilities Services reports that his
department is continually monitoring energy use. “The university has shown
a 15-percent decline in energy use since 1998 on a square-foot basis,”
says Redderson. “With the current cost of utilities, this saves the university
more than $200,000 annually.”
The efficiency improvement results from the completion of many new, efficient LEED-constructed buildings in addition to many other significant energy improvement projects. “Since we’ve added new buildings, we’ve tied all the buildings into a central control system with water, gas and electricity meters,” says Redderson. “One of our biggest initiatives was removing 12 chillers from different buildings, tying all those buildings together with piping, and then putting in a central energy plant with three chillers.”
Technological sustainability
Furman’s commitment to providing a world-class education also means keeping
pace with constantly changing technological standards. Replacing older computers
creates the potential for a sizeable amount of waste, but Computing and Information
Services has avoided that through participation in Operation Reboot. Staff and
students work to refurbish used computers for donation to various charities
around Greenville, reducing waste while giving to a good cause.
“I think it’s great that Furman is participating in a program like
this,” says Ryan Kelly, a senior who works in Computing and Information
Services. “We’re recycling and donating some great machines to people
who wouldn’t have them otherwise.”
Specific Initiatives: How we're making a difference
Environmentally friendly landscape practices
Reduction
of grassy areas of campus allows native landscape to emerge.
Greater use of native
plants and pest-resistant hybrid vegetation reduces chemical dependency.
Recycled irrigation
water from the stormwater reservoir lake is used to irrigate approximately 45
percent of the campus.
Excavated dirt created
by building projects is stockpiled to use as fill in future projects.
Endangered plants
such as bunched arrowhead are protected from development.
Tree conservation
results in abundant foliage, which provides natural shade and screening.
Dining Services keeps leftover food from wasting
The
Dining Hall works through Heller Service Corps volunteers to send food to the
local Loaves and Fishes agency in Greenville, which, in turn, distributes the
food to the needy. Student volunteers pick up food from the dining hall and
transport it to Loaves and Fishes, a community agency that supports local food
banks.
University moves to more sustainable vehicles
The university is moving away from gas-powered vehicles and embracing
other technologies.
Currently
the campus operates 25–30 electric vehicles. All campus deliveries are
received at a central location and then transported across campus in electric
trucks.
Thirty-five electric
golf carts have replaced 31 gasoline autos and trucks in Facilities Services.
Dedicated cart parking/charging stations are located throughout campus.
Public Safety has
purchased a hybrid Ford Escape. Gas mileage is 2.5 times better than the vehicle
it replaced, it accelerates better, and it has more usable space.
Sustainability in Action: Images of Campus Involvement: Landscaping and Maintenance
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