 Old Dominion University is making
environmental stewardship a key component of the campus.
New pollution prevention initiatives
include improved lighting, water use and HVA efficiency, including
replacement of older boilers with high efficiency boilers and chillers
-- all contributing to a savings of $162,146 and reducing the use of
boiler fuel oil by 55,200 gallons. The university also found a
contractor to remove 695 pounds of chemicals for reuse in high school
labs instead of waste disposal.
Meanwhile, ODU’s Earth Week ‘07 included
an environmental film festival, green car show, electronics recycling
(with Norfolk Environmental Comm.), litter cleanup, multiple
environmental speakers all week and a native tree planting.
Wildlife habitat efforts included
converting to organic and/or naturally-derived extract pesticides - only
two lawns atODU are fertilized; as well as:
- growing oysters for reef restoration
and relocating native honey bees off-campus rather than
exterminating them -computerized irrigation system tied to weather
monitoring to conserve water -partnering with the zoo for animals to
eat their trimmed tree limbs
- implementing a plant growth
regulator program to reduce pruning and shearing emissions and
stress to plants. Stormwater initiatives include incorporating Low
Impact Development practices into many future projects, as well as
using an ultra-urban device to help filter runoff.
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