Healthy Lawns RPI An Initiative By EJ McGlynn Qiao Yu Thomas McGann Samantha Bliss

 Environmental Problems are evident in our everyday lives.  We MUST take steps to preserve the environmental aspects of our campus home!  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  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  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”  “Safer Pest Control Project” dKzQAzQ  Pest Control Blog Post works-and-what-doesnt-2/  The EPA’s “Healthy Yards, Healthy Lawns, Healthy Environment”  “Safer Pest Control Project” dKzQAzQ  Pest Control Blog Post 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.” “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 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  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 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 - 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 Rensselear Why not change the world?

Questions? Thanks for watching!