What is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable Development refers to using resources in a

way that allows us to meet our current needs without

compromising the quality of future resource use.

Here are a few ways UConn is

practicing sustainable

development…

Green Buildings: LEED certified The Burton-Shenkman Football Facility was the first

NCAA LEED certified building.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design.

The building is approximately 40% more efficient than

standard building codes would have provided for!

Green Buildings: LEED certified Oak and Laurel Hall feature many elements of sustainable design

Porous Pavement

Reduces storm

water runoff and

flooding by

providing storage

and infiltration

during storm

events

Bioretention Basin

Reduces harmful

storm water

runoff. Provides

natural filtration.

High Performance

Windows

• Increased Natural

Lighting-reduces energy

costs otherwise used for

lighting the interior of the

building

• Window Glazing-

provides high insulation

value, reducing heating

and cooling needs

Recycled Materials

• Recycled Copper-

80-95% recycled

content

• Regional Bricks-

produced within 500

miles of campus

• Bamboo- a more

sustainable wood

that only takes 3-5

years to harvest

UConn Trails and Parks Hillside Environmental Education Park (HEEP): a remediated landfill site with

trails, plant-life and wildlife.

Fenton Tract: The Soil and Water Conservation Society maintain 6 blazed hiking

trails near the Fenton River.

http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm

Rain Gardens Rain gardens are used to

reduce stormwater run-off

and prevent erosion on

campus. They are also used

to offset new impervious

surface on campus.

A ditch is filled with plant life

to absorb run off, preventing

the excessively nutrient-rich

water from entering water

bodies and harming them.

Uconn has raingardens at Hilltop, Towers, near the Library and at the

Uconn Law school!

http://nemo.uconn.edu/rain

gardens/

Pest and Invasive Species

Management Integrated Pest Management refers to using ecological methods of pest control

before resorting to toxic chemicals. This may include examining how life

cycles of pests and crops interact and looking at natural predator/prey

relationships. UConn makes a concerted effort to try Integrated Pest

Management methods first.

Invasive plant species are those species that are not native to the area

and spread aggressively, compromising the integrity of native

ecosystems. As part of the Campus Sustainable Design Guidelines,

native plants are encouraged for use in landscaping.

Green Roofs UConn put in its first Green

Roof on the Gant Science

Complex in Fall 2009

Vegetated planters were

installed to help control

stormwater run-off, and

reduce the building’s

heating and cooling needs.

A green roof was also

installed at Laurel Hall

during its construction.

Green Roof by

Centerbrook

Architects,

Essex, CT

UCONN Compost Facility Built in Fall 2009, UConn’s compost facility handles large

quantities of landscaping and agricultural wastes.

Benefits of this Facility include:

1. Less waste in landfills (40-50% less!)

2. Composted manure has little to no odor (Thank goodness!)

3. Plant pathogens are suppressed in the soil!

4. Reduces Green House Gas emissions that cause Global Warming.

5. Cleaner run-off!

6. Decreased purchase of external compost!

Want to learn more?

Visit: http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/pcc/sustainabledevelopment.html