In September 2017, Cannon Drive began to blossom into the version of what we see today. The project, designed to straighten and elevate the roadway, created a certified flood levy, opened 12 acres of developable land and created new green space along the Olentangy River.
Last month, the green space got a facelift thanks to 25 newly planted trees in conjunction with Earth Day and the university’s Sesquicentennial.
“We planted 25 trees on each Ohio State campus, totaling 150 in honor of this year’s Sesquicentennial,” said University Landscape Architect Steve Volkmann.
Drip, drip, drip … If you stay quiet and listen closely, you can hear it. Water always finds a way and now Ohio State’s Facilities Operations and Development has embraced a unique way to track it.
“They listen to the water mains using acoustic methods,” said Brenda VanCleave, water engineer for FOD’s sustainability office. “They can pinpoint where there’s a leak within three meters of that leak.”
As part of ongoing leak detection surveys, FOD has partnered with a third-party crew that mounts their equipment onto fire hydrants and listen to the water main between the hydrants to...
While World Water Day comes just once a year, Brenda VanCleave doesn’t limit her water conservation to a single day. Instead, the Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) water resource engineer finds ways to integrate her morale responsibility into her favorite hobby.
“My garden at my house is my getaway,” VanCleave said.
VanCleave has been tending to her garden for the past 15 years and finds that it’s the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors.
“I have a rain barrel that can feed the garden,” VanCleave said, with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and water conservation....
The Ohio State University is making investments in sustainability that are leading to tangible change and beginning to move the needle toward overall energy reduction goals.
“We are focused on building and maintaining more efficient facilities,” said Mark Conselyea, associate vice president of Facilities Operations and Development (FOD). “We must be good stewards of our resources and energy conservation measures help drive Ohio State toward achieving its long-term sustainability goals.”
A 50-year partnership with Ohio State Energy Partners (OSEP), a consortium of ENGIE North America and Axium Infrastructure, is helping the university operate more efficiently. In the summer...
Rainwater and water from vehicle washing and over-irrigation flow into storm drains located in parking lots, streets, and gutters. These drains are connected through a series of underground pipes that carry water directly to our rivers, lakes, and streams.
Unlike the sanitary sewer that carries water from the drains in your home to the wastewater treatment plant, the storm sewer system carries untreated water straight to the river. Everything that goes into a storm drain is discharged into our waterways.
Ohio State adopted a zero-waste goal in 2015 as part of a list of sustainability goals set by the university, according to Ohio State’s sustainability website. One goal was to divert 90 percent of Ohio State’s 20,000 tons of annual campus waste from landfills by 2025. Strides have been made toward achieving zero waste on campus, but a lack of knowledge on proper recycling techniques and accessible compost bins on campus creates a challenge for students who wish to help in the effort, according...
For the ninth year in a row, The Ohio State University is proud to earn a Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation. Ohio State has received the distinction each year since it first applied in 2011. Tree Campus USA, an Arbor Day Foundation program launched in 2008, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.
The honor aligns with Ohio State's sustainability goals , including a commitment to increase the ecosystem services that campus lands provide to the university community....
Compost. Trash. Recycle. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees followed three simple steps in an effort to make its November meeting a zero waste event in support of the university’s overall sustainability goals .
Zero waste is defined as diverting 90% or more of waste from the landfill. Ohio State’s goal is to become a zero waste campus through recycling, compost and reuse by 2025.
“We hope that today marks the first official zero waste Board of Trustees meeting,” said Mary Leciejewski, zero waste manager with Ohio State’s Facilities Operations and Development. “We’ve made operational...
The Ohio State University is using technology to assess and plan for landscaping that keeps campus beautiful year-round. Certified drone pilots from Planning, Architecture and Real Estate (PARE) partnered with Ohio State’s Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) to take aerial images of The Oval this week.
“Advancements in technology allow us to quickly take a birds-eye view to assess where turf repairs are needed on a broader scale,” said Mike Koeritzer, FOD Landscape Services Superintendent. “Having this service available within the university is valuable for operational efficiency when reviewing landscaping, rooftops and other maintenance needs.”
Student volunteers are needed to help support autumn clean-up efforts at the Jennings Hall Rain Garden at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 2. Facilities Operations and Development staff, including the Environmental Health and Safety team, as well as the Bio Sci Greenhouse group, need the help of students to remove trash, weeds, mulch and maintain the garden boxes. This year's goal is to clean out all of the boxes and totally replant two of them. These efforts will ensure that this important storm water facility maintains its beauty and functionality as a rain garden. Refreshments will be provided to the...
