Native Wildflower Bed Demonstrates Conservation Concepts Beautifully

In a unique collaboration with the College, Ernst Conservation Seeds donated the seeds, expertise and staff to create a native-species wildflower bed approximately an acre in size on the north end of Allegheny's campus. The planting demonstrates the numerous environmental and aesthetic benefits of using native species in commercial landscaping. It is expected that this single wildflower plot will eliminate the need for approximately 45 hours of mowing annually, saving not only staff time but also gas, oil, equipment maintenance and emissions.

Campus Accomplishments

Compost
Each day, our on-campus composting facility processes 800-900 pounds of food and compostable paper and plastic, collected from on-campus food service facilities and augmented with landscaping materials to create a soil-like, nutrient-rich material that helps to replenish our campus's lawns, gardens and flowerbeds without using chemical fertilizers. Read more about Allegheny's composting program in this May 2008 BioCycle magazine article.

Waste Minimization
In 2008 Allegheny participated in RecycleMania for the first time. This offered an excellent opportunity to involve students in the process, raise awareness, collect data regarding our waste stream, compare our results to similar campuses, and identify opportunities to reduce our overall waste.

Buildings
Allegheny has made a strong commitment to building efficiency and conservation.

• North Village Phase I, a residential project, has garnered LEED® Certified recognition with its incorporation of recycled materials, high indoor air quality, efficient water fixtures and lighting, and a geo-exchange heating and cooling system.
• The Vukovich Center for Communication Arts features Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, recycled materials, occupancy sensors, and a green roof.
• The Admissions House renovation, slated for completion in 2009, will include geo-exchange heating and cooling, a rain garden for storm-water runoff, waterless urinals and recycled-content building materials.
• North Village Phase II is currently in the planning phase. This residence hall will include geothermal heating and cooling and is being designed with the goal of achieving LEED Silver certification.

Wildflowers
An acre of Allegheny's campus is planted in native species wildflowers through a unique collaboration with Ernst Conservation Seeds. Not only will this planting eliminate a significant portion of grounds maintenance, but will also provide a unique research laboratory and parking lot runoff filtration. The plantings have been so well received that a considerable expansion is in the works.