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Melding Landscaping with Storm Water Management Practices

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Western Michigan University has taken a responsible approach to this by participating in local watershed planning and steering committees. Campus landscapes have been designed to accommodate on-site water retention, detention and infiltration systems using a variety of best management practices for storm water treatment. These initiatives have incorporated native plants and natural materials to accomplish storm water treatment and open space that will serve the human and natural community in a more sustainable way.

WMU was selected for the 2008 Environmental Award by the chamber's Environmental Advisory Committee in recognition of the University's efforts to implement sustainable design practices in its new buildings, its commitment to major storm water management improvements throughout its Kalamazoo campus and the University's development of a centralized energy usage control system.

Specifically, the University was lauded for using guidelines developed by the U.S. Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design--known as LEED principles--in construction of its Health and Human Services Building, Chemistry Building and Richmond Center for Visual Arts, as well as in its just completed renovation of Brown Hall. Centralized energy management for the entire Kalamazoo campus and the University's storm water management work and alliance with the Portage-Arcadia Creek Watershed Steering Committee also were cited.

"We're very proud of this award and what it represents for our community and those who live and work on our campus,"..."The fact that WMU has numerous examples of its commitment to sustainability creates a unique opportunity to promote environmental stewardship with our students. We view this University as an environmental leader." - Robert G. Miller, WMU associate vice president for community outreach.