"Pour one for others too!"
New water tank on the Reichenhainer Straße campus enables tree pit greening - anyone who would like to help with watering is welcome to get involved
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The cube-shaped water tank stands in front of the auditorium building. Photo: Niklas Schindler -
The watering cans can be found behind the tarp. Photo: Niklas Schindler -
The water from the tank can be used to water the tree pits. Photo: Niklas Schindler
"It gets hot in the summer - for us and for plants and animals too. Since we are not the only ones who feel like a cold drink in such hot periods, the Sustainability Task Force of Chemnitz University of Technology calls on you to pour one for others," says Prof. Dr. Marlen Gabriele Arnold, head of the Professorship of Business Administration - Corporate Environmental Management and Sustainability at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC) and the Commissioner of the University Management for Sustainable Campus Development. Specifically, she has her eye on the green tree pits on the campus square at Reichenhainer Straße. In April 2023, the Green Spaces Office of the City of Chemnitz realized the visual enhancement of the tree pits by seeding them with wildflowers. This seed mixture mainly contains native, low-growing flowering plants - enriched with some non-native plants for the visual enhancement.
"The tree pits of the plane trees are integrated into the walkway area and therefore need both protection when walking across the campus square and care with regard to dryness. This requires all of our participation, because sustainability can only be achieved together," says Arnold. The active care of these experimental greenings requires committed students and staff - both to water and to keep an eye on the development of the greening and build knowledge for further sustainable measures.
The water needed for watering can be obtained from a special large tank on the campus square, which was procured jointly with the Department of Civil Engineering and Technology and graphically designed by the Press Office and Crossmedia team. Several watering cans are available for this purpose and can be taken out from under the tank. "The three tree pits to be watered with insect-friendly flowering mixtures are near the bus stop," says Arnold. The condition of the tank is continuously monitored by the Department of Civil Engineering and Technology.
"The members of our Sustainability Task Force would be very pleased if as many members and associates of Chemnitz University of Technology as possible would help to do something good for the plants on campus," adds Arnold. So anyone who notices that the flowers and leaves of the plants are drooping or the soil is dry should - ideally in the morning or evening - reach for the watering can.
According to Arnold, the funds for the procurement of the water tank and corresponding equipment were provided as part of the Sustainable Campus Design Initiative. This measure is co-financed by tax money based on the budget passed by the Saxon State Parliament.
For more information on the topic of "Sustainability at the Chemnitz University of Technology": https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/tu/nachhaltigkeit
(Author: Mario Steinebach / Translation: Brent Benofksy)
Matthias Fejes
26.07.2023
