Page 064
Source section: Section 4 - Green Building Core Concepts and Application Strategies PDF page: 64 Guide page: 57 OCR quality: high (406 words)
OCR Text
Strategies for designing and maintaining a sustainable site can include selecting native and adapted species that thrive without irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizers. Certain plants can enhance soil nutrients, supporting regenerative project goals; others naturally deter pests. Plants can also be selected to minimize evapotranspiration, the return of water to the atmosphere through evaporation from plants’ leaves; this characteristic is important in arid climates. Strategic selection of plants creates wildlife habitat and supports integrated pest management (IPM), a sustainable approach that controls pest infestation and damage in an economical way while minimizing hazards to people, property, and the environment. Strategically locating functional and decorative hardscape on a project site may reduce the amount of impervious area, surfaces that have been compacted or covered by materials that do not allow water to infiltrate. Impervious areas found in the built environment include concrete, brick, stone, asphalt, and sealed surfaces. Strategies for reducing hardscape include using pervious paving systems for parking lots, walkways, and decorative areas, such as patios. Pervious paving areas allow rainwater infiltration and also reduce heat island effects. The benefits of sustainable site design and management reach far beyond a project’s boundary. Site lighting can provide adequate nighttime illumination while preserving the integrity of the night sky. By reducing glare and contrast between light and dark areas, which can diminish night vision, smart lighting design can actually improve site safety while maintaining views of the stars and decreasing stress to nocturnal animals. To achieve such goals, teams avoid up-lighting and over-lighting, direct full cutoff fixtures downward to illuminate paths and exits, and shield fixtures to prevent light trespass, the spilling of light beyond the project boundary. SSS STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE SITE DESIGN:
- MINIMIZE HARDSCAPE. Substitute pervious surfaces for traditional paving.
- USE NATIVE LANDSCAPING. Select plants that are native to the area both to reduce water use and to provide habitat for local birds and other species. Incorporate mulch into the landscape to build the soil and naturally suppress weeds.
- PREVENT LIGHT POLLUTION. Avoid up-lighting, glare, and trespass by using shielded fixtures and strategic lighting design.
- PRESERVE OPEN SPACE AND SENSITIVE AREAS. Consolidate the development footprint and protect and restore natural vegetation, wetland areas, and bodies of water.
- PROTECT AND RESTORE HABITAT. Designate areas as protected habitat and open space for the life of the project. Develop a conservation management program to make sure that the natural environment is protected. Consider putting protected areas into a land trust. ———____ | vv z e) raat oO Ww un 57