SustainableSites

SustainableSites
AspectsoftheSustainabilityofaProject:
Transportation
SiteSelection
SiteDesignandManagement
Stormwater Management

SustainableSites
MostSustainableSites:
ReduceTransportationDemand
RestoreDegradedorContaminatedAreas
MinimizeImpactsofLightPollution
ManageStormwater toProtectWaterQuality
andAquaticEcosystems

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Brownfield.Previouslyusedordevelopedland
thatmaybecontaminatedwithhazardouswaste
orpollution.
Remediate=Reusable
Opportunity
restoredegradedurbanland
promoteinfillandreducesprawl

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
CommunityConnectivity.Theamountof
connectionbetweenasiteandthesurrounding
community,measuredbyproximityofthesiteto
homes,schools,parks,stores,restaurants,
medicalfacilities,andotherservicesand
amenities.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
DevelopmentDensity.Thetotalsquarefootage
ofallbuildingswithinaparticulararea,
measuredinsquarefeetperacreorunitsper
acre.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Diversityofusesorhousingtypes.Thenumber
oftypesofspacesorhousingtypesperacre.A
neighborhoodthatincludesadiversityofuses
offices,homes,schools,parks,stores
encourageswalking,anditsresidentsand
visitorsarelessdependentonpersonalvehicles.
Adiversityofhousingtypesallowshouseholds
ofdifferenttypes,sizes,ages,andincomesto
liveinthesameneighborhood.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Floodplain.Landthatislikelytobefloodedbya
stormofagivensize(e.g.,a100yearstorm)

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Floorarearatio.Therelationshipbetweenthe
totalbuildingfloorareaandtheallowableland
areathebuildingcancover.Ingreenbuilding,
theobjectistobuildupratherthanoutbecause
asmallerbuildingfootprintmeansless
disruptionoftheexistingorcreatedlandscape.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Footcandle.Ameasureoftheamountof
illuminationfallingonasurface.Afootcandle is
equaltoonelumenpersquarefoot.Minimizing
thenumberoffootcandles ofsitelightinghelps
reducelightpollutionandprotectdarkskiesand
nocturnalanimals.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Imperviousness.Theresistanceofamaterialto
penetrationbyaliquid.Thetotal
imperviousnessofasurface,suchaspaving,is
expressedasapercentageoftotallandareathat
doesnotallowmoisturepenetration.
Impervioussurfacespreventrainwaterfrom
infiltratingintotheground,therebyincreasing
runoff,reducinggroundwaterrecharge,and
degradingsurfacewaterquality.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Nativeandadaptedplants.Nativeplantsoccur
naturallyinagivenlocationandecosystem.
Adaptedplantsarenotnativetoalocationbut
growreliablywithminimalattentionfrom
humans.Usingnativeandadaptedplantscan
reducetheamountofwaterrequiredfor
irrigation,aswellastheneedforpesticidesor
fertilizers,andmayprovidebenefitsforlocal
wildlife.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Primefarmland.Previouslyundevelopedland
withsoilsuitableforcultivation.Avoiding
developmentonprimefarmlandhelpsprotect
agriculturallands,whichareneededforfood
production.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Sitedisturbance.Theamountofasitethatis
disturbedbyconstructionactivity.On
undevelopedsites,limitingtheamountand
boundaryofsitedisturbancecanprotect
surroundinghabitat.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
SolarReflectanceindex(SRI).Ameasureofhow
wellamaterialrejectssolarheat;theindex
rangesfrom0(leastreflective)to100(most
reflective).Usingcoolermaterialshelps
preventtheurbanheatislandeffect(the
absorptionofheatbyroofsandpavementand
itsradiationtotheambientair)andminimizes
demandforcoolingofnearbybuildings.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Streetgriddensity.Anindicatorof
neighborhooddensity,calculatedasthenumber
ofcenterlinemilespersquaremile.Centerline
milesarethelengthofaroaddownitscenter.A
communitywithhighstreetgridandnarrow,
interconnectedstreetsismorelikelytobe
pedestrianfriendlythanonewithalowstreet
griddensityandwidestreets.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Transportationdemandmanagement.The
processofreducingpeakperiodvehicletrips.

SustainableSites
AssessmentsandMeasurements
Vehiclemilestraveled(VMT).Ameasureof
transportationdemandthatestimatesthetravel
milesassociatedwithaproject,mostoftenfor
singlepassengercars.LEEDsometimesusesa
complementarymetricforalternativemode
miles(e.g.,inhighoccupancyautos).

SustainableSites
Transportation

SustainableSites
TransportationStrategies:
Locatenearmasstransit
LimitParking
EncourageCarpooling
PromoteAlternativefuelVehicles
OfferIncentives
SupportAlternativeTransportation

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SustainableSites
SiteSelection

SustainableSites
SiteSelection Strategies
IncreaseDensity
ChooseRedevelopment
ProtectHabitat

SustainableSites

SustainableSites

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SustainableSites
SiteDesignandManagement

SustainableSites
SiteDesignandManagement Strategies
BuildSmall
MinimizeHardscape
MinimizeWaterUsage
UseReflectiveMaterial
DevelopaSustainableManagementPlan

SustainableSites

SustainableSites
Stormwater Management

SustainableSites
Stormwater Management
MinimizeImperviousAreas
ControlStormwater
HarvestRainwater

SustainableSites

SustainableSites