Sustainable Sites

Project teams should avoid building on a Greenfield site

• Prime farmland
• Wetlands
• Public park land
• Area below flood plain
• Areas that are a habitat for threatened or endangered species
• Land close to lakes, streams or other bodies of water

Undeveloped land has a positive impact on environment because of the presence of trees, streams, and native plants and species.

Sustainable site design uses the whole building design approach which seeks to :

• protect undeveloped land
• reuse/restore previously developed sites
• reduce automobile use or promote alternative transportation
• develop efficient storm-water management
• reduce heat island effect
• provide stewardship of nature and site's surroundings
• reduce light pollution or minimize light trespass from the building and site

Protect undeveloped land: 

• Redevelop Brownfield Sites: The Environmental Protection Agency defines brownfield site as "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant ". Example, An abandoned factory or storage facility that residents in the area think is contaminated even if it is not. Or there may be hazardous materials involved, such as asbestos or lead. Sometimes , the municipal or state government may offer tax incentives on the property if the buyer agrees to clean it up.

Reuse/Restore Previously Developed Sites: Building on a previously developed site usually means there is existing infrastructure like roads, utilities or other services. Reducing the need for new infrastructure preserves undeveloped locations and saves on construction costs.

Reduce Automobile Use or Promote Alternative transportation: 

• Develop in dense areas: An optimal site would be in a densely developed area such as city center. These locations usually have sufficient infrastructure to accommodate additional development, and selecting these locations limit Urban Sprawl.
• Urban Sprawl: Low density, dispersed development at the edge of a city that usually relies on automobile use. For same amount of development, higher density development produces less impervious cover and less stormwater runoff than low density development.
• Densely developed areas are usually on public transportation lines so people do not have to travel by automobile to get to their destinations.
• The development density is a measure of the average square footage of all buildings within a density radius. Undeveloped public land such as parks and waterways and public roads and right of way areas are excluded.
• Provide community connectivity and pedestrian access: Sites with community connectivity are within walking distance of basic services. People must be able to walk between the project and the service without being blocked by walls, highways or other barriers.
• Basic Services: Services that people might use regularly. Basic services are determined by drawings a 1/2 mile radius around the project.
• Bank
• Temple, Community center
• Day care, Dry cleaner/ Laundry mat
• Fire station
• Gymnasium
• Hospital, Hardware store
• Library
• Medical Office/Dental Office, Museum
• Park/Post office/Pharmacy
• Restaurant
• School, Supermarket/Convenience Store, Salon
• Theatre

Develop Efficient Stormwater Management: 

• Site planning and Land Use
• Development footprint: All areas that will be affected by the project's activity. It includes the building, access road, parking lots, sidewalks, other hardscapes and any other type of building like a storage, shed etc. Project teams should try to keep the building footprint to a minimum and maximize open space.
• Building Footprint; Area taken by the building structure but doesn't include parking lots, landscaped areas etc. Project teams can minimize the building footprint for dense development onsite.

• Maximise Open Space: Increasing the amount the vegetated area that is pervious helps reduce heat islands, reduce stormwater runoff, and protect ecosystems. Sometimes a green roof can contribute to open space requirements.

Reduce Heat Island Effect

• Heat islands: Temperature difference between developed and undeveloped areas. An urban heat island is caused by sunlight heating up dark colored surfaces such as roads and roof tops. Narrow streets and tall buildings reducing air flow through the city, as well as vehicle exhaust increases the heat island effect. Heat island effect increases the temperature up to 10 degrees. Urban heat island create
• discomfort
• smog or ground level ozone which is detrimental to health and wildlife
• changing rain patterns
• Strategies to reduce heat island:
• Minimise the development footprint
• Undercover/underground parking
• Covering roof with high SRI material
• Installing green roofs
• Provide shade from trees, structures covered by solar panels, or devices with high SRI material
• Using open grid paving

Provide Stewardship of nature and site's surroundings