Sustainable Landscape Sustainable Landscape Design and Site Design and Site

EngineeringEngineering

Dr. Lou MillsDr. Lou Mills

Dept. of Landscape ArchitectureDept. of Landscape Architecture

April 11,2012April 11,2012

Energy FactsEnergy Facts Large imbalance with US versus World Supplies and Large imbalance with US versus World Supplies and

ConsumptionConsumption Changing energy usage relative to availability and Changing energy usage relative to availability and

cost structure.cost structure. Impact of global warming, greenhouse gasesImpact of global warming, greenhouse gases International political strifeInternational political strife Economic sustainability/energy conservationEconomic sustainability/energy conservation Cost of food and waterCost of food and water Efficiencies and renewable sourcesEfficiencies and renewable sources Poor regional and site planning/ fixed lifestyle Poor regional and site planning/ fixed lifestyle

needsneeds OptionsOptions Human biophysical parameters for comfort Human biophysical parameters for comfort

(bioclimatic chart)(bioclimatic chart)

Design For Energy ConservationDesign For Energy Conservation

Minimal field studies for energy use relative to site Minimal field studies for energy use relative to site designdesign

Most field research is agricultural relatedMost field research is agricultural related Good site design stresses conservation of existing Good site design stresses conservation of existing

resources and optimal solar orientationresources and optimal solar orientation Cheap energy since 1960’s in Western economies has Cheap energy since 1960’s in Western economies has

caused a lack on interest in Energy Conservationcaused a lack on interest in Energy Conservation Impact of Arab Oil embargo of 1972-73- vast increase Impact of Arab Oil embargo of 1972-73- vast increase

in energy conservationin energy conservation Early research on Landscape Design & Energy started Early research on Landscape Design & Energy started

during Carter Administration- Now virtually noneduring Carter Administration- Now virtually none Bush administration has no energy policy- stresses Bush administration has no energy policy- stresses

existing sourcesexisting sources Impact of renewable energy sources and conservationImpact of renewable energy sources and conservation

Poor Sustainable Design Poor Sustainable Design PracticesPractices

Large Lawn areaLarge Lawn area Inappropriate landscape materials- non-Inappropriate landscape materials- non-

natives, exotics, disease plantsnatives, exotics, disease plantsPoor choice of plant materials requiring Poor choice of plant materials requiring

extensive maintenance. i.e. pruning, extensive maintenance. i.e. pruning, spraying, fertilizing, irrigationsspraying, fertilizing, irrigations

Irrigation used when not neededIrrigation used when not needed Imported construction materialsImported construction materialsOver estimates of construction Over estimates of construction

materialsmaterials

Good Sustainable DesignGood Sustainable Design Use of native plant materialsUse of native plant materials Local source of construction materialsLocal source of construction materials Increased use of recycled contentIncreased use of recycled content Low maintenance needing plantsLow maintenance needing plants Good site design- shade plants in shade, sunny plants in Good site design- shade plants in shade, sunny plants in

sunsun Proper mulch thicknessProper mulch thickness Biological and natural pest control (integrated pest Biological and natural pest control (integrated pest

management IPM)management IPM) Organic fertilizersOrganic fertilizers Soil testingSoil testing Irrigation with zones, water sensors, limited lawn materialsIrrigation with zones, water sensors, limited lawn materials Natural Ventilation Natural Ventilation Use of Grey water for irrigationUse of Grey water for irrigation

Sources for Green MaterialsSources for Green Materials American Society of Landscape Architects – American Society of Landscape Architects – www.asla.org

Sustainable Design and Development Professional Practice Network: Sustainable Design and Development Professional Practice Network: http://host.asla.org/groups/sddpigroup/

http://www.asla.org/sustainable   

Green Building CouncilGreen Building Council Rodale PressRodale Press New Alchemy Institute, Woods Hole, MANew Alchemy Institute, Woods Hole, MA Farallones Institute – Occidental, Ca.Farallones Institute – Occidental, Ca. Sunset MagazineSunset Magazine EPA’s Greenscape ProgramEPA’s Greenscape Program US Botanical GardenUS Botanical Garden Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - AustinLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin Center for Urban Forest Research

GreenBuilderLandscape Architecture and Sustainable DevelopmentMcGraw-Hill GreenSourceUC Berkeley Environmental Design LibraryUniversity of Washington: Sustainable Landscape Construction

Design NeedsDesign Needs

Good drainage and contouring of the landGood drainage and contouring of the land On-site water retention or detention pondsOn-site water retention or detention ponds Porous pavementsPorous pavements Limited curbs and guttersLimited curbs and gutters Good drainage design rather than highly Good drainage design rather than highly

engineered sub-surface drainage design engineered sub-surface drainage design elementselements

Solar access and natural ventilation with Solar access and natural ventilation with types, sizes, placement of trees and large types, sizes, placement of trees and large shrub massesshrub masses

Ease to remove snowEase to remove snow

Horticultural Practices for Horticultural Practices for SustainabilitySustainability

CompostingComposting IPMIPM Limited soil compactionLimited soil compaction MulchingMulching No pruning except dead wood- use correct No pruning except dead wood- use correct

plant type in right locationplant type in right location Proper disease prevention – proactiveProper disease prevention – proactive Use of local professionals and consultantsUse of local professionals and consultants Knowing the land…..Knowing the land….. Needs of client match design objectivesNeeds of client match design objectives

Lion’s Head & Table Mt, Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope Visitor’s Center, Cape Town, South Africa

Sustainable Landscape Sustainable Landscape MaintenanceMaintenance

Correct design at right site using natural Correct design at right site using natural systems emphasizes low impact, sustainabilitysystems emphasizes low impact, sustainability

Avoid use of power equipment for maintenanceAvoid use of power equipment for maintenance Limited lawn area- limited cuttingsLimited lawn area- limited cuttings Using dwarf materials and new varieties that Using dwarf materials and new varieties that

require less water, maintenancerequire less water, maintenance Use grey water and recycled water for irrigationUse grey water and recycled water for irrigation Communication with all employees to promote Communication with all employees to promote

sustainability- ie. Suggestion boxsustainability- ie. Suggestion box

Sustainable AsphaltSustainable Asphalt

Less binderLess binderCooler mixCooler mixSurface courses for longevitySurface courses for longevityDon’t use sealantDon’t use sealantRecycled content and asphaltRecycled content and asphaltRecycled tiresRecycled tires

Site Sustainability IndexSite Sustainability Index

Leeds certification is for buildings, Leeds certification is for buildings, not landscapingnot landscaping

ASLA in conjunction with US ASLA in conjunction with US Botanical Gardens, Lady Bird Botanical Gardens, Lady Bird Wildflower Center developed rating Wildflower Center developed rating systems for sites: “Sustainable Sites systems for sites: “Sustainable Sites Initiative”Initiative”

www.sustainablesites.org/report.htmlwww.sustainablesites.org/report.html

ConclusionsConclusions

Think in terms of regional design and conditionsThink in terms of regional design and conditions Minimize work required for construction and Minimize work required for construction and

maintenancemaintenance Do an energy audit and post-construction Do an energy audit and post-construction

evaluation evaluation Retrofitting site more expensive than doing it right Retrofitting site more expensive than doing it right

the first timethe first time Energy costs one of largest factors in materialsEnergy costs one of largest factors in materials Use local materials, labor and talentUse local materials, labor and talent Work with unique site elements and sense of Work with unique site elements and sense of

place.place.

Books, Magazines, Books, Magazines, ReferencesReferences

Landscape Architecture MagazineLandscape Architecture Magazine Urban Land InstituteUrban Land Institute Lynch, Kevin. 1962. Site Planning. MIT PressLynch, Kevin. 1962. Site Planning. MIT Press Thompson, George F. and Frederick Steiner. 1997. Thompson, George F. and Frederick Steiner. 1997.

Ecological Design and Planning. Wiley PublishingEcological Design and Planning. Wiley PublishingA Green VitruviusBuilding Green, Environmental Building News & Green SpecsDot-Ecological  Environmental Design + Construction MagazineThe HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design  Land and Water  Land Development Today Land Development Today Materials for Sustainability SitesMaterials for Sustainability SitesNational Park Service, Principles of Sustainable DesignNational Park Service, Principles of Sustainable DesignNatural Landscaping for Public OfficialsNatural Landscaping for Public OfficialsResidential Landscape Sustainability: A Checklist ToolResidential Landscape Sustainability: A Checklist ToolStormwater MagazineStormwater MagazineSustainable Landscape Construction Sustainable Landscape Construction