Sustainable Landscape Design and Site Engineering Dr. Lou Mills Dept. of Landscape Architecture April 11,2012

Energy Facts Large imbalance with US versus World Supplies and Consumption Large imbalance with US versus World Supplies and Consumption Changing energy usage relative to availability and cost structure. Changing energy usage relative to availability and cost structure. Impact of global warming, greenhouse gases Impact of global warming, greenhouse gases International political strife International political strife Economic sustainability/energy conservation Economic sustainability/energy conservation Cost of food and water Cost of food and water Efficiencies and renewable sources Efficiencies and renewable sources Poor regional and site planning/ fixed lifestyle needs Poor regional and site planning/ fixed lifestyle needs Options Options Human biophysical parameters for comfort (bioclimatic chart) Human biophysical parameters for comfort (bioclimatic chart)

Design For Energy Conservation Minimal field studies for energy use relative to site design Minimal field studies for energy use relative to site design Most field research is agricultural related Most field research is agricultural related Good site design stresses conservation of existing resources and optimal solar orientation Good site design stresses conservation of existing resources and optimal solar orientation Cheap energy since 1960’s in Western economies has caused a lack on interest in Energy Conservation Cheap energy since 1960’s in Western economies has caused a lack on interest in Energy Conservation Impact of Arab Oil embargo of vast increase in energy conservation Impact of Arab Oil embargo of vast increase in energy conservation Early research on Landscape Design & Energy started during Carter Administration- Now virtually none Early research on Landscape Design & Energy started during Carter Administration- Now virtually none Bush administration has no energy policy- stresses existing sources Bush administration has no energy policy- stresses existing sources Impact of renewable energy sources and conservation Impact of renewable energy sources and conservation

Poor Sustainable Design Practices Large Lawn area Large Lawn area Inappropriate landscape materials- non- natives, exotics, disease plants Inappropriate landscape materials- non- natives, exotics, disease plants Poor choice of plant materials requiring extensive maintenance. i.e. pruning, spraying, fertilizing, irrigations Poor choice of plant materials requiring extensive maintenance. i.e. pruning, spraying, fertilizing, irrigations Irrigation used when not needed Irrigation used when not needed Imported construction materials Imported construction materials Over estimates of construction materials Over estimates of construction materials

Good Sustainable Design Use of native plant materials Use of native plant materials Local source of construction materials Local source of construction materials Increased use of recycled content Increased use of recycled content Low maintenance needing plants Low maintenance needing plants Good site design- shade plants in shade, sunny plants in sun Good site design- shade plants in shade, sunny plants in sun Proper mulch thickness Proper mulch thickness Biological and natural pest control (integrated pest management IPM) Biological and natural pest control (integrated pest management IPM) Organic fertilizers Organic fertilizers Soil testing Soil testing Irrigation with zones, water sensors, limited lawn materials Irrigation with zones, water sensors, limited lawn materials Natural Ventilation Natural Ventilation Use of Grey water for irrigation Use of Grey water for irrigation

Sources for Green Materials American Society of Landscape Architects – American Society of Landscape Architects – Sustainable Design and Development Professional Practice Network: Sustainable Design and Development Professional Practice Network: Green Building Council Green Building Council Rodale Press Rodale Press New Alchemy Institute, Woods Hole, MA New Alchemy Institute, Woods Hole, MA Farallones Institute – Occidental, Ca. Farallones Institute – Occidental, Ca. Sunset Magazine Sunset Magazine EPA’s Greenscape Program EPA’s Greenscape Program US Botanical Garden US Botanical Garden Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin Center for Urban Forest Research GreenBuilder Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Development McGraw-Hill GreenSource UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library University of Washington: Sustainable Landscape Construction Center for Urban Forest Research GreenBuilder Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Development McGraw-Hill GreenSource UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library University of Washington: Sustainable Landscape Construction Center for Urban Forest Research GreenBuilder Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Development McGraw-Hill GreenSource UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library University of Washington: Sustainable Landscape Construction Center for Urban Forest Research GreenBuilder Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Development McGraw-Hill GreenSource UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library University of Washington: Sustainable Landscape Construction

Design Needs Good drainage and contouring of the land Good drainage and contouring of the land On-site water retention or detention ponds On-site water retention or detention ponds Porous pavements Porous pavements Limited curbs and gutters Limited curbs and gutters Good drainage design rather than highly engineered sub-surface drainage design elements Good drainage design rather than highly engineered sub-surface drainage design elements Solar access and natural ventilation with types, sizes, placement of trees and large shrub masses Solar access and natural ventilation with types, sizes, placement of trees and large shrub masses Ease to remove snow Ease to remove snow

Horticultural Practices for Sustainability Composting Composting IPM IPM Limited soil compaction Limited soil compaction Mulching Mulching No pruning except dead wood- use correct plant type in right location No pruning except dead wood- use correct plant type in right location Proper disease prevention – proactive Proper disease prevention – proactive Use of local professionals and consultants Use of local professionals and consultants Knowing the land….. Knowing the land….. Needs of client match design objectives Needs 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 Maintenance Correct design at right site using natural systems emphasizes low impact, sustainability Correct design at right site using natural systems emphasizes low impact, sustainability Avoid use of power equipment for maintenance Avoid use of power equipment for maintenance Limited lawn area- limited cuttings Limited lawn area- limited cuttings Using dwarf materials and new varieties that require less water, maintenance Using dwarf materials and new varieties that require less water, maintenance Use grey water and recycled water for irrigation Use grey water and recycled water for irrigation Communication with all employees to promote sustainability- ie. Suggestion box Communication with all employees to promote sustainability- ie. Suggestion box

Sustainable Asphalt Less binder Less binder Cooler mix Cooler mix Surface courses for longevity Surface courses for longevity Don’t use sealant Don’t use sealant Recycled content and asphalt Recycled content and asphalt Recycled tires Recycled tires

Site Sustainability Index Leeds certification is for buildings, not landscaping Leeds certification is for buildings, not landscaping ASLA in conjunction with US Botanical Gardens, Lady Bird Wildflower Center developed rating systems for sites: “Sustainable Sites Initiative” ASLA in conjunction with US Botanical Gardens, Lady Bird Wildflower Center developed rating systems for sites: “Sustainable Sites Initiative”

Conclusions Think in terms of regional design and conditions Think in terms of regional design and conditions Minimize work required for construction and maintenance Minimize work required for construction and maintenance Do an energy audit and post-construction evaluation Do an energy audit and post-construction evaluation Retrofitting site more expensive than doing it right the first time Retrofitting site more expensive than doing it right the first time Energy costs one of largest factors in materials Energy costs one of largest factors in materials Use local materials, labor and talent Use local materials, labor and talent Work with unique site elements and sense of place. Work with unique site elements and sense of place.

Books, Magazines, References Landscape Architecture Magazine Landscape Architecture Magazine Urban Land Institute Urban Land Institute Lynch, Kevin Site Planning. MIT Press Lynch, Kevin Site Planning. MIT Press Thompson, George F. and Frederick Steiner Ecological Design and Planning. Wiley PublishingA Green Vitruvius Building Green, Environmental Building News & Green Specs Dot-Ecological Environmental Design + Construction Magazine The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design Land and Water Land Development Today Materials for Sustainability Sites National Park Service, Principles of Sustainable Design Natural Landscaping for Public Officials Residential Landscape Sustainability: A Checklist Tool Stormwater Magazine Sustainable Landscape Construction Thompson, George F. and Frederick Steiner Ecological Design and Planning. Wiley PublishingA Green Vitruvius Building Green, Environmental Building News & Green Specs Dot-Ecological Environmental Design + Construction Magazine The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design Land and Water Land Development Today Materials for Sustainability Sites National Park Service, Principles of Sustainable Design Natural Landscaping for Public Officials Residential Landscape Sustainability: A Checklist Tool Stormwater Magazine Sustainable Landscape ConstructionA Green Vitruvius Building Green, Environmental Building News & Green Specs Dot-Ecological Environmental Design + Construction Magazine The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design Land and Water Land Development Today Materials for Sustainability Sites National Park Service, Principles of Sustainable Design Natural Landscaping for Public Officials Residential Landscape Sustainability: A Checklist Tool Stormwater Magazine Sustainable Landscape ConstructionA Green Vitruvius Building Green, Environmental Building News & Green Specs Dot-Ecological Environmental Design + Construction Magazine The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design Land and Water Land Development Today Materials for Sustainability Sites National Park Service, Principles of Sustainable Design Natural Landscaping for Public Officials Residential Landscape Sustainability: A Checklist Tool Stormwater Magazine Sustainable Landscape Construction