Introduction to the Sustainable Sites Initiative Founded in 2005 as an interdisciplinary partnership between the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the US Botanic Gardens and a diverse group of national stakeholders to develop standards and guidelines for site sustainability.

Why Sustainable Sites? Promote biodiversity –Native Species –Appropriate Non-Native/Adapted Species Greenhouse gas emissions –Vegetation helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide –In the United States, urban trees capture up to 25 million tons of carbon each year.

Why Sustainable Sites? Reduce the urban heat island –A study of five U.S. cities found that the presence of urban trees can result in substantial annual energy savings –$553,000 per year in Berkeley, CA –$187,000 in Cheyenne, WY Invasive Species – Approximately 85% of the invasive woody plant species in the U.S. were introduced for for ornamental use –Approximately 5,000 plant species are estimated to have escaped to natural ecosystems

Why Sustainable Sites? Water waste –Native plants conserve the use of scarce water resources –Residential and commercial lawns are the single largest irrigated crop in America –Each U.S. citizen uses 200 gallons of water per day in order to maintain this “crop.”

Why Sustainable Sites? Water pollution –homeowners use up to 10 times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than farmers use on crops –Sound planting design and organic soil additions reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers that can contaminate water –Rain gardens or vegetated swales reduce runoff –Urban runoff contributes to damaging more than 26,000 river and stream miles

Why Sustainable Sites? Organic waste –Composting leaves and grass is good for the soil –Leaves and grass comprise as much as 18 percent of landfill volume –In Texas alone, it costs $150 million a year to dispose of yard waste.

Why Sustainable Sites? Public health –Studies show Reduced illness recovery times Crime reduction Reduction in absenteeism Improved workplace productivity Physical activity

Landscapes and Ecosystems Services What are Ecosystem Services? The goods and services provided by healthy systems –Pollination of crops –Flood protection provided by wetlands –Filtration of water by vegetation and soils –Climate Regulation

Landscapes and Ecosystems Services The average combined value of ecosystem services has been estimated at $33 trillion dollars per year globally –New York City trees intercept almost 890 million gallons of rainwater each year, saving $35 million in storm water management cost alone. –Urban trees in the Chicago are filter an estimated 6,000 tons of air pollutants annually, providing $9.2 million in Benefits.

Landscapes and Ecosystems Services Role of Land Practices in Ecosystem Services –Hydrology –Soils –Vegetation –Materials –Human well being

Hydrology Natural hydrology –Plants slow runoff –Soils filter and clean water –Recharge Conventional Drainage –Treat rainfall as waste –Leads to downstream flooding –Poor water quality –Erosion

Hydrology Inefficient water use –High-quality municipal drinking water is often used for purposes that may not require potable water, such as lawn and garden irrigation –Because compaction affects the infiltration rates of lawns, the water used to irrigate lawns commonly does not seep into the water table and ends up as runoff or evaporation –36 states anticipate local, regional or state-wide water shortages in the next five years.

Hydrology Examples of sustainable irrigation practices –Improved irrigation practices No irrigation Reuse water Automated systems Monitoring Rainwater management –Rain gardens/bio-retention –Vegetated swales –Improved soil health –Increased biomass

Soils Healthy soils clean, store and recharge ground water –Microbes break down pollutants –Retain moisture and nutrients Damaged/compacted soils –Reduce infiltration –Restrict root growth –Releases sequestered carbon

Vegetation Plants moderate climate –Clean air and water –Protect soils –Provide shade and cool buildings –Research in New York City indicates that a single tree provides $5.60 in benefits for every $1 spent on its care

Vegetation Eliminate the use of invasive plants Manage invasive plants on site Specify plants from local growers

Materials Selecting materials that require reduced energy-intensive processes Regional materials Reduced maintenance Leaching of toxins into the soil Design for disassembly Tropical/Exotic hardwoods

Materials Reduce the urban heat island effect –Shade constructed surfaces –Use paving with high reflectivity –Vegetated roofs

Human Well Being Plants and natural elements provide many environmental benefits and improve our quality of life and well being. Sites can use natural elements in designs that provide human benefits as well as benefits to the environment.

Human Well Being Provide spaces for physical activities Support on site food production Space for social interaction