Sustainable Landscape Sustainable Landscape Design and Site Design and Site Engineering Engineering Dr. Lou Mills Dr. Lou Mills Dept. of Landscape Architecture Dept. of Landscape Architecture April 11,2012 April 11,2012
Dec 24, 2015
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