The Hashemite University

Faculty of Engineering
. Department of Architecture .

Sustainability Building assessment methods

Jordan Green Building Guide: Sustainable Site
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

Sustainable Site:
1. Location / site selection
2. Land Rehabilitation
3. Social Connection
4. Transpiration
5. Site Development:
a) Sensitive and natural
land protection
b) Open Spaces
6. Rainwater Management
7. Heat Island Reduction
8. Noise Pollution
9. Light Pollution
10. Project Aesthetics
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

1. Site Selection
• The selection and development of a building’s site are fundamental
components of sustainable building practices.
• Environmental damage caused by construction may take years of work to
remedy.
• The Sustainable Sites addresses environmental concerns related to
building landscape, hardscape, and exterior building issues.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

Site Selection

• Unless site is already preselected as part of master plan, site selection occur in
early stages of project.
• Multiple criteria can influence a site’s sustainable appeal, along with other project
constrains such as budget and schedule.
• The following can contribute significantly to sustainable aspects of a building’s
site:

▪ Site Connectivity
▪ Revitalizing urban area (infills)
▪ Building location
▪ Existing infrastructure (pre-developed sites)
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

1. Site Selection

Selecting a pre-developed site can help the ecosystems in a variety of ways:

– Development of a greenfield, or previously undeveloped site, consumes
land.
– Development projects may also invade on agricultural lands and wetlands
or water bodies and compromise existing wildlife habitats.
– Choosing a previously developed site or even a damaged site that can be
remediated reduces pressure on undeveloped land.
– Developing a master plan for the project site helps fix environmental
considerations as adaptations or expansions of site facilities occur over
time.
– Planning for joint use of facilities integrates the project into the
surrounding community and conserves material and land resources
though optimized use of infrastructure.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

1. Site Selection

Site selection can significantly affect the environmental impact of a project. Some
specific parameters to consider when selecting a site include the following:

• Avoid flood plains. Continued development in natural flood plain areas has
contributed to increased flooding, decreased flooding, and increased soil loss.
• Provide buffers for bodies of water. Development around bodies of water such as
streams and wetlands should be limited and include buffers of undisturbed areas
of 50' – 100' or more.
• Avoid Greenfields and natural lands. Greyfields and brown fields (pre-developed
sites) are often less expensive to develop, place less stress on infrastructure, and
limit the environmental impact of developing previously undeveloped sites.
• Keep transportation in mind. The transportation of people and goods to a site can
have significant effects. Try to select sites accessible by public and non-motorized
transportation.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

1. Site Selection:

Economic features linked to choosing a previously developed sites include:

– Joint-use facility
– Using existing utility and possibly building infrastructure
– Shared infrastructure cost
– High development density
– Links to mass transportation
– Pedestrian paths
– Stimulating proximity to competing business
– Links to cultural landmarks, schools, libraries
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

Infill development

• Encourage project location in areas with development constrains

• Reduce the load on Greenfields sites and farmlands
• Strategies
– Locate the project in infill site of an existing development (urban areas)
– Redevelop Brownfield
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

2. Polluted Land Rehabilitation

• Many urban sites could be deserted without development due to

previous industrial or other activities that left it polluted.
• These sites could be developed after rehabilitation and cleaning them
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

2. Polluted Land Rehabilitation

Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

3. Social connection

• A growing number of researchers agree that social networks and community involvement
have positive health consequences.
• People who are socially engaged with others and actively involved in their communities
tend to live longer and be healthier physically and mentally.
• Theoretically, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use neighbourhoods with parks and other
amenities are expected to enhance social interaction because they enable residents to
interact. This interaction can be intentional or accidental (spontaneous).
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

3. Social connection
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

4. Transportation and Carpark Footprint

• Encourage development with transportation facilities
• Reduces number of parking on site which reduces the environmental stress on the site (site
footprint)
• Reduced carpark area can be used to enhance natural (non-built) and social aspects of the
site
• Reduce greenhouse gas emission and air pollution produced by cars
• Minimize the environmental impact associated with parking:
– Automobile dependence
– Land consumption
– Rainwater runoff

Strategies:
Select site which has access to rapid transport
Provide secure bicycle parking places
Provide alternative transportation method to
and on the site
Limit the number of car parks on site
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

4. Transportation
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
a. Natural and Sensitive Land Protection
• The term “sensitive” actually refers to:
– 1.Lands that are susceptible to negative impacts from the built environment and its
residents or;
2.Lands that can negatively impact the built environment and its residents.
• In other words, sensitive lands are areas where we should consider avoiding development
altogether, or areas on which we should modify the intensity or type of development.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
a. Natural and Sensitive Land Protection

• Projects should always aim to permanently protect enough undeveloped land to

ensure healthy, self-sustaining ecosystems and maintain the wildlife and
biodiversity resources.
• Reserving sensitive areas provides an additional benefit of protecting citizens and
property against natural hazards.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
a. Natural and Sensitive Land Protection

How: Measure the development footprint on land that has been previously developed
or that does not meet the following criteria for sensitive land:
– Prime farmland, unique farmland
– Floodplains: a flood hazard area shown on a legally adopted flood hazard map or otherwise legally
designated by the local jurisdiction or the state.
– Habitat: Land that is identified as habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under the
Endangered Species Act or
• Water bodies: Areas on or within 30 meters of a water body
• Wetlands: Areas on or within 15 meters of a wetland, except for minor improvements.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
a. Natural and Sensitive Land Protection

How:
• Consider potential site-specific, long-term risks that impact resilience, such as
drought, flood, wind, and wildfire risks.
• Consider potential significant impacts to ensure the protection of historical
properties and other cultural resources.
• Use historic properties available to the agency, to the maximum extent feasible, as
designated by statute, especially those located in central business districts.”
• Invasive Plant not native to location require significant effort to maintain them
‫‪Green Architecture‬‬
‫‪Sustainable Site‬‬

‫‪5. Site development‬‬

‫‪a. Natural and Sensitive Land Protection‬‬
‫التقليل من املساحات املستخدمة للمواقف وتركيزها يف الطوابق السفلى للمبىن‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫تعزيز مبدأ التشاركية يف اخلدمات والبنية التحتية‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫إعادة أتهيل املناطق املتضررة واملتأثرة أبعمال البناء‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫الرتكيز على زراعة النبااتت احمللية املستوطنة أو املتكيفة يف املنطقة؛ وذلك لقدرهتا على حتمل الظروىل القاسية‬ ‫•‬
‫كاجلفاىل‪ ،‬وعدم حاجتها إ عناية مستمرة‪ ،‬ابإلضافة إ منظرها اجلمايل املنسجم مع البيئة احمللية‬ ‫•‬
‫منع زراعة النبااتت االجتياحية واألعشاب الضارة يف املبىن‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫احلرص على زراعة املناطق اليت من غري الضروري تغطيتها ابلبالط ابلنبااتت املستوطنة ما أمكن‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫جتنب زراعة النجيل ما أمكن الستهالكه كميات كبرية من املياه‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫جيب اختيار أقل حد ممكن من الطرق الالزمة لسري املركبات خالل مرحلة اإلنشاء للمحافظة على التنوع احليوي يف املنطقة‪ ،‬وتطبيق‬ ‫•‬
‫غرامات مالية على املقاول يف حال عدم التزامه بذلك‪.‬‬
‫إذا متت زراعة أسطح املبىن ابلنبااتت لتعويض ما مت إتالفه من تنوع حيوي يف املوقع‪ ،‬فيجب أن تكون النبااتت املزروعة حملية ومستوطنة‬ ‫•‬
‫ومن نوع النبااتت نفسها اليت مت تدمريها‪ ،‬وذلك هبدىل اسرتجاع عناصر البيئة اليت فقدت‪.‬‬
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
b. Open Space & Site Development
Open space is land that has no buildings and is used for public benefit.
• Vegetated open spaces provide habitat for wildlife, enjoyment for occupants, and an
improvement in the quantity and quality of stormwater leaving the site.
• Buildings can choose to retain open space on their own site or maintain off-site open space.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
b. Open Space & Site Development
• Create exterior open space that encourages interaction with the environment, provide
passive recreation and physical activates.
• To conserve existing natural areas
• Restore damaged areas
• Promote habituate and increased biodiversity
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
b. Open Space & Site Development
• Development Footprint is the total area of the building footprint and area affected
by development or by project site activity, hardscape, access roads, parking lots,
nonbuilding facilities, and the building itself are all included in the development
footprint.
• Building Footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure,
defined by the perimeter of the building plan, parking lots, parking garages,
landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building
footprint.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

5. Site development
b. Open Space & Site Development
‫‪Green Architecture‬‬
‫‪Sustainable Site‬‬

‫‪5. Site development‬‬

‫‪b. Open Space & Site Development‬‬

‫عند تصميم المبنى وتنسيق الموقع‪ ،‬هناك أمور هامة يجب أخذها في االعتبار‪ ،‬منها‪ :‬توجيه المبنى‪ ،‬واإلنارة الطبيعية‪ ،‬وأثر الجزر الحرارية‪،‬‬ ‫•‬
‫لا في األرض‬ ‫وجريان مياه األمطار‪ ،‬والنباتات المحلية المستوطنة والمتكيفة‪ ،‬باإلضافة إ المنافذ والممرات الخضراء والنباتات الموجودة أص ً‬
‫وضرورة الحفاظ عليها وتنميتها‪.‬‬
‫يراعى عند اختيار موقع المبنى أن تكون مواقف السيارات متراصة ( )‪Compact‬وأن تكون المباني والطرق من حولها مصممة بشكل‬ ‫•‬
‫متقارب‪ ،‬وذلك للمحافظة على األراضي المفتوحة وعلى األنظمة البيئية المجاورة‪.‬‬
‫يجب االهتمام بتفاصيل العزل المائي لوسائل تصريف المياه اللزمة عند تصميم األسطح الخضراء )األسطح المزروعة(‪ ،‬وتشمل تلك‬ ‫•‬
‫األسقف غشا اًء طاردًا ا للجذور وواقيًا ا من المياه ونظام تصريف المياه وغشاء تصفية ووسط نمو خفيف الوزن ونباتات قابلة للنقل والتركيب‬
‫وشبكة معشقة‪ ،‬والتركيز على زراعة النباتات المحلية المستوطنة أو المتكيفة في المنطقة لقدرتها على تحمل الظرولى القاسية والجفالى‪.‬‬
‫وتختلف السماكات حسب نوع النباتات ونوع المبنى وقدرته اإلنشائية‪.‬‬
‫يمكن االستعاضة عن األسقف المزروعة بأصص )أحواض( مزروعة موزعة على األسطح على أن تكون مصنوعة من مواد صديقة للبيئة‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫يجب أن تكون المساحة المفتوحة المبلطة مخصصة للستخدام البشري وأن يتم توفير وسائل ترفيه فيها‪ .‬ومن األمثلة على ذلك المتنزهات‬ ‫•‬
‫الجيبية ‪ Pocket Parks‬وأسطح المباني ومناطق التجمع واألفنية الداخلية‪.‬‬
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

3. Site development
b. Open Space & Site Development
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

• Rain harvesting aim to collect rainwater and re-using this water for non-potable uses.
• Additionally, In many cities storm water and sewage treatment are combined.
• Sewage treatment is an energy intensive process, when storm water mixes with sewage it overloads the
sewage treatment plant and, hence consuming more energy.
• Storm water run-off from hardscape areas, industrial areas, fertilized landscape etc., are rich in contaminants
and hence pollutes receiving water streams.
• Reducing storm water run-off helps maintain the natural aquifer recharge cycle.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

• As areas are developed and urbanized, surface permeability is reduced, which in turn increases the runoff
transported via pipes and sewers to streams, rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans.
• Impervious surfaces on the site may cause stormwater runoff that harms water quality, aquatic life, and
recreation opportunities in receiving waters.
• For instance, parking areas contribute to stormwater runoff that is contaminated with oil, fuel, lubricants,
combustion by-products, material from tire wear, and de-icing salts.
• Runoff accelerates the flow rate of waterways, increasing erosion, altering aquatic habitat, and causing
erosion downstream.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

How?
• Reduce impermeable area and increase infiltration.
• Cluster developments to reduce paved surfaces such as roads and sidewalks.
• Apply Rainwater harvesting methods. Treated storm water can be used for irrigation and toilet flushing.
• Use porous paving materials.
• Use vegetated roof, vegetated filter strips, bioswales, retention ponds.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

Curb and gutter elimination
Based on site water management plan curbs and gutters can be either eliminated or intensified:
• Curb and gutters transport flow as quickly as possible to a stormwater drain without allowing for
infiltration or pollutant removal.
• Eliminating curbs and gutters can increase sheet flow and reduce runoff volumes.
• Equally if the plan is to collect rainwater to on-site or local storage and treatment facilities they can
be used to do so.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

Green parking design
refers to several techniques that, applied together, reduce the contribution of parking
lots to total impervious cover such as:
• Setting maximums for the number of parking lots created;
• Minimizing the dimensions of parking lot spaces;
• Utilizing alternative pavers in overflow parking areas;
• Using bio-retention areas to treat storm water;
• Encouraging shared parking;
• Providing economic incentives for structured parking.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

Permeable pavement
is an alternative to asphalt or concrete surfaces that allows stormwater to drain through the
porous surface to a stone reservoir underneath.
• The reservoir temporarily stores surface runoff before infiltrating it into the subsoil.
• The appearance of the alternative surface is often similar to asphalt or concrete, but it is
manufactured without fine materials and instead incorporates void spaces that allow for
storage and infiltration.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

Permeable pavers
Permeable pavers promote groundwater recharge.
• Permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) are
concrete block pavers that create voids on the corners of the
pavers (pictured to the right).
• Concrete grid paver (CGP) systems are composed of concrete
blocks made porous by eliminating finer particles in the
concrete which creates voids inside the blocks; additionally,
the blocks are arranged to create voids between blocks.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

Bio-retention cells or rain garden: A bioretention cell or rain garden is a depressed area with porous
backfill (material used to refill an excavation) under a vegetated surface. These areas often have an
underdrain to encourage filtration and infiltration, especially in clayey soils. Bioretention cells provide
groundwater recharge, pollutant removal, and runoff detention. Bioretention cells are an effective solution
in parking lots or urban areas where green space is limited.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

6. Water Harvest and Storm management

Vegetated roofs
Green roofs consist of an impermeable roof
membrane overlaid with a lightweight planting
mix with a high infiltration rate and vegetated
with plants tolerant of heat, drought, and
periodic inundations.
The advantages of green roof are:
• reduce runoff volume and frequency and
• improving runoff water quality,
• reduce the effects of atmospheric pollution,
• reduce energy costs,
• create an attractive environment.
• reduce replacement and maintenance costs
• and have longer life cycles compared to
• traditional roofs.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

7. Urban Heat Islands Effect

An urban heat island is an urban or metropolitan area that is significantly
warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

7. Urban Heat Islands Effect

Significance:

• In rural areas experiences cooling effect because of evaporate and

perspiration from plants.
• Urban areas with hard surfaces and a lot of pavement and concrete absorbs
radiation, stores it, radiates it with a time delay.
• Urban areas has lower Albedo factor for surfaces (the diffuse reflection of solar
radiation out of the total solar radiation and measured on a scale from 0,
corresponding to a black body that absorbs all incident radiation, to 1, corresponding to
a body that reflects all incident radiation)
• This contrast between urban and rural areas results in heat Island effect.
• Heat Island increases the temperature in urban area compared to the nearest
rural area from 2 to 4 deg.
• This increases the heat gain of the building resulting in a bigger HVAC
equipment resulting in higher energy consumption and related green house
gas emissions.
• Increase in temperature because of heat island also affects the site habitat
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

7. Urban Heat Islands Effect

• Solar Reflectance or Albedo:

Solar Reflectance or Albedo
is the measure of ability of a
surface to reflect solar
radiation.
• Solar Reflective Index (SRI):
Solar Reflective index is the
measure of a materials ability
to reject. Higher the SRI
value, lower the heat island
effect.
• SRI is calculated based on
Reflectance (reflectance) and
emittance (emissivity). For a
material to have a higher SRI
both reflectance and
emittance should be high.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

7. Urban Heat Islands Effect

The table below summarizes Reflectance, Emittance and their influence in SRI of
typical Construction Materials
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

7. Urban Heat Islands Effect

How:
• Reduce Albedo factor for surface area.
• Use vegetated roof.
• Use high solar reflecting coating materials in impermeable surfaces.
• Provide underground parking to reduce the impervious area due to parking
lot and drive ways.
• Shade hardscape area with trees, canopies etc.
• Use open grid pavement with at least 50% pervious.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

7. Urban Heat Islands Effect

How:
• The use of dark, nonreflective surfaces for parking areas, roofs, walkways,
and other surfaces contributes to the heat island effect.
• These surfaces absorb incoming solar radiation and radiate that heat to the
surrounding areas, increasing the ambient temperature.
• In addition to being detrimental to site habitat, this increase raises the
building’s external and internal temperature, requiring more energy for
cooling.
• By installing reflective surfaces and vegetation, the nation’s homes and
businesses could save by reducing cooling energy demand
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Light Pollution
• For billions of years, life has
relied on Earth's predictable
rhythm of day and night. It's
encoded in the DNA of all
plants and animals. Humans
have radically disrupted this
• cycle by lighting up the night.
• Plants and animals depend on
Earth's daily cycle of light and
dark rhythm to govern life-
sustaining behaviours such as
reproduction, nourishment,
sleep and protection from
predators.
• Scientific evidence suggests
that artificial light at night has
negative and deadly effects
on many creatures including
amphibians, birds, mammals,
insects and plants.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Light Pollution
• Artificial lights disrupt the world's ecosystems
• “Many species (including humans) need darkness to survive and thrive.” — American Medical
Association Council on Science and Public Health (2012)
• Exposure to artificial light at night can harm your health Humans evolved to the rhythms of the
natural light-dark cycle of day and night. The spread of artificial lighting means most of us no longer
experience truly dark nights
• Research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health —increasing risks
for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer and more.
Like most life on Earth, humans adhere to a circadian rhythm —
our biological clock — a sleep-wake pattern governed by the
day-night cycle.
Our biological clocks are important. They interact with our body
systems, changing our hormone levels and even modifying our
genetic code. Natural light helps set our clocks to Earth's 24-
hour, day-night cycle.
Exposure to artifical light at night disrupts this process, increasing
our risks for cancers and other potentially deadly diseases. Blue rich
light at night is particularly harmful. Most LEDs used for
outdoor lighting, computer screens, TVs, and other electronic
displays emit abundant blue light.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Light Pollution
Reduce light pollution by following a few simple rules:
• Turn exterior lights off between the hours of 10pm and 5am.
• One-for-one replacement to shielded version of fixture and reduce wattage
• Reduce output of outdoor security lights and porch lights by using lower wattage bulbs.
• Shield outdoor flood lights so they illuminate the ground beneath them and not a large area around
them.
• Put driveway flood lights on a timer or use motion sensor lights.
• Remove, turnoff, or shield pole mounted security lights.
• Remove unnecessary or redundant lights
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Light Pollution

• Light pollution is excessive or inappropriate

outdoor
• lighting.
• Common forms of light pollution include:
• Glare – excessive brightness that causes
visual discomfort
• Sky glow – brightening of the night sky
over inhabited areas
• Light trespass – light falling where it is
not intended or needed
• Clutter – bright, confusing and excessive
groupings of light sources
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Light Pollution

FULL CUTOFF FIXTURES: The “Gold Standard”: No light at or above

the fixture and restricted light output in the “Glare Zone”
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Light Pollution
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Light Pollution
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Sound Pollution
Is unwanted or excessive sound that can have deleterious effects on human health,
wildlife, and environmental quality. Noise pollution is commonly generated inside
many industrial facilities and some other workplaces, but it also comes from
highway, railway, and airplane traffic and from outdoor construction activities.
Green Architecture
Sustainable Site

8. Sound Pollution