MEAP15403
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN &
TECHNOLOGIES
Lecture 3 Part II : Sustainable sites
24 - 11 - 23
Ar Husam Abdul Fatah Haron
LEED AP BD+C, GBIF, PQP PBRS, REEM, AIFireE, Revit Architecture Certified Professional
Lecture 3 : Part II
SUSTINABLE SITES
“ They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot.”
Joni Mitchell
Big Yellow Taxi
Sustainable Site Planning
Its all about the process!!!
Typical Process Preferred Process
● Architect ● Architect + Engineer
● Preliminary Design ● Preliminary Design
● Engineer ● Engineer + Architect
● Final design ● Final design
Sustainable Site Planning
Objectives
● Basic Tool box for site planning
● Explain green methods and techniques
● Facilitate green techniques
● Create better designs/facilities
Site Planning BUZZ WORDS
LID - Low Impact Design/Development
Raingardens
Pervious Pavement
Bioretention
Heat Island Effect
Impervious Surface
LEED
Xeriscaping
Sustainable Site Planning
What is a sustainable site plan?
"A site plan that that has the least
environmental impact while still meeting the
clients project goals."
"Greendesign is only sustainable if it
makes sense financially as well."
Sustainable Site Planning
What is a sustainable site plan?
WHY NOT??!!
Sustainable Site Planning
What is a sustainable site plan?
● Site selection is environmentally responsible
● Building orientation is optimized
● Impervious surfaces are minimized
● Site disturbance is minimized
● Stormwater quantity and quality is considered
● Landscaping is water efficient and active
Sustainable Site Planning
Topics to Cover
● Site Selection
● Site/Building Layout
● Impervious Surfaces
● Grading Considerations
● Stormwater Management
● Landscape Design
Site Selection
Site Selection
Considerations
● Limit development within/on
○ 100 year floodplains
○ Prime farmland as defined by the USDA
○ 100' of wetlands
○ 50' of high quality bodies of water
○ Habitat for endangered or threatened species
Site Selection
Considerations
● Select previously developed sites
○ Greyfields
○ Brownfields
● Select sites that encourage
○ Non-motorized tranportation
○ Use of public transportation
Site Layout
Site Layout
Building Orientation
● Energy savings of 25% +
● 80 can make a significant difference
● Elongate on East/West axis
● Maximize N & S exposure for daylighting
● Minimize East & West facing windows
● Orient most populated areas to N & S
Site Layout
Building Orientation
Impervious Surfaces
Impervious Surfaces
Effects on the water cycle
● □Limit
groundwater
recharge
● Increase
polutant load
● Increase
runoff
● Create heat
island effect
Impervious Surfaces
Reduce Impervious Surfaces
● Minimize parking areas
○ Zoning code minimum or less
○ Incorporate compact car spaces when possible
○ Reduce lane sizes
● Plantings in and around parking areas
● Green Roofs
Impervious Surfaces
Reduce Impervious Surfaces
● Pervious paving options
○ Pervious pavement
○ Pervious concrete
○ Permeable pavers
○ Grasspave systems
Grading and Slopes
Grading and Slopes
Limit Site Disturbance
● <40 feet beyond the building perimeter
● <10 feet beyond surface walkways, patios, surface
parking, and utilities
● <15 feet beyond primary roadway curbs
● <25 feet beyond constructed areas with permeable
surfaces (pervious paving, stormwater detention,
and playing fields)
Grading and Slopes
General slope considerations
● Parking areas - 2%-5%
● Drives - 2%-8%
● Vegetated slopes - 3:1 or less
● Vegetated swales - 1%-15%
● Pervious pavement - 0%-5%
Stormwater Mangement
Stormwater
Quanitity
Management
● Maintain pre-development hydrology
○ Rate - usually required
○ Quantity
Stormwater Management
Hydrology
● Stormwater Quality
○ Best management
practices (BMP's)
■ Structural
■ Non-structural
■ VEGETATIVE
Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices
Why Not Trade
THIS for THIS
Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices
Why Not Trade
THIS for THIS
Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices
● Raingardens/Bioretention
○ 6"-12" deep
○ 8%-10% of site area
○ <1/2 acre drainage area
■ up to 2 acres possible
Stormwater Management
• Best Management Practices
● Raingardens/Bioretention
○ landscape islands
○ 4'-10'+ between parking rows
○ 8'-10' for double loaded
Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices
Landscape Design
Landscape Design
Considerations
● Limit potable water use
○ Use Native Species
○ Place landscape areas to receive runoff
○ Use captured rainwater
Landscape Design
Considerations
● Shade large
hardscapes
● Shade buildings in
summer, allow
sunlight in during
winter
Landscape Design
Considerations
● Place to filter and
clean stormwater
○ Raingardens in
parking areas
○ Bioretention
rather than
retention ponds
Pavement selection
Considerations
● Select pavements
with high SRI
○ Lower urban
heat island
effect
Bicycle parking
Considerations
● Promote use of
non fossil fuel
vehicles
○ Provide
shaded
parking near
entrances and
changing
facilities
Covered walkway
Lets go for a break
