Six Sustainable Site Planning Fundamentals

Using a framework for creating sustainable site designs

is one of the most realistic and effective ways for
architects and other design professionals to create
sustainable designs. Six fundamental concepts needed
to be applied are explained in the post.

by Bob Faulhaber, PE, LEED AP, Founder/Owner of Faulhaber

Engineering & Sustainability, LLC. Read his blog, The Green Civil

Engineer. Follow him on Twitter @FESCONSULTING. Like him

on Facebook. Connect with him on Linkedin.

One of the most important and effective ways to create sustainable designs is taking a
collaborative approach. Ideally all of the project stakeholders (owner, architect, engineers,
contractors, etc.) are brought together before design begins and the design process can be a
completely collaborative process where all parties are able to provide valuable input based on
their expertise.

WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE SITE PLAN?

“A site plan that has the least environmental impact while still meeting the client’s project
goals.” It’s not sustainable if it only parks half the cars that the project needs and costs twice as
much as budgeted. Just like any other design it has to be framed within the typical project
parameters, but it also includes consideration of the environmental impacts.

1. Site Selection
Site selection can have a significant impact on the environmental impact of a project site.
Some specific parameters to consider when selecting a site include:

 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 – greyfields and brownfields are often less expensive to develop, place
less stress on infrastructure and limit the environmental impact of developing previously
undeveloped sites.
 Transportation – the impact that transportation of people and goods to a site has can be
significant. Try to select sites that encourage the use of public and non-motorized
transportation.
2. Site/Building Layout
The simple act of proper building orientation can create energy savings of up to 25%. As
little as 8 degrees of rotation can have an impact. Consider the following when siting and orienting
buildings.
 Elongate the plan on the east/west axis
 Maximize north and south exposure for daylighting
 Minimize east and west facing windows
 Orient most populated areas to the north and south
The above items are good general guidelines but keep in mind that extreme climates may
warrant different practices. For instance in extremely cold climates limiting windows on the north
side may create energy savings that outweigh the benefits of the daylighting that they provide.

3. Impervious Surfaces
Increasing the imperviousness of a site can have a tremendous effect on the water cycle.
Impervious surfaces limit groundwater recharge, increase pollutant loads and runoff and create a
heat island effect. It’s important to limit the impervious areas on site to the minimum. Doing this
often improves the aesthetic of the site, reduces the environmental impact and saves
money. Below are some things to consider in order to reduce site imperviousness.

Minimize parking areas

 Zoning code minimum or less
 Incorporate compact car spaces when possible
 Reduce lane sizes
 Provide plantings in and around parking areas
 Implement Green Roofs
Implement pervious paving options
 Pervious pavement/asphalt
 Pervious concrete
 Permeable pavers
 Grass pave systems

4. Grading Considerations
The environmental impacts of mass grading a development or building site is often
overlooked. Site grading destroys the natural ecosystem present within the soil. This ecosystem
provides systems to break down pollutants, provide nutrients for biota, support insect and animal
life and numerous other benefits. It takes many years for the soil to recover from mass grading
and sometimes it never does. There is also the temporary or permanent impact of soil erosion
which pollutes waterways and washes valuable soil off site. Whenever possible we should try to
limit grading operations to the distances beyond constructed items as shown below.
  10 feet beyond surface walkways, patios, surface parking, and utilities
 40 feet beyond the building perimeter
 15 feet beyond primary roadway curbs
 25 feet beyond constructed areas with permeable surfaces (pervious paving,
stormwater detention, and playing fields)

5. Stormwater Management
Stormwater runoff is one of the most significant environmental impacts of a developed
site. But it also provides one of the greatest opportunities for sustainable design. All of the items
listed above help to limit the amount and speed of stormwater leaving the property and also
contribute to improving the water quality as well. However, developing a site can significantly
alter the hydrologic cycle for the property and surrounding area. Steps can and should be taken
to maintain the pre-development hydrology or even to improve it. Many municipal regulations
require that the post-development runoff rate does not exceed the pre-development rate, but do
not address runoff quantity. These regulations are largely flood control based and do not address
groundwater recharge and the hydrologic cycle. The Low Impact Development techniques shown
below can be used to mimic the pre-development hydrology.

Raingardens/Bioretention
 6″-12″ deep
 8%-10% of site area
 <1/2 acre drainage area
 up to 2 acres possible
 landscape islands
 4′-10’+ between parking rows
 8′-10′ for double loaded rows
Wetlands
 6″-12″ deep
 large drainage areas (often > 25 acres)
 minimum 6”-18” permanent pool depth
 excellent water quality control
 provides wildlife habitat
Grass swales/infiltration trenches
 up to 5 acres drainage areas
 1%-4% slopes
 low maintenance
 improves stormwater quality
 Green roofs
 well suited for urban and ultra-urban areas
 intensive and extensive types
 < 20% roof slope
 improves stormwater quality
 Intercepts and stores rainfall (up to 50%)
6. Landscape Design
Landscape design is often ignored in the initial planning stages and is tacked on at the
end of the project. This is unfortunate and discounts the many benefits that proper landscape
design can have beyond aesthetics. On the other hand, improper landscape design can have
significant negative effects such as excessive potable water use and erosion. Listed below are a
number of items to consider during the site planning phase and throughout the design process.

Limit potable water use

 Use Native Species
 Place landscape areas to receive runoff
 Use captured rainwater
 Shade large hardscapes
 Shade buildings in summer, allow sunlight in during winter
 Place and design landscape areas to filter and clean stormwater
 Raingardens in parking areas
 Bioretention rather than retention ponds

RESOURCES
Below are some excellent resources for additional and supporting information about
sustainable sites.
 The Sustainable Sites Initiative
 The United States Green Building Council
 Portland Sustainable Stormwater Management Program US EPA
 Stormwater Management
 LID Techniques
 The Center for Watershed Protection
 Prince Georges County Maryland – Division of Environmental Protection
 Slides from my Sustainable Site Planning Basics Presentation

Read more: http://greeneconomypost.com/sustainable-site-planning-18040.htm#ixzz4llx1pmuQ