Presentation outlining the basic elements of planning and designing a sustainable construction/development site.

1. Sustainable Site Planning
Basics
BOB FAULHABER - PE, LEED AP
Faulhaber Engineering & Sustainability

2. “ They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot.”
Joni Mitchell
Big Yellow Taxi

3. 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

4. Sustainable Site Planning
Objective of the Presentation
● Basic Tool box for site planning
● Explain green methods and techniques
● Facilitate green techniques
● Create better designs/facilities

5. Site Planning BUZZ WORDS
LID - Low Impact Design/Development
Raingardens
Pervious Pavement
Bioretention
Heat Island Effect
Impervious Surface
LEED
Xeriscaping

6. 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."
"Green design is only sustainable if it
makes sense financially as well."

7. Sustainable Site Planning
What is a sustainable site plan?
WHY NOT??!!

8. 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

9. Sustainable Site Planning
Topics to Cover
● Site Selection
● Site/Building Layout
● Impervious Surfaces
● Grading Considerations
● Stormwater Management
● Landscape Design

10. Site Selection

11. 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

12. Site Selection
Considerations
● Select previously developed sites
○ Greyfields
○ Brownfields
● Select sites that encourage
○ Non-motorized tranportation
○ Use of public transportation

13. Site Layout

14. 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

15. Site Layout
Building Orientation

16. Impervious Surfaces

17. Impervious Surfaces
Effects on the water cycle
● Limit
groundwater
recharge
● Increase
polutant load
● Increase
runoff
● Create heat
island effect

18. 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

19. Impervious Surfaces
Reduce Impervious Surfaces
● Pervious paving options
○ Pervious pavement
○ Pervious concrete
○ Permeable pavers
○ Grasspave systems

20. Grading and Slopes

21. 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)

22. 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%

23. Stormwater Mangement

24. Stormwater Management
Quanitity
● Maintain pre-development hydrology
○ Rate - usually required
○ Quantity

25. Stormwater Management
Hydrology
● Stormwater Quality
○ Best management
practices (BMP's)
■ Structural
■ Non-structural
■ VEGETATIVE

26. Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices
Why Not Trade
THIS for THIS

27. Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices
Why Not Trade
THIS for THIS

28. 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

29. Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices
● Raingardens/Bioretention
○ landscape islands
○ 4'-10'+ between parking
rows
○ 8'-10' for double loaded

30. Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices

31. Landscape Design

32. Landscape Design
Considerations
● Limit potable water use
○ Use Native Species
○ Place landscape areas to receive runoff
○ Use captured rainwater

33. Landscape Design
Considerations
● Shade large
hardscapes
● Shade buildings in
summer, allow
sunlight in during
winter

34. Landscape Design
Considerations
● Place to filter and
clean stormwater
○ Raingardens in
parking areas
○ Bioretention
rather than
retention ponds

35. Resources
1. The Sustainable Sites Initiative
2. The United States Green Building Council
3. Portland Sustainable Stormwater Management
Program
4. US EPA
1. Stormwater management
2. LID Techniques
5. The Center for Watershed Protection
6. Prince Georges County Maryland - Division of
Environmental Protection

36. Sustainable Site Planning Basics
QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
www.fesconsulting.com
www.thegreencivilengineer.com
BOB FAULHABER - PE, LEED AP
Faulhaber Engineering & Sustainability