September 12, 2011

1. DESIGN
ECOLOGY
A 21st Century Strategy

2. Existing Infrastructure
• Straight Lines to Low Point Results
in Flooding & Low Summer Stream
Flows
• Impacts to Habitat
– poor water quality
– loss of cover & biodiversity
– low, warm stream flows, no O2
• Impacts to Infrastructure
– increased flooding with urbanization
– combined sewer overflows
– exceeded treatment capacity

3. Impervious Surfaces

4. Infrastructure Failures
LOST BIODIVERSITY
LOW STREAM FLOWS
INCREASED HEAT
MORE FLOODING
THE RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD
ENERGY IMPACTS
WATER QUALITY
UNSAFE
UNSANITARY

12. Integrated Systems

13. Bioswales

14. Flow-Through
Planters

15. Living Roofs
residential

16. Living Roofs of Marin, Nueva School
education: College

17. Living Roofs
civic: California Academy of Sciences

18. CAS

19. Living Walls
• Water filtration
• Storm-water conveyance
• Storm-water detention
• Reduction of cooling
demand
• Habitat for birds and
butterflies
• Air quality
• Aesthetic benefit
• Mitigate “Urban Heat Island”

20. Living Walls
interiors

21. Living Walls
civic: California Academy of Sciences

22. Living Walls
Commercial office building: 110 embarcadero, san francisco

23. Greywater
BERKELEY ECOHOUSE

24. Greywater
BERKELEY ECOHOUSE

25. Greywater

26. Rainwater Harvesting
Functional civic art in Seattle

27. ROOF CATCHMENT CALCULATIONS
(CA) x (R) x (E) x (7.48 gal/cu. ft.) = GALLONS
CA = CATCHMENT AREA (SQ. FT.)
R = RAINFALL (FEET)
E = EFFICIENCY 0.9 = STD ROOF
0.8 = GRAVEL ROOF
0.3 = GREEN ROOF
EASY METHOD (standard roof only):
each 1,000 SF of catchment area
1” of rainfall = 600 gallons

28. Infiltration Swales

30. Natural Swimming Pools
• Natural Swimming Environment uses gravel, plants
and light to keep pool clean
• Chlorine-Free Water is healthy, clean and safe
• Provides Wetland Habitat
• Beautiful Landscape Element

31. Natural
Swimming
Pools

32. Stormwater Mgt
• Protect water quality
• Reduce impacts to
infrastructure
• Reduce irrigation demand
• Infiltration / recharge
• Biofiltration

33. Stormwater Mgt
SEA Streets Seattle
95% Runoff infiltrated to
groundwater from 1.1
acre sub-basin

34. Low Impact Development (LID)
 Low Impact Development Center
http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/
EPA SWPPP Templates
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swppp.cfm#template
EPA LID
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/
Roof Catchment Calculator
http://www.bushmantanks.com/WhyWaterTanks/Water%20Catchment.aspx

35. California Graywater Standards, Title 24, Part 5, California Administrative Code,
Graywater Systems For Single Family Dwellings
http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/Revised_Graywater_Standards.pdf
Graywater Guide http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/graywater_guide_book.pdf
Oasis Designs
http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/index.htm
The Irrigation Association, irrigation information
http://www.irrigation.org
Green Affordable Housing Coalition
www.greenaffordablehousing.org