Download to read offline
February 2011 LEED LID and Policy
- 1. LID and Policy:Sustainable Development Practices What is Stopping Us? Jon Barsanti Jr Masters in City and Regional Planning BA Interdisciplinary Study in Biology and Chemistry jbarsanti@alumni.unc.edu 919.943.1915 http://mithun.com/projects/project_detail/kitsap_seed/
- 2.
- 3. Who is holdingus back B N N A I O N M My A B D N Y A
- 4. Who is holdingus back Build Not Not Almost In On Nothing My My Almost Back- Dime Nowhere Yard Anytime
- 5. Who Why Why Not Developers Others Aren’t “Cost” Designers Right Thing Resistance Departments Reduces Costs Ordinances Decision Good All Fear of Loss Makers Around
- 6. Ave Sq. FootageUS and South 1975-2009 3000 2500 2488 S q u a 2000 r e 1705 F 1500 o o t a g 1000 US Law of Unintended Consequences: e As average house size increases 500 South impervious surface area increases 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009
- 7. All Development Occursin a Watershed Wetlands are more than Undevelopable Land Stream Buffers Impact Development and Developments Impact Stream Buffers All Land Uses have a Pollutant/Volume Profile
- 8. Undeveloped Land canbe valuable LID & LEED can improve Water Quality and Quantity; Cost Less Need to view Run-off as a Resource Net Density versus Gross Density
- 9. All Development Occurs in a Watershed Watershed Critical Areas Watershed Protected Areas Barriers: Remainder • “Highest and Best Use of the Land” of the • One person’s/community’s out-flow is another’s intake Watershed
- 10. Wetlands are morethan Undevelopable Land Nutrient filtration systems Manage volume and sediment load Wildlife habitat preservation Barriers: Wetlands have been filled and built upon, leaving areas flood prone Need to be seen from environmental, aesthetic, and water quality perspectives
- 11. Stream Buffers ImpactDevelopment Developments Impact Stream Buffers Stream Buffers protect encroachment on ecosystem by development Stream Buffers Protect development from encroachment by ecosystem (e.g. floods.) Barriers: Inconsistent setbacks between communities; Vertical versus Horizontal Setbacks
- 12. Stream Buffers ImpactDevelopment Developments Impact Stream Buffers Buffers Address Sedimentation (100 ft) Phosphorus and Nitrogen Levels (100ft) Wildlife Habitats (35-100 – 300 ft) Trout streams (100 ft) http://www.rivercenter.uga.edu/publications/pdf/luc_buffer_fact_sheet.pdf
- 13. All Land Useshave a Pollutant/Volume Profile Volume of water flow Nutrients Temperature of water flowing off the land Toxins Bacteria From Kimberly Brewer’s Presentation to the TJCOG Smart Growth Committee ftp://ftp.tjcog.org/pub/tjcog/regplan/smrtgrow/devwq.pdf
- 14. All Land Useshave a Pollutant/Volume Profile Sources Land-Use Contribution Contribution to N Load to P Load Residential (SF) 29% 12% Residential (MF) Agriculture 36% 51% Forest 19% 15% Commercial/ 9% 6% Industrial Other 7% 16% Non – Point Source Pollution Only Data from A Nutrient Credit Trading Framework for the Jordan Lake Watershed: Using Market-Based Mechanisms to Make Watershed Restoration More Cost-Effective http://www.cfra-nc.org/documents/FinalReport-FullReport_000.pdf
- 15. All Land Useshave a Pollutant/Volume Profile Sources Land-Use Contribution Contribution to N Load to P Load Residential (SF) 14% 29% 12% Residential (MF) 1% Agriculture 20% 36% 51% Forest 56% 19% 15% Commercial/ 3% 9% 6% Industrial Other 6% 7% 16% Data from A Nutrient Credit Trading Framework for the Jordan Lake Watershed: Using Market-Based Mechanisms to Make Watershed Restoration More Cost-Effective http://www.cfra-nc.org/documents/FinalReport-FullReport_000.pdf
- 16. Nitrogen in thesoil Microbes are part of the answer It is estimated that 40% of all chemical nitrogen fertilizer additions are never used by plants. Some bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia by the process called nitrogen fixation; Other bacteria bring about transformations of ammonia to nitrate, and of nitrate to nitrogen and other nitrogen gases; Many bacteria and fungi degrade organic matter, releasing nitrogen for reuse by other organisms. http://www.greatbigplants.com/Nitrogen/
- 17. Nitrogen absorbing Plants are part of the answer In the warm season, water convolvulus showed more activity than mint, jute or water hyacinth (a plant widely used against eutrophication). In the cold season, calla lily showed the highest level of activity. Thus, the plant species need to be selected depending on the season. Both plants can be effectively used to improve water quality and as useful resources after harvest. (author abst.) Evaluation of Plants for Absorbing Nitrogen and Phosphorus to Purify Eutrophic Water http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200319/000020031903A0621438.php
- 18. Soil Compaction Occurs in almost all situations Howmuch is reversible? http://www.cwp.org/Resource_Library/Center_Docs/PWP/ELC_PWP36.pdf
- 19. Table 1: Comparisonof Bulk Density for undisturbed Soils and Common Urban Conditions (Compiled from various sources) Undisturbed Soil Type or Urban Surface Bulk Condition Density (g/cc) Peat 0.2 to 0.3 Compost 1.0 Sandy Soil 1.1 to 1.3 Silty sands 1.4 Silt 1.3 to 1.4 Silt Loams 1.2 to 1.5 Organic Silts/Clays 1.0 to 1.2 Glacial Till 1.6 to 2.0 Urban Lawns 1.5 to 1.9 Crushed Rock Parking Lot 1.5 to 2.0 Urban Fill Soils 1.8 to 2.0 Athletic Fields 1.8 to 2.0 ROW and Building Pads 1.5 to 1.8 (85% Compaction) ROW and Building Pads 1.6 to 2.1 (95% Compaction) Concrete Pavement 2.2 Quartzite 2.65 http://www.cwp.org/Resource_Library/Center_Docs/PWP/ELC_PWP36.pdf
- 20. Reversing Compacted Soils • Soil Amendments • Compost Amendments • Reforestation • Time http://www.cwp.org/Resource_Library/Center_Docs/PWP/ELC_PWP37.pdf
- 21. Benefits of Compost Amendments Compost Amendments Can: • Increase Porosity • Reduce Peak Flows • Produce Thicker lawns • Reduce Fertilizer Applications and Watering Needs • Create better lawns, faster http://www.epa.gov/ednnrmrl/publications/reports/epa600r00016/epa600r00016.pdf EPA/600/R-00/016
- 22. FAQ regarding Compost Amendments • Increase Concentrations of N and P • Decreases Volume of Run-off • Decrease Total N & P • Can be tilled or applied directly • 2:1 ratio soil to compost tilled to at least 12 inches EPA/600/R-00/016 http://www.epa.gov/ednnrmrl/publications/reports/ep • Construction compaction can reach a600r00016/epa600r00016.pdf 24 inches
- 23. Other perspectives on Compost Amendments Barriers: It takes time and money to measure predevelopment conditions and post-development conditions Cost to amend soil decreases, per lot, as area amended increases
- 24. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity How we develop/redevelop Where we develop (and where we do not) What we do with the Run-off (Pipe or Percolate) What is disturbed – What is conserved? http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/water_resource.htm
- 25. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity Increasing density increases run-off for the watershed and decreases the run-off per household http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/water_density.htm
- 26. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity • Impacts on Land Start At the Grading Stage • Fertilizers can have an impact on water quality, even in LID Neighborhoods • Volume and Peak Flows were kept at predevelopment levels. • Need to Control Compaction, Minimize Soil Disturbance, and have on-site supervision. http://www.jordancove.uconn.edu/jordan_cove/publications/final_report.pdf
- 27. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity NAHB reports that conventional development negatively impacts water-related ecosystems through Impervious Surfaces (Volume and quality) Introduction of Contaminants Site Location of Development relative to natural features http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=112936
- 28. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity Perceived Barrier: It costs more and does not provide a benefit to the builder Actual Barrier: Educating the entire community to the value versus costs of LID (Almost always costs less http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=112936 than conventional)
- 29. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity … (In) the vast majority of cases, significant savings were realized due to: • reduced costs for site grading and preparation; • stormwater infrastructure, site paving, and landscaping; • Total capital cost savings ranged from 15 to 80 percent when LID methods were used... http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costs07/documents/reducingstormwatercosts.pdf
- 30. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costs07/documents/reducingstormwatercosts.pdf
- 31. LID Can ImproveWater Quality & Water Quantity • Site Design was 103 Lots on 24 Acres • Conventional Site Design required 270,000 Cu Ft of Stormwater Facilities • LID Required 55,000 cu ft of stormwater facilities • 62% of land was saved as open space • Cost Savings of 20% to the Developer • 10% More units were able to be built than conventional design would have allowed. Managing stormwater in Pierce County: Kensington Estates case study sheds light on low impact development http://www.djc.com/news/en/11135654.html
- 32. LID: How dowe define conservation/disturbed Type of Residential Disturbed Open Space Conserved Space Development Space Low Density Could be entire Yes – may be yard No (e.g. 1 unit/2a) site Cluster Could Be entire Fragmented No site Open Space 50% or less 50% or More Open Space can be undevelopable Conservation Less than 50% More than 50% Undevelopable area excluded Barrier(s): How each is defined varies by community/county
- 33. What is beingconserved? http://www.stormwaterpa.org/assets/media/ http://www.swircd.org/pdf/conservation%20 resources/CnsrvDsgn-overview_NLT.pdf subdivision%20design%20handbook.pdf
- 34. What is beingconserved? Belvedere Subdivision – Charlottesville, VA http://www.belvedereneighborhood.com
- 35. What is beingconserved? 2008 Green Project of the Year NAHB Green Building Award Hidden Lakes Preserve Wake Forest, NC http://www.hiddenlake-crescent.com
- 36. What is beingconserved? Area of Future Development Hidden Lakes Preserve Wake Forest, NC http://www.hiddenlake-crescent.com
- 37. What is beingconserved? Pleasant Green Farms – Hillsborough, NC – Durham County http://www.pleasantgreenfarms.com/PropertyMap.aspx
- 38. What is beingconserved? Bundoran Farm -- North Garden, VA http://www.bundoranfarm.com/
- 39. What is beingconserved? Green/Dark Blue – Active Forestry Wildlife Habitat Pale Yellow – Public Viewshed Pale Peach – Productive Farmland Aqua Stream Corridor & Wetlands Bundoran Farm -- North Garden, VA http://www.bundoranfarm.com/
- 40. Need to changethinking from stormwater as waste to stormwater as resource. Impervious surface coverage impacts the micro-climate at water basin and larger areas Withdrawing just a little more than recharge rate impacts everyone http://waterparadigm.org/indexen.php?web=./ http://www.onthecommons.org/media/pdf/original/ home/homeen.html OurWaterComonsOctober2008English.pdf
- 41. Need to changethinking from stormwater as waste to stormwater as resource. 1) Utilization of Opportunistic Available Water 2) Storage and Conveyance 3) Water Treatment Technologies 4) Non-Point Source Pollution Control 5)Closed Loop Water Management of Water Supply, http://www.clemson.edu/restoration/events/pas http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/DOCUM Stormwater, and t_events/sc_water_resources/t4_proceedings_p resentations/t4_zip/zimmer.pdf ENTS/Wingspread%20Final%20Report.pdf Wastewater.
- 42. Need to changefrom Environment or Economy to Environment & Economy The concept of the Cities of the Future, the fifth paradigm of urbanization… is a paradigm of integration • Future, and existing, urban developments will accommodate landscape, drainage, transportation and habitat infrastructure systems • Cities will be resilient to extreme hydrological events and pollution • There will be an optimal balance between recreation, navigation and other economic uses of water. http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/DOCUM ENTS/Wingspread%20Final%20Report.pdf
- 43. Water is Water Paradigm Shift All Development Impacts Water Quality Highest use versus the best use of the land Wetlands and stream buffers are undervalued One community’s outflow is another community’s intake Reducing usage of drinking water for irrigation and toilets
- 44. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region Report questions weighting of Indoor Air Quality And how a project COULD be LEED Platinum and get no points for IAQ. http://www.ehhi.org/reports/leed/LEED_report_0510.pdf
- 45. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region • Formaldehyde • Second Hand Tobacco Smoke • Particulates • Pesticides • Flame Retardants PBDEs • Drinking Water • Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) • Artificial Turf http://www.ehhi.org/reports/leed/LEED_report_0510.pdf
- 46. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region September 2010 – EPA Draft Report: Opportunities for Green Building (GB) Rating Systems to Improve Indoor Air Quality Certain LEED options are heat and humidity related and cannot be used in all regions of the country http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/jelena_draft_paper_11-4-10.pdf
- 47. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region “The main idea of LEED was to reduce environmental impacts of buildings on their surrounding environment. Nevertheless, new research studies are emerging, so it will be possible to understand more detailed building impacts on its environment as well as to develop new strategies for addressing intermittent environmental impacts on the building itself due to extreme weather conditions and increased outdoor air pollution.” http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/jelena_draft_paper_11-4-10.pdf
- 48. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region Moderately high temperatures and humidity in buildings have been associated with: • Increased occupant discomfort, perceptions of poor indoor air • Unsolicited occupant complaints • Reduced productivity • Adverse respiratory health symptoms http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/mudarri.pdf
- 49.
- 50. 120,000 Electric Primary Energy Consumption Transportation Primary (Trillion BTU )(1949-2009) 100,000 Industrial Primary Commercial Primary Residential Primary 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 1949 1951 1953 1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/txt/ptb0201a.html
- 51. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region Similar to Implementing LID “Everybody knows….” it costs more. http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2908
- 52. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region Its is not about the costs/price It is about playing up the benefits Cost is a Negative Term http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2908
- 53. Barriers to Implementing LEED Across the Region Pricing premiums ranging from ZERO to 6.27% Energy Savings from 23% to 50% Water Savings from Zero to 78%
- 54. Case Study: Residential Development • 73 Projects • Range Under 5 Acres to Over 100 Acres • Utilization of LEED techniques depend on points awarded and cost to develop • Gold and Platinum Certified Utilize Green Technologies and Green Construction • Platinum tend to include affordable housing and http://pdfserve.informaworld.com/316990__914017852.pdf Habitat/wetland restoration
- 55. November 19, 2010 San Diego – South Orange County Restrictions on Lawn Irrigation Run-off Restrictions on Car Wash Run-off http://www.danapointtimes.com/view/full_story/10385460/article-Keep-Your-Water--New-Regional-Water-Quality-Control-Board-Water-Quality-Regulations-?
- 56. Toxic, Carcinogenic Pollutant in Common Surface sealer December 6, 2010 40 lakes in residential and commercial areas PAH in the H20 • Coal-tar-based sealants contribute 50% • Vehicles account for 25% • Coal combustion 20% Science of The Total Environment Volume 409, Issue 2, 15 December 2010, Pages 334-344 http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/05/845591/pavement-sealant-identified-as.html#storylink=misearch
- 57. “Potential to ModifyClearing, Grading, and Landscaping Practices Project (2001) Value placed on landscapes that are “Natural,” “Attract Wildlife” “Provide Privacy and screen noise,” Minimal Lawn Dissatisfied group bought homes over 250,000 without/preferred landscaping Dissatisfied group most likely to have planted shrubs, trees, native plants after moving into new house. http://www.greenbeltconsulting.com/ctp/pdf/Potential ToModify.pdf
- 58. Our Floating Future? • Research by NC State University and Bill Hunt • Being Tested in City of Durham – Hillendale Golf Course and Museum of Life and Science • Originated in Montana (2000) • Costs: $30/sq ft "When all the plants have grown up, you don't actually see any of the green plastic. • Benefit: “natural” It's just a lush green environment on top of removal of Phosphorus and the pond, so in theory there's a habitat for Nitrogen using fish, frogs, wildlife as well." Ryan Winston wetland/bog plants News and Observer – 4/14/2010
- 59. Barriers to Implementing LID Across the Region Need to look at Decentralized solution for a Decentralized problem Our ordinances hold us back “Everybody knows….” Maintaining it after it is built
- 60. Conclusion Wehave a new resource We can ‘sing from the same songbook.’ We can customize our solutions to meet the requirements of our communities and our region. We can have a Win-Win-Win for the consumer, the developer, and the community. If we ‘only’ apply to new construction, existing conditions will ‘only’ not get worse.
- 62. http://www.ecospecifier.org/ http://www.pharosproject.net/ http://www.bluewildernessgroup.com/ http://www.bre.co.uk/index.jsp
- 63. Jon Barsanti Jr. jbarsanti@alumni.unc.edu 919.943.1915 Presentation available at http://www.slideshare.net/JonBarsantiJr