The document provides an overview of site characteristics as they relate to green building and construction. Some key strategies discussed include choosing urban or brownfield sites that do not disturb natural habitats or wetlands and have optimal solar exposure. Building size and shape should have a smaller footprint and be oriented for maximum solar gain. Site disturbance should be limited by building size and placement. Stormwater should be treated on-site using bioswales or storage/treatment systems. Hardscapes like pavement can create heat islands, so their use should be limited and permeable surfaces used when possible.

1. T H E B A S I C S I N G R E E N D E S I G N A N D
G R E E N C O N S T R U C T I O N
P A R T 2
S I T E C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
Green Building 101

2. Introduction
In this series we are going to discuss what green
building is and explore some of the general strategies
used in this type of construction.
This is meant as an introductory course, so there won’t
be a lot of detail presented.
Resources are listed at the end of each episode for
those who want more information.
Thanks for viewing!
Photo courtesy of Daren through a
Creative Commons License
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3. Site Characteristics
 This category deals with issues related to the ground
the building is built on, the size and shape of the
building, which way it is oriented, and the amount of
disturbance of the natural environment that is
caused by a project.
Photo courtesy of Mr TinDC through a
Creative Commons License
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4. Site Characteristics
 There are a many strategies
that are included under the
Site umbrella.
 choosing the location of the
building
 building placement on the
site, including orientation
 building size and shape
 limit the amount of ground
disturbed during
construction
 treatment of stormwater
 types of surfaces that will
remain when construction is
finished
Photos courtesy of jinx and Hardscape Produdts through a Creative Commons
License
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5. Site Selection
 Urban Sites
 Building in an urban area,
preferably an infill site (an
undeveloped or
underdeveloped site in the
middle of a developed
area), is less damaging to
the environment.
 The shorter distance to
utilities and amenities
such as suppliers, leads to
less site disturbance and
carbon emissions.
Photo by chicagogeek through a Creative
Commons License
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6. Site Selection
 Brownfields
o Brownfields are
previously polluted
sites, and are well worth
considering. With
proper remediation,
they can be made safe
for development.
o The site and
surrounding
neighborhood can be
rejuvenated through the
addition of services.
Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection through a Creative Commons License
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7. Site Selection
 Natural Habitat
 Make sure that the site
selected is not part of the
natural habitat for any
animal.
 Disturbing these areas can
seriously affect the animal
population and migration
patterns.
Photos courtesy of bark and US Fish and Wildlife Service NE Region
through a Creative Commons License
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8. Site Selection
 Wetlands
 Also avoid sites with wetland
areas, unless the use of these
areas can be offset by the
development of additional
habitat close to the site.
Photo courtesy of Frank Vassen through a
Creative Commons License
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9. Site Selection
 Solar Exposure
 The more solar exposure a
site gets, the better the
chance for using solar
energy generation, solar
water heating, or passive
solar heating (using the
heat from the sun to heat
the building).
 Look out for tall buildings
and trees that will inhibit
sunlight from reaching the
building.
Photo courtesy of Wendy Longo through a Creative
Commons License
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10. Building Size and Shape
 The size and shape of a
building can have a
tremendous effect on its
energy efficiency, the
amount of materials
used, and the
disturbance of the
surrounding
environment.
Photo courtesy of jinx through a Creative
Commons License
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11. Building Size and Shape
 Smaller buildings take
less energy to heat and
cool, so are generally
better.
 If the building must be
large, look at reducing
the footprint (the area of
the building actually
touching the ground) by
building multiple stories,
so as to reduce the
damage to the natural
environment.
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Boullosa
through a Creative Commons License
11

12. Building Size and Shape
 Buildings should be
shaped to take advantage
of solar exposure and
heat gain.
 Generally this means
long, skinny,
rectangular-shaped
buildings, with the long
side facing south.
Photo courtesy of Brenda Gottsabend through a Creative Commons
License
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13. Building Size and Shape
 This long shape allows
the most sunlight to flow
into the building, helping
with daylighting and
passive solar heating.
 Site conditions may not
allow an optimum shape
or location, so each
building will need to be
evaluated on a case by
case basis.
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Levine Design
through a Creative Commons License
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14. Building Orientation
 The direction a building
faces and its location
affect the ability to use
passive solar heating and
daylight harvesting.
 By analyzing the path of
the sun at different times
of the year, the
orientation of a building
can be optimized to
receive the most light
and heat when needed.
Photo courtesy of Bob MacInnes through a Creative Commons
License
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15. Building Orientation
 The amount, size, and
type of windows installed
will help to modulate the
exposure in extreme
cases, and increase
exposure when available.
Photo by Christian Senger through a Creative Commons
License
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16. Building Orientation
 Building mass (solid
surfaces made of
materials that hold heat,
like stone or concrete)
can be used to store heat
that is released at a
cooler time.
Photos courtesy of Seier+Seier and Shawn Carpenter through a
Creative Commons Licenses
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17. Site Disturbance
 By reducing the footprint
of the building and the
amount of ground that
must be dug up during
construction, the
integrity of the
surrounding habitat can
be preserved.
 This also helps to reduce
erosion and dust, as well
as transfer of soils from
the site.
Photo courtesy of ArmchairBuilder.com through a Creative
Commons License
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18. Stormwater Treatment
 Sustainable construction
strives to reduce the
building’s footprint on
the environment as a
whole.
 By treating or containing
stormwater on-site, this
lessens the impact of a
building on the local
infrastructure.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Volkening through a Creative
Commons License
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19. Stormwater Treatment
 Treatment can be most
easily accomplished by
filtering the water through
natural landscape and
earth filters.
 These usually take the form
of bioswales, where
stormwater runs in and is
treated and held by the
plants and soil until it is
evaporated or sent out to
the stormwater
infrastructure through
perforated piping.
Photo courtesy of La Citta Vita through a Creative
Commons License
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20. Stormwater Treatment
 Filtered rainwater can be
used for flushing toilets or
landscaping irrigation.
 Systems are also available
that treat the water to
drinkable standards.
 Both of these types of re-
use systems require the
installation of underground
holding tanks, filtering
systems, and a secondary
piping system for the
filtered water.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable Sanitation Alliance through a Creative
Commons License
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21. Hardscapes and Heat Islands
 Any surface area that is
covered by impervious
materials is called a
hardscape.
 These areas include
parking lots, sidewalks,
patios, and other paved
or concrete areas.
Photo courtesy of Hardscape Products through a
Creative Commons License
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22. Hardscapes and Heat Islands
 Hardscapes are considered
undesirable for two
reasons:
1. They do not absorb
rainwater, so contribute
to the need for
stormwater treatment or
containment.
2. They store the radiant
heat of the sun during the
day and release it at night,
creating what are called
“heat islands.”
Photo courtesy of Mel Stoutsenberger through a Creative
Commons License
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23. Hardscapes and Heat Islands
 Heat islands are
considered bad because
they change the natural
wind and weather
patterns of a local area.
 If you’ve heard of the
phenomenon of
downtown areas creating
their own weather, then
you know what effect
heat islands can have.
Photo courtesy of Mike Behnken through a Creative
Commons License
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24. Hardscapes and Heat Islands
 The effects of heat islands
can be reduced by lowering
the amount of hardscape
on a site.
 Using covered or in-
building parking, open
pavers, permeable asphalt
and concrete, and lighter
colored concrete are all
strategies to reduce heat
islands and stormwater
build-up.
Photo courtesy of Omar Barcena through a Creative
Commons License
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25. Summary of Site Strategies
 Site selection – urban or brownfield, no habitat or
wetlands, optimum solar exposure
 Building size and shape – smaller footprint, shaped
and located for optimum solar exposure
 Building orientation – location of windows and
building mass used to store heat
 Site disturbance – limit disturbance with building
size, shape, and site amenities
 Stormwater treatment – treat on-site using bioswales
or storage and treatment system
 Hardscapes and heat islands – limit size, use more
impervious surfaces
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26. Knowledge Measurement
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 Thanks for your interest in learning about Green
Building. If you want to test what you’ve learned
about this subject, try your hand at the five multiple
choice questions in the next slides.
 Resources for additional information are available on
slide 37.

27. 1. What is an infill site?
27
A. an undeveloped or underdeveloped site in the
middle of a developed area
B. a site in the middle of a plot of land
C. a site that was previously contaminated
D. a site that has not been previously developed

28. 1. Answer
28
A. an undeveloped or underdeveloped site in the
middle of a developed area
(See slide 5)

29. 2. Which of the following can be used to store
heat to be released at a cooler time?
29
A. Tinted windows
B. Insulation
C. Building mass
D. Building orientation

30. 2. Answer
30
C. Building mass
(See slide 16)

31. 3. How can stormwater be most easily treated?
31
A. Running it through an ultraviolet filter
B. Filtering the water through natural landscape and
earth filters, called bioswales
C. Sending it to the sewer
D. Catching it in a rainwater barrel

32. 3. Answer
32
B. Filtering the water through natural landscape and
earth filters, called bioswales
(See slide 19)

33. 4. Which of the following are hardscapes?
33
A. Turf (grass) areas
B. Sidewalks
C. Paving stones
D. Rain garden

34. 4. Answer
34
B. Sidewalk
C. Paving stones
(See slide 21)

35. 5. Which are strategies for dealing with heat
islands and reducing stormwater run-off?
35
A. Pervious pavement
B. Covered or in-building parking areas
C. Light-colored concrete
D. All of the above

36. 5. Answer
36
D. All of the above
(See slide 24)

37. What’s Coming Up?
In the next episode, we will continue to look at green
building strategies, focusing on Water Efficiency.
Resources:
Brownfield Redevelopment http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Solar Exposure
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/SunChartRS.htm
Stormwater Control/Treatment Strategies
http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap12.asp
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