Sustainable Facilities Tool

Sustainable Sites

Choosing a building's site and managing that site during construction are important considerations for a project’s sustainability. Environmentally responsible site selection discourages development of previously undeveloped land; minimizes a building's impact on ecosystems and waterways; encourages regionally appropriate landscaping; rewards smart transportation choices; and controls stormwater runoff. Additionally, appropriate site management can reduce erosion, light pollution, the heat island effect and construction-related pollution. Buildings can be placed in various locations; project teams should choose the environmentally preferred option and follow up with responsible stewardship of the site.

Related Topics

Albedo

Albedo, or solar reflectance, is a measure of the ability of a surface material to reflect sunlight, including visible, infrared, and ultraviolet wavelengths, on a scale of 0 to 1.  The more sunlight that is reflected, the higher the albedo. Albedo is used when measuring the reflectance of white roofs, in order to prevent Heat Island Effect.

Alternative Fuel Vehicle

Vehicles which use low-polluting, nongasoline fuels to power their engines. Alternative fuels include electricity, hydrogen, propane, compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, and ethanol.

Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are defined by section 301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and otherwise includes electric fueled vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, dedicated alternative fuel vehicles, dual fueld alternative fuel vehicles, qualified fuel cell motor vehicles, advanced lean burn technology motor vehicles, self-propelled vehicles such as bicycles and any other alternative fuel vehicles that are defined by statute.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fleets/

http://www.eaaev.org

http://www.ngvc.org

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/

Alternative Transportation

Having an office near alternative transportation options (like buses, light rail and subway) allows occupants to leave their car at home, thereby minimizing the emissions related to single-occupancy vehicle use. 

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/

Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms

By providing secure bicycle storage, changing rooms, and showers, employers can make the option of biking to work much more accessible and enticing.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/

http://www.self-propelled-city.com/index.php

http://www.bikemaine.org

Brownfield

Brownfields are former industrial or commercial sites that are contaminated with hazardous waste.  Contaminants might include hydrocarbons, petrochemicals and/or asbestos.  Brownfields are typically designated as such by a public agency (e.g. EPA).

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

Building Exterior and Hardscape Management

Building exterior and hardscape management refers to the practices employed at a facility to maintain the building envelope, windows, sidewalks, plazas, garages, etc.  Negative environmental impacts can be reduced by instituting environmentally sensitive practices for cleaning and maintaining building and hardscape surfaces. These practices include using Green Seal products, purchasing electric powered equipment that does not consume fossil fuels, using low VOC paints and sealants, using environmentally preferable ice melt, and  capturing excess water when pressure washers are used.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/53549429/EVALUATION-OF-DEICER-AND-ANTIFREEZE-PERFORMANCE

Combined Sewer Overflow

A combined sewer system conveys both sanitary sewage and stormwater in one piping system. During normal dry weather conditions, sanitary wastewater collected in the combined sewer system is diverted to the wastewater treatment plant before it enters natural waterways. During periods of significant rainfall, the capacity of a combined sewer may be exceeded. When this occurs, excess flow, a mixture of stormwater and sanitary wastewater, is discharged at CSO points, typically to rivers and streams.

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=5

Connectivity/Public Transportation Access/Walkabil

When building a sustainable project, owners and operators can utilize strategies which maximize occupants’ access to services and alternative transportation. Connectivity is locating a project in a way that takes advantage of existing supporting infrastructure and the availability of common services. This includes access to public transportation and the ability of occupants to walk to desired destinations.

Construction Activity Pollution Protection

The construction of a project can disturb soil, disrupt wildlife patterns, contribute to erosion, introduce toxins to the water supply, and generate airborne dust and other particles. Good site management minimizes these problems and maintains the integrity of the project.

http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/ordinance/erosion.htm

Cool Pavements

Cool pavements refer to paving materials that reflect more solar energy, enhance water evaporation, or have been otherwise modified to remain cooler than conventional pavements.

Cooling Tower

A piece of building equipment which uses water to absorb heat from air-conditioning systems and regulate air temperature in a facility.

www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/program/operations_maintenance.html

www.process-cooling.com/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000214768

www.sydneywater.com.au/publications/factsheets/SavingWaterBestPracticeGuidelinesCoolingTowers.pdf

Erosion Control

A means of preventing erosion, which is the combination of processes or events by which materials of the earth’s surface are loosened, dissolved, or worn away. Erosion removes topsoil, plant nutrients, and reduces biological activity. Losing this topsoil reduces the soil’s ability to support plant life, regulate water flow, and maintain biodiversity.

www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ordinance/erosion.htm

Foot Candle

A footcandle is a measurement of light falling on a given surface. It can be measured horizontally and vertically and is used to measure the amount of light escaping from a project’s boundary. The fewer footcandles that leave a site, the less it contributes to light pollution.

Fuel Efficient Vehicle

Vehicles that use less fuel to accomplish the same amount of work. The standard used to measure fuel efficient vehicles is the American Council for and Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

http://wwww.greenercars.org

Greenfield

Greenfield sites are those that are undeveloped – they have not been disturbed by humans.

Hardscape

Hardscape is the inanimate elements of the building’s landscaping. For instance sidewalks, plazas, parking lots, and stone walls are all hardscape. Hardscape prevents water from being absorbed into the soil and can contribute to the heat island effect if it is dark in color.

Heat Island Effect

Cities tend to be warmer than their country counterparts.  This is typically due to the infrastructure built within a city, such as buildings and roads, which absorb heat from the sun and slowly release it during the day and into the night.  This is known as the heat island effect.  The heat increases local temperatures and forces businesses to increase their use of air conditioning.   Heat Islands can be reduced by installing cool roofs and other surfaces with a high albedo. 

http://www.epa.gov/heatisld/

Impervious

Impervious surfaces promote runoff of water instead of infiltration into the soil, grass, or gravel. This can create surges of stormwater and can also introduce pollutants into the water table. Examples of impervious surfaces are parking lots, cement sidewalks, and roads.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management is managing pests (plants, fungi, insects, and/or animals) in a way that protects human health and the surrounding environment and that improves economic returns through the most effective, least-risk option. This method means using non-toxic options such as cleaning and physical barriers to entrance before resorting to chemical means.

www.birc.org

www.sfenvironment.org/our_programs

Joint Use of Facilities

Allowing joint use of facilities reduces the amount of land that must be developed to meet community needs. For example, a school sharing its meeting spaces with a community group eliminates the need for additional meeting space facilities to be built.

http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/programs/joint-use-agreement.aspx

http://www.7oaks.org/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.edfacilities.org/pubs/scc_publication.pdf

Landscape Management

The process of actively and responsibly tending to the living organisms on a property. This includes integrated pest management, erosion control, sedimentation control, diversion of landscape waste from the waste stream, and chemical fertilizer use. Responsible landscape management plans keep toxins and sediment out of the water supply. 

http://www.epa.gov/nerlesd1/land-sci/

Least Toxic

Least toxic chemical pesticides are any pesticide products for which all active ingredients and known inert ingredients meet the least toxic Tier 3 hazard criteria under the City and County of San Francisco’s hazard screening protocol. The use of least toxic chemical pesticides protects human and animal health, as well as keeping toxic chemicals out of waterways.

www.birc.org

www.sfenvironment.org/our_programs

Light Pollution

Light pollution is the visible glow over a city at night.  Light pollution is technically wasted light – light that is escaping to the night sky rather than being directed downwards for safety.  Light pollution interferes with the migration patterns of certain birds and other nocturnal creatures.  It also interferes with the people’s enjoyment of the night sky. 

http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=56399&orgId=idsa

Low-Emitting Vehicle

Vehicles which are classified as zero-emission vehicles by the California Resources Board. They emit less toxic byproducts into the air than traditional vehicles.

http://www.aqmd.gov/trans/doc/regform/appx_g.pdf

http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/index.php

Open Space

Vegetated open spaces provide habitat for wildlife, enjoyment for occupants, and an improvement in the quantity and quality of stormwater leaving the site. Buildings can choose to retain open space on their own site or maintain off-site open space.

Pervious

Pervious surfaces allow precipitation to peculate through letting the water be absorbed and naturally filtered by the ground. Pervious surfaces reduce the amount of water that is sent to the stormdrains. Types of pervious surfaces include landscape, pavers, porous asphalt, and pervious concrete.

Preferred Parking

Parking spaces should be provided in desirable locations (close to the building, covered, etc.) as an incentive for drivers to carpool and use low and alternative fuel vehicles.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is a resource that is replaced rapidly by natural processes. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, small (low-impact) hydropower, geothermal energy, and wave and tidal systems. Using renewable energy can reduce a building's carbon footprint. There are various renewable energy options for buildings - the most common of which are solar panels (also known as photovoltaic or PV panels). Buildings can also purchase renewable energy from offsite sources.

http://www.epa.gov/energy/renwenergy.html

http://www.eere.energy.gov/

Restore Habitat

When a project occupies a previously undeveloped (greenfield) site, it will likely destroy some portion of the existing insect, plant and animal habitat. Projects should seek to restore the disturbed areas in order to restore the site’s natural balance.

www.nature.org

www.abcbirds.org

Rideshare Programs

Rideshare programs arrange carpool or vanpool rides for commuters with similar starting locations and destinations.

Site Master Plan

A Site Master Plan is designed to ensure that the environmental considerations made in the initial development of a site continue to be considered for the length of the use of the site.

Site Remediation

Brownfield sites require a cleanup of whatever contaminants are present. The process, called site remediation, involves using physical, chemical, or biological means to remove the contamination of the previous use of the site.

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields

http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/pubs/625r00009/625r00009.htm

Stormwater

When it rains, stormwater either infiltrates into the ground or flows directly into the storm system.  Pervious paving and landscaping allow water to be absorbed into the ground, percolating through natural filters and into aquifers.  Impervious surfaces, such as sidewalks and roofs, force storm water to flow directly into the storm drain.  This can lead to combined sewer overflow during times of significant rainfall.  Additionally, excess storm water may collect contaminants prior to entering the storm drain, and depending on the location, may drain into natural waterways without being treated.  

http://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/stormwater/index.htm

Telecommuting Strategies

These strategies use technological solutions to allow employees to work from home or from satellite offices and thus commute fewer days of the week.

http://www.actweb.org

http://www.smartcommute.org/

http://www.teleworkarizona.com

Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines

Project owners and managers put a lot of care and thought into the sustainable features of their project. Therefore, it makes sense to communicate all the features and how to best use them to tenants of the property. Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines can help tenants understand the benefits of occupying a sustainably built project and learn how to utilize the building as it was intended. 

Vegetated (Green) Roof

A vegetated roof is a layered system of growing medium (soil), filters, and waterproof membrane on the roof of a building. An entire roof can be converted into a green roof or it can be done in parts. Green roofs absorb heat instead of reflecting it, reducing Heat Island Effect. They can also serve as gardens and provide excellent insulation.

http://www.greenroofs.com

http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/research/greenroofcenter/

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)

Carbon compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides and carbonates, and ammonium carbonate). The compounds become a gas at normal room temperatures and degrade indoor air quality.  VOCs can be found in paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and other finish materials.