Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

ow range of pest species, and should be chemically non-persistent in soil, air, orwater. They must also be physically targeted, using accurate, low-volume applicators toavoid drift and oversaturation. Workers must be trained in proper application.❑ Use mulching, alternative mowing, and composting to maintain plant health.Organic mulch around plantings conserves water and maintains favorable soil temperatures.Mulch may be purchased; cleared or trimmed vegetation can be chipped economicallyfor mulch using a rented chipper. Mulching mowers leave fine clippings onlawns as mulch. Any form of mulch eventually breaks down and recycles its nutrientcontent. Composting plant debris in piles or bins hastens this breakdown; the compostis then used as soil amendment. Many municipalities maintain composting services.Compost maintains soil fertility better than chemical fertilizer, and helpslandscape plants resist pests and diseases without pesticides.❑ Compile and follow a seasonal maintenance task list.Regular maintenance is essential to a healthy landscape that fulfills the design visionas it grows. The schedule should specify times for pruning, watering, fertilizing, andpest inspection.Paving Materials★ S I G N I F I CA N C E .Thousands of acres of land are paved annually in this country, although much of thepaved area is under used: streets deserted except at rush hour, church parking lots barrenduring the work week, and city-hall spaces vacant on weekends. Underutilized paved surfaceswaste materials, energy, and financial resources and eliminate natural habitat forplants and animals.To create stable surfaces for human activities, most traditional paving excludes waterfrom the soil. This impermeability results in increased run off, erosion, flooding, and lossof soil fertility. Pavement retains heat, contributing significantly to urban “heat sinks”and increased HVAC energy use. It also can cause uncomfortable glare and create harsh,alienating environments.Zoning laws in some communities limit the creation of new impermeable surfaces. Avariety of permeable paving surfaces, as well as non-pavement soil-stabilization methods,can partially overcome the disadvantages of “conventional” paving.. ☛ SUGGESTED PRACTICES AND CHECKLISTI❑ Limit paved areas to the strict minimum for their intended purpose.For example, parking spaces based on the nine- by 18-foot standard save nearly 20percent more land area than ten- by 20-foot spaces. Many zoning ordinances overcalculateparking “needs.” In such cases, seek a variance and consult recent federallaws, like the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), that strike amore reasonable balance between private cars and transportation alternatives. TheAct provides funding for state and metropolitan transportation planners to integratecar, bus, train, bicycle, and pedestrian modes of transport, thus reducing dependenceon private cars. 7