Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

and global warming, by the strategic planting of trees and use of light-colored surfacesfor roads, parking lots, and building roofs and walls.➤The city of San Diego, California, Park and Recreation Department developed efficientturf-irrigation systems to minimize water use. Irrigation system replacements, retrofits,and performance checks have resulted in a combined total reduction in water usage for1990 to 1994 of 1,700,000 hundred cubic feet (HCF), a cost savings of over $2 millionfor the department despite the addition of over 40 new parks since 1989.➤Communities in Chittenden County, Vermont, have begun to set standards and guidelinesfor exterior lighting to preserve the region’s natural nighttime beauty. The goal isto increase energy efficiency, provide clear standards and guidelines for lightingdesigns, and preserve nighttime landscapes. The municipalities of Burlington,Shelburne, and Richmond, key players in the effort, are all concerned about the controlof overall illumination levels, glare, and color distortion from outside lighting.Other concerns include balancing aesthetics, safety and security, and the capital oroperating costs of lighting fixtures; the impact of high-pressure sodium street lights onthe natural and built environment; and, in some cases, discouraging the installation ofnew lighting in neighborhoods.L O CAL OPTIONS.■ Develop site-maintenance plans for municipal properties that include soil upkeep withmulch and composted materials, integrated pest management, reduced fertilizer use,and native plants with low irrigation needs. Use drip irrigation and programmabletimers for irrigation systems with rain shut-off valves.■ Sponsor site design competitions. Landscape Architecture magazine, for example, sponsorsan annual competition for innovative, ecologically sensitive residential landscape designs.■ Develop a native plant list for the region. Indicate a preference for native plantsfor landscaping projects on public property and make the list available for privated e v e l o p e r s .■ Involve the public in identifying and mapping trees of significance to the community.Develop a Tree Preservation Plan for municipal construction projects, and encouragecommercial and residential projects to adopt it as a model.■ Designate the use of products with recycled content for the construction of parkbenches, fences, storage sheds, and walkways for municipal projects, when economicallyfeasible. Locate regional sources for equipment and furnishings featuring recycledcontent or reusable materials.■ Require municipal projects to use semipervious parking pavers or no paving, wherefeasible, or require them to match a percentage of parking spaces with a certain numberof new trees. Encourage these practices in commercial projects also.■ Develop lighting guidelines that balance safety, aesthetics, and community values.Consider renewable energy resources, such as photovoltaic systems, for outside lightingalong landscapes, trails, and walkways, and for other electrical needs.I➜ R E S O U R C E SIResources for the Local Government Information chapters are located in the Appendix.