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THE PLANET WILL THANK YOU
THE PLANET WILL THANK YOU
Copyright 2008 Best Green Site
The Best Green Site
THE SOURCE FOR GREEN PRODUCTS AND INFORMATION
Designing the Building Site
Green Site Design
When designing the green building site particular emphasise should be placed on
conserving natural resources. In addition to the standard site plan the surveyor should
provide a detailed site resource plan showing existing trees, fauna, water resources
and any other natural environmental attributes.
On complicated sites inventory of natural resources may be performed by a
professional arborist or landscape architect. The builder can then design and place the
home in a way that makes best use of existing conditions.
While in the design and planning stage the builder will also want to identify areas of the
site that must be protected from damage during the construction process. Saving
micro-habitats, minimizing soil erosion and water run-off must be taken into account.
The person inspecting the site must be knowledgeable of regional vegetation. And
native trees that are local to the area. Some plants may appear to thriving and
providing ground cover but may in fact be invasive and inappropriate vegetation that
takes over the natural habitat and chokes out the type of environment you are trying to
preserve.
The green builder cannot approach every site with the idea of positioning the home or
building in a predetermined orientation without regard to environmental and energy
benefits that could be achieved by changing setbacks or shifting the structure from a
straight on road frontage layout to an angle more in line with solar advantages.
Positioning a home to save trees not only improves air quality but in the case of
deciduous trees can reduce both heating in the winter and cooling bills in the summer.
Solar and wind powered energy should be worked into the design phase whenever
possible. Some deed restrictions or homeowner covenants do not permit the use of
solar panels or wind turbines but as green building gains wider acceptance more and
more communities are modifying deed restrictions to incorporate this type of energy
conservation.
conserving natural resources. In addition to the standard site plan the surveyor should
provide a detailed site resource plan showing existing trees, fauna, water resources
and any other natural environmental attributes.
On complicated sites inventory of natural resources may be performed by a
professional arborist or landscape architect. The builder can then design and place the
home in a way that makes best use of existing conditions.
While in the design and planning stage the builder will also want to identify areas of the
site that must be protected from damage during the construction process. Saving
micro-habitats, minimizing soil erosion and water run-off must be taken into account.
The person inspecting the site must be knowledgeable of regional vegetation. And
native trees that are local to the area. Some plants may appear to thriving and
providing ground cover but may in fact be invasive and inappropriate vegetation that
takes over the natural habitat and chokes out the type of environment you are trying to
preserve.
The green builder cannot approach every site with the idea of positioning the home or
building in a predetermined orientation without regard to environmental and energy
benefits that could be achieved by changing setbacks or shifting the structure from a
straight on road frontage layout to an angle more in line with solar advantages.
Positioning a home to save trees not only improves air quality but in the case of
deciduous trees can reduce both heating in the winter and cooling bills in the summer.
Solar and wind powered energy should be worked into the design phase whenever
possible. Some deed restrictions or homeowner covenants do not permit the use of
solar panels or wind turbines but as green building gains wider acceptance more and
more communities are modifying deed restrictions to incorporate this type of energy
conservation.
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| Florida Green Building Coalition |
Member