An update on the Sustainable Sites Initiative, an effort by several groups (led by the American Society of Landscape Architects) to create a parallel scorecard, similar to LEED, to encourage sustainable practices in land development and exterior property management, was given at Greenbuild 2008.
The Initiative addresses property development and management aspects ranging from site selection and preparation through to ongoing operations and maintenance.
There are several ways within the proposed Sustainable Sites scoring system where paying attention to recycling can help developers score points, including:
· Selecting a brownfield or greyfield site for redevelopment
· Support for “sustainable practices in materials manufacturing:
· The use of salvaged and recycled-content materials
· The use of products designed for reuse and recycling
· Diversion of construction and demolition materials from disposal
· Recycling of organic matter generated during site operations and maintenance
· Providing space for the storage and collection of recyclables.
In a session at Greenbuild 2008, Heather Venhaus of the University of Texas’ Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (another partner in the Sustainable Sites effort), noted that landscapes account for one-third of water use and that yards and outdoor properties generate 13 percent of municipal solid waste. “Actually, this is not a waste, but a resource,” said Venhaus.
She said that changing the way properties are designed and managed on such a wide scale can be done, and pointed to such example as the phasing out of leaded gasoline, the return of peregrine falcons and the return of one-third of America’s fresh water to the status of “fishable and swimmable” as similar environmental success stories.
Jose Almiñana of the ASLA added that one of the initial goals of the Initiative is to “encourage the developmentof brownfields and greyfield [sites].” Such a result would likely prove beneficial to demolition contractors and recyclers of demolition materials.
The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo took place Nov. 18-21 in Boston.