Green
Development - Looking a
little deeper...
Urban
Green - Rebuilding the Urban Landscape for our Future…
To better understand the what the
elements of Urban Green Development are, the following is a
detailed description of the key components of Urban Infill,
Land Recycling, Green Building and Green Development.
Urban Infill
Takes open, undeveloped spaces within existing structure, e.g. "skipped" lots, parking lots, alleys and unused portions of existing structures to build new structures in/around its surrounding environment.
Land Recycling
Takes older, outmoded or decaying structures and removes them to recreate a new structure that is more conducive to its surroundings while vastly improving its safety, appearance and surrounding property value.
Green Development
To develop a property that is completely conducive to its environment, it has to not only take into the account the surface it's built upon, but all of the elements surrounding, below and above it, how each Eco-system is impacted as well as that of the specific site.
For example, removal of vegetation or trucks entering the land can have negative impacts on the soil and drainage of rainwater. These changes can cause erosion which in turns changes the terrain of the site but adds mud into the runoff which impacts surrounding bodies of water (streams and lakes) as well as eventually filtering down into the water table that provides drinking water.
Another example would be what materials are used in the construction of the property. As wind, sun and rain "weather" the exterior, what chemicals used to treat the materials are leached out and absorbed into the ground or drained into nearby lakes or reservoirs impacting other inhabitants or animals & fish that live off of the water and surrounding plant life.
In essence, changing the surface of a property and construction of structure upon it, has a far greater impact to its surrounding than just visual. Today, most builders, Developers and Architects create [single or multiple unit] structures that are quick-to-build and use inexpensive materials to maximize profits irrespective of how it impacts the environment around it, or its inhabitants.
The first and most important aspect of Green Development is to assess the "surrounding environment" of the property to be developed! By this we mean, how will Development of a parcel of land affect the local "Eco-system" as [we] define as:
1) The groundwater table
2) The soil below the property
3) The surface of the property (vegetation, water and existing structures)
4) All inhabitants of the property irrespective of how many legs, wings, gills or other
5) Sky/air above and around it
In many cases, it's not just what's on the property but how it filters, flows and impacts all of the Ecosystem around it (e.g. how does the sewer or septic field impact the groundwater table or nearby surface water?). The following is an illustration of the Eco-layers that are assessed before a design is created by the Developer:
Once the local Ecosystem has been assessed, the Developer must then review many other factors before creating a final design for the property. Although there are many different things to be considered, the best way is to use some of the following basic principles of Green Development to ask and answer the following questions before putting any kind of a plan or design to paper:
Urban Infill
Takes open, undeveloped spaces within existing structure, e.g. "skipped" lots, parking lots, alleys and unused portions of existing structures to build new structures in/around its surrounding environment.
Land Recycling
Takes older, outmoded or decaying structures and removes them to recreate a new structure that is more conducive to its surroundings while vastly improving its safety, appearance and surrounding property value.
Green Development
To develop a property that is completely conducive to its environment, it has to not only take into the account the surface it's built upon, but all of the elements surrounding, below and above it, how each Eco-system is impacted as well as that of the specific site.
For example, removal of vegetation or trucks entering the land can have negative impacts on the soil and drainage of rainwater. These changes can cause erosion which in turns changes the terrain of the site but adds mud into the runoff which impacts surrounding bodies of water (streams and lakes) as well as eventually filtering down into the water table that provides drinking water.
Another example would be what materials are used in the construction of the property. As wind, sun and rain "weather" the exterior, what chemicals used to treat the materials are leached out and absorbed into the ground or drained into nearby lakes or reservoirs impacting other inhabitants or animals & fish that live off of the water and surrounding plant life.
In essence, changing the surface of a property and construction of structure upon it, has a far greater impact to its surrounding than just visual. Today, most builders, Developers and Architects create [single or multiple unit] structures that are quick-to-build and use inexpensive materials to maximize profits irrespective of how it impacts the environment around it, or its inhabitants.
The first and most important aspect of Green Development is to assess the "surrounding environment" of the property to be developed! By this we mean, how will Development of a parcel of land affect the local "Eco-system" as [we] define as:
1) The groundwater table
2) The soil below the property
3) The surface of the property (vegetation, water and existing structures)
4) All inhabitants of the property irrespective of how many legs, wings, gills or other
5) Sky/air above and around it
In many cases, it's not just what's on the property but how it filters, flows and impacts all of the Ecosystem around it (e.g. how does the sewer or septic field impact the groundwater table or nearby surface water?). The following is an illustration of the Eco-layers that are assessed before a design is created by the Developer:
Once the local Ecosystem has been assessed, the Developer must then review many other factors before creating a final design for the property. Although there are many different things to be considered, the best way is to use some of the following basic principles of Green Development to ask and answer the following questions before putting any kind of a plan or design to paper:
- How is the water on, near or below the property going to be impacted?
- What natural resources are available to improve the look and efficiency of the property such as water, wind, sun and vegetation?
- What is or are the prevailing styles of other buildings within the area?
- What use of materials, construction and design will enhance the area and the Eco-system?
- What is on the existing property?
- What surroundings the existing property?
- Will removal and access to the property affect it or the surrounding vegetation and drainage?
- Will traffic increase around the property?
- How will the structure be used and will increase human density?
- What and who are the existing inhabitants in around the property and how they be affected?
- How will neighboring inhabitants be impacted from views, traffic, noise, water pollution and radiant heat (Heat Island effect)?
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