Sustainable Site Analysis

Principles of sustainable sites

1. Reduce negative impact of buildingson the natural environment

• Minimize earth disturbance• Retain green cover• Minimize light pollution• Minimize impervious coverage

Principles of sustainable sites2. Reduce energy consumption through

building orientation

• Natural ventilationShielding from winter windsPromoting cross ventilation

• Passive solar heating• Shade cooling• Daylighting

What do we analyze?

• Natural features• Climate• Man-made features• Sensory observations• Land use regulations

Natural features

• Vegetation• Slopes• Wetlands• Soils• Bodies of water• Surface drainage

Climate

• Sun angles• Wind• Temperature and precipitation

over time

Man-Made Features

• Vehicular & pedestrian circulation

• Buildings & landscape features

• Site utilities

Sensory observations

• Views• Noise• Smells

Land use regulations

• Flood plains• Zoning• Brownfields

How do we do it?

Natural features: vegetation

• Grasses• Shrubs• Forest

Natural features: slope analysis, surface drainage• < 25% • 15% - 25%• > 25%

Natural features: wetlands

Natural features: soils

Natural features: soils

Climate: sun angles

http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/philadelphia-pennsylvania.html

http://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2007/Ecotect.html

Climate: wind

http://climate.met.psu.edu/features/PA_WIND_ROSES/windrose.php

Climate: wind

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/sgf/?n=aviation_forecasts

Climate: temp & precipitation

http://www.noaa.gov/http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USPA1276http://www.climatetemp.info/usa/philadelphia-pennsylvania.html

Man-made features

• Vehicular and pedestrian circulation

• Buildings and landscape features• Site utilities

Sensory observations: views, noise, smellsUse graphics that describe intensity

Land use regulations: floodplains

www.fema.gov

Land use regulations: zoning

Land use regulations: brownfields

http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/pa.htm

Diagramming

• Site photos• Legend• Scale• Graphic

representation• Composite plan

method

Examples

Examples

Examples

Examples

Conclusions

• Select sites with least impact on natural environment

• Select sites with greatest opportunities for passive heating and cooling