design ecology a 21st century strategy

DESIGN

ECOLOGY A 21st Century Strategy

• Straight Lines to Low Point Results in Flooding & Low Summer Stream Flows

• Impacts to Habitat – poor water quality

– loss of cover & biodiversity

– low, warm stream flows, no O2

• Impacts to Infrastructure – increased flooding with urbanization

– combined sewer overflows

– exceeded treatment capacity

Existing Infrastructure

Impervious Surfaces

THE RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD

LOST BIODIVERSITY

LOW STREAM FLOWS

INCREASED HEAT

MORE FLOODING

ENERGY IMPACTS

WATER QUALITY

UNSAFE

UNSANITARY

Infrastructure Failures

Integrated Systems

Bioswales

Flow-Through

Planters

Living Roofs residential

Living Roofs education: College of Marin, Nueva School

civic: California Academy of Sciences

Living Roofs

CAS

Living Walls

• Water filtration

• Storm-water conveyance

• Storm-water detention

• Reduction of cooling

demand

• Habitat for birds and

butterflies

• Air quality

• Aesthetic benefit

• Mitigate “Urban Heat Island”

interiors

Living Walls

Living Walls civic: California Academy of Sciences

Living Walls Commercial office building: 110 embarcadero, san francisco

Greywater

BERKELEY ECOHOUSE

BERKELEY ECOHOUSE

Greywater

Greywater

Functional civic art in Seattle

Rainwater Harvesting

ROOF CATCHMENT CALCULATIONS

(CA) x (R) x (E) x (7.48 gal/cu. ft.) = GALLONS

CA = CATCHMENT AREA (SQ. FT.)

R = RAINFALL (FEET)

E = EFFICIENCY 0.9 = STD ROOF

0.8 = GRAVEL ROOF

0.3 = GREEN ROOF

EASY METHOD (standard roof only):

each 1,000 SF of catchment area

1” of rainfall = 600 gallons

Infiltration Swales

Natural Swimming Pools • Natural Swimming Environment uses gravel, plants

and light to keep pool clean

• Chlorine-Free Water is healthy, clean and safe

• Provides Wetland Habitat

• Beautiful Landscape Element

Natural

Swimming

Pools

Stormwater Mgt

• Protect water quality

• Reduce impacts to

infrastructure

• Reduce irrigation demand

• Infiltration / recharge

• Biofiltration

SEA Streets Seattle

95% Runoff infiltrated to groundwater from 1.1 acre sub-basin

Stormwater Mgt

Low Impact Development (LID)

Low Impact Development Center

http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/

EPA SWPPP Templates

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swppp.cfm#template

EPA LID

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/

Roof Catchment Calculator

http://www.bushmantanks.com/WhyWaterTanks/Water%20Catchment.aspx

California Graywater Standards, Title 24, Part 5, California Administrative Code,

Graywater Systems For Single Family Dwellings

http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/Revised_Graywater_Standards.pdf

Graywater Guide http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/graywater_guide_book.pdf

Oasis Designs

http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/index.htm

The Irrigation Association, irrigation information

http://www.irrigation.org

Green Affordable Housing Coalition

www.greenaffordablehousing.org