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SUSTAINABILITY: Principles,
Techniques, Design, and Regulations
Ann Audrey City of Tucson
Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development
January 2009
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1. Describe site characteristics
2. Inventory needs and products
3. Apply sustainability principles
4. Apply sustainability techniques
5. Incorporate brainstorm results
6. Develop sustainable design
6 Steps to creating a sustainable site
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SITE CONTOURS• Gravity controls the flow of many elements• Determine design implications
Step 1. Describe site characteristics
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HUMAN AND ENVIROMENTAL CONTEXT • Surrounding Land ownership• Watershed context• Biotic communities• Western hemisphere• Design implications
Step 1. Describe site characteristics
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NATURAL CONDITIONS• Climate• Geology• Hydrology• Solar orientation• Rainwater drainage• Wind patterns• Fire sources• Cold air drainage• Soils and erosion• Flora• Fauna• Many others, specific to the site• Design implications
Step 1. Describe site characteristics
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HUMAN-BASED CONDITIONS• Land use and land condition on site• On-site infrastructure: power lines, water lines, buildings, etc. • Off site infrastructure: roads, railroads, utility poles, etc.• Traffic noise• Artificial light• Many others, specific to the site• Design implications
Step 1. Describe site characteristics
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Step 2. Inventory needs and products:Site Elements Needs Products Characteristics
•Building materials•Access•Utilities•Human maintenance
•Water•Food•Shelter•Community
•Water•Soil nutrients•Sun•Moderate care
•Water•Sun•Soil Nutrients•Lots of care
•Microclimates: shade, reflected light & heat•Water runoff•Hosts human eyes
•Work•Attention•Ideas•Waste
•Shade•Fruit, leaves, twigs•Wood•Vertical structure
•Food•Fiber•Detritus•Fragrance and color
•Can use recycled & earthen materials
•Expensive•Long lasting•Not movable
•Creative•Busy•Designers•Consumptive
•Host birds and wildlife•Affect soil quality•Grow to meet its water supply•Tallest living element
•Sensitive to microclimates•Sensitive to insect pests•Seasonal
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Step 3. Apply sustainability principlesPlace every element in relationship to others so they assist each other. Meet the needs of one element with the products of another.
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Each element performs multiple functions
Step 3. Apply sustainability principles
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Each important function is supported by multiple elements
Step 3. Apply sustainability principles
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Plan for efficiency by placing elements according to their need for human attention.
Step 3. Apply sustainability principles
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Use local biological and mineral resources rather than fossil fuel-based resources, when possible.
Step 3. Apply sustainability principles
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Use and accelerate natural plant succession to establish favorable sites and soils. Use a diversity of beneficial species for a productive, interactive system
Step 3. Apply sustainability principles
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Use edge and natural patterns for best effect
Step 3. Apply sustainability principles
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Collect and recycle energy, materials, and elements on site
Step 3. Apply sustainability principles
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques• Rainwater harvesting• Gray water reuse• Passive solar design• Active solar collection for electricity and heating • Strawbale, rammed earth, adobe and other natural building materials• Wind-power generation• Growing native and locally adapted foods• Composting• Gleaning native plants• Earth ovens, outdoor kitchens• Water gardens and ponds• Community networking• And many more…..
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniquesExample: Applying Water Harvesting Principles and Techniques
1. Start harvesting at the top of the watershed
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2. Capture water in multiple small catchments
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques
3. Collect, slow and infiltrate the water
4. Raise paths; lower adjacent planting areas
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques
5. Prepare for overflow
6. Apply mulch to reduce evaporation
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques7. Plant appropriate vegetation
8. Put harvested water to beneficial use
9. Inspect, adapt and maintain your system
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniquesMicrobasins
Swales
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniquesInfiltration Basins
French drains
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques
Curb cuts
Porous pavement
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques
Gabions& Weirs
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Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques
Tanks
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• Faithfully record ideas from meetings• Prioritize concepts
Step 5. Incorporate brainstorm results
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Step 6. Create a sustainable design• Assimilate characteristics, principles, techniques, and brainstorm into site design.• Name at least four good reasons for placing each element in its location!
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Tucson’s newly adopted Gray Water OrdinanceTitle: Residential Gray Water Ordinance(Ordinance No. 10579)
Adopted: September 23, 2008
Effective: June 1, 2010
Applies to:New single family and duplex residential units
Primary requirement: Installation of segregated drains for graywater and blackwater plumbing fixtures to allow future gray water distribution systems
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Major Elements of New Greywater Ordinance
Detailed Requirements: - Graywater drains stub out three feet from building foundation- Gravity-fed drain for washing machines- All gray water systems must comply with ADEQ codes for residential gray water use
Allows: - Installation of graywater distribution system is not included in the requirements
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Tucson’s current water harvesting requirement: “…make maximum use of site storm water runoff for supplemental irrigation…”
Applies to: New or redeveloped, - Commercial sites- Subdivisions- Public buildings- Public rights-of-way
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Tucson’s new Commercial Water Harvesting OrdinanceTitle: Commercial Rainwater Harvesting Ordinance(Ordinance No. 10597)
Adopted: October 14, 2008
Effective: June 1, 2010
Applies to:New Commercial development that is non-residential
Primary requirement: Offset 50% of landscape water demand using harvesting rainwater
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Elements of New WH Ordinance
Detailed Requirements: - Rainwater Harvesting Plan- Water budget - Metering of outdoor water use - Soil moisture-based irrigation control- Annual reporting
Allows: - Three years to establish plants - Relief from 50% requirement during drought- Goal can be met using earthworks. Tanks not
necessary
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0
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Months
Monthly Low-Water-Use Plant Demand vs Adjusted Rainfall, Tucson, Arizona
Plant Water Demand(Arizona Departmentof Water Resources)
Adjusted Rainfall(calculated)
Design implicationsDetermine ratio of water harvesting
catchment area to plant canopy area that is
needed to meet plant water demand
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Design factorsWater supply = 50% rainwater plus 50% potable
April, May, June = 36% annual plant water demandMarch is the next limiting month for plant water demand
Plant canopy area drives needed water harvesting catchment areaDesign water harvesting area to meet March plant water demand
1.32 inches March water demand per sq ft of canopy = 3.10.43 inches adjusted March rainfall per sq ft of canopy
Therefore, harvest rain from 3 times the canopy area to meet March demand
Tree canopy area
Water harvesting catchment area
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0
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Ann
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Months
Monthly Low-Water-Use Plant Demand vs Harvested rainfall, Tucson, Arizona
Plant Water Demand(Arizona Departmentof Water Resources)
Harvested Rainfall(based on March dataneed 3:1 catchmentratio)
Design implicationsUse 50% potable water supply to meet April, May, June demand
and additional demand if needed.
50% harvested rainwater should meet or exceed the rest of
demand.
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CELEBRATE RAIN!
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CELEBRATE RAIN!