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SUSTAINABILITY: Principles,

Techniques, Design, and Regulations

Ann Audrey City of Tucson

Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development

January 2009

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

SITE CONTOURS• Gravity controls the flow of many elements• Determine design implications

Step 1. Describe site characteristics

HUMAN AND ENVIROMENTAL CONTEXT • Surrounding Land ownership• Watershed context• Biotic communities• Western hemisphere• Design implications


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


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 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

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.

Each element performs multiple functions

Step 3. Apply sustainability principles

Each important function is supported by multiple elements


Plan for efficiency by placing elements according to their need for human attention.


Use local biological and mineral resources rather than fossil fuel-based resources, when possible.


Use and accelerate natural plant succession to establish favorable sites and soils. Use a diversity of beneficial species for a productive, interactive system


Use edge and natural patterns for best effect


Collect and recycle energy, materials, and elements on site


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…..

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

Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques

3. Collect, slow and infiltrate the water

4. Raise paths; lower adjacent planting areas


5. Prepare for overflow

6. Apply mulch to reduce evaporation

Step 4. Apply sustainability techniques7. Plant appropriate vegetation

8. Put harvested water to beneficial use

9. Inspect, adapt and maintain your system

Step 4. Apply sustainability techniquesMicrobasins

Swales

Step 4. Apply sustainability techniquesInfiltration Basins

French drains


Curb cuts

Porous pavement


Gabions& Weirs


Tanks

• Faithfully record ideas from meetings• Prioritize concepts

Step 5. Incorporate brainstorm results

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!

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

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

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

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

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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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

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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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.

CELEBRATE RAIN!

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