What is a green sustainable site?

It is quite interesting how some people go about selecting the site for their home. Some say they want their property to face the morning sun because it offers good luck. Others say they like the shape of the lot because it tends to bring in money. Still others say they like a lot that is elevated from the street or gradually sloping toward the rear or the street.

There are so many other reasons people choose to buy a particular property. Some decisions are based on personal perceptions or emotional reasons These may be valid reasons but we should not overlook important and critical sustainable principles in site selection.

Reading the land

The first question to ask when selecting a site is, “is this land suitable for development?” With so much flooding, it makes much sense now to be more discerning of flood-prone areas. Expensive mistakes in site selection were made because of failure to “read the land.”

Instead of asking “what can I do with this site?” we should be asking “what is this land telling me?” Subdivision owners and developers can be more helpful to communities if they are more attentive to the “spirit of place” as it is termed, meaning that the landscape and design of the development can be inspired by the unique character, function and history of the place. A good analysis and expression of the spirit of the place would contribute to the following criteria:

• Does development require low resource inputs for execution and maintenance?

• Does it satisfy multiple human uses including economic growth, social interaction, cultural exchange and especially health benefits?

Site selection

The starting point for any project is site selection. If the site is within a developed subdivision, the selection process is limited to its area, its exposure to the morning or afternoon sun, the quality of the immediate neighborhood, water availability and access to public amenities like commercial establishments.

Whether the site is within a gated community or in an open field away from the city, there are very important criteria to consider for site selection.

One is accessibility to public transportation. This feature provides not only convenience and an alternative means for traveling but also savings on the part of the homeowners. It also helps reduce the buildup of greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing the use of private vehicles. Accessibility can also mean access to the existing electric power grid and access to public amenities.

If there is no access to the existing electric power grid, installing renewable energy such wind or solar power can be a cost-efficient way to energize the site in a highly sustainable manner.

Climate change is now a household word in our country.  It is generally accepted by many that it accounts for the many super typhoons that visit our country regularly each year.  Site selection includes avoiding flood-prone areas for obvious reasons. Even if you can build your home higher than the average floodwater level, it does not make sense to be stranded in the middle of the flood beyond the reach of everyone.

Another criterion is to avoid sites exposed to electromagnetic field or waves in the area. Sometimes referred to as EMF or EMW, this is brought about by the presence of high tension wires, communication satellites, etc. Some sectors claim that people living near these areas are most likely to develop leukemia, especially children.  It is best to either avoid these areas or build your home not less than 100 meters away from such areas.

When selecting a site, it is also important to consider the possible sources of pollution such as industrial and livestock sites. Even if these areas are not adjacent to your site, they can still affect the quality of the site’s environment. The wind direction can direct the pollution into your site.

Site development

After locating a site for your sustainable development, the next thing to consider is the best use of the site. This means developing the land with the least damage and in a most harmonious way.

Let’s start with minimal site disturbance. This is probably one of the most often violated rules in sustainable development. How many times have we seen land, with its rolling or sloping topography, completely bulldozed and flattened because of ignorance or indifference on the part of the project owner or developer?

Preserving or retaining most of the existing topography provides a challenge to the developer by retaining the unique character of the place and at the same time maintaining the existing natural features of the site.

New development must strive to incorporate impervious materials for the roadways and parking places. This means using paving blocks to minimize the effect of the urban heat island, a phenomenon that results from cities that have very little greenery and very many concrete surfaces. Figuratively, it forms an “island” of hotter land, while being surrounded by cooler land.

Extensive landscaping using indigenous plants is another way to enhance the development of sustainable sites. Locally adapted plants are preferable over exotic imported plants that use more water to irrigate. Xeriscaping, which means drought-resistant landscaping, is a very effective way to save on water while providing ground cover and large trees to minimize heat.

Site development includes the proper location and orientation of buildings to take full advantage of the prevailing winds and maximize daylight utilization. If several buildings will be put up, it is preferable to build them in clusters or in compact development so as to preserve a lot of open spaces.

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