Sustainable Design Systems
Affordability
Description:
From 2003 to 2007 there has been a 47 percent increase in the median home price in Seattle. While prices have risen, income has not kept pace, and as a result there has been an increase in households who spend more than 30% of their gross annual income on housing. Although affordability is a subjective term, the intent of this sustainable design system is to examine the affordability of the projects we study for a family of four making Seattle's median income of $77,900 annually.
System Measurements:
These will include: access to a moderately priced home within the city; developer incentives and programs.
Transportation
Description:
If you are not walking, on a bike, or riding public transportation, you are sitting in a car. We all know what the demand for oil has done to our health and economy, not too mention the high price of owning a car. Sustainable development projects should not only be measured by green materials and design systems but also by community-wide factors. The intent of this sustainable design system is to examine a project’s proximity to sustainable community amenities.
System Measurements:
These will include: access to a well-serviced public transportation system such as bus, light rail, or trolley; projects located within a quarter mile of a transit station or bus line; projects located near at least two different bus lines.
Walkability
Description:
If you are not walking, on a bike, or riding public transportation, you are sitting in a car. Walking is not only healthy for us but also the environment. Walking takes us out of polluting automobiles and onto our community sidewalks. The intent of this sustainable design system is to examine the choices developers make to encourage walkability in the neighborhoods they build in.
System Measurements:
These will include: access to services such as grocery stores, libraries, and restaurants; the availability of destinations such as recreation facilities, open spaces, and parks; safe conduits for walking, such as sidewalks, trails, and crosswalks.
Site design is a crucial step in the process to create a sustainable development project. As our population grows there is an increasing demand on our natural land resources through poor site selection and development practices. The intent of this sustainable design system is to evaluate project site selection, limits to sprawl, and site designs that incorporate urban wildlife habitat elements.
System Measurements:
These will include: adjacency to wetlands, sensitive ecological habitats, farmland, and flood plains; projects on greyfield or brownfield sites; creation of habitat through connectivity and biodiversity.
Energy
Description:
With climate change becoming the primary focus in our global health conversation, projects incorporating renewable energy sources will be more common. Because most of our energy is produced from unsustainable sources including gas, coal, oil and nuclear, new projects must incorporate renewable systems. The intent of this sustainable design system is to evaluate energy offsetting measures that lead to a pollution-free building operation.
System Measurements:
These will include: production of on-site renewable energy such as wind, solar, geotherman, algal power; purchased renewable energy from local energy providers; integration of government incentive programs.
Materials
Description:
Building materials are a primary contributor to many human respiratory and other health problems. The intent of this sustainable design system is to evaluate materials that do not increase toxicity, embodied energy, pollution or resource depletion.
System Measurements:
These will include: Innovative materials and processes that do not increase toxicity, embodied energy, pollution or resource depletion. This will include carbon offsetting strategies, material source-to-destination proximity, and long-lasting, low maintenance materials that are renewable, recyclable, reusable, and waste reducing.
Products with high levels of pre and post consumer recycled products, low VOC, rapidly renewable and local.
Water
Description:
Clean water is the source of life and is scarce throughout the world. The intent of this sustainable design system is to evaluate new technologies, systems, and designs that focus on water quality and conservation.
System Measurements:
These will include: stormwater harvesting methods, re-use of greywater for toilet flushing, utility sinks, and landscape irrigation; incorporation of water conservation fixtures such as dual flush toilets, motion sensor faucets, and low flow shower heads.
The average American spends 90% of their time indoors. The EPA says that indoor air is 4 times more polluted than outdoor air. Much of this can be attributed to harmful building materials but there are also health problems that arise from a poor air source and inadequate ventilation. The intent of this sustainable design system is to evaluate indoor air systems to determine their effect on adequate ventilation and environmental experience.
System Measurements:
These will include: operable windows, natural ventilation and daylighting, use of natural house cleaning products, clean air source.
Beauty & Inspiration
Description:
Good design is highly subjective. However, when it comes to the human experience, there is a strong difference between good and bad design. For our purposes, good interior and exterior design is such that will inspire, enrich and teach those who experience it, The intent of this sustainable design system is to evaluate the attempts made by designers and developers to create opportunities for joy and education.
System Measurements:
These will include: functional space layout, eco-revelatory features, cultural connectivity, place making, art and human interaction, attempts made to educate communities, companies, and individuals on sustainable practices and ideas.