Get the definitive resource guide for sustainable site design, construction, and management. The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) is transforming land design, development, and management practices across the United States with the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes. The Sustainable Sites Handbook features comprehensive and detailed information on principles, strategies, technologies, tools, and best practices for sustainable site design. Contributors to this book are some of the same experts that carefully shaped the SITES rating tool, ensuring thorough coverage of the broad range of topics related to sustainable site design. The Sustainable Sites Handbook offers in-depth coverage of design, construction, and management for systems of hydrology, vegetation, soils, materials, and human health and well-being. Focusing primarily on environmental site design and ecosystem services, this wide-ranging guide also covers issues of social equity, economic feasibility, and stewardship, which are crucial to the success of any sustainable site. Equally useful as a handbook for obtaining SITES credits or for the independent development of sustainable sites, The Sustainable Sites Handbook is an indispensible resource for practicing professionals in landscape architecture, landscape design, architecture, civil engineering, land planning, horticulture, ecology, environmental engineering, landscape contracting, and parks and recreation management.

Get the definitive resource guide for sustainable site design, construction, and management.The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) is transforming land design, development, and management practices across the United States with the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes. The Sustainable Sites Handbook features comprehensive and detailed information on principles, strategies, technologies, tools, and best practices for sustainable site design. Contributors to this book are some of the same experts that carefully shaped the SITES rating tool, ensuring thorough coverage of the broad range of topics related to sustainable site design.The Sustainable Sites Handbook offers in-depth coverage of design, construction, and management for systems of hydrology, vegetation, soils, materials, and human health and well-being. Focusing primarily on environmental site design and ecosystem services, this wide-ranging guide also covers issues of social equity, economic feasibility, and stewardship, which are crucial to the success of any sustainable site.Equally useful as a handbook for obtaining SITES credits or for the independent development of sustainable sites, The Sustainable Sites Handbook is an indispensible resource for practicing professionals in landscape architecture, landscape design, architecture, civil engineering, land planning, horticulture, ecology, environmental engineering, landscape contracting, and parks and recreation management.

Foreword ixMichael Van ValkenburghLetter from SITES Partners xiChapter 1 - Introduction 1Meg CalkinsSustainable Site Design Defined 2The Contents and Structure of This Book 27Chapter 2 - Predesign: Site Selection, Assessment, andPlanning 33Heather VenhausSite Selection 33Understanding the Site 41Team Development and Planning Strategies 54Developing Project Direction: Principles, Goals, and PerformanceTargets 58Chapter 3 - Site Design: Water 65Alfred Vick, John Calabria, Stuart Echols, Michael Ogden, andDavid YoccaSustainable Stormwater Management 72Stormwater Design Approaches 104Water Conservation 148Onsite Wastewater Treatment, Disposal, and Reuse 166Chapter 4 - Site Design: Vegetation 197Steve Windhager, Mark Simm ons, and Jacob BlueVegetation and Ecosystem Services 202Vegetation Protection Techniques 213Sustainable Planting Design and Management 216Chapter 5 - Site Design: Soils 247Nina Bassuk and Susan DayIntegrating Soil into the Design Process 249Soils in the Site Assessment 251Soil Characteristics and Associated Tests 265Managing Soils for a Sustainable Site 295Soil Replacement and Specialized Soils 310The Soil Management Plan 316Chapter 6 - Site Design: Materials and R esources323Meg CalkinsThe Lifecycle of Construction Materials and Products 327Environmental Impacts of Materials and Products 331Human Health Impacts of Materials 344Evaluating Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Materials348Inventory and Analysis for Materials 358Resource Efficiency 360Low-VOC Materials and Products 390Materials to Minimize Heat Island Impacts 390Concrete 396Aggregates and Stone 398Asphalt 401Brick Masonry 403Earthen Materials 404Plastics 407Metals 409Bio-Based Materials 413Wood 416Site Lighting 421Chapter 7 - Human Health and Well-Being for Sustainable Sites429Robert RyanAssessing the Site's Social Setting 432Sustainability Awareness and Education 436Social Equality in Site Development, Construction, and Use440Site Accessibility 445Site Wayfinding 449Site Safety 454Design for Physical Activity 458Restorative Settings 462Design for Social Interaction and Community Building 466Preserving Historic and Cultural Features 470Chapter 8 - Operations, Maintenance, Monitoring, andStewardship 479Amy Belaire and David YoccaEnvironmental and Human Health Impacts of Sustainable SiteOperations, Maintenance, and Monitoring 480Incorporating Operations, Maintenance, and MonitoringConsiderations into Site Design 482Monitoring to Inform Active and Adaptive Stewardship 519Resources 521Index 535