Sustainable Site Initiative—Protecting and Restoring Site Ecosystem Services

The ecosystem services provided by the natural systems have generally not been considered as part of sustainable design and construction rating systems. Through the Sustainable Sites Initiative^TM, an interdisciplinary group of hydrology, soils, vegetation, materials and human health and well-being experts worked for more than three years to develop guidelines and performance benchmarks focusing on the protection, restoration and regeneration of site ecosystem services. As part of a series of hydrology credits, the group looked not only at on site storm water management and water quality concerns, but also site water reuse, stream restoration and waterway, wetland, floodplain and riparian buffer protection. The resulting recommendations are contained in the Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009 (SITES 2009). The publication contains over 15 prerequisites and 51 credits that cover all stages of the site development process from site selection to maintenance and monitoring. Preservation and enhancement of riparian, wetland, and shoreline buffers to improve flood control and water-quality, stabilize soils, control erosion, and provide wildlife corridors and habitat are among the actions which can be taken to earn points within the rating system. Integrating visually and physically accessible rainwater/stormwater features into the site in an aesthetically pleasing way is encouraged. Limiting or eliminating the use of potable water, natural surface water (such as lakes, rivers, and streams), and groundwater withdrawals for landscape irrigation along with encouraging alternative irrigation methods and water conservation strategies is highlighted. The publication also includes a section on rehabilitating ecosystem functions and values of any streams, wetlands, or shorelines that have been artificially modified, using stable geomorphologic and vegetative methods. This paper will focus on the credits relating to water, not including the credits relating directly to water quality and quantity. The U.S. Green Building Council, a stakeholder in the Initiative, anticipates incorporating the Sustainable Sites guidelines and performance benchmarks into future iterations of its LEED® Green Building Rating System^TM.