Environmental Design + Construction - March 2009 - (Page 38) STUDIO Section 1 Retaining wall Planting bed Granite vein Granite vein Sidewalk DG Path Bench Stairs DG DG University Ave Section 2 Demonstration garden Flexible use lawn Travel lane University Ave. 0 10’ Retaining wall Native grass Bench Bench Bench Native grass planting Native grass planting Native grass planting Native grass planting Flexible use lawn Plaza Travel lane Plaza THE TRUE VALUE OF “BALANCE” IN WATER USAGE AND CONSERVATION IS UNDERSCORED IN THE NEW MESA DEL SOL MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITY IN ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., DEVELOPED BY FOREST CITY COVINGTON NM, LLC. A WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FEATURES A WHOLE SYSTEMS APPROACH TO THE RESPONSIBLE AND INTELLIGENT USE AND RE-USE OF WATER RESOURCES. IMAGE COURTESY OF EDAW|AECOM. Residential Pervious Hardscape Turf Medium & Low Native Non-Residential Pervious Hardscape Turf Medium & Low Native Stormwater Treated Sewage Effluen t Baseline 0% 38% 9% 4% Baseline 0% 36% 9% 0% Baseline N/A N/A Good 0% 35% 11% 8% Good 0% 32% 16% 0% Good N/A Better 5% 20% 18% 13% Better 7% 21% 12% 17% Better Best 8% 9% 15% 25% Best 14% 10% 14% 25% Best Commercial Landscape Irrigation Park Landscape SPECIFIC DATA SUCH AS THE PERCENTAGES SEEN IN THIS CHART HELPS IDENTIFY THE BEST WAYS TO ACHIEVE WATER REDUCTIONS. IMAGE COURTESY OF EDAW|AECOM. around core themes of water, mobility, energy, building technology, sociocultural, ecology and carbon footprint, the SSIM program is designed to optimize aspects of economic, social and environmental health. By using the water module of the SSIM program, engineers are able to effectively incorporate sustainable strategies related to the domestic water system into a comprehensive project water model. The process typically includes detailed modeling of site stormwater volume generation, residential and non-residential interior and exterior water use, and wastewater generation. It also explores opportunities for stormwater collection, rainwater harvesting, greywater use, and interior/exterior water-use reduction. The water-conservation team has utilized a whole systems water balance model to evaluate the water-conservation and re-use strategies and to identify the combination of measures with the highest cost/benefit relationship. The team provides alternative water-reduction strategies, illustrates their effectiveness, and generates a cost/benefit analysis that identifies the percentage of water reduction per $1,000 invested for each good/better/best package. This information provides input into SSIM that allows synthesis into an optimized master energy/carbon/water reduction program. As a part of the integrated modeling process, the following steps will be taken by the water subteam: ■ Gather data related to the proposed domestic water system, stormdrainage system, wastewater-treatment system and projected demand/ capacity data from the project civil engineer. ■ Identify interior (fixture) and exterior (landscape) demand quantities and reduction measures for four levels of water use: baseline case, which reflects business as usual, and good, better and best, which are based on the targets identified in the initial sustainability workshop. ■ Evaluate and test the proposed measures, such as use of high-efficiency building fixtures, for effectiveness in achieving the targets based on specific strategies and goals. Adjustment to the measures will be made to best achieve the targets at the lowest possible cost. ■ Maximize infiltration and groundwater recharge. ■ Develop low-water landscape palettes consistent with market expectations. ■ Incorporate landscape irrigation and management technologies that reduce system inefficiencies. ■ Identify measures that would reduce waste-treatment demand. ■ Re-use treated sewage effluent for irrigating public and common areas. ■ Capture stormwater in ponds and identify potential re-use. ■ Calculate reductions in domestic water demand using the whole system water-planning submodel with results inputted into SSIM. ■ Include other measures identified during the progress of work. ■ Provide conceptual cost impacts of the various scenarios with the assistance of the project civil engineer. This comprehensive information-gathering and analysis process generates several viable options that can result in a dramatic reduction in domestic water requirements. The various cost/benefit analyses based on supply/ demand and other factors help show what options are most logical. In some cases, water savings cannot be justified based on the cost of water alone. However, quicker entitlement, better public acceptance of the project, and marketing advantages may be instrumental in selecting water-conservation strategies. Because of its flexibility and analytical depth, SSIM has proven its value in projects across the world, including China, Australia, Vietnam, and the United States. GREGORY A. HURST, PE, IS A PRINCIPAL WITH EDAW|AECOM. HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH SUSTAINABLE SITE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, GENERALLY FOCUSING ON WATER-RELATED ISSUES, INCLUDING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, WATER-EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES, RAINWATER HARVESTING FOR IRRIGATION, AND OVERALL WATER SUPPLY-AND-DEMAND STUDIES FOR PROJECTS SEEKING LEED CERTIFICATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.EDAW.COM. 38 ed+c M AR C H 09 http://WWW.EDAW.COM
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