Site Design (21 Questions) – Above Green

A. Water

Importance of conserving water resources and restoring ecosystems
Percentile precipitation event and related calculations
EPA WaterSense Water Budget tool and how to use it
Strategies for retaining precipitation onsite versus treatment
Site water budget, including all water generated on site
Sources of stormwater pollutants found in landscapes and their impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health
Identifying aquatic ecosystems and restoration strategies
Expressing water systems as site amenities

B. Soil and Vegetation

Importance of conserving and restoring soil and vegetation
Reference soil and how to identify and use for soil restoration
Plants that are native, adapted or invasive
Difference between native plant and native plant community (including restoration and conservation issues)
Using vegetation to improve site conditions (e.g., heat islands, building energy load, fire risk)
Cultural/historical benefits of vegetation (e.g., special status vegetation)
Relationship of soil management plan to soil restoration during construction
Attributes of invasive species management plans
Impacts of landscape construction and maintenance practices on soil and vegetation health and productivity
Concept of optimizing biomass

C. Materials and Selection

Importance of material/resource use and management in creating a sustainable landscape
Material life cycle and associated benefits and strategies
Conservation and reuse strategies
Purchasing and declarations strategies (e.g., eliminate use of threatened and endangered species, purchase recycled, regional and sustainably produced materials)
Resource recovery strategies (e.g., design for disassembly, reuse and salvage materials)
Materials that protect air/water quality
Connection between site assessment, construction and maintenance plan

D. Human Health and Well-Being

Benefits of being in natural environments/open-space, having views
Protection and maintenance of cultural and historic places
Strategies to promote safety, accessibility and wayfinding
Strategies to promote mental restoration, social interaction, physical activity
Strategies to promote social equity
Onsite food production and its connection to other credits (e.g., public health, irrigation)
Strategies to reduce light pollution
Strategies to promote use of fuel efficient and multimodal transportation access
Strategies to minimize exposure to air pollution, (e.g., tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust)