House Design - More than a Green Landscape Plan

Chapter 5 Your Site Talks First
More than the Color Green Landscape Plan One of the great mysteries to me is why new house owner's when given the choice often opt for the suburban lawn and garden approach to their own land. I myself have witnessed in the mountains of western North Carolina 4 out of 5 home owners replacing the natural land conditions with suburban lawns. Developers I understand. I do not care for the developers motives but I understand needing to make a profit. I understand how leveling land allows for efficient construction of new housing. I understand the savings from leveling is 'maybe' greater than the cost of replacing all the top soil, and vegetation as well as the re- fertilizing and soil re-stabilization necessary (if you do not consider regional impacts). But stop and consider this: Property values increase 5-15% when compared to properties without trees…. If you can retain 3 mature trees you can reduce your yard's temperature by 6 to 30 degrees. (if trees are well placed use the higher number). Shaded walls may be 9 to 36°F cooler.. (if trees are well placed use the higher number). Cooler walls….decrease..air conditioning..costs..as well as heat from..air conditioners themselves….. by as much as 50 percent or more. Each year an average acre of mature trees absorb up to 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air, which is equal to the amount of Co2 produced by driving a car 26,000 miles. Trees reduce… street level particulates up to a 60%. Trees reduce noise pollution by 50%.... Trees can provide protection against skin cancer by reducing UV-B… Storm water runoff is reduced 36%, reducing erosion and the cost of storm piping and retention. And on the larger scale: Lost tree canopy would have removed about 9.3 million pounds of pollutants from the atmosphere ANNUALLY, at a value of $24 million per year. Tree cover in the county's urban…area reduced storm water storage..by $910 million, and generated annual air quality savings of $19.5 million according to a Puget Sound study. So to all you designers, before you set your hearts on a suburban lawn consider these facts. (I have paraphrased and shortened these to flow better but all information is from legitimate, respectable sources).



*Micro Ecology* A site had been lumbered 15 to 20 years ago and had grown back with typical secondary tree coverage and light undergrowth. There was a lot of loose rock around due to being used historically as a rock dump for old farm land. The owner liked the spot since the trees gave it a nice glade atmosphere, it wasn’t too damp or buggy and there was a small stream. He dug the basement, used the dirt to fill the slope in front. Rock was removed or buried with the dirt. The stream was avoided but never regained its water, since half of its supply was disrupted permanently by the construction area. The trees at the clearing edge became weak and sick due to buried roots and were cut down, doubling the area exposed to direct sunlight and removing the 'glade' atmosphere. A plague of black flies appeared soon after occupancy and could not be 'tamed'. Apparently the loose rock had harbored a healthy community of Salamanders which kept the flies in check. The original ground cover (now buried) also may have harbored other enemies of the flies. The owner sold the house and moved on baffled at what had occurred. Considering this story, which is not uncommon, combined with the contribution from the 'tree' facts above, this book has a request. If you are lucky enough to have a site for your home which contains natural assets, you are asked to consider site conservation as a major goal after solar energy. To this end the remainder of this Chapter will focus on how to avoid the sad story above and achieve both your goals. First off for the record, we make no claims to having expertise in ecology. The author only has concerns, observations and thoughts picked up over the years as a practicing professional with intimate interest in nature. We do believe however that the majority of 'ills' suffered by the homeowner above could have been avoided with proper SITE DESIGN. So combined with the 'facts' in the previous paragraphs we would like to ask you to consider the following statement: Namely, every parcel of land left untouched for 15 or more years has developed a micro ecology, a balance, if you will, of environmental conditions within the constraints and opportunities of it's regional macro climate. To me this means all of the flora and fauna from microscopic to larger wildlife has reached a point of 'best survival' and will continue to improve over time –that is the ecology will mature. Combining this micro contribution to the regional and national contributions of vegetation then places a significant responsibility and environmental role on your property. This role requires a serious and complex effort if you are to interject a new house without destroying your land's assets. Although the 'nature' you see occupying your land is a whole organic system, with each part effecting the others and none totally independent there is some order I have come to believe in. Consider the following: Slope & Terrain dictate -drainage Drainage (water) & climate effects -soil Soil combines with sun, shade and wind to determine -vegetation Vegetation (flora) effects -wildlife Wildlife (fauna) has return effect on vegetation. Now consider the injection of a new house: House construction disrupts slope & terrain which disrupts drainage which…..(follow the chain on to the end)--- vegetation/wildlife cycle. In addition the House opens the tree canopy to light altering vegetation timelines. Altered vegetation timelines effects back into the chain. So what are our choices and how can SITE DESIGN mitigate our homes impacts on the land? Read On. Topics in the eBook Site Preservation vs Site Manipulation. Site Features to Improve on or to Create. The Site Shapes Other House Features Zoning The Roof for Shade Superinsulated Walls For the remainder of this chapters topics as well accompanying graphics please purchase this book.