Green Buildings BC

The first rule of pest control within a regenerative agricultural system is to learn to live with acceptable levels of pest populations and manage them.

--John Tillman Lyle, Regenerative Design For Sustainable Development, 1994

• Presents and explains the principles of landscape ecology.
• Provides numerous examples of how those principles can be applied in specific situations.

• Recognition of Context
• Treatment of Landscapes as Interdependent and Interconnected
• Integration of the Native Landscape with Development
• Promotion of Biodiversity
• Reuse of Already Disturbed Areas
• Making a Habit of Restoration

• Practical Advisories and Guides
• Newsletters

• Recommended reference books and periodicals
• Alternative pesticide products
• Links to Organizations

• Programs
• Journal of Pesticide Reform
• Information Services
• Membership
• Links to Other Related Sites

By layering functions such as recreation, habitat connectivity, and stormwater management, community open spaces can achieve a number of sustainability objectives.

--UBC James Taylor Chair in Landscape and Livable Design, 2000

• Design Stage
• Drainage
• Plant Selection
• Plant Health
• Mulch
• Lawn Maintenance
• Automatic Irrigation Systems
• Integrated Pest Management
• Record Keeping
• Training

• Economic
• Air Quality
• Temperature Regulation
• Water
• Sound Insulation
• Building Envelope Protection
• Preservation of Habitat & Biodiversity
• Social
• Local Food Production

• Flat Roofs
• Sloped Roofs
• Surfaces and Accessibility
• Weather-Defying Resilience
• Roofs in Bloom

• Cool Roofing Material Database
• Demonstration of Energy Savings of Cool Roofs
• Benefits of Cooler Pavements

• What Is an Urban Heat Island?
• What Are Problems with the "Heat Island Effect?"
• What Causes an Urban Heat Island?
• How Can We Reduce the Heat Island Effect?
• What Would Be the Benefits of These Mitigation Measures?
• What's an Example of a Heat Island?

• Presents the basic principles of microclimatology - how objects in the landscape affect climate to create microclimates.
• Describes how to use landscape design to modify microclimate including radiation, wind, temperature, humidity and precipitation.

• This bibliography is available on the EcoDesign Resource Society's website.
• The biography is an excellent resource for sustainable landscape architecture.
• The EcoDesign Resource Society website has many resources, including information about building products, links and news.

Throughout North America the principles of voluntary private land stewardship are creating a quiet revolution in urban and rural areas. This revolution is filled with the calls of songbirds, the peeping of frogs, and glorious arrays of wildflowers.

--Naturescape British Columbia, 1999

• This data centre not only provides provincial and forest district Tracking Lists of rare and endangered (red and blue listed) species and plant communities, they also will prepare free custom reports on the rarity, conservation status, and locations of rare and endangered animals, plants, plant communities and record trees.
• They need a map showing the location of the proposed site and they will get back to you concerning locations of rare or endangered species that may exist.

• The Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI) identifies remnants of rare and fragile terrestrial ecosystems and encourage land-use decisions that will ensure the continued integrity of these ecosystems.
• It is intended for use in a variety of land-use planning processes. A Conservation Manual provides guidance on the protection of sensitive ecosystems.
• Only the East Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands SEI has been completed, it can be consulted to figure out the location of sensitive ecosystems.

• This site has information about the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Forest Land Reserve.
• In its own words: "The ALR preserves BC's limited amount of farmland. Since 1973, the Commission has succeeded in reducing the loss of prime agricultural land from a high of 6,000 hectares per year in the early 1970's to less than 500 hectares per year today."
• "Province wide, there are currently 920,000 hectares of private managed forest lands and 15 million hectares of public land designated as Forest Land Reserve. The majority of private lands are located on Vancouver Island (70%) and in the Kootenays (25%)."

• Ecology / naturalization
• Naturalizing school grounds
• Naturalizing public spaces

• How to get started
• Case studies
• News
• Resources

• Presents and explains the principles of landscape ecology.
• Provides numerous examples of how those principles can be applied in specific situations.

• Many birds, besides their obvious delights, are excellent predators of garden pests and insects.
• Discusses ways to encourage birds in gardens, including feeders, nesting boxes, baths, etc.

If today is a typical day on planet Earth we will lose... 40-100 species, and no one knows whether the number is 40, or 100.

--David Orr, "What is Education For?" 1991

In Chicago, where Mayor Richard M. Daley has a reputation for finding simple ways to improve the city's livability, the roof of City Hall will soon be planted with grass, ivy, and two oak trees. Traditional black roofs absorb sunlight and radiate heat to surrounding air thereby accelerating the creation of ozone, a component of smog. But roof gardens like the one that will top City Hall can help reduce air pollution.

--Jon Morgan, The Baltimore Sun, 1999

• The site's forest area and the Stoney Creek fish habitat were enhanced.
• Site water is treated naturally.

• North American and World Case Studies (with descriptions, pictures, and illustrated roof details)
• Benefits (Ecological, Economic, Aesthetic, Psychological)
• History
• Greenroof Components
• Plant Lists
• International Market
• North American Market
• Greenroof Industry Support
• Potential Issues
• Market Applications

• Gables Central Park Apartments: Austin's First Green Building Apartment Community
• Casa Verde Builders: Energy- and Resource-Efficient, Affordable Homes
• METROPOLIS Apartments: Austin's First Green Building Apartment Renovation

...much of the diversity is being irreversibly lost through extinction caused by the destruction of natural habitats....

--E.O. Wilson

• Storm water run-off will be naturally treated, by plant material on-site, to remove contaminants.
• Natural woodlands and wildflower plantings used to minimize water, fertilizer, and pesticides.
• Created ten times as much new wetland as will be disturbed by construction.