Difference between revisions of "Green Alley - Sustainable Design Features"
From Green Garage Detroit
(→Native Plants) |
(→Native Plants) |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
This page is under construction. Planned completion is April 17, 2008. | This page is under construction. Planned completion is April 17, 2008. | ||
| − | == Native Plants == | + | == Native Plants Gardens == |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
'''What it Is''' | '''What it Is''' | ||
| − | : | + | : Restore diverse habitats with Michigan native plants that are at home in our local climate and soils and require very little or no maintenance. |
'''Why it is Important''' | '''Why it is Important''' | ||
| − | : | + | : Native plants are not only beautiful to look at year-round, they also provide the habitat that creatures above the ground (e.g. bird, bees, and butterflies) and below the ground (e.g. worm, and microbes) that have evolved in our area over millions of years need to thrive. We depend on these creatures for our food and clean water. So when they are happy, we're happy. Also, the plant typically have deep roots that help clean the rainwater before it enters the ground water table. Native plants require very little water, no fertilizers and they'll return year after year. |
| − | + | ||
'''What We are Doing about It''' | '''What We are Doing about It''' | ||
| − | : We | + | : We will be using over 25 varieties of native plants to create a beautiful gardens along the walkway. We've selected plants that can naturally grow in the alley environment (i.e. sun, soil and water)...it's called "the right plant in the right place." They will bloom at different times of the year so there will be year round interest. Some have special roles for attracting butterfies or feed the birds before the long winter. |
'''Resources''' | '''Resources''' | ||
* [http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=poIdcdytevB8nsFkm7xF8Qw&hl=en Master Native Plant List] for the Green Garage | * [http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=poIdcdytevB8nsFkm7xF8Qw&hl=en Master Native Plant List] for the Green Garage | ||
Revision as of 23:28, 14 April 2009
return to Green Alley Project
This page is under construction. Planned completion is April 17, 2008.
Contents
Native Plants Gardens
What it Is
- Restore diverse habitats with Michigan native plants that are at home in our local climate and soils and require very little or no maintenance.
Why it is Important
- Native plants are not only beautiful to look at year-round, they also provide the habitat that creatures above the ground (e.g. bird, bees, and butterflies) and below the ground (e.g. worm, and microbes) that have evolved in our area over millions of years need to thrive. We depend on these creatures for our food and clean water. So when they are happy, we're happy. Also, the plant typically have deep roots that help clean the rainwater before it enters the ground water table. Native plants require very little water, no fertilizers and they'll return year after year.
What We are Doing about It
- We will be using over 25 varieties of native plants to create a beautiful gardens along the walkway. We've selected plants that can naturally grow in the alley environment (i.e. sun, soil and water)...it's called "the right plant in the right place." They will bloom at different times of the year so there will be year round interest. Some have special roles for attracting butterfies or feed the birds before the long winter.
Resources
- Master Native Plant List for the Green Garage
Permeable Pavement
What it Is
- Paving surfaces that let some or all of the rainwater pass into the ground to be cleaned and stored for future generations.
Why is it Important
- It keeps our rivers and lakes healthier by reducing the pollutants and storm surge that goes into them through our storm water drains. When we have heavy rains the water runs off our pavements so fast that our storm and sewage systems can't keep up. So they open the flow from these systems right to our rivers and lakes. This dumps sewage and road oils directly into our lakes and rivers, which were not designed by nature to process this waste. We've bypassed the earth's natural cleaning system, the underground ecosystem that cleans our water naturally.
What We're Doing About It
- We're using permeable pavers on about 33% of the surface. This allows service vehicles to occasionally travel the alley. We are also leaving another 33% of the surface unpaved with plants. Together they allow 100% of the water to return to the ground to be cleaned and stored the way nature intended.
- We're currently looking at Turfslab and Rain... as possible products. They work slightly differently. Turfslab is a concrete matrix that allows the water to pass through the web openings. RainXX works by creating a plastic container that is filled with stones/rocks and placed just below the surface. This gives the ground the added strength it needs to support heavy vehicles.
Resources
- Permeable pavement - wikipedia definition
- Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) - a great resource for the technical aspects of permeable pavements
- Turf Slab
- RainXX
High-Efficiency Full-Spectrum Lighting
What it Is
- Street lighting using induction technology that requires 50% less energy and produces 50% less carbon emissions while providing natural light to create a safe, secure environment for pedestrians and bicyclists. By the way, they also last 100 times longer than your normal incandescent bulb, 10 times longer than a compact florescent and even 2 times longer than LED bulbs.
Why is it Important
- Street lighting in the US is XXXX kWat and carbon.
What We're Doing About It
Resources
Renewable Energy Street Lighting (off-the-grid)
What it Is
- Use renewable solar and wind to power street lights.
Why is it Important
- Demonstrate the possibility of
What We're Doing About It
Resources
- Full Spectrum Lighting Solutions - Jackson MI
- Burns Park Ann Arbor
Reuse Historic Materials
What it Is
Why is it Important
What We're Doing About It
- Reused historic bricks
Resources
- Historic brick company
Eliminate Heat Island and Light Pollution
- Heat island effect and light pollution are damagung side-effects of our urban environments that advesely effects birds, insects...that help procuce our.
What it Is
Why is it Important
What We're Doing About It
- Reused historic bricks
Resources
- Historic brick company
Green Alley Resources
- Cities cleaning, 'greening' urban alleys From USA Today
Template
What it Is
Why it is Important
What We are Doing about It
Resources
