Difference between revisions of "Green Alley - Sustainable Design Features"

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(Permeable Pavement)
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== Native Plants ==
 
== Native Plants ==
 
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'''What it Is'''
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'''Why it is Important'''
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'''What We are Doing about It'''
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'''Resources'''
 
[http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=poIdcdytevB8nsFkm7xF8Qw&hl=en Master plant list] Google Docs
 
[http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=poIdcdytevB8nsFkm7xF8Qw&hl=en Master plant list] Google Docs
  
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* Historic brick company
 
* Historic brick company
  
== Lighting ==
 
  
  
== Paving surfaces ==
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== Green Alley Resources ==
 
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== Natural elements ==
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===water===
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===sun===
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===wind===
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== Resources ==
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* [http://www.communitygreens.org/ Baltimore's Community Greens]
 
* [http://www.communitygreens.org/ Baltimore's Community Greens]
  
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* [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-08-urban-alleys_N.htm Cities cleaning, 'greening' urban alleys] From USA Today
 
* [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-08-urban-alleys_N.htm Cities cleaning, 'greening' urban alleys] From USA Today
 
[[Category:site index]]
 
[[Category:site index]]
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== Template ==
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'''What it Is'''
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'''Why it is Important'''
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'''What We are Doing about It'''
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'''Resources'''

Revision as of 23:05, 14 April 2009

return to Green Alley Project

This page is under construction. Planned completion is April 17, 2008.

Native Plants

What it Is

Why it is Important

What We are Doing about It

Resources Master plant list Google Docs


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

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

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


Template

What it Is

Why it is Important

What We are Doing about It

Resources