Green Parking Lot Resource Guide
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 1: IMPACTS OF PARKING LOTS 2
Environmental Impacts of Parking Lots 2
Costs of Parking Lots 5
CHAPTER 2: "GREEN" PARKING LOT TECHNIQUES 7
Planning Aspects 7
On-Site Stormwater Management 8
Parking Surface Material Selection 9
Landscaping and Irrigation 9
CHAPTER 3: PLANNING ASPECTS 10
Municipal Parking Requirements 10
Parking Lot Placement and Aesthetics 12
Linking Parking to Smart Growth 13
CHAPTER 4: STORMWATER MANAGEMENT 14
Green Parking Lot Stormwater Management Techniques 14
BMP Pollutant Removal and Effectiveness 17
BMP Cost Considerations 18
Case Study 1: Stormwater Best Management (BMP)
—Bloedel Donovan Park, Bellingham, Washington 20
CHAPTER 5: ALTERNATIVE PARKING SURFACE MATERIALS 22
Porous Pavement 22
Alternative Pavers 23
Design and Installation Considerations 24
Maintenance of Permeable Pavement 25
Infiltration & Pollutant Removal Effectiveness of Permeable Pavements 27
Cost Considerations 29
Case Study 2: Parking Surface Alternatives—Heifer International, Little Rock, Arkansas 31
Case Study 3: Parking Surface Alternatives—University of Rhode Island, Kingston,
Rhode Island 33
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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CHAPTER 6: LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION 35
Overview of Natural Landscaping and Irrigation 35
Environmental Benefits of Using Natural Landscaping and Associated Irrigation 38
Cost Effectiveness of Using Natural Landscaping 40
Case Study 4: Landscaping and Irrigation—Heifer International, Little Rock, Arkansas.. 42
CHAPTER 7: REDUCED INFRASTRUCTURE BURDEN 44
Regional Stormwater and Wastewater Impacts 45
Cost Effectiveness 45
Case Study 5: Reduced Infrastructure Burden
—Green Streets Program, Portland, Oregon 47
KEY RESOURCES 49
oEPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Solid Waste and Emergenc Response (5101T)
EPA-510-B-08-001
February 2008
http://epa.gov/oswer/iwg/
Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with vegetable oil based inks on 100% postconsumer,
process chlorine free recycled paper.
Table of Contents
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INTRODUCTION
G
reen" parking lot is a term increas-
ingly used to describe parking lots
that may incorporate a variety of
environmentally preferable features, includ-
ing a minimized footprint and/or impervi-
ous surfaces, stormwater best management
practices (BMPs), and alternative parking
surface materials. To date, however, informa-
tion on green parking lots has been scattered
across planning, construction, stormwater,
engineering, and landscaping resources. The
goal of this resource guide is to present the
fundamental planning and design concepts
of a green parking lot and connect readers to
existing resources on the environmental ben-
efits and cost effectiveness of green parking
approaches. This document is expected to be
particularly useful for local government of-
ficials involved in planning and development
activities, as well as construction industry
professionals (developers, project managers,
facility managers and other decision makers)
interested in green parking lot technologies.
The guide is organized into seven chapters:
• Chapter 1 describes the environmental
and cost impacts associated with conven-
tional parking lots.
• Chapter 2 provides an overview of the
benefits of green parking lot development
techniques, briefly describing major plan-
ning, design, and material considerations.
• Chapters 3 through 6 provide detailed
information on specific elements of sus-
tainable parking lot approaches including
planning and design approaches (Chapter
3), sustainable stormwater management
techniques (Chapter 4), alternatives to
asphalt parking surfaces (Chapter 5), and
water efficient landscaping and irrigation
(Chapters).
• Chapter 7 discusses how green parking
lots can help municipalities reduce future
stormwater infrastructure and utility
maintenance costs.
Case studies are included throughout the
guide to provide real world examples of
green parking lot techniques.
Key resources consulted in developing this
guide are listed in the back of the document.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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CHAPTER 1
IMPACTS OF PARKING LOTS
Parking lots are a ubiquitous feature
of the American landscape. Perhaps
because they are so commonplace,
the significant environmental and cost im-
pacts associated with parking lots are often
overlooked. In this chapter, we provide an
overview of these impacts.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF
PARKING LOTS
The prevailing low-density American devel-
opment pattern (i.e., urban sprawl) necessi-
tates reliance on automobiles, along with the
construction of parking lots to accommodate,
and many times overaccomodate, demand
for parking. As parking lots have become a
dominant feature of urban and suburban
landscapes, their environmental impacts
have also become increasingly apparent.
Most parking lots are made of pavement—a
combination of asphalt concrete, the most
widely used paving material in the United
States, and aggregates such as sand, gravel,
or crushed stone. Pavement is an impervi-
ous, heat absorbing material that collects
stormwater on its surface and does not allow
it to filter into the soil, inhibiting the natural
water cycle. With this in mind, parking lots
have traditionally been built with the primary
goal of channeling stormwater into receiving
water bodies as quickly as possible, via means
such as gutters, drains, and pipes. As a result,
runoff that is contaminated with many types
of petroleum residues, fertilizers, pesticides,
and other pollutants from parking surfaces
enters receiving waters at an unnaturally
high rate and volume, negatively impacting
the surrounding ecosystem. Hence, parking
lots degrade water quality, strain stormwa-
ter management systems, consume large
amounts of land and resources, and enable
urban sprawl. Furthermore, materials used
to construct parking lots have a variety
of impacts on air, water, and biodiversity
throughout their life cycle. Some of the major
environmental impacts of traditional parking
lots are described below.
Water Quality Impacts
Parking lot runoff is a major contributor to
non-point source pollution of our waterways.
Conventional parking lots quickly move
stormwater into receiving water bodies. As
it flows across pavement, the water picks up
pollutants from the surface. This results in
large volumes of polluted runoff entering
surface water and groundwater resources,
negatively affecting water quality.
Contaminants in parking lot runoff can
originate from a variety of sources, includ-
ing the paving materials used to build them.
Recently, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
pinpointed parking lot sealants as a signifi-
cant source of non-point source pollution,
specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), a known carcinogen that can be toxic
to fish and wildlife.1 Automobiles are also a
major source of pollutants in parking lot run-
off, including antifreeze, oil, hydrocarbons,
metals from wearing brake linings, rubber
particles from tires, nitrous oxide from car
exhausts, and grease.
CHAPTER 1—Impacts of Parking Lots
2
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Water Supply Impacts
Conventional parking lots consist of large ar-
eas of impervious surfaces that do not permit
the infiltration of water into the soil. Unlike
natural conditions where rainwater filters
into the ground, impervious surfaces halt
this process, inhibiting a watershed's natural
hydrological cycle and preventing ground-
water recharge. As a result, water tables are
lowered, reducing streamflow during dry
periods, depleting water supplies, and exac-
erbating the negative impacts of droughts.
Stormwater Management
Impacts
According to the USGS, an impervious,
man-made surface will generate two to six
times more runoff than a natural surface. In
addition to the direct impact of paving, con-
ventional parking lots also typically include
pipes, curbing, gutters, and drains to help
speed water off of parking surfaces. These
systems cause runoff to move even faster
downstream, increasing the risk of stream
flooding. Sewer systems often become over-
whelmed by the rapid runoff of stormwater,
causing them to overflow and, in the case of
combined sewer and stormwater systems,
discharge raw sewage into receiving water-
ways. In addition to the human health risks
related to combined sewer overflows, these
discharges can cause algal blooms to form,
depleting aquatic oxygen levels and altering
a waterbody's habitat.
Air Emission Impacts
Pollutant air emissions occur throughout
the lifecycle of a parking lot. Asphalt cement
plants emit particulate matter, nitrogen ox-
ides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), carbon monox-
ide (CO), volatile organic compound (VOCs),
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and
carbon dioxide (C02) during the manufactur-
ing process. The activities associated with
the construction and maintenance of park-
ing lots also generate emissions, typically in
the form of dust, fumes, and equipment and
vehicle exhaust. For example, the use of hot
mix asphalt, a common process where the
asphalt is heated to extremely high tempera-
tures prior to application, can cause health
problems for workers including headache,
skin rash, fatigue, throat and eye irritation,
breathing problems, and coughing. Diesel
emissions from on-site equipment can also
cause similar health effects.2 In addition, the
typical after effects of parking lot construc-
tion, such as fewer trees and less vegetation
due to clearing, as well as heat island effect
(see below), also lead to higher amounts of
C02in the air.
Heat Island Effect
Heat island effect (HIE) occurs in urban areas
where materials that have heat-absorbing
properties, such as asphalt, are prevalent.
In urban areas, the combined effect of such
surfaces can cause a change in the energy
(temperature) balance, leading to hotter air
and surface temperatures. Recent research
indicates that urban areas are 2 to 8°F hotter
in summer due to this increased absorbed
heat.3
Parking lots contribute significantly to HIE.
Asphalt, one of the most common paving
materials used in parking lots, is a dark, heat
absorbing material.4 When asphalt cools at
night, all the heat it has absorbed during
the day is released into the air, slowing the
rate of nighttime cooling. This hot surface,
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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combined with stormwater runoff from the
parking lot also affects surrounding water-
bodies. When water is forced to flow quickly
off the lot's surface, not enough time is al-
lowed for evaporation to occur, again limiting
natural cooling of the air. In addition, the land
clearing needed to create space for parking
lots diminishes tree cover and other natural
vegetation that can help shade land and
moderate temperatures.
The environmental impacts of the HIE are
varied. Hotter temperatures can lead to
more C02 emissions due to increased energy
demand to cool neighboring buildings.5 HIE
can also increase smog, and subsequently
exacerbate pulmonary and cardiovascular
health problems. During rain events, paved
surfaces can transfer heat to runoff, increas-
ing the temperature of receiving waters. This
warmer water can be detrimental to the natu-
ral habitats offish and other aquatic life.
Waste Impacts
The traditional production and application
of asphalt relies heavily on the use of virgin
stone and aggregate and non-renewable,
petroleum-based materials. Use of fresh
asphalt in parking lot construction creates a
lost opportunity for reusing waste products,
such as recycled asphalt, which would reduce
the amount of material sent to landfills
and increase the amount of virgin materi-
als conserved. The use of recycled asphalt is
common in the construction of roads, but
has yet to become prevalent in parking lot
construction.
Disturbance of Habitat and Local
Ecology
Traditional parking lots can have a host of
negative impacts on adjacent habitat and
fauna. The velocity and volume of runoff from
parking lots can damage plant, fish and inver-
tebrate habitat. During storm events, runoff
can erode stream banks and alter the natural
shape of a waterway. Stream edge habitat
and stream channel protection removed
during the construction of the parking lot
increases the potential for erosion. Sediments
entering the waterway as a result of erosion
can smother habitat and stress aquatic organ-
isms. The turbidity created from the sedi-
mentation can disrupt an aquatic ecosystem
by diminishing light transmission, reducing
plant growth, altering food supplies, interfer-
ing with navigation, decreasing spawning
habitat, and reducing shelter.
The contaminants in parking lot runoff also
pose a risk to wildlife. Toxic substances from
contaminated ground and surface water sup-
plies have the potential to bioaccumulate in
the tissue offish and other organisms in the
wildlife food chain. They can also accumulate
in sediments, posing risks to bottom feeding
organisms and their predators.
The impact of parking lots on water supplies
affects local ecology. Unnaturally low stream
flows as a result of decreased infiltration
can negatively impact deep water and swift
flowing habitats. Impaired water quality, and
increased volume and velocity of runoff, can
lead to habitat loss, stress aquatic species,
and have an overall negative effect on bio-
logical diversity in abutting areas.
Decrease In Greenspace
Greenspace is a finite resource with a wide
range of intrinsic values, including conserva-
tion, recreation, and agricultural purposes, as
well as its scenic qualities and contribution to
the overall character of a city or town. Proper
CHAPTER 1—Impacts of Parking Lots
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management of greenspace is essential to
achieving and maintaining sustainable com-
munities. Nevertheless, greenspace areas are
commonly paved to accommodate demand
for parking. For example, it is estimated that
30 to 40 percent of a typical American down-
town is used for parking spaces.6
Ineffective local government zoning restric-
tions also result in the creation of larger areas
of paved surface than necessary to meet the
parking demand. Many municipalities require
a minimum number of parking spaces per
development project, often forcing devel-
opers to build more spaces than needed
to meet actual demand. For instance, com-
mercial parking lots frequently have 60 to
70 percent vacancy rates.7 Parking stall sizes
required by zoning can also be larger than
necessary, eliminating opportunities to alter
parking lot configuration designs to achieve
higher car capacity and minimize impervious
surface area.
Conventional parking lots are often viewed as
unattractive, hostile, and sometimes unsafe
areas. In contrast, green parking lots with
urban greenscaping provide aesthetic ben-
efits, including privacy and noise reduction,
to landowners and to communities. These
benefits are lost when conventional parking
lot construction and paving techniques are
used.
Urban Sprawl
Urban sprawl and prevailing low-density
development patterns characterized by free,
plentiful parking reinforce dependence on
automobiles for commuting to work, shop-
ping, and social activities. Thus, conven-
tionally designed parking is an enabler of
urban sprawl. Conventional parking creates
ing walking and bicycling, and encourages
automobile travel, disconnecting communi-
ties and decreasing the habitability of cities
and towns. The resulting increase in vehicle
miles traveled and the associated high levels
of mobile source air emissions exacerbate
air quality issues, and contribute to global
climate change.
COSTS OF PARKING LOTS
Beyond their environmental impacts, parking
lots have economic and social costs related
to their construction—costs that are often
much higher than consumers realize. More-
over, parking costs are shouldered by many
stakeholders, including developers, local
governments, parking users, and community
members. Below we describe the types of
costs related to parking lot construction, as
well as who pays.
On-site Costs
On-site costs include the construction, opera-
tion, maintenance, and disposal of materials
needed to develop and maintain parking lots,
including paving materials and infrastructure
such as gutters and curb cuts. In addition,
on-site costs include the cost of parking lot
landscaping that, depending on the shrubs,
trees, and turf chosen, vary in their need for
mowing, pruning, and irrigation. These costs
are typically paid by developers, although
local governments sometimes subsidize
infrastructure costs. HIE can add to parking
lot user costs, by decreasing an automobile's
value by quickening the deterioration of the
vehicle's paint, plastics, and tires while on
the lot. HIE can also shorten the life of the
pavement, causing it to become brittle and
weak (a cost to parking lot owners); and can
increase the energy costs of adjacent build-
barriers to alternative transportation, includ-
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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ings due to the hotter air temperatures (a
cost to the building owner and potentially to
third parties).
Infrastructure Costs
Local governments bear the brunt of infra-
structure costs related to parking.The high
volume and velocity of polluted run-off from
parking lots can stress stormwater man-
agement systems and hasten the need for
repairs, upgrades, and expansions to handle
water flow and treat runoff. Flooding caused
by runoff can also degrade bridges, roads,
and other parts of a city's infrastructure.
Additionally, groundwater shortages due to
disruption of the water cycle can increase
the frequency, and thus cost, of pumping
groundwater.
Opportunity Costs
Parking lots consume large areas of open
space that could otherwise be used for
alternative, higher value purposes, such as
parks, wildlife habitat, recreation, agriculture,
housing or other businesses. Building park-
ing instead of other types of development
could reduce the property tax base, a cost
to local governments and local taxpayers.
Enforced minimum parking requirements
do not benefit developers either. They limit
the development potential of land; the more
parking spaces that are required, the less land
available for more profitable uses. This can be
costly because parking is relatively expensive
to construct and yields little return, or no
return where parking is free.
Distributional Issues
Parking lots provide a value to consumers
who use them, but result in negative im-
pacts for neighbors and other community
members who do not use them. Community
members would be better served by almost
any other land use, particularly in cases of
excessive sizing of paved areas, which can
reduce adjacent property values.
Community Development Costs
Parking lots and associated sprawl decrease a
community's habitability, livability, and sense
of identity, a cost to all community members.
Unattractive expanses of pavement placed
in front of buildings create voids and discon-
nectedness, discouraging pedestrian-friendly
communities and alternative methods of
transport. The presence of multiple conven-
tional parking lots can also signal develop-
ers that a community accepts urban sprawl
development. This signal can create a cyclical
effect on a community's future development
patterns. Subsequent developments in these
areas are far more likely to have a similar pat-
tern of urban sprawl, further disconnecting
the link with any older non-sprawl develop-
ment, and eroding or precluding unique
characteristics that establish a community's
sense of place.
CHAPTER 1—Impacts of Parking Lots
6
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CHAPTER 2
'"GREEN" PARKING LOT TECHNIQUES
1
v
Innovative approaches to planning and
design can greatly mitigate many of the
negative impacts of parking lots, includ-
ing diminished recharge of groundwater,
high rates of stormwater runoff, and non-
point source pollution, by decreasing imper-
vious surface area, protecting water quality,
reducing stormwater management and
maintenance costs, and increasing aesthetic
value. Below, we introduce green parking lot
techniques, many of which are described in
detail in subsequent chapters.
PLANNING ASPECTS
Local planners regularly reinforce car depen-
dence through zoning bylaws that, although
meant to meet a community's parking needs,
can result in an oversupply of parking. As a
result, cities and towns are increasingly trying
new approaches to parking management
that allow for greater flexibility and adapt-
ability by determining parking space num-
bers on a project-specific basis, rather than
through a one-size-fits-all regulation.
One such technique is to reduce minimum
parking requirements based on project
location or demographics. For example, local
governments can encourage projects that are
located near public transportation to reduce
the demand for parking spaces. Adaptations
of this technique include municipalities
allowing a reduction in the minimum park-
ing requirements in return for a developer/
employer agreeing to implement a transpor-
tation demand management program to en-
courage employees to use alternative modes
of transport, through company support or
subsidies. Another alternative is for mu-
nicipalities to institute an optional fee that
developers can pay towards an appropriate
municipal fund, such as a traffic mitigation
fund, in lieu of meeting minimum parking
requirements.8
Depending on the site, developers may not
opt for constructing less parking because it
may make a site less marketable. A technique
applicable in this case would be to set park-
ing maximums and/or area wide parking
restrictions, which would limit the number
of spaces allowed across a larger area, eve-
ning the playing field for the marketability of
sites in the area.
Beyond reducing the number of parking
spaces required, municipalities and develop-
ers can also encourage practices that reduce
stall dimensions by creating more compact
car spaces and realistic stall size require-
ments. Some local zoning laws currently
require unnecessarily large stall dimensions
that are bigger than even the largest SUV.9
In many cases smaller, more realistic, stall
sizes would be sufficient while reducing the
amount of disturbed land and impervious
surface associated with a project.
Improving the aesthetic of the parking lot is
also a central technique in green parking lots.
For instance, placing a parking lot behind a
building rather than in front of it creates a
more inviting and pedestrian-friendly envi-
ronment. Reducing the number of curb cuts
also decreases the frequency of pedestrian/
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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traffic interaction, thus making for a more
pedestrian-accessible area. These practices
aim to improve the character of the develop-
ment while maintaining accessibility to the
lot. Additionally, parking lots can be divided
into two or more parking areas, again project-
ing a more visually welcoming appearance.
The impact of locating a parking lot at the
front of a building can be mitigated by
providing ample space between the lot and
the road, and then creating a buffer with
landscaping, fencing, or a wall. Landscaping
inside the parking lot is also an important
technique. Beyond making the parking lot
more visually pleasing, vegetation and land-
scaping (including trees) around and inside
the parking lot reduce HIE and help to absorb
C02 emissions. Landscaping is discussed
below.
Chapter 3 provides detailed information on
green parking planning.
ON-SITE STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT
Innovative stormwater management strate-
gies are increasingly being incorporated into
parking lot design as part of the overarching
concept of Low Impact Development (LID).
LID stormwater techniques (also known as
Best Management Practices, or BMPs) man-
age stormwater on-site, reducing negative
impacts on receiving waters and municipal
stormwater management systems, and
decreasing the need for costly infrastruc-
ture such as pipes, gutters, and curbs. Done
on a small-scale, these controls attempt to
mimic the pre-development ecological and
hydrological processes of an area and can
reduce stormwater and site development
design, construction, and maintenance costs
Strategically sloped vegetated strips are a better option
than conventional grassy parking islands for collecting and
filtering runoff.
by 25-30 percent compared to conventional
approaches.10
Stormwater BMPs include structural controls
and bioengineering techniques designed to
facilitate natural water cycling processes (i.e.
evaporation, transpiration, and groundwater
recharge) by capturing, filtering, infiltrating,
and/or storing stormwater. Components
of these soil- and plant-based systems can
carry out one or more of the aforementioned
functions, including some that store water for
various durations (from 24 hours to perma-
nent storage). Examples of BMPs include
swales, vegetated buffer strips, and bioreten-
tion areas.
Unlike traditional stormwater management
systems designed only for efficiency in storm-
water removal, which can lead to negative
downstream effects, BMPs represent a shift
towards a sustainable approach to storm-
water management.Thus, in the context of
parking lots, BMPs add value by minimizing
environmental impacts of runoff, and often
lower site development costs while improv-
ing aesthetics.
Chapter 4 provides detailed information on
greener stormwater management and BMPs.
CHAPTER 2—"Green" Parking Lot Techniques
8
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PARKING SURFACE MATERIAL
SELECTION
The negative impacts associated with large
impervious surface areas in parking lots can
be reduced through the use of new perme-
able materials as substitutes for pavement.
A number of paving substitutions have been
developed to reduce the range of environ-
mental impacts associated with the use of
pavement. Types of permeable and semi-
permeable alternative pavers include gravel,
cobble, concrete, wood mulch, brick, open
jointed pavers filled with turf or aggregate,
turf blocks, natural stone, and pervious
concrete.
Based on a site's characteristics (i.e. traffic
volume, soil type, climate etc.), alternative
pavers may not be an option for the entire
surface of primary parking areas.11 However,
in many cases, the aisles and driveways can
be constructed using conventional pave-
ment, while alternative pavers can be used in
parking stalls, crosswalks, and overflow lots.
Alternative pavers slow the flow of runoff,
allowing it to filter into the soil, sustaining an
area's natural hydrological cycle, and in some
cases, allowing microbes to break down con-
taminants before entering the soil layer.
Opportunities for materials recycling ex-
ist in the management and construction of
parking lots. For example, the use of recycled
asphalt in parking lot construction is not only
environmentally beneficial, but can make
economic sense. Other environmentally pref-
erable materials, such as recycled rubberized
asphalt, may also be used in parking lot con-
struction. Recycling materials can be more
economical for developers than incurring
the rising costs in some states for disposal of
construction, demolition, and clearing debris
in landfills.
Chapter 5 provides detailed information on
greener choices for parking surface materials.
LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION
Green parking lot techniques work to mini-
mize the amount of land cleared for construc-
tion, conserving as much of a site's natural
vegetation and open space as possible,
and retaining habit for local wildlife. When
designing a parking lot area, landscapers
can use native trees and shrubs rather than
non-indigenous species, which are more suit-
able to local climates and, therefore, require
less irrigation. The benefits of increasing the
amount of greenscape in and around park-
ing areas include reduction of C02 in the air;
improved stormwater runoff management
including water storage; increases aquifer
recharge and flood protection; and increased
human comfort through mitigation of HIEs.
Wetlands preservation or creation is particu-
larly beneficial, as they can act as natural
bioretention basins, providing water quality
improvements, flood protection, and ero-
sion control. Wetlands also provide excellent
habitat for local avian and fish species, and
are invaluable for water storage; one acre of
wetlands can store over million gallons of
water.12
Chapter 6 provides detailed information on
green parking lot landscaping and irrigation.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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CHAPTER 3
PLANNING ASPECTS
*«.
Parking lot design and parking avail-
ability are vital to transportation
management throughout the United
States. Parking availability may determine a
customer's willingness to visit a business, and
it is often a sought after feature in urban resi-
dential areas. However, parking lots should
be designed efficiently so that spaces are
used frequently and not left empty a majority
of the time. When developing a parking lot, a
number of factors combine to determine the
lot's size, layout, and design. These decisions,
made during the planning stages of a devel-
opment, can transform a parking lot from a
sparsely landscaped expanse of impervious
paving to a space that is more aesthetically
pleasing, land efficient, and community and
environmentally friendly.
Local governments can use better park-
ing planning as a tool to promote infill and
smart growth developments while reducing
the direct environmental impact of park-
ing. In many cases, revisions to zoning and
other parking ordinances may be needed to
achieve better parking planning. This chap-
ter provides a summary of parking planning
considerations that have environmental
implications, including municipal parking
lot regulations, parking lot aesthetics and
design, and the connection between parking
and smart growth.
MUNICIPAL PARKING
REQUIREMENTS
In most urban and suburban areas, a num-
ber of zoning laws govern the layout and
quantity of spaces in a parking lot. It is these
regulations that manage a community's park-
ing capacity, and thus a large amount of its
impervious surface area.
Zoning requirements for developers to
provide off-street parking first began in the
1930s as a solution to an on-street parking
shortage. Over the years, off-street parking
requirements expanded in response to the
population's dependence on automobiles.
Today, according to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, 87 percent of trips of less
than 50 miles are made by personal motor
vehicles.13 Americans have become accus-
tomed to the availability of free parking and
automobile travel, rather than public transit
or other alternative methods, even for very
short distance trips. Increased parking avail-
ability encourages more driving, more driving
requires more parking, and so on.
One of the most important local parking
ordinances addresses minimum space re-
quirements, or parking ratios. Typically, local
governments require developers to construct
the minimum number of parking spaces
needed to satisfy peak demand. These mini-
mum parking regulations often result in an
oversupply of parking. One study found that
the average parking supply at worksites is 30
percent greater than peak parking demand.14
In many instances, minimum parking require-
ments are inflexible to adaptation or vari-
ances. Also, the methods to determine these
minimum parking requirements are often
excessive and over-generalized, leading to an
oversupply of parking.15 In addition, although
CHAPTER 3—Planning Aspects
10
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municipalities regulate the minimum number
of parking spaces, they typically do not put
a cap on the maximum. Thus, developers
can frequently construct even more than the
required minimum, which is often the case
at large retail developments, leading to a
further surplus in supply.
In addition to requirements for the number
of spaces in a parking lot, regulations for the
size of each space are also common. Some
local zoning laws require unnecessarily large
stall dimensions that are bigger than even
the largest SUV.16 In many cases, smaller
stall sizes would satisfy parking needs while
reducing impervious surface, and the entire
footprint, of the parking lot.
Re-thinking Municipal Parking
Requirements
There are a number of planning alternatives
to minimum parking requirements that lead-
ing local governments throughout the United
States are implementing to minimize land
dedicated to parking. These include reducing
minimum parking requirements; assessing
parking needs on an individual project basis
rather than using a generic formula; en-
couraging shared parking; and establishing
parking maximums, area wide parking caps,
in-lieu parking fees, and reduced parking
space dimensions.
• Reduced minimum parking require-
ments—Parking requirements should
be determined on a project-by-project
basis instead of by formula, taking into
consideration how a project's location can
shape parking needs. This approach may
decrease the required parking capac-
ity where there is accessibility to public
transportation and/or a high level of foot
and bike traffic. Such was the case for the
City of San Francisco, where city planners
eliminated minimum parking require-
ments for development within a half mile
of train stations and one-quarter mile of
major public transit routes.17
Municipalities can also consider the land
uses in the surrounding area. For instance,
it is possible that existing nearby develop-
ment and parking may already provide
some of the parking necessary to sup-
port a new development. Mixed used
developments often have natural parking
flexibility; an office where peak parking
demand occurs during the day can share
the same parking spaces with restaurants,
entertainment venues, or residential units
that have peak parking demands at night
and on weekends. Shared parking is also
an option for single use developments in
mixed-use areas.18
Maximum Limits on Parking—The
opposite of parking minimums, parking
maximums limit the number of spaces
that a developer can construct, which is
often determined by the development's
square footage. Portland, Oregon is one
city that has successfully implemented
the use of parking maximums. Benefits
of such a policy include open space
preservation, reduction in impervious
surface area, traffic congestion reduction,
promotion of alternative transport, and
the development of pedestrian-friendly
urban design. For developers, such limits
mean lower parking lot construction
costs.19 Similar policies include setting
both a parking minimum and maximum,
or determining a median parking ratio.
Area wide parking caps—Municipalities
can control the amount of parking by
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
11
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setting limits on the total amount of park-
ing spaces allowed in a certain area. This
strategy is being used in major U.S. cities
including Boston and San Francisco. Such
regulations require greater research and
planning efforts by the city or town to
ensure that the parking cap is appropriate
and reasonable, but if done properly, it
can be very successful in minimizing the
land area used for parking and encourag-
ing use of public transportation. This op-
tion is appropriate for areas with adequate
access to public and alternative transpor-
tation, as well as desirable location that
would outweigh the perceived drawbacks
of more limited parking.20
In-Lieu Parking Fees—Towns such as
Berkeley, California, Lake Forest, Illinois
and Orlando, Florida incorporated systems
of in-lieu parking fees. This optional fee
is offered to developers by municipalities
in-lieu of meeting minimum parking re-
quirements. This fee is typically allocated
to an appropriate municipal fund, such as
a traffic mitigation fund.21 An alternative
under the in-lieu system is that in return
for the developer's fee, the city provides
existing centralized, off-site parking to the
new development's tenants and visitors.22
Reduced stall size requirements—
Adjusting a local government's stall size
requirements may reduce impervious sur-
face coverage as well. Alternatives include
creating a certain number of compact
car spaces and/or limiting stall dimen-
sions to feasible sizes. For example, in the
town of Needham, Massachusetts, up to
50 percent of off-street parking can be
reduced dimension spaces designed for
compact cars.23 If possible, developers can
also adapt the layout and angle of parking
stalls to achieve the greatest car capacity,
again reducing the amount of land neces-
sary for the lot.
PARKING LOT PLACEMENT AND
AESTHETICS
Parking lots have been described as "sterile,
unattractive environments that deaden city
and suburban streets alike, further isolate
users and preclude lively pedestrian-friendly
streets."24 Although all parking lots do not
match this description, many are eyesores
that inhibit the usability and walkability of
an area. Several techniques can be incorpo-
rated into the design and layout of a parking
lot to improve aesthetics and help connect
parking lots to community design. This not
only benefits the user, but also the organi-
zation or business adjacent to the lot, as a
more pleasing atmosphere will help draw in
the public. Plantings around the perimeter,
especially trees and shrubs, can screen the lot
from passer-bys and break-up the otherwise
continuous strip of asphalt and cars from
the street to the parking lot. This can also be
achieved through the use of fencing or a wall.
Vegetation can also be used to divide one
large lot into two or more smaller lots, again
increasing the site's visual appeal. Equally
important, landscaping within the lot pro-
vides an environmental benefit by decreasing
dust, wind, noise, glare and air pollution; and
minimizing heat island effect.25
The placement of a parking lot is a simple,
yet fundamental feature that can improve a
development's attractiveness. A majority of
parking lots are placed in the front of build-
ings, between buildings and streets, requiring
pedestrians and bicyclists to cross expanses
of parking in order to enter a building. Alter-
natively, parking lots could be placed at the
CHAPTER 3—Planning Aspects
12
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rear of a building, increasing the intercon-
nectedness between pedestrians and the
built environment. This simple zoning change
is incredibly effective in shifting the orienta-
tion of a streetscape from cars to pedestrians.
This also helps give the community a greater
sense of place and interconnectedness. In
recognition of such benefits, the City of Fort
Collins, Colorado requires that no more than
50 percent of the parking fora retail devel-
opment be located between the principle
building and the primary abutting street.26
Limiting the number of curb cuts also makes
a parking lot more pedestrian friendly and
inviting. Furthermore, by minimizing the
number of vehicular entries to parking areas,
pedestrian mobility is improved, and pedes-
trian/traffic is minimized.
LINKING PARKING TO
SMART GROWTH
Smart Growth is a state and local government
planning movement aimed at improving the
long-term habitability and sustainability of
cities and towns by minimizing environmen-
tal impacts, improving human health, build-
ing a sense of community, creating walkable
neighborhoods, promoting traditional and
alternative transport, and preserving open
space. Most fundamentally, smart growth
entails moving away from the urban sprawl
development pattern common in the United
States, and promoting sustainable land use
patterns. With many cities designed around
use of the automobile, planners are often
presented with the conflicting challenge of
promoting smart growth development while
supporting the parking needs of a popula-
tion. Green parking planning approaches
support smart growth by creating more
sustainable land use patterns and decreasing
the environmental impacts of conventional
parking lot development. By promoting and
supporting alternative transport and com-
muting, local governments may reduce the
parking needs.
A concept linked to smart growth is"transit-
oriented development," defined as develop-
ment placed within close proximity of public
transportation, designed to create walkable
communities and alleviate traffic conges-
tion and environmental impacts caused by
urban sprawl. When building parking lots,
local governments can encourage or require
developers to incorporate features that help
reduce automobile reliance, such as bicycle
racks. Employers can support use of alterna-
tive transport options by subsidizing the cost
of public transit, encouraging participation
in a commuting program, and/or providing
shower facilities on-site so that staff can bike
to work.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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CHAPTER 4
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
A pivotal component of green park-
ing lots is the inclusion of innova-
tive stormwater management
techniques, often referred to as stormwater
"best management practices" (BMPs). BMPs
are practices, techniques, and measures
that prevent or reduce water pollution from
non-point sources (i.e. runoff) using the most
effective and practicable means available.27
Stormwater management BMPs often include
engineered, on-site systems that, when
coupled with reduction of impervious surface
area, can help significantly reduce detrimen-
tal environmental effects and infrastructure
burden from stormwater runoff.
Increased development and conventional
stormwater systems have significantly
changed the characteristics of stormwater
flow from land into receiving waters. Accord-
ing to the Natural Resources Defense Council,
the amount of rain converted to runoff under
natural conditions is less than ten percent of
the rainfall volume.28 However as more devel-
opment occurs, rainwater or snow melt that
would have infiltrated into the soil, evapo-
rated into the air, or been absorbed by plants,
instead flows quickly off of the pavement as
stormwater runoff. Moreover, conventional
stormwater management exacerbates this
problem. Conventional parking lot stormwa-
ter management typically consists of costly
systems of man-made drains, pipes, gutters,
storm ponds, and paved channels that direct
runoff from impervious lots into storm drains
and neighboring waterbodies. The environ-
mental ramifications of one development
project alone can be minimal, but multiplied
by the current, and growing, number of
commercial and residential parking lots, the
combined effect of stormwater runoff has be-
come the leading cause of non-point source
pollution to our waterbodies.29
As discussed in Chapter 2, the environmen-
tal effects of increased volume and velocity
of stormwater include not only diminished
water quality in surrounding waterbodies,
but also:
• Degradation of stream channels resulting
erosion and sedimentation;
• Minimized groundwater recharge, which
can diminish water flow in the dry weath-
er, and lead to poorer water quality during
low flows;
• Higher water temperatures, which
negatively impact aquatic organisms and
plants; and
• More frequent and severe flooding.30
This chapter provides an overview of green
parking lot stormwater management BMPs
that can help mitigate these impacts, in-
cluding information on pollutant removal
efficiency and cost considerations.
GREEN PARKING LOT STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Green parking lots offset environmental im-
pacts of parking by using on-site stormwater
infrastructure that more closely mimics the
natural water cycle, and manages stormwater
CHAPTER 4—Stormwater Management
14
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through effective rainfall retention, pollutant
removal, and water infiltration. Although still
in the early stages of wide-spread implemen-
tation, cities and towns are recognizing the
benefits of stormwater BMPs, and many have
introduced both voluntary and mandatory
policies for their inclusion in development
projects.31
Some of the most commonly used structural
BMPs are described below. It also should be
noted that incorporating BMPs is not lim-
ited to new development. As illustrated by
the case study of building a rain garden at
Bloedel Donovan Park in this chapter, exist-
ing parking lots can be retrofitted to include
them.
• Swales
Swales are open channels or depressions
with dense vegetation used to transport,
decelerate, and treat runoff. In parking
lots, they are designed to help direct
water into bioretention areas. Swales can
come in the form of a grassed channel, dry
swale, or wet swale. They can be used in
most climatic regions of the United States,
but may be unsuitable for densely urban
areas as they require a large amount of
pervious surface area.32
• Vegetated Filter Strips/Riparian
Buffers
Vegetated filter strips are flat pieces of
land with low slopes, which are designed
to encourage natural sheet flow of storm-
water as opposed to channeled runoff.
Vegetated filter strips are well suited for
low-density development or areas with
less concentrated amounts of runoff.33
They function by using soil and vegeta-
tion to remove pollutants from stormwa-
ter runoff, and often are incorporated to
pre-treat and remove sediment before
water enters infiltration devices such as
bioretention areas.34 Other benefits in-
clude protection of riparian areas, habitat
creation, and streambank stability.
Vegetated filter strips are frequently used
in combination with riparian buffers, an-
other common BMP, to increase pollutant
removal effectiveness. Riparian buffers
are vegetated strips along waterways that
trap and filter contaminants, encourage
infiltration, and slow stormwater flow.
They also help to preserve streambank
stability.
Bioretention Areas (Rain Gardens)
One of the more well-know BMPs, biore-
tention treatment areas (a.k.a., rain
gardens) consist of a grass buffer strip,
shallow ponding area, organic layer, plant-
ing soil, and vegetation. These areas are
typically used in parking lot islands. Unlike
swales, bioretention areas are well-suited
for parking lots in denser, urban areas
with less available open space.
Dry Detention Basins
A dry detention basin is a vegetated
basin with controlled outlets, designed to
detain runoff (lowering flows and reduc-
ing velocity) for a short amount of time
(e.g. 24 hours or less), partially removing
pollutants before the water is discharged.
This helps limit flooding and other storm-
water impacts, such as stream channel
erosion and wildlife habitat destruction.
Dry extended detention basins are better
suited for pollutant removal than standard
dry detention basins because they retain
the water for an "extended" period of time
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
15
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(i.e., up to 48 hours). They are effective
at treating certain runoff contaminants,
particularly those contained in spring
and winter runoff in colder climate areas.
However, because water temperature
increases while in this type of system, dry
detention basins discharge warmer than
natural water into waterbodies, which
should be taking into consideration. Both
dry detention and dry extended detention
basins are normally dry between storm
events, thus giving them their name.35
Wet Retention Basins
Wet retention basins are designed to cap-
ture, filter, store, and infiltrate storwmater,
and have storage capacity adequate for
flood volumes of water. Because they have
the capacity to store a permanent pool of
water, wet basins can be very effective for
water control, and can provide the bene-
fits of aesthetic value and wildlife habitat,
both terrestrial and aquatic. Although not
suitable for smaller areas because of their
size, when applicable, retention basins are
a very effective BMP.36
Infiltration Systems
Infiltration systems are designed to
capture and retain stormwater runoff,
allowing water to gradually infiltrate into
the ground over a period of hours or days,
depending on the design.37Two common
infiltration systems used in green parking
lots are infiltration basins and infiltration
trenches. An infiltration basin is an open
depression that covers a relatively large
area. It is constructed to work in conjunc-
tion with filter strips or swales, which help
direct runoff from a parking surface into
the basin. Infiltration trenches are shallow
excavated ditches lined with filter strips
and filled with stone to form a subsurface
basin, where water is stored until it infil-
trates into the soil. This system greatly re-
duces the volume of runoff, and is particu-
larly good for groundwater recharge as it
allows a significant amount of rainwater to
infiltrate. Both of these BMPs are consid-
ered effective for pollutant removal when
used in conjunction with a pre-treatment
BMP such as a swale. However, potential
drawbacks include higher failure rates
due to improper design and maintenance,
limited site applicability, and increased
sediment clogging.38
Porous pavement is another type of infil-
tration technique used in green parking
lots; as it is also an asphalt alternative, it
is discussed in Chapter 5: Parking Surface
Materials.
• Constructed Wetlands
Constructed wetlands are designed to
capture, filter, and store stormwater simi-
lar to a wet retention basin. However, they
also contain a large quantity of wetland
vegetation and have wetland channels.
Although they are not built to replicate all
of the ecological functions of wetlands,
constructed wetlands help simulate the
natural water cycle, recharge groundwa-
ter, remove pollutants, reduce erosion,
and provide wildlife habitat. They are
considered to be a very effective pollutant
removal option.39 Constructed wetlands
have a few limitations; they are not ap-
plicable in arid climates and, due to their
large size, they are not suitable for dense
urban areas.
It is not necessary for developers to in-
corporate all available green stormwater
techniques into a project; rather, they should
CHAPTER 4—Stormwater Management
16
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determine those useful for specific site condi-
tions. Considerations should include all fac-
tors that affect the amount, speed, and pol-
lutant loadings of runoff: soil type, the slope
and landscape of the site, amount of impervi-
ous surface, local precipitation patterns, and
rainfall surface retention.40 Carefully choos-
ing the appropriate BMP(s) is important to
avoid any secondary environmental impacts
caused by the use of an inappropriate BMP.
BMPs should address peak discharge, runoff
volume, infiltration capacity, base flow levels,
ground water recharge, and maintenance of
water quality, so that they are ideally man-
aged in the pre-development stormwater
filtration conditions of the site.41
It should be noted that BMPs are helping to
meet the Clean Water Act's mandate to "re-
store and maintain the chemical, physical and
biological integrity of the Nation's waters".42
By 2025 the U.S. population is predicted to
grow 22 percent, which could mean an ad-
ditional 68 million acres of development, a
good fraction of which will be dedicated to
parking.43Thus, BMPs may play a larger role
in the future to mitigate non-point water
pollution.
BMP POLLUTANT REMOVAL AND
EFFECTIVENESS
Stormwater can carry a number of harmful
pollutants, and is the prime contributor to
non-point source pollution. Runoff contami-
nants can originate from a variety of sources,
including the paving materials used to build
the parking lots. Recently, the USGS pin-
pointed parking lot sealants as a large source
of non-point source pollution, specifically
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a
known carcinogen that can be toxic to fish
and wildlife.44 Automobiles are also a major
source of pollutants in parking lot runoff, in-
cluding antifreeze, oil, hydrocarbons, metals
from wearing break linings, rubber particles
from tires, nitrous oxide from car exhausts,
and grease. Other polluting materials include
pesticides, fertilizers, litter, pet waste, dirt,
and sand.45
One of the main goals of a green parking lot
is to decrease pollutant levels in stormwater
runoff as much as possible before it enters a
waterbody. Exhibit 1 shows a range of pol-
lutant removal efficiencies for selected BMPs.
Understanding the effectiveness of each BMP
for pollutant removal is a complex undertak-
ing because pollutant removal is affected by
a large number of variables. Fundamentally,
removal effectiveness depends on: 1) BMP
type, 2) the quantity of runoff treated, and
3) the type of pollutant being removed.46
Variation in one of these factors can affect
a BMP's efficiency. For example, infiltration
trenches show a high pollutant removal ef-
ficiency for pathogens, but much lower for
phosphorus. However, these effectiveness
ranges can vary based on the climate, soil,
and land type of a particular site. Infiltra-
tion trenches may be less effective in colder
climates when surface waters freeze and can-
not allow runoff to flow into them, a limita-
tion that can be partially remedied through
proper design and maintenance, but may still
reduce pollutant removal effectiveness.47
As seen in Exhibit 1, not all BMPs have a high
level of pollutant removal effectiveness.
Instead, they serve other roles in control-
ling the impacts of runoff. This is the case for
dry detention basins, which serve to reduce
peak discharges of stormwater to neighbor-
ing waterbodies, as well as limit erosion and
downstream flooding.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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EXHIBIT 1: BMP EFFECTIVENESS
BMP Type
Dry Detention Basins
Retention Basins
Constructed Wetlands
Infiltration Basins
Infiltration Trenches/
Dry Wells
Grassed Swales
Vegetated Filter Strips
Typical Pollutant Removal Efficiency (percentage)
Suspended
Solids
30-65
50-80
50-80
50-80
50-80
30-65
50-80
Nitrogen
13-45
30-65
<30
50-80
50-80
15-45
50-80
Phosphorus
15-45
30-65
15-45
50-80
15-45
15-45
50-80
Pathogens
<30
<30
<30
65-100
65-100
<30
<30
Metals
15-45
50-80
50-80
50-80
50-80
15-45
30-65
Source: U.S. EPA, 1993, Handbook Urban Runoff and Pollution Prevention Planning, EPA-625-R-93-004, taken from Purdue Uni-
versity Engineering Department's Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA): http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~sprawl/
LTHIA7/lthia/lthia index.htm.
BMP COST CONSIDERATIONS
Innovative structural stormwater BMPs are
more effective than conventional storm-
water management in removing pollutants
and maintaining the environmental quality
of a site. However, because some of these
techniques are relatively new and have not
achieved market penetration, it is not clear
their costs compare to conventional storm-
water management approaches.48 Calculating
the cost-effectiveness of a stormwater BMP
is a very site-specific endeavor, and current
cost information is limited and inconsistent.
The main factors affecting the relative costs
of BMPs include the cost of land, engineering
and design, permitting, construction, and
operation and maintenance. These costs can
vary greatly due to individual site characteris-
tics such as climate, topography, government
regulations, soil type, time of year of con-
struction, drainage, accessibility of equip-
ment, and economics of scale. For instance,
very rocky soils may increase the cost of
constructing a BMP considerably because of
excavation costs.
Another significant variable in the compara-
tive cost of BMPs is the value of land; in areas
where real estate prices are high, construct-
ing a BMP may take up too much space to be
cost effective.49 BMPs operation and mainte-
nance costs can also be significant. The long-
term cost to maintain certain, more complex,
stormwater BMPs over a 20-25 year period
can be close to its initial construction cost.50
However, some BMPs, such as swales and
bioretention areas, are less expensive to build
than their conventional counterparts of pipe
and gutter systems. These BMPs can decrease
development costs by reducing or eliminat-
ing the high cost of conventional stormwater
infrastructure such as piping, gutters, and
drains, as well as reduced long-term mainte-
nance costs for such systems. Furthermore,
some BMPs, such as constructed wetlands,
may increase the property value by creat-
ing a water feature and vegetation that has
CHAPTER 4—Stormwater Management
18
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high aesthetic value. Developers may also
gain from local government incentives that
encourage incorporating structural stormwa-
ter BMPs. For instance, the City of Portland,
Oregon will give up to a 35 percent discount
off its stormwater utility fee to properties
with on-site stormwater management.51 In
addition, some costs are tax deductible, and
operating costs may be fully deductible as
expenses in the year they are incurred.52
Although the costs of BMPs vary by site and
type, they are almost always a good invest-
ment from the perspective of local govern-
ments and taxpayers, not only because they
protect the health of waterbodies, but also
because they can avoid long-term costs.
Without stormwater BMPs, many waterbod-
ies and water infrastructure may deteriorate.
Taxpayers bear the cost burden to slow
or repair damage caused by downstream
flooding, stream and aquatic habitat dete-
rioration, and repairs and upgrades to worn
town stormwater infrastructure systems, all
of which are very expensive and time-con-
suming.53 Infrastructure costs associated with
stormwater management and how green
parking can help mitigate these costs are
discussed further in Chapter 7.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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CASE STUDY 1: STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP)
BLOEDEL DONOVAN PARK, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON54
Stormwater runoff in Bellingham, Washing-
ton, like much of the U.S., is a foremost water
quality issue. The Washington Department of
Ecology estimates that roughly one-third of
the state water bodies with pollution related
problems are impaired because of stormwa-
ter runoff impacts. In an effort to protect the
receiving waters of nearby LakeWhitcom
from such impacts, City of Bellingham of-
ficials chose to retrofit stormwater manage-
ment at the heavily used Bloedel Donovan
Park parking lot. Rather than choosing a
conventional technique, they elected to build
an innovative rain garden to manage storm-
water on-site.
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Designed on a 550 square-foot section of the
parking lot near the catch basin, the park's
rain garden supports runoff from 80 parking
spaces and two parking lanes. To meet water
quality guidelines, the rain garden was also
designed to treat 91 percent of the runoff
from a 50-year storm event. Aspects of its
construction included:
• Site excavation—From site topography
and soils logs, the city determined the
maximum allowable depth for water to
pond in the rain garden. Under a 50-year
storm event, the depth should be no more
than six-feet. Thus, the site was excavated
three to four feet.
• Layering of materials—The rain garden
is composed of three layers of non-woven
geotextile fabric alternated with six inches
The raingarden in Bloedel Donovan Park helps protect the water quality in nearby
Lake Whatcom, and recharge groundwater supplies.
of drain rock, and topped with a layer of
fabric to constrain the sand and restrict
any plants from growing through. An
18-to 24-inch layer of sand composed of
twenty percent organic materials is the
top layer.
• Landscaping—For landscaping, the city
chose native plants that could survive the
year-round climatic conditions of the site.
This included plants that prefer wet soil,
but could also tolerate drought.
EXHIBIT 2: CASE STUDY INITIAL
COST COMPARISON
Conventional stormwater
technique
(4,400 ft3 wet vault)
Rain Garden
Cost Savings
$52,800
$12,820
$39,980
CHAPTER 4—Stormwater Management
20
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COST AND POLLUTANTS REMOVAL
EFFECTIVENESS
The benefits from incorporating this rain
garden are numerous. It adds aesthetic value
to the site, increases wildlife habitat, and is a
highly effective BMP for treating stormwater
runoff. According to officials at the Belling-
ham Public Works Department's, monitoring
shows that approximately 80 percent of total
runoff is captured by the rain garden, with
overflows running through media filtration
and then another infiltration bed. Further-
more, Bellingham saved 70 percent in initial
costs compared to installing a conventional
in-ground storage and treatment stormwa-
ter system (see Exhibits 2 and 3). This was
achieved through reduced construction and
equipment costs, as well as reduced labor
costs from the relative ease of installation,
some of which was accomplished by volun-
teer landscaping help. These costs savings do
not include future regular maintenance costs.
A more detailed case study of the city of
Bellingham's rain garden can be found
on the Puget Sound Action Team's Web
site at www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/
Rain_Garden_book.pdf.
EXHIBIT 3: COST FOR BLOEDEL DONOVAN PARK RAINCARDEN
Labor
Vehicle use
Amended soil
Concrete
Asphalt
PVC/grates/catch basins/fabric/other misc.
Washed rock
Excavator rental (1.5 days)
Plants
Debris Removal
WCC crew planting time
Total Cost
$3,600
1,900
1,650
1,200
1,200
1,000
805
500
400
300
265
$12,820
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
21
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CHAPTER 5
ALTERNATIVE PARKING SURFACE MATERIALS
3fcx Si*.
The majority of parking lots are made
of a combination of asphalt concrete,
the most widely used paving material
in the United States, and aggregates such as
sand, gravel, or crushed stone. Conventional
pavement is an impervious, heat absorb-
ing material that collects stormwater on its
surface, and does not allow it to filter into the
soil, inhibiting the natural water cycle. As a re-
sult, parking lots must be designed to quickly
remove the water that gathers during storms
by channeling it off the lot via means such
as gutters, drains, and pipes. The stormwater
is directed into receiving water bodies at
unnaturally high rates, causing a number of
adverse impacts including increased down-
stream flooding, combined sewer overflow
events, diminished groundwater supplies,
streambank erosion, and non-point source
water pollution from runoff contaminated by
vehicular residues and other pollutants.
To combat several of the negative impacts
of conventional parking lot paving, develop-
ers are increasingly incorporating modest
changes, such as using light colored concrete
instead of asphalt to reduce heat-island
effect, or using recycled rather than virgin
asphalt to reduce emissions and natural re-
source consumption. For example, 80 percent
of asphalt pavement removed each year
during widening and resurfacing projects is
reused, with contractors typically incorpo-
rating up to 20 percent recycled material in
concrete mixes.55'56 However, these changes
do not address the fundamental problem of
parking lot impermeability.57
Permeable pavements provide a sustainable
alternative to the conventional asphalt and
concrete parking materials widely used today.
Permeable pavements are a broadly defined
group of pervious paving options that allow
natural infiltration rates of stormwater into
the soil through certain design techniques
and material substitutions.58 For this reason,
like many of the techniques mentioned in
Chapter 4, permeable pavements are consid-
ered a best management practice (BMP) for
stormwater management. However, perme-
able pavement should be used in combina-
tion with other BMP techniques to magnify
benefits and provide back-up systems in case
of BMP failure.59 Two basic types of perme-
able paving designs exist: 1) porous pave-
ment and 2) alternative pavers. This chapter
describes these permeable pavement alterna-
tives, considering their functionality, infiltra-
tion and pollutant removal effectiveness, and
cost implications.
POROUS PAVEMENT
Porous pavement is a permeable pavement
surface, often built with an underlying stone
reservoir, which temporarily stores storm-
water before it infiltrates into the underlying
soil.60 Porous pavement works by eliminating
the finer aggregates typically used in con-
ventional paving, and binding the remain-
ing aggregates together with an asphalt or
Portland cement binder. By eliminating finer
aggregates, a less dense material is created
that allows stormwater to seep through. The
underlying stone bed is designed with an
overflow control structure, helping to ensure
CHAPTER 5—Alternative Parking Surface Materials
22
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that water does not rise to the pavement
level. Stormwater settles in the empty spaces
of the storage bed, infiltrating over time into
the subgrade soils—a process similar to an
infiltration basin.61
The most common types of porous pavement
are porous asphalt and pervious concrete,
which are very similar in their design and
applicability.
• Porous Asphalt—Developed by the
Franklin Institute in the 1970s, porous
asphalt consists of an open-grade coarse
aggregate, bonded together by a typical
asphalt cement in which fine aggregates
have been reduced or eliminated, allow-
ing water to move through the small voids
created.62 Porous asphalt can be used in
all climates where conventional asphalt is
suitable.63
• Pervious Concrete—Pervious concrete
was developed by the Florida Concrete
Association. It typically contains a mixture
of Portland cement; uniform, open-graded
coarse aggregate; and water. There is at
least 15 percent more void space in pervi-
ous concrete compared to conventional
pavements.64 Pervious concrete can be
more durable than porous asphalt, par-
ticularly in hot weather. However, the State
of Pennsylvania's Department of Environ-
mental Protection has noted that in colder
northern and mid-Atlantic climates, porous
concrete parking lots should always be
designed with a stone subbase for storm-
water management, and should not be
placed directly onto a soil subbase.65
The manufacturing process for porous pave-
ment has the same environmental and health
impacts as the process for conventional pav-
ing materials, but porous pavement exhibits
significant downstream benefits.66 Although
porous pavement looks very similar to con-
ventional pavement, it is a far more sustain-
able alternative, considered by experts to be
the most effective and affordable technique
for addressing stormwater management
from development.67
Porous pavements typically have a greater
spectrum of uses than alternative pavers
(discussed below), as porous pavement
can be applied to both low vehicular traffic
areas and some medium traffic areas. Porous
pavements also have been used in a few high
traffic areas, including some highway applica-
tions, because the product can provide better
traction than conventional pavement and
reduce hydroplaning.68 Ongoing research is
working to improve its highway applicability
through the use of additives and binders.69
In addition, porous asphalt may help reduce
noise levels from tires on pavement. In a
study measuring acoustical properties of
pavement types, porous asphalt was shown
to have lower noise levels than conventional
hot mix asphalt.70
ALTERNATIVE PAVERS
Alternative pavers, also known as perme-
able pavers or unit pavers, are interlocking
concrete blocks or synthetic fibrous grids
with open areas filled with grass, sand, or
gravel. Unlike concrete or asphalt poured-in-
place paving surfaces, alternative pavers are
separate units laid out on a prepared base.71
When built with a storage bed infiltration
system, alternative pavers function similarly
to porous paving systems. The voids between
the interlocked pavers allow stormwater from
a parking lot's surface to collect and then
seep into the storage bed, which is made of
sand or crushed stone. The water then gradu-
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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ally infiltrates over time into the subgrade
soils. In addition to stormwater management,
the storage bed also provides added struc-
tural support to the pavers.72 As with porous
pavements, the most beneficial element of
alternative pavers is the reduction or elimina-
tion of stormwater impacts.73
A number of alternative paver options are on
the market, including but not limited to: Turf-
stone®, UNI Eco-Stone®, Checkerbox®, Grass-
pave2®, and Gravelpave2®. Of the alternative
paver options, grass paving systems are the
most permeable. However, they have more
limited applicability because grass cannot
survive daily traffic; thus, grass-based systems
are typically used for emergency fire lanes or
temporary overflow parking areas.74 Pavers
should be filled with fine gravel or other per-
meable materials when more frequent park-
ing is expected.75 It should also be noted that
certain types of alternative pavers, including
block, grid pavers, and gravel, are not always
suitable for handicap accessible areas.76
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
CONSIDERATIONS
A number of uses for permeable pavement
exist beyond new, whole parking lot con-
struction projects. One option for high traffic
parking lots is to design a hybrid parking lot
combining permeable pavement parking
spots with more conventional paving in the
aisles.77 In addition, permeable pavements
can be used during parking lot retrofits and
replacements.
According to the U.S. Department of Trans-
portation, permeable pavements must be
properly sited, designed, and installed in
order to function fully over their life span. If
planned correctly, permeable pavements can
last 15 to 20 years, a length similar to con-
ventional asphalt concrete pavement, which
requires resurfacing after 20 years on aver-
age.78 However, a number of factors need to
be assessed when determining whether a site
is suitable for a permeable paving system, in-
cluding: slope, traffic volume, subgrade, land
use, soil, infiltration and drainage characteris-
tics, and groundwater conditions.79
Compared to conventional asphalt surface
installation and design, features such as sub-
grade, soil type, and installation requirements
are more complicated for permeable paving
systems.80 For example, soil, including its
type, porosity, and stability, is considered one
of the most important factors to determine
site suitability. According to the New York
State Stormwater Design Manual, developers
must ensure that soils are permeable enough
to carry out adequate infiltration by consider-
ing the natural qualities of a soil type as well
as past land uses, because previous grading,
filling, compaction, and other disturbances
of the land can alter soil infiltration qualities.
Underlying soils should have a minimum infil-
tration rate of 0.5 inches per hour to accom-
modate stormwater volumes, and knowledge
of the organic matter content of the soil is
also important in determining its pollutant
removal capabilities.81
Permeable pavement is meant to treat small
storm events, which can range from 0.5 to 1.5
inches. A site must be designed with an ad-
equate ratio of infiltration area to impervious
area, and the soil should have a permeability
of between 0.5 and 3.0 inches per hour in
order to adequately handle stormwater.82 Oc-
casionally, exceptions can be made to allow
for permeable paving when sites do not meet
certain criteria. For instance, permeable pave-
CHAPTER 5—Alternative Parking Surface Materials
24
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ment can be used in soils with low porosity
if a discharge pipe is installed to run from a
storage area to a conventional stormwater
system. This modified system will still treat
stormwater from small and medium storms,
but also will prevent flooding during large
storm events.83
Porous pavement and alternative pavers
alone are not an appropriate BMP to combat
extreme flooding events in channels and
riverbanks. It is recommended that a BMP de-
signed specifically to control high waterflows,
such as a dry detention pond, should be used
in conjunction with porous pavement. This
approach is required by some local govern-
ments as part of flood protection design
criteria.84
Permeable pavement should not be used
in parking lot areas with high volumes of
sediment-laden runoff, high traffic volume,
high dust areas, and/or heavy equipment
traffic.85 Clogging is the main cause of a
system malfunction that can result from poor
siting of the permeable pavement system.
During construction, developers can prepare
for possible clogging by installing a perim-
eter trench connected to the stone reservoir
to treat overflow should the surface clog.86
Other common problems to avoid include:
• Compaction of underlying soil, such as
through the use of heavy equipment.
• Contamination of stone sub-base with
sediment.
• Tracking of sediment onto pavement.87
Like other best management practices, when
permeable paving systems fail, it is frequently
due to mistakes made during the design and
construction process. Recent studies note
that if properly installed, success rates for a
permeable paving system, particularly po-
rous asphalt, can be much higher than earlier
installations using these materials.88
MAINTENANCE OF PERMEABLE
PAVEMENT
In the past, studies indicated that permeable
pavement applications had a high failure
rate, due not only to improper siting, but
also poor maintenance. Failure of a perme-
able paving system means that the surface
becomes impervious and behaves like con-
ventional asphalt, yet typically without the
fully developed system of piping and gutters
used to manage runoff on conventional park-
ing surfaces. However, with correct mainte-
nance, permeable pavement can retain its
permeability, and be a successful stormwater
management option.89
The level of maintenance necessary to
maintain permeable pavement lots varies.
Alternative pavers such as concrete grid pav-
ers and plastic modular blocks will require
less maintenance because they do not clog
as easily as porous asphalt and permeable
concrete. Location also impacts the amount
of maintenance, as areas receiving more
sediment will require more maintenance. For
example, a parking lot with higher traffic vol-
umes will tend to require more maintenance
because of the resulting increased quantities
of soil and particulates brought onto the lot.
Although the new soil alone will not neces-
sarily clog the pavement's voids, if ground in
repeatedly by tires, clogging can occur.90'91
Regular maintenance can avoid clogging of
permeable paving systems. Facilities manag-
ers are generally advised to high pressure
hose and then vacuum porous pavement a
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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minimum of two to four times a year, de-
pending on the system.This should remove
any dislodged sediment and particulate
matter from the site.92 Exhibit 4 provides an
example of typical permeable pavement
maintenance activities.
may lead to contamination of the ground-
water. This includes prohibiting construction
vehicles or hazardous material carriers from
using the lot.95 Finally, because these types of
parking lots have unique maintenance needs,
land owners must ensure that individuals
EXHIBIT 4: MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES FOR PERMEABLE PAVEMENT
PARKING LOTS
Maintenance Activity
Ensure paved area is clear of sediments
Mow upland and adjacent areas, and seed bare areas
Ensure paved area is clear of debris
Monitor that paved area dewaters between storms
Vacuum sweep routinely to keep surface free of sediments
Clean inlets draining to the subsurface bed
Inspect the paved surface for deterioration
Scheduling
As needed
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly and after
storms >0.5 inches
3 to 4 times a year
Biannually
Annually
Source: Adapted from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, (2007), New York State Stormwater Design
Manual—Chapter 9,: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
Clogging can also be avoided through
monitoring activities on and around the lot,
including:
• Never using sand or gravel to address
icy conditions on porous pavements,
although salt may be used on porous
asphalt, and commercial deicers may be
used on porous concrete.93
• Ensuring that the surface is not sealed or
repaved with a non-porous material.
• Maintaining planted areas adjacent to
porous pavement to prevent soil washout
onto the pavement.94
Signs should also be posted around the lot to
prevent harmful activities such as resurfacing,
the use of abrasives, and any activities that
responsible for parking lot maintenance, such
as the facilities manager, are properly trained
and prepared to handle the lot's maintenance
needs.
Cold Climate Considerations
In cold weather regions, specific activities
are necessary to properly maintain a perme-
able pavement parking lot. The underlying
stone bed of permeable paving systems often
absorbs and retains heat, causing faster snow
melt which leads to less snow accumulation.
However, snow may still accumulate, espe-
cially during heavier storms. When treating
it, abrasive materials such as sand should not
be used on or near the pavement, as it will
quickly clog the surface. As noted above, salt
CHAPTER 5—Alternative Parking Surface Materials
26
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can be used as a deicer on the porous pave-
ment, though nontoxic, organic deicers are
preferable because the chlorides in salt can
migrate into the groundwater.96 With porous
pavement, some sites have found that light
plowing reduces the need for salt, as the
remaining snow quickly drains into the mate-
rial.97 When plowing snow, operators should
set the blade slightly higher than usual (i.e.,
one inch), as to not damage the material. This
will avoid the blade catching the edge of a
block or paving and damaging its surface.
Signs should be posted to reinforce plowing
requirements.98 Finally, frost heave can occur
if infiltrating runoff freezes below the surface,
however porous pavement can be designed
to avoid this issue.99
Repairs
According to Cahill Associates, a leading
sustainable stormwater management design
firm, potholes in porous pavement are very
rare. However, settling might occur if any soft
spots in the subgrade are not addressed dur-
ing construction. Even after 20 years, a well-
maintained porous surface can show little if
any cracking or potholes.100 Many alternatives
are available for repairing damaged porous
pavement and alternative pavers. In general,
areas less than 50 square feet can be patched
by using either a porous mix or standard
pavement because the loss of porosity to
a small spot is insignificant to the overall
stormwater management function. If an area
greater than 50 square feet is damaged, an
engineer should be consulted to design an
appropriate patch.101
INFILTRATION & POLLUTANT
REMOVAL EFFECTIVENESS OF
PERMEABLE PAVEMENTS
Permeable paving coupled with a subsurface
storage bed can capture and manage storm-
water from small, frequent rainfall events,
which accounts for between 30 and 50
percent of annual precipitation on average.102
In addition, this combination can be very ef-
fective at removing stormwater pollutants.
Infiltration Effectiveness
Permeable pavement, when properly de-
signed and maintained, can eliminate almost
all surface runoff from low intensity storms.103
As mentioned before, proper siting and
maintenance of permeable parking areas are
critical to maintaining high surface infiltra-
tion rates.104 Data on infiltration rates vary
widely according to design characteristics
and underlying soils, however, research indi-
cates that an average of 50 percent of annual
rainfall on porous pavement infiltrates, with
reported infiltration rates reaching as high as
80 percent.105 Infiltration rates can decline to
a certain extent over time, again depending
on design, installation, maintenance, and site
characteristics such as sediment loads.106
Pollutant Removal Effectiveness
Limited data indicate that permeable pave-
ment systems have high removal rates for
many pollutants, including total suspended
solids, metals, oils, and grease.107 However,
pollutant removal is not effective for larger
storms with rainfall greater than one-inch, or
with high rainfall intensity.108
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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Porous Pavement
Studies of porous pavement performance
show that they can effectively trap soluble
pollutants, which are then absorbed or
broken down in the underlying soil layers. Ex-
hibit 5 depicts the range of pollutant removal
effectiveness for porous pavement, showing
a removal effectiveness of at least 65 percent
for suspended solids, nitrogen, pathogens,
and metals; and at least 30 percent of phos-
phorus.109
lower. Also, motor oil was detected in 89 per-
cent of the runoff samples from conventional
asphalt, while no motor oil was detected in
any samples that infiltrated through sections
of alternative pavers.111
Another study researched driveways con-
structed of conventional asphalt versus
permeable pavers to compare their runoff
depths, infiltration rates, and pollutant con-
centrations over two years. The study found
that the mean weekly runoff rate for conven-
EXHIBIT 5: POROUS PAVEMENT POLLUTANT REMOVAL EFFICACY
BMP Type
Porous Pavement
Typical Pollutant Removal (percentage)
Suspended
Solids
65-100
Nitrogen
65-100
Phosphorus
30-65
Pathogens
65-100
Metals
65-100
Source: U.S. EPA, 1993, Handbook Urban Runoff and Pollution Prevention Planning, EPA-625-R-93-004, taken from Purdue Uni-
versity Engineering Department's Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA): http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~sprawl/
LTHIA7/lthia/lthia_index.htm.
Alternative Pavers
Alternative paver systems have been shown
to be just as effective as porous pavement
in removing pollutants. A study from the
University of Washington conducted to
determine the long-term effectiveness of
permeable pavements as a stormwater
management strategy showed significant
pollutant removal rates. Researchers com-
pared the effectiveness of four permeable
pavement types and conventional asphalt
over six-years.110They found that runoff from
the conventional asphalt had significantly
higher concentrations of measured pollutants
(i.e. motor oil, copper, zinc) compared to the
alternative paver surfaces. Concentrations of
copper in runoff from alternative pavers were
roughly 80 percent lower than those found
in the runoff from conventional asphalt, and
zinc concentrations were at least 40 percent
tional asphalt was over three times that of
the permeable pavers. In addition, they found
that pollutant concentrations in runoff from
the permeable pavers were substantially less
than from the conventional asphalt, as shown
in Exhibit 6.112
As with other stormwater infiltration BMPs,
developers must take measures to mitigate
any possible groundwater contamination at
a permeable pavement site. Permeable pav-
ing should not be used to treat stormwater
"hotspots,"areas where land uses or activities
have the potential to generate highly con-
taminated runoff. These areas include: com-
mercial nurseries, auto recycling and repair
facilities, vehicle service and maintenance
areas, fueling stations, high-use commercial
parking lots, and marinas.113
CHAPTER 5—Alternative Parking Surface Materials
28
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EXHIBIT 6: STUDY EXAMPLE: STORMWATER RUNOFF COMPARISON IN
JORDAN COVE, CT
Pollutant
TSS
N02-N
NH3-N
TP
Cu
Pb
Zn
Conventional Asphalt
(mg/l)
47.8
0.6
0.18
0.244
18
6
87
Permeable Pavement
(mg/l)
15.8
0.2
0.05
0.162
6
2
25
Source: Hinman, C, (2005), Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound, Puget Sound Action Team,
publication number PSAT 05-03: www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_tech_manual05/lid_index.htm.
COST CONSIDERATIONS
The costs for permeable pavement systems
vary depending on site specifications and the
type of system being used. In general, the
cost to install alternative pavers or porous
pavements alone are higher than conven-
tional asphalt paving, which costs between
$0.50 to $1.00 per square-foot. Sources dis-
agree on the average initial costs for perme-
able pavement. Exhibit 7 provides an initial
cost comparison of pavement options from
the NY State Stormwater Design Manual.
However, another source notes that porous
asphalt, with additives, costs from 10 to 20
percent more than conventional asphalt pav-
ing.114 Finally, Cahill Associates maintains that
the cost of a porous pavement installation is
roughly the same as the cost of a convention-
al asphalt parking lot.115The costs for alterna-
tive pavers are more difficult to estimate, as
they fluctuate widely depending on type and
manufacturer.116 In general, larger parking
lots utilizing alternative pavers will incur a
lower overall unit cost per space.
The overall cost-effectiveness of perme-
able pavement can only be fully assessed by
considering its typical use in concert with
other stormwater BMPs. Specifically, the cost-
EXHIBIT 7: PARKING SURFACE INITIAL COST COMPARISON CHART
Pavement Type
Conventional Asphalt
Permeable Concrete
Grass/Gravel Pavers
Interlocking Concrete Blocks
Cost per Ft2 (Installed)
$0.50 to $1.00
$1.50 to $5.75
$2.00 to $6.50
$5.00 to $10.00
Source adapted from New York State, New York State Stormwater Design Manual: www.rpi.edu/~kilduff/Stormwater/
permpaving1.pdf.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
29
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competitive nature of permeable pavement
systems lies in their success when combined
with other BMPs or subsurface drainage
to create a well-designed and sustainable
stormwater management system. Prop-
erly designing and installing such a system
requires a high level of labor and expertise,
as well as material costs, including excavation
for deep underlying stone bed and the use of
geotextile fabric. However, these higher ini-
tial costs are offset by reductions in the need
for expensive traditional "hard" stormwater
management of pipes, gutters, and drains
relative to parking lots made of conventional
asphalt pavement. When these savings are
incorporated, overall project costs are often
reduced.117 Also, when used in combination
with other smaller techniques, such as biore-
tention cells, vegetated swales, or vegetated
filter strips, permeable pavement reduces
the need for land-intensive BMPs such as dry
extended detention or wet retention ponds.
This fact produces additional cost advantages
for permeable pavement over conventional
asphalt in locations with high land prices.118
Maintenance costs should also be factored in
when considering the costs of a permeable
paving system. If not designed and main-
tained properly, porous pavement's effective
lifespan may be shortened due to potentially
high risks of clogging.119Some studies sug-
gest that the cost of vacuum sweeping on a
new permeable lot may be considerable if the
landowner does not already perform vacuum
sweeping operations. However, one study
estimates the annual maintenance cost for a
porous pavement parking lot at $200 per acre
annually, which includes regular inspections,
as well as jet hosing and vacuum sweeping.120
CHAPTER 5—Alternative Parking Surface Materials
30
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CASE STUDY 2: PARKING SURFACE ALTERNATIVES
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
In 2006, Heifer International, a non-profit sus-
tainable community development organiza-
tion located in Little Rock, Arkansas, designed
an environmentally-friendly parking plaza to
complement their new green building head-
quarters. A first of its kind in Arkansas, this
project serves as a model for other organiza-
tions considering a green parking lot. Heifer's
parking plaza encompasses numerous green
parking lot techniques including the use of
more sustainable materials to minimize im-
pervious surface, reduce runoff, reduce virgin
water use, and incorporate recycled content.
Heifer evaluated a variety of paving options
when selecting materials for their green
parking lot. Unlike a conventional lot, which
most likely would be constructed primarily
of asphalt, Heifer chose three types of paving
materials that provide environmental ben-
efits over asphalt.
• Concrete—The high traffic aisles and
driveway of the Heifer lot are paved with
concrete rather than asphalt. Overall, it
covers an 86,000 square-foot area, at a
cost of $5.75 per square foot, or $494,500.
The concrete base contains 90 percent
recycled cement and its top layer is made
of locally produced concrete.121 Because it
is a light colored and highly reflective sur-
face, concrete helps minimize heat island
effect (HIE) at the Heifer site. Coupled with
the extreme humidity in the Little Rock
region where Heifer is located, this HIE can
be stifling. However the use of concrete
for paving has been shown to produce a
20°F reduction in surface temperatures
compared to asphalt.122
Heifer International's World Headquarters: a green building with a green
parking lot.
• Gravel Pave system—Used for the park-
ing stalls, thirty thousand square feet of
Heifer's parking plaza are covered by a
gravel pave system. The stalls are construct-
ed using 100 percent recycled material
(90 percent post-industrial and 10 percent
post-consumer). At a unit cost of $4.75 per
square foot, this gravel pave portion of the
lot cost a total of $142,500. Maintenance
is minimal, requiring roughly eight hours a
month at a cost of $ 160 per month.
• Brick pavers—Recycled brick pavers
were used to form a decorative driveway
centerpiece, and cover the smallest part of
the lot (2,500 ft2) at a total cost of $34,418.
Heifer minimized the cost for the pav-
ers by reusing bricks from buildings that
previously occupied the site. Heifer em-
ployees also volunteered to help clean a
number of the bricks so they could be re-
used. The total cost for the pavers includes
additional labor, beyond the volunteer
hours, to clean bricks and construct the
centerpiece. Heifer has yet to incur any
maintenance costs for this area.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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All of the parking lot materials used in the
Heifer lot were purchased from local deal-
ers within 500 miles of the site, supporting
the local economy and reducing emissions
associated with transportation of purchased
materials.
UPSTREAM BENEFITS
Upstream environmental benefits were real-
ized through Heifer's use of recycled concrete
and other recycled materials, instead of using
virgin asphalt, in the construction of their lot.
These benefits include reduced air emissions
(associated with the production of asphalt),
reduced transportation emissions (from pur-
EXHIBIT 8: UPSTREAM BENEFITS OF
net increase in emissions or resource use. For
instance, Heifer's green parking lot used more
water than an asphalt parking lot would have
because of the greater water inputs required
in the recycling of concrete pavement com-
pared to the production of asphalt pavement.
By applying estimates of the economic value
of reduced human health and ecological
impacts from avoiding emissions, these
upstream benefits were then monetized.
Reliable estimates of economic value are not
available for carbon dioxide (C02) emissions.
However, by applying estimates for the value
of reducing sulfur dioxide (S02) and particu-
late matter (PM10) emissions, a range of mon-
THE HEIFER PARKING LoT124
Energy
(MMBtu)
668.3
Water Use
(gallons)
-116
Tons
co2
20.9
NOX
-0.89
PM,O
0.72
so2
25.3
Hazardous Waste
Generated
20.7
chasing locally produced materials), reduced
energy use, and reduced hazardous waste
generation related to the production of virgin
materials.
Modeling was used to estimate any upstream
benefits from the construction of Heifer's
lot.123 The resulting analysis (see Exhibit 8)
shows a clear overall positive net benefit
from the construction of Heifer's lot, although
results for some individual metrics indicate a
etary values related to Heifer's reductions can
be shown (see Exhibit 9).125
Heifer's goal in building its parking plaza
was to minimize impacts to the environment
while handling a large volume of site traffic.
A more detailed case study of Heifer Inter-
national's green parking lot can be found
on the U.S. EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/
earth! r6/6sf/bfpages/bfheifer.html.
EXHIBIT 9: VALUE OF UPSTREAM AIR EMISSIONS BENEFITS FOR HEIFER LOT
Air Emission
so2
PMio
Monetized Upstream Benefit
Low
$43,044
$7,170
High
$455,760
$71,700
CHAPTER 5—Alternative Parking Surface Materials
32
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CASE STUDY 3: PARKING SURFACE ALTERNATIVES
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, KINGSTON, RHODE ISLAND126
OVERVIEW
In 2002 and 2003, the University of Rhode
(URI) constructed two parking lots at their
Kingston, Rhode Island campus to meet
parking demands from new University
development and commuting students. The
parking lots were located within the town's
groundwater protection overlay district, the
University's wellhead protection area, and
also within the Pawcatuck sole source aquifer.
These lots would increase parking capacity
by 1,000 spaces, spread over seven acres of
land (see areas highlighted in red in Photo 1).
However, because the lots were located in an
ecologically sensitive area already covered by
an estimated thirty percent impervious sur-
face, the University desired an environmen-
tally protective option than would combat
stormwater issues more effectively than con-
ventional paving surfaces. The University's
main stormwater concern was to decrease
runoff quantities to protect a nearby stream
considered impaired due to low water flows.
URI's permeable parking lots - The two original permeable asphalt parking
lots built in 2002 and 2003 are outlined in red. The 2005 parking lot exten-
sion is outlined in green.
Rainwater infiltrates the porous asphalt (left), but accumulates on adjacent
road paved with conventional material (right).
In addition, project managers were also
interested in avoiding any potential impacts
to groundwater supplies.127 The University
determined that a permeable asphalt surface
would help control runoff quantities as well
as potentially limit pollutants entering sur-
face and groundwater supplies.
In addition to using permeable asphalt,
landscaped islands were designed as biofil-
tration areas to provide a secondary route
of infiltration during large storm events or
pavement clogging. Also, the University took
precautions to avoid clogging the permeable
pavement by planting trees and grass around
the parking lot perimeter, which limits wind-
blown dust from nearby agricultural areas
and controls soil erosion. An emergency spill-
way was also constructed to direct overflow
to recharge beds in the extremely unlikely
event that the permeable asphalt and biofil-
tration areas both clog.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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COST CONSIDERATIONS
The total construction costs for the two park-
ing lots was just over $3 million, or $3,000 per
parking space, which is considered compara-
ble to conventional parking lots of equal size.
Costs included site preparation, barn demoli-
tion, materials, lighting, drainage, landscap-
ing, monitoring wells, post-construction in-
spections, and design fees that were roughly
ten percent of the total cost. URI's costs
included non-typical items such as removal
of stone masonry walls, and installation of
security cameras and emergency telephones.
Without these additions, installation would
have been cheaper. On average, installation
runs between $2,200 and $2,750 for porous
pavements such as permeable asphalt.
INCORPORATING LESSONS LEARNED
In the few year since they constructed the
two permeable asphalt parking lots, URI has
been monitoring their success in managing
and filtering stormwater. As a new technolo-
gy, they noted several areas for improvement.
• Clogging
Overall, these parking lots were successful
from a hydrological perspective. However,
some clogging was observed in the higher
traffic areas of the lot. Clogging also
occurred in one corner of the lot where
plowed snow was stockpiled during the
winter, which reduced infiltration due to
sediment build-up. This is an indication
that plow blades were not raised to the
required height, an issue that also caused
surface defects to the lot.
Excavation of the lot during construction
of a sidewalk also revealed that the per-
meable asphalt layer was not infiltrating
properly because the binder had become
separated from the asphalt. Project
consultants recommended an improved
polymer mixture, new to the market, that
would prevent the separation and elimi-
nate the infiltration problem.
• Pollutant removal
The University is currently monitoring the
pollutant removal and runoff level from
the lots. They found a 90 percent retention
of zinc and copper. However, the perme-
able asphalt was not as effective in captur-
ing other pollutants, including organic
pollutant such as PAHs, and inorganic
pollutant such as nitrate and phosphate.
This is due to clogging, as well as the type
of geotextile fabric used in the project,
which was found to prevent an even flow
of water into the subsurface.
In the summer of 2005, the larger of the two
permeable asphalt parking lots was expand-
ed by another 800 spaces. When planning
this expansion, the University was able to
incorporate improvements to their design
based on lessons learned from the original
two parking lots. Design changes included
use of the polymer mixture to prevent sepa-
ration of the binder, fewer and wider biofiltra-
tion islands, and curb cuts for water entry to
the biofiltration islands. Maintenance issues
regarding snow removal were also addressed.
Further information on the University of
Rhode Island's permeable asphalt parking
lots can be found at www.uri.edu/ce/wq/
NEMO/Publications.
CHAPTER 5—Alternative Parking Surface Materials
34
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CHAPTER 6
LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION
In the majority of parking lots across
the country, landscaping does not vary
according to geographic location. It is
typically designed using conventional turf
grass, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, and com-
mon popular ornamental plantings. However,
because these plants are often not native
to areas where they are being used, regu-
lar maintenance is required to keep them
healthy. Sustaining this greenery requires
irrigation systems and potable water use to
supplement rainfall, chemical applications of
pesticides and fertilizers, and ongoing lawn
maintenance (e.g., mowing).128 Irrigation and
chemical use contribute to degradation of
water quality and aquatic habitat in receiving
waters, decreased water supplies, increased
stormwater runoff, declining biodiversity, and
air pollution. Mowing and other maintenance
activities are a significant air pollution con-
cern; for example, in one hour a lawn mower
emits as much pollution as a car driving 350
miles.129 With proper planning, landowners
can avoid these impacts by utilizing "natural
landscaping" approaches.
Natural landscaping involves creating a low-
maintenance landscape in and around a park-
ing lot using native plants and water-efficient
irrigation techniques. A vital component of
green parking lots, natural landscaping can:
• Reduce landscape installation and main-
tenance costs,
• Limit harmful chemical pollution (i.e.
pesticides, fertilizers),
• Reduce potable water use and pollutant
air emissions,
• Reduce damage from stormwater, and
• Improve habitat and increase
biodiversity.130
This chapter provides an overview of natural
landscaping and irrigation techniques suitable
for green parking lots. It describes the differ-
ence in irrigation and maintenance require-
ments for natural landscaping compared to
conventional landscaping, the benefits of
natural landscaping, and cost considerations.
OVERVIEW OF NATURAL
LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION
Natural Landscaping
Considerations and Vegetation
Conservation
Natural landscape design, sometimes
referred to as native or sustainable landscap-
ing, uses plant species indigenous to a region
pre-European settlement. Because these
native plant species have evolved in the local
environment, maintaining them is relatively
easy—they are more resistant to local pests,
they are better suited to survive on natural
rainfall, and they are adapted to live in local
soil types. These heartier plants also provide
habitat for local native wildlife species that
they co-evolved with—a symbiotic relation-
ship that is the foundation for our native
ecosystems and biodiversity.131
A feasible and intelligent approach for most
development sites, natural landscaping also
supports sustainable development strategies
such as Low Impact Development (LID) and
Smart Growth, and is a vital component to
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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many stormwater Best Management Practic-
es (BMPs). For example, some of the bioreten-
tion approaches described in Chapter 4, such
as vegetated swales and rain gardens, are
based on natural systems and intended to
function as they would have in absence of de-
velopment.132 BMPs rely on native plants for
added efficiency in retention, infiltration and
transpiration, and cleansing.133 See Chapter 4
for more information on BMPs.
Developers must take a number of factors
into consideration when planning and de-
signing natural landscaping. Natural land-
scaping involves more than new plantings of
native species; an important step to consider
before construction even begins is retaining
as much of the existing native landscaping as
possible at a site. By preserving existing vege-
tation, developers can minimize the need for
new landscaping, and limit site disturbance.
If the location of existing vegetation is not
suitable, it is preferable to relocate it on-site
rather than dispose of it during construction.
Another option is to remove native plants
from sites scheduled for construction; some
volunteer organizations will retrieve plants
from construction sites to later replant at
other locations.134
Landscaping choices should be compatible
with individual site characteristics including
topography, soil, drainage patterns, and sun
exposure.135 It is important to select site-
appropriate plants when bringing native
landscaping in from off-site; as such, consult-
ing a local landscape designer with native
plant knowledge is recommended.
Although native landscaping is feasible for
most sites, in cases where it is not feasible or
is otherwise not utilized, developers should
choose low-water use plants and limit the
amount of turf to only those areas necessary
for practical purposes.
Irrigation Requirements for
Natural Landscaping
As mentioned above, a key difference be-
tween conventional and natural landscaping
is water use requirements. Conventional land-
scaping consumes large quantities of water
to sustain non-native species, which typically
cannot withstand local conditions as well as
native varieties. For instance, the popular turf
species Kentucky Bluegrass typically requires
in excess of 40 inches a year of precipitation
to thrive.136 This is above annual rainfall levels
for many states, particularly in Western parts
of the country. According to the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy, native and other climate
appropriate landscaping can reduce irriga-
tion water use by at least 50 percent.137 This
was the case for Heifer International's green
parking lot (see case study at the end of the
chapter), where the landscaping requires no
additional irrigation under normal conditions.
Typically, native plants require irrigation only
when they first take root.138
In most cases the water source for conven-
tional irrigation is the same potable drinking
water used inside buildings, applied gener-
ously by inefficient spray irrigation systems.
In many developments, these irrigation
systems are programmed to turn on auto-
matically, and do not take fluctuating rainfall
amounts or soil moisture into account. In
contrast, natural landscaping fosters smarter
irrigation practices, through water-efficient
planting, mulching, rainwater harvesting, and
water-efficient irrigation technology.
Efficient Irrigation Technology139
Efficient irrigation technology is essential to
CHAPTER 6—Landscaping and Irrigation
36
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conserving water, and a number of options
are available to help landowners save money
through less wasteful practices. A fundamental
problem of conventional irrigation is over-
watering. Not only does over-watering reduce
water supplies and increase runoff amounts,
but it also can result in plant diseases such as
fungus, and in the excessive growth of weeds
and pests. Over-watering also results in weak
plant growth that in turn precipitates the need
for additional maintenance.140
If landscaping is watered at a less frequent
and more appropriate rate, plants will
develop deeper roots and become healthier
overall.141 Recommended alternatives to the
traditional sprinkler method, which often
over-waters landscaping, include soaker
hose, drip, or subsurface irrigation.
Drip irrigation in particular is a water conser-
vation technology that is gaining popularity.
Used in the past to conserve water in arid
areas, its use has expanded with heightened
awareness of resource conservation and
environmental sustainability. Drip irrigation
is a system of tubing with small holes that
allows water to drip out onto the root zone of
plants, providing more targeted and uniform
irrigation. Such systems can run on recycled
water, and can be an option for temporary
use to establish native plants. Should a sprin-
kler system be selected, low-flow sprinkler
systems that release water slowly and close
to the ground are preferable to sprinklers
that emit mist, which easily evaporates.142
Other examples of efficient irrigation tech-
nology include soil tensiometers, which de-
termine when the soil is dry and gauge water
needs; rain or moisture sensors that can shut
off automated irrigation systems during rain;
irrigation timers with manual overrides to
properly schedule sprinkler use; and zoning
systems that focus on the water needs of
each plant grouping.143
Efficient Irrigation Procedures
The basic practices of landscaping, including
plant layout and irrigation scheduling, are
also vital to natural landscaping.
• Seasonal influences—When scheduling
irrigation, it is important to understand
the seasonal variations and changing
weather conditions. In some regions of
the country, water requirements can vary
considerably depending on the season.
• Time of day—It is also important to
consider the time of day when irrigation
is taking place. Watering is more effective
during early morning hours or early in
the evening, when temperature and wind
speeds are typically lower, thus reducing
evaporation water loss.144
• Weather conditions—Weather condi-
tions and weather forecasts should be
incorporated into irrigation planning. Use
system override devices when it is raining,
and try to program irrigation to avoid days
when rain is forecast. In addition, watering
on windy days means that the water may
not reach targeted areas or may be blown
onto paved areas.
Mulching helps keep moisture in the soil and
allows rainfall and irrigation water to better
penetrate the root system. Landscapers rec-
ommend that roughly three inches of organic
mulch be applied over trees and shrubs roots,
and in plant beds. This also helps moderate
soil temperature, minimize evaporation, and
reduce erosion and weeds. In addition, when
mulch decomposes, it increases the organic
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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content of the soil.145 Lastly, the layout of
natural landscaping is important to efficient
irrigation. By grouping plants with similar wa-
ter needs together, a dedicated irrigation line
or valve can be used to apply the appropriate
amount of water at the correct frequency.146
Rainwater Harvesting and
Recycled Water147
To conserve water, natural landscaping also
includes the use of collected rainwater or
recycled wastewater for irrigation. These are
both preferred alternatives to using potable
water, which is a finite natural resource.
Moreover, potable water treatment man-
agement requires energy use for desalting,
pumping, pressurizing, groundwater extrac-
tion, conveyance, and treatment.148
Reuse of rainwater is a good option because it
is "not chlorinated and is mildly acidic, which
helps plants take up important minerals."149
Containers, such as cisterns or rain barrels, can
be used to collect and store water from roof
catchment areas. Rainwater can also be har-
vested from an underground storage system,
which is then pumped to the irrigation system.
In addition to rainwater harvesting, certain
types of non-potable water, if treated properly,
can be used as well for irrigation. For instance,
water recycled from wastewater, also known
as irrigation quality or reclaimed water, can be
treated and, although not suitable for drinking,
is very useful for irrigation.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF
USING NATURAL LANDSCAPING AND
ASSOCIATED IRRIGATION
Compared to conventional landscaping de-
sign, natural landscaping can offer substan-
tial environmental benefits by minimizing ir-
rigation and maintenance needs once plants
are established. The primary environmental
benefits of incorporating natural landscaping
into parking lots are described below.
Decreased Non-Point Source
Pollution
The U.S. EPA's 2004 Conference on Landscap-
ing with Native Plants found that landscaping
with native plants may help reduce non-point
source pollution reduction in the following
ways:
• The need for fertilizers and pesticides to
maintain conventional landscapes (i.e. turf
grass) can often be eliminated with native
vegetation.
• Through direct uptake of nutrients, native
plants may reduce the impact of fertilizer
elements (i.e. nitrogen and phosphorous)
that would otherwise contaminate water
sources.152 Fertilizer contributes to ap-
proximately 80 percent of nutrient loads
in the springtime.153
• Native plants may create sub-soil condi-
tions that help reduce levels of nitrate
entering water supplies via facilitation.154
• Native plants are capable of filtering other
impurities from stormwater runoff, such as
salt and automobile deposits (i.e., oil).
The over-application of fertilizers and
pesticides can lead to other detrimental
environmental impacts beyond non-point
source pollution. Less than 10 percent of
insects actually harm plants, yet inappropri-
ate pesticide use harms non-target insects
that are beneficial to the environment, it can
also harm wildlife.155 Overuse of fertilizers can
exacerbate insect diseases as well as promote
unnecessary plant growth, which in turn
increases maintenance needs.156
CHAPTER 6—Landscaping and Irrigation
38
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An innovative natural landscaping approach
to pest management, called "integrated pest
management," is a low chemical approach
to landscape maintenance. Rather than
emphasizing the use of harsh chemicals, it
incorporates materials composed of natu-
rally occurring compounds, and promotes
natural landscaping design and maintenance
practices. According to the U.S. Department
of Energy, integrated past management
"demonstrably creates a better environment
for plants as time passes."157
Water Conservation
Water conservation is one of the primary
benefits of a natural landscaping approach.
Using native plants in landscaping helps con-
serve water because once established, native
plants often do not need supplemental wa-
tering beyond local rainfall amounts.158This
is not the case for conventional landscaping
where, for instance, the watering schedule
for turf landscaping is estimated at 1 inch of
water over the entire area, for 30 applications
per year.159 The water conservation ben-
efits become even greater when harvested
rainwater or recycled wastewater are used for
irrigation rather than potable water.
With water shortages seen in many commu-
nities throughout the country, native land-
scaping is a sensible approach to preserving
water. Local governments in states such as
North Carolina, Texas, and California have
adopted natural landscaping ordinances,
innovative rate structures, and wastewater
reuse plans to address water shortages. For
example, Santa Monica, California requires
the use of a particular water-efficient land-
scaping strategy called"xeriscaping"for all
landscapes installed in new commercial and
industrial developments. Xeriscaping is a
collection of sustainable landscaping design
principles incorporating the use of native
or other water efficient plants.160 Another
example is Las Vegas, Nevada, where a city
ordinance limits the amount of turf on new
landscapes to no more than 50 percent.161
Reduced Air Pollution
Reduced maintenance from native landscap-
ing can improve air quality:
• Locally, through reduced smog and air
toxics;
• Regionally, through the reduction of acid
rain caused by nitrogen oxide (NOX) and
sulfur dioxide (S02) emissions; and
• Globally, by combating greenhouse gas
emissions.162
It is estimated that for every 10 days of
maintenance required fora traditional turf
landscape area, a natural designed area only
requires one day.163This greatly minimizes
the need to run maintenance equipment
such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and weed
wackers, which typically run on gasoline and
emit carbon dioxide (C02) and other air pol-
lutants. For example, the use of lawn equip-
ment in just the Chicago region produces 50
tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
every day in the summertime.164
Reduced Erosion and
Sedimentation
Natural landscaping in parking lots also helps
minimize the erosion and sedimentation
impacts of development. The deep root sys-
tems of native plants stabilize soils and help
prevent wind and water erosion along deten-
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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tion basin edges and stream banks.165 This is
particularly true of plants that were on-site
pre-construction and preserved. Native plant-
ings can also help remove sediments from
runoff through filtration, again helping to
preserve water quality and aquatic habitat.166
Reduced Heat Island Effect
As discussed in Chapter 1, heat island effect
(HIE) occurs in urban areas when the com-
bined effect of heat-absorbing surfaces, such
as asphalt, leads to higher air and surface
temperatures. HIE can increase temperatures
between 2 to 8°F on average during the sum-
mer.167 The greatest temperature increases are
typically seen in areas with less vegetation
and high amounts of urban development.
Vegetation, especially trees, can help reduce
HIE, by providing shading to paved areas. For
example, a NASA study on the Madison Square
Mall in Huntsville, Alabama found that the
temperature in the middle of the parking lot
on a summer day was 120°F, while the temper-
ature at a small tree island in the parking lot
was only 89°F. For every additional tree canopy
cover temperatures can often be reduced by
1° F. Vegetation can also indirectly cool parking
areas though transpiration, and soil also cools
through water evaporation.168
Because of its cooling capabilities, landscap-
ing also plays a role in reducing building
energy use and associated C02 air emissions.
Hotter temperatures from HIE can lead to
increased energy demand to cool buildings
located near heat absorbing surfaces such as
parking lots. By reducing HIE, it is estimated
that plantings close to buildings can reduce
air conditioning costs by 5 to 20 percent.169
Enhanced Biodiversity
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is literally
the variety of life. Defined as "the variability
among living organisms from all sources in-
cluding.. .terrestrial, marine and other aquat-
ic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes
of which they are part," biodiversity is the
diversity within species, between species and
of ecosystems.170 Conventional landscaping
can negatively affect biodiversity of species at
various levels when native plants species are
replaced with homogenous, exotic, ornamen-
tal species. This "monoculture" limits genetic,
species, and ecosystem diversity.
The diversity of our flora and fauna is an in-
valuable resource from an environmental and
human health perspective. Ecosystems that
contain a diversity of native plant and animal
species better provide "ecosystem services"
to humans, such as water and air purifica-
tion.171 Native plants also support a healthier
environment by providing food and shelter
for wildlife. In addition, some exotic plants
can become invasive species, smothering na-
tive plants or overrunning their habitat, again
affecting the plant population and the chain
of species dependent upon it.
COST EFFECTIVENESS OF USING
NATURAL LANDSCAPING
A common perception is that natural land-
scaping is more costly than conventional
landscaping. However, cost/benefit modeling
and case studies have shown that natural
landscaping can be more cost-effective in the
long term—for both communities and land
owners.172 Reduced costs result from de-
creased energy use, forestalled infrastructure
upgrades, and lower land maintenance costs.
For example, one study found that landown-
ers can save between $270 and $640 dollars
per acre by preserving the native landscape
of their open land instead of creating a
CHAPTER 6—Landscaping and Irrigation
40
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conventional, tuft-based, landscape. Savings
can also be realized during the installation
of natural landscaping. It can be between
$4,400 and $8,850 less expensive per acre for
the installation of natural landscaping than
for turf grass.173
Of all the potential sources of costs savings
from natural landscaping, reduced main-
tenance leads to the greatest savings. As
discussed throughout this chapter, natural
landscaping requires less maintenance and
labor expenditures, such as less irrigation,
mowing, weeding, and fertilizer/pesticide ap-
plication. Decreased irrigation is a major part
of these savings, as is seen in the case of Heifer
International (see following case study).
sustainable landscaping versus conventional
landscaping.
By using a simple payback calculation, the
above example demonstrates that the costs
for the native landscaping are recovered
within the first year because of significantly
lower maintenance costs.174 As a general
rule, annual maintenance costs for natural
landscaping are approximately 10 percent of
conventional landscaping.175
Other economic benefits of natural landscap-
ing include local government and commu-
nity cost-savings from avoided infrastructure
and/or water supply upgrades associated
with stormwater runoff, which can lead to
flooding, pollution, groundwater recharge
EXHIBIT 10: INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, AND INCREMENTAL COSTS
OF SUSTAINABLE vs. CONVENTIONAL LANDSCAPE AREA
(LANDSCAPE AREA = 8,000 SQUARE FEET)
Native Planting
Traditional Turf
Cost Difference (Native
minus Traditional)
Site Design and
Implementation
$3,673
$1,224
$2,449
Installation
$184
$61
$123
Total Maintenance
($/year)
$272
$3,318
-$3,046
Source:
Estimate of landscape area includes 1 -acre (43,560 ft2) lot with 25,200 square foot parking area and 10,082 ft2 building
footprint. For more information see U.S. Department of Energy, (2003), The Business Case for Sustainable Design in Federal
Facilities—Appendix D, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/sustainable/sustainablejederalfacilities.html.
An example of the overall maintenance sav-
ings, including water savings, is presented in
the following comparison produced by the
U.S. Department of Energy. In this example,
costs are compared for a one-acre site (in-
cluding a 50 to 75 space parking area) using
deficits, and damage to stream ecology.176
Reduced infrastructure burden is discussed
in Chapter 7. In addition, communities often
pay to eradicate algae blooms caused by ex-
cess fertilizing, a cost avoided by widespread
use of native landscaping.177
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CASE STUDY 4: LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
In 2006, Heifer International, a non-profit sus-
tainable community development organiza-
tion located in Little Rock, Arkansas, designed
an environmentally-friendly parking plaza to
complement their new green building head-
quarters. A first of its kind in Arkansas, this
project serves as a model for other organiza-
tions considering utilizing green parking lot
techniques. One highlight is Heifer's use of
native landscaping and irrigation methods,
which reduce potable water use and provide
habitat for local species.
The innovative landscaping and irrigation
surrounding Heifer International's parking lot
provides a variety of environmental benefits.
The grasses, plants, trees, and wildflowers
used throughout much of the site are indig-
enous, and do not require pesticides. They
also offer food and shelter to native wildlife,
and help create a more visually pleasing
aesthetic. Under natural rainfall events, the
species planted in the lot should be able to
sustain themselves with little irrigation. In
fact, in a normal rainfall year, the landscape
will require irrigation only once a week.
Because Heifer used a combination of native
seeding and sod, their parking lot requires
less irrigation than a conventional lot using
all sod and non-native landscaping. In a typi-
cal, non-drought year, Heifer's closed loop
stormwater system will provide 100 percent
of the water necessary to irrigate vegeta-
tion throughout the lot, eliminating use of
municipal water for this purpose. Heifer uses
approximately 5,000 gallons of irrigation
water per week, or 260,000 gallons annually,
to irrigate its grounds. According to their
landscape architect, this represents a two-
By using native landscaping around its parking lot. Heifer International supports
the local ecosystem and conserves water.
thirds reduction in water demand compared
to a conventional parking lot scenario with
standard landscaping. By using recycled wa-
ter, native plants, and water conserving irriga-
tion, Heifer is conserving 520,000 gallons of
potable water, and saving $65,343, annually.
Currently Heifer has six irrigation zones, four
that use drip irrigation and two that use con-
ventional sprinkler irrigation.
• Drip Irrigation—Heifer has four drip-
zones for irrigating native trees and shrubs
on the site. Each releases 0.9 gallons per
hour, using a total of approximately 2,000
gallons of water per week. The total cost
for the drip irrigation system was $79,000.
• Sprinkler Irrigation—Heifer has two
spray-zones for irrigating the sod portions
of the lot. These conventional pop-up
spray heads produce approximately 25
gallons of water per minute per zone, us-
ing a total of approximately 3,000 gallons
of water per week. The total cost for the
sprinkler irrigation system was $42,000.
CHAPTER 6—Landscaping and Irrigation
42
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Heifer supported this sustainable landscap- aesthetics of the parking lot, reduced heat
ing by amending the soil with compost, island effect, and supported wildlife habitat.
which helps increase nutrient retention,
For more information on Heifer Internation-
decrease irrigation needs, and improve soil , , , , , ,
, , , a Is green parking lot, including their sustam-
and plant health. They went beyond the City ,, , ,
able landscaping techniques, please vist the
of Little Rock sparking ordinance by planting , ,,
U.S. EPA's green building Web site at: www.
80 trees (63 more than the city requires) and
, r , , , , epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/bfpages/bfheifer.html.
landscaped a far larger area within the lot
than required. These actions improved the
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008 43
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CHAPTER 7
REDUCED INFRASTRUCTURE BURDEN
This resource guide has explored
how components of a green park-
ing lot, including stormwater best
management practices, innovative planning
policies, and native landscaping, can be
used in combination to sustainably manage
stormwater at individual sites. The ultimate
potential of these practices, however, lies in
scaling them up to the neighborhood, town,
or regional level, to reduce burden on the
current stormwater management infrastruc-
ture, and plan for sustainable future growth.
This"green infrastructure"approach encom-
passes planning for parking lots, housing
developments, roads, and other stormwater
related infrastructure. Defined by the EPA
as techniques thaf'utilize natural systems,
or engineered systems that mimic natural
landscapes, to capture, cleanse, and reduce
stormwater runoff using plants, soils, and
microbes," green infrastructure is an approach
that is being endorsed by U.S. federal, state
and local government entities, including:
• The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and national stakeholders
In 2007, EPA and four major national
groups (National Association of Clean Wa-
ter Agencies, Natural Resources Defense
Council, Low Impact Development Center,
and Association of State and Interstate
Water Pollution Control Administrators)
signed an agreement to promote the use
of green infrastructure to reduce stormwa-
ter runoff and sewer overflows.178
• The Environmental Council of States
(ECOS)
In 2007, ECOS'Green Infrastructure
Resolution (07-10) encouraged the use
of green infrastructure to mitigate sewer
overflows and protect public health and
the environment.179
• The U.S. Conference of Mayors
A 2006 Green Infrastructure Resolution
from the U.S. Conference of Mayors recog-
nized that "green infrastructure naturally
manages stormwater, reduces flooding
risk and improves air and water quality,
thus performing many of the same func-
tions as traditional building infrastructure,
often at a fraction of the cost."180
The need for scaling up green infrastructure
is pressing. It is estimated that nearly 25
million acres of impervious surface cover the
continental United States, and that approxi-
mately 70 million acres of land will be newly
developed in the United States by the year
2025. By 2030,50 percent of the built envi-
ronment will have been constructed since
2000.181 Such growth will increase strain on
existing municipal stormwater management
systems by adding more impervious surface
area and higher volumes of runoff. In many
areas of the country, these systems are al-
ready critically strained and are saddled with
a backlog of deferred maintenance. A green
infrastructure approach can minimize runoff
volumes, and reduce the combined burden
on municipal stormwater and wastewater
infrastructures.182
CHAPTER 7—Reduced Infrastructure Burden
44
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REGIONAL STORMWATER AND
WASTEWATER IMPACTS
As outlined in previous chapters, stormwater
runoff can cause a number of serious prob-
lems including water pollution, flooding,
groundwater recharge deficits, and damage
to stream ecology.183 These impacts translate
into high costs to municipalities, and using
conventional methods alone to control them
can be an expensive use of public funds. This
is particularly true in regions of the country
with older infrastructure, including the Pacific
Northwest, Northeast, and Great Lakes. In
these regions, stormwater is often channeled
into the same pipes as sewage (i.e., combined
sewers). With large areas of impervious sur-
face and development, heavy rain events can
push these combined pipes beyond capacity,
causing them to overflow. These "combined
sewer overflows," or CSOs, result in large
amounts of untreated waste overflowing into
waterways, making them a primary source of
pollution for many water bodies. The Clean
Water Act requires that combined sewer sys-
tems be updated to prevent CSOs, however,
these upgrades are cost prohibitive for many
cities and towns.184The EPA's 2000 Clean
Watersheds Needs Survey estimates that $56
billion in capital investment nationally was
needed for CSO controls.185
The regional impact of stormwater runoff
and CSOs cannot be properly controlled by
sporadic site-by-site controls, or large end-
of-pipe conventional stormwater treatment
alone. A coordinated, area-wide planning
effort is required. Major cities throughout the
country, including Portland (Oregon), Seattle,
Chicago, and Philadelphia, have started to
invest in land use planning and infrastructure
development with green infrastructure as a
major component.186 For example, Portland,
Oregon is a leader in integrating innovative
environmental technology into its city plan-
ning and policies. The city's building codes
require on-site stormwater management
for all new construction projects, and their
stormwater manual encourages the use of
best management practices.187 A number of
smaller cities and towns have also started
to embrace green infrastructure planning.
In Kansas City, Missouri, planners are imple-
menting the 10,000 Rain Garden Initiative,
which will create 10,000 such gardens to
help the city achieve its 20-year Wet Weather
Solutions Program. This is one of the largest
infrastructure projects in the city's history.188
COST EFFECTIVENESS
Looking at stormwater management from
a regional or watershed scale is important
when considering costs.The piping, channels,
and treatment plants of a traditional storm-
water infrastructure are expensive to build,
operate, and maintain, and are not the most
effective way of controlling stormwater.189
The EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water
has stated that:
"Green infrastructure may save capital
costs associated with digging big tun-
nels and centralized stormwater ponds,
operations and maintenance expenses for
treatment plants, pipes, and other hard
infrastructure; energy costs for pumping
water; and costs of wet weather treatment
and repairing of stormwater and sewage
pollution impacts, such as stream bank
restoration."190
Potential cost savings are important to com-
munities throughout the United States that
are working to comply with federal storm-
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
45
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water management regulations. According
to an 2007 report evaluating the potential
of a major storm water minimization pro-
gram, "the use of green infrastructure can
help communities meet their overall water
resource management goals and reduce the
costs (or free up funding for other uses such
as land purchases) of constructing and main-
taining engineered infrastructure including
pipes and treatment systems."191 For example,
in Kane County, Illinois, researchers estimated
economic benefits of downstream stormwa-
ter management through green infrastruc-
ture practices implemented upstream would
save approximately $4 million, money that
would otherwise have been spent on culvert
replacement or upgrades for stormwater
diversion. When both flood reduction and in-
frastructure savings are considered, the green
infrastructure practices were found to be ap-
proximately $300-$700 less expensive per de-
veloped acre.192 Portland, Oregon estimates
its Green Streets stormwater infrastructure
design saves 40 percent in costs compared to
conventional stormwater infrastructure (also
see Green Streets case study at the end of this
chapter).193
Green infrastructure can be a cost effective
replacement or complement for other water
quality improvement strategies. For example,
for 10 years, a demonstration project in the
Rouge River area of Michigan has been utiliz-
ing 14 acres of wetlands (two thirds of which
are constructed) along the river's banks to
naturally treat stormwater before it enters
the water body, rather than piping it directly
into the river. They found that, at a cost of
less than $50,000 per year, the wetlands not
only diminished stormwater flows, but also
successfully removed pollutants from runoff,
including 80 percent of suspended solids,
70 percent of phosphorus, and 60 percent
of oxygen depleting compounds and heavy
metals. The high efficacy of the wetlands
made them a cost-effective strategy for
improving the river's water quality.194 In Port-
land, Oregon, the City has found that adopt-
ing a variety of green infrastructure tech-
niques over the course of a 10 year period has
avoided over 1.2 billion gallons of runoff and
has reduced CSO events by 10 percent.195
It is clear that stormwater management must
be elevated to a key urban planning and
policy issue as local governments seek to
reduce stormwater impacts cost-effectively.
Promoting green infrastructure regionally or
watershed-wide will help control the cumula-
tive impact that stormwater from multiple
sources has on stormwater infrastructure.
Even in cases where green infrastructure
investments are not more cost-effective in
the short-term, the long-term environmental
and social benefits can be quite significant
to livability and sustainability on a regional
scale. These benefits have been explored
throughout this guide, and include enhanced
groundwater recharge, pollution prevention,
increased carbon sequestration, HIE mitiga-
tion, improved air quality, and increased
green space and wildlife habitat.196
CHAPTER 7—Reduced Infrastructure Burden
46
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CASE STUDY 5: REDUCED INFRASTRUCTURE BURDEN
GREEN STREETS PROGRAM—PORTLAND, OREGON
For over a decade, the City of Portland,
Oregon has been pursuing new approaches
to stormwater management. Known for its
wet weather with the third highest number
of rainy days annually in the U.S., Portland
typically averages 37 inches of rain a year.197
Approximately 66 percent of the resulting
stormwater runoff comes from streets and
rights of way.198 For this reason, the City
created "Green Streets," a city-wide land use
planning effort for stormwater management
focused on transportation-related develop-
ment (i.e. parking lots, streets). Defining a
Green Street as "one that uses vegetated
facilities to manage stormwater runoff as its
source," this program is part of a concert of
initiatives that the city is undertaking to help
them reach their goal of removing 60 million
gallons of stormwater annually by 2011.199'200
Although city officials have been promoting
a green streets theme for a number of years,
in 2005 an interdisciplinary team of area
experts, including government officials, en-
gineers, planners, landscape architects, and
watershed managers refocused the program
by taking a fresh look at opportunities for its
implementation. This multi-disciplinary ap-
proach provided the breadth of knowledge
necessary to properly address comprehensive
stormwater management, and was invalu-
able to successfully implementing the Green
Streets program.
In revamping the Green Streets program,
Portland focused on learning through dem-
onstration projects. This includes a project on
the Portland State University campus built
in 2005 to treat 8,000 square-feet of street
One of many rain gardens being built throughout Portland as part of the city's
Green Streets program.
surface runoff through the use of infiltration
basins. In 2006, this project was recognized
with the national American Society of Land-
scape Architects Design Award.201 By starting
with demonstration projects, the City was
able to monitor results and incorporate les-
sons learned into more effective stormwater
designs that could be replicated on a city-
wide scale.202
In April 2007, the Portland City Council of-
ficially endorsed the enhanced Green Streets
program by approving an innovative storm-
water management plan comprised of a reso-
lution, report, and policy. The overarching
goal of this program is to "comprehensively
address numerous city goals for neighbor-
hood livability, sustainable development,
increased green spaces, stormwater manage-
ment, and groundwater protect! on."203 The
city council articulated several objectives for
achieving this goal, including a neighbor-
hood planning initiative, further stakeholder
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
47
-------
outreach, the pursuit of more funding mecha- For more information on the Portland,
nisms, and ultimately the establishment of Oregon Green Streets program, please visit
even more Green Streets. As a short term the Green Streets Web site at:
objective, the City is planning on developing www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.
500 additional Green Street projects to ad- cfm?c=44407&.
dress combined sewer overflow issues.204
CHAPTER 7—Reduced Infrastructure Burden 48
-------
KEY RESOURCES
PLANNING RESOURCES
American Rivers and SmartGrowth America,
(2002), Paving Our Way to Water Short-
ages: www.smartgrowthamerica.org/
DroughtSprawlReport09.pdf.
Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council,
(2006), Sustainable Transportation Toolkit:
Parking: http://transtoolkit.mapc.org/.
Center for Neighborhood Technology, (2006),
Paved Over: Surface Parking Lots or Op-
portunities for Tax—Generating Sustain-
able Development, November 2006:
www.cnt.org/repository/PavedOver-Final.pdf.
Gibbons, J. (1999), Parking Lots—Technical
Paper #5, University of Connecticut
Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials
(NEMO) program: http://nemo.uconn.edu/
tools/publications/tech_papers/
tech_paper_5.pdf.
Litman,T., (2006), Parking Management:
Strategies, Evaluation and Planning,
Victoria Transport Policy Institute, April 25,
2006: www.vtpi.org/park_man.pdf.
Maryland Governor's Office of Smart Growth,
(2005), Driving Urban Environments:
Smart Growth Parking Best Practices:
www.smartgrowth.state.md.us.
Shoup, D., (2005), The High Cost of Free Park-
ing, APA Planners Press.
Shoup, D., (1999),TheTrouble with Minimum
Parking Requirements, Transportation
Research Part A, Vol. 33, pgs. 549-574:
www.vtpi.org/shoup.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2006), Parking Spaces/Community
Places: Finding the Balance through Smart
Growth Solutions, EPA 231-K-06-001:
www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/
EPAParkingSpaces06.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2005), Using Smart Growth Tech-
niques as Stormwater Best Management
Practices, EPA 231-B-05-002:
www.epa.gov/livability/pdf/
sg_stormwater_BMP.pdf
U.S. EPA, (1999), Parking Alternatives: Mak-
ing Way for Urban Infill and Brownfield
Redevelopment, EPA231-K-99-001.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BMP
RESOURCES
Chester County, Pennsylvania Water
Resources Compendium, (2005), Water-
shed Primer: http://dsf.chesco.org/water/
cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=607722.
Community Design and Architecture, (2005),
Stormwater Guidelines for Green Dense
Redevelopment, U.S. EPA: www.epa.gov/
dced/pdf/Stormwater_Guidelines.pdf.
Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C. (2006), Rooftops
to Rivers: Green Strategies for Controlling
Stormwater and Combined Sewer Over-
flows, Natural Resources Defense Council:
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/
contents.asp.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, (2000),
Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas:
www.pca.state.mn.us/water/pubs/
sw-bmpmanual.html.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
49
-------
Muthukrishnan, S. and Selvakumar, A., (2004),
The Use of Best Management Practices
(BMPs) in Urban Watersheds, U.S. En-
vironmental Protection Agency, EPA-
600-R-04-184.
NAHB Research Center, Inc., (2003),The
Practice of Low Impact Development, U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment: www.huduser.org/publications/
PDF/practlowimpctdevel.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination (NPDES) Fact Sheets:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/
stormwater/menuofbmps/
index.cfm?action=factsheet_
results&view=specific&bmp=75.
U.S. EPA, (2007), Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint
Source Pollution) Web site:
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/whatis.html.
U.S. EPA, (1999), Preliminary Data Summary
of Urban Stormwater Best Management
Practices, EPA-821 -R-99-012, August 1999:
www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/
stormwater.
U.S. EPA, (1999), Storm Water Municipal Tech-
nologies, EPA-832-F-99-019:
www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/mtbfact.htm.
Washington State Department of Ecology,
(2004), Stormwater and Economic Devel-
opment, 04-10-001: www.ecy.wa.gov/
pubs/0410001.pdf.
Weiss, P., Gulliver, J., and Erickson, A., (2007),
Cost and Pollutant Removal of Storm-Wa-
ter Treatment Practices, Journal of Water
Resources Planning and Management,
Volume 133, Issue 3, pp. 218-229, May/
June 2007.
Wossink, A. and Hunt, B., (2003), An Evalua-
tion of the Costs and Benefits of Structural
Stormwater Best Management Practices
in North Carolina, North Carolina State
University: www.stormwaterauthority.org/
assets/Stormwater_BMP_Factsheet%20
-%20NC.pdf.
NATURAL LANDSCAPING AND
IRRIGATION
City of Chicago, (2003), A Guide to Storm-
water Best Management Practices: www.
cdfinc.com/CDF_Resources/Chicago%20
GuideTo%20Stormwater%20BMP.pdf.
Florida Department of Environmental Protec-
tion, (2006), Water Best Management
Practices, Florida Green Lodging Program:
www.treeo.ufl.edu/greenlodging/content/
gr_h2o.htm.
Illinois Conservation Foundation and Chi-
cago Wilderness, (2005), Changing Cost
Perceptions: An Analysis of Conserva-
tion Development: www.cdfinc.com/
CDF_Resources/Cost%20Analysis%20
-%20Part%201%20-%20Report%20-%20
with%20Exec%20
Summary.pdf.
North Carolina Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, (2005), Water
Efficiency: Water Management Options,
Division of Pollution Prevention and Envi-
ronmental Assistance: www.p2pays.org/
ref/04/03102.pdf.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, (2006), Pennsylvania Stormwa-
ter Best Management Practices Manual:
Chapter 5,363-0300-002: www.dep.state.
pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/wc/sub-
jects/stormwatermanagement/BMP%20
Manual/05_Chapter_Final_Draft.pdf.
Key Resources
50
-------
State of California Energy Commission, (2005),
California's Water-Energy Relationship,
CEC-700-2005-011-SF: www.energy.
ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-700-2005-011 /
CEC-700-2005-011-SF.PDF.
U.S. Department of Energy, (2006), Federal
Energy Management Program—Water
Efficiency: http://www1 .eere.energy.gov/
femp/water/water_bmp3.html.
U.S. Department of Energy, (2001), Greening
Federal Facilities, second edition:
www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/29267.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary,
Landscaping with Native Plants: Exploring
the Environmental, Social and Economic
Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004:
www.epa.gov/greenacres/conf12_04/
conf_knwldge.html.
U.S. EPA, GreenScapes Web site Resource:
www.epa.gov/greenscapes/.
U.S. EPA, Landscaping with Native Plants—
Greenacres Web site Resource: www.epa.
gov/greenacres//index.html#Benefits.
U.S. EPA, (2003), Water-Efficient Landscaping:
www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
waterefficiency.pdf.
Wolf, K., (2004), Trees, Parking, and Green
Law: Strategies for Sustainability: www.ur-
banforestrysouth.org/Resources/Library/
Citation.2004-07-14.1757/file_name.
ALTERNATIVE PARKING SURFACE
MATERIALS
Brattebo, B. and Booth, D., (2003), Long-term
stormwater quantity and quality perfor-
mance of permeable pavement systems,
Water Research, 37,4368-4376, November
2003.
Cahill,T. et al, (2005), Stormwater Manage-
ment with Porous Pavements, Govern-
ment Engineering, March-April 2005, pp.
14-19: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
Diyagama,!., et al., (2004), Permeable Pave-
ment Design Guidelines - Draft, prepared
for North Shore City, EcoWater Solutions,
and Rodney District: www.northshorecity.
govt.nz/IDSM/IDSM2006/downloads/
PDFs/Permeable_Pavement_Design_
Guidelines_Draft_092004.pdf.
Hinman, C, (2005), Low Impact Development
Technical Guidance Manual for Puget
Sound, Puget Sound Action Team, publi-
cation number PSAT 05-03, p. 121:
www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_tech_
manual05/lid_index.htm.
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality,
(2005), Storm Water Best Management
Practices Catalog: www.deq.idaho.gov/
water/data_reports/storm_water/catalog/
sec_3/bmps/11 .pdf.
Knox County,Tennessee, (2007), Stormwater
Management Ordinance, Volume 1 and 2:
http://knoxcounty.org/stormwater/.
New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, (2004), New Jersey Stormwa-
ter Best Management Practices Manual:
www.njstormwater.org/tier_A/pdf/
NJ_SWBMP_9.7.pdf.
New York State Department of Environmen-
tal Conservation, (2003), New York State
Stormwater Management Design Manual,
with updated sections from 2007:
www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, (2005), Draft Pennsylvania
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
51
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Stormwater Best Management Manual:
www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/
watermgt/wc/subjects/
stormwatermanagement/BMP%20
Manual/BMP%20Manual.htm.
U.S. Department ofTransportation, (2007),
Stormwater Best Management Practices
in an Ultra Urban Setting: www.fhwa.dot.
gov/environment/ultraurb/uubmp3p6.htm.
U.S. EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimi-
nation System (NPDES)—National Menu
of Stormwater Best Management Practices
(i.e. Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, Alterna-
tive Pavers Fact Sheet): http://cfpub.epa.
gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/.
REDUCED INFRASTRUCTURE BURDEN
Center for Neighborhood Technology, (2007),
Green Infrastructure Performance: www.
cnt.org/repository/BMP-Performance.pdf.
City of Portland, Oregon Green Streets Program:
Green Streets Program Web site accessed
at: www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.
cfm?c=eeeah
Green Street Cross-Bureau Team Report -
Phase I, March 2006: www.portlandonline.
com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=123793
Green Street Cross-Bureau Team Report—
Phase 2: www.portlandonline.com/
shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=153974.
Dunn, A. and Stoner, N., (2007), Green Light
for Green Infrastructure,The Environ-
mental Forum, May/June 2007, reprinted
by the Environmental Law Institute and
accessed at: www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
green_light_gi.pdf.
Grumbles, B.H., (2007), Memorandum from
Benjamin H. Grumbles, USEPA Assistant
Administrator on Water, to USEPA Regional
Administrators regarding Using Green
Infrastructure to Protect Water Quality in
Storm Water, CSO, Non-point Source and
Other Water Programs, March 5,2007.
Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C, (2006), Rooftops
to Rivers: Green Strategies for Controlling
Stormwater and Combined Sewer Over-
flows, Natural Resources Defense Council:
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/
contents.asp.
U.S. EPA, (2007), Green Infrastructure Pro-
gram—A report evaluating the concept of
a major storm water minimization pro-
gram, utilizing green infrastructure and
related methods, prepared by Prepared
by Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater
Cincinnati et al: www.msdgc.org/
downloads/wetweather/greenreport/
Files/Green_Report.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES): Environmen-
tal Benefits of Green Infrastructure:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/
greeninfrastructure/information.
cfm#enviroben.
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination Systems (NPDES): Green In-
frastructure: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/
home.cfm?program_id=298.
U.S. EPA, Report to Congress: Impacts and
Control of CSOs and SSOs, Office of Water,
EPA-833-R-04-001, August 2004.
Water Environment Research Foundation,
(2007), Portland Oregon: Building a
Nationally Recognized Program Through
Innovation and Research, accessed as:
www.werf.org/livablecommunitires/stud-
ies_port_or.html.
Key Resources
52
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ENDNOTES
1 Van Metre, P. et al, (2006), Parking Lot Sealcoat: A Major
Source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban
and Suburban Environments, USGS Fact Sheet 2005-3147,
January 2006.
2 N.Y. State Department of Transportation, (2003), Safety
Bulletin: Paving with Hot Mix Asphalt, SB-03-3, accessed
at: www.dot.state.ny.us/progs/safety/files/pavinghma.
pdf#search=%22fumes%20from%20hot%20mix%20as-
phalt%22.
3 U.S. EPA, (1992), Cooling Our Communities,
GPO#055-000-00371-8, January 1992, accessed atwww.
epa.gov, as cited in Pavement Busters Guide (2002), page
10, Victoria Transport Policy Institute.
4 Gibbons, J., (1999), Pavements and Surface Materials, Tech-
nical Paper #8, pg. 2, University of Connecticut Nonpoint
Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) program, accessed
at:http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/publications/tech_papers/
tech_paper_8.pdf.
5 Pomeranz, Melvin, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Benefits of Cooler Pavements, http://eetd.lbl.gov/Heatls-
land/Pavements/Overview/index.html,
6 Miramontes, E.M. University of California at Berkeley, (1997),
The Bay Area's Love-Hate Relationship With The Motorcar,
San Francisco Examiner, October 20,1997, as cited in Gib-
bons, J. (1999), Parking Lots, Technical Paper #5, page 2,
University of Connecticut Nonpoint Education for Municipal
Officials (NEMO) program, accessed at: http://nemo.uconn.
edu/tools/publications/tech_papers/tech_paper_5.pdf.
7 Benfield, F.K. et al, (1999), Once There Were Greenfields:
How Urban Sprawl is Undermining America's Environment,
Economy, and Social Fabric, Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), as cited in Paving Our Way to Water Short-
ages, NRDC, American Rivers, Smart Growth America, 2002,
page 6.
8 Maryland Governor's Office of Smart Growth (2005) Driving
Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best Practices,
page 4, accessed at: www.smartgrowth.state.md.us.
9 Ibid.
10 Maryland Governor's Office of Smart Growth, (2005),
Driving Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best
Practices, page 23, accessed at: www.smartgrowth.state.
md.us.
11 Permeable pavers should not be used for the aisles and
main (primary) vehicle travel areas in high traffic lots
because they are not strong enough to withstand constant
weight and use, however in most cases they would be ideal
for use in parking stalls, crosswalks, or overflow (i.e. second-
ary) parking areas.
12 U.S. EPA, (2001), Functions and Values of Wetlands, EPA
843-F-01 -002c, September 2001, accessed at: www.epa.
gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/fun_val.pdf.
13 Shoup, D., (2005), The High Cost of Free Parking, APA Plan-
ners Press, pages 2-3.
14 LitmanJ., (2002), Pavement Busters guide, Victoria Trans-
port Policy Institute, accessed at: www.vtpi.org/pavbust.pdf
in June 2007.
15 Standards are typically determined by referring to the
Institute of Transportation Engineers guidance documents
or by researching the requirements of surrounding towns.
Shoup, D., (1999), The Trouble with Minimum Parking
Requirements,Transportation Research Part A, Vol. 33, pgs.
549-574.
16 Ibid.
17 Halifax Regional Municipality, (2003), Parking Supply Man-
agement Strategies, accessed at: www.halifax.ca/regional-
planning/publications/ParkingStrategies.pdf.
18 U.S. EPA, (1999), Parking Alternatives: Making Way for Urban
Infill and Brownfield Redevelopment, EPA231-K-99-001.
19 Ibid.
20 Maryland Governor's Office of Smart Growth, (2005),
Driving Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best
Practices, page 4, accessed at: www.smartgrowth.state.
md.us.
21 Ibid.
22 U.S. EPA, (1999,) Parking Alternatives: Making Way for Urban
Infill and Brownfield Redevelopment, EPA231-K-99-001.
23 Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council, (2006), Sustain-
able Transportation Tool kit: Parking, accessed at:
http://transtoolkit.mapc.org/ in June 2007.
24 Maryland Governor's Office of Smart Growth, (2005),
Driving Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best
Practices, page 4, accessed at: www.smartgrowth.state.
md.us.
25 Gibbons,J., (1999), Parking Lots,Technical Paper#5,
University of Connecticut Nonpoint Education for Municipal
Officials (NEMO) program, accessed at: http://nemo.uconn.
edu/tools/publications/tech_papers/tech_paper_5.pdf.
26 University of Connecticut Nonpoint Education for Municipal
Officials (NEMO) program, (1999), Parking Lots -Technical
Paper #5, accessed at: http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/publi-
cations/tech_papers/tech_pa per_5.pdf.
27 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, (2000), Protecting
Water Quality in Urban Areas, accessed at: www.pca.state.
mn.us/water/pubs/sw-bmpmanual.html.
28 Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C, (2006), Rooftops to Rivers: Green
Strategies for Controlling Stormwaterand Combined Sewer
Overflows, Natural Resources Defense Council, accessed at:
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp.
29 Muthukrishnan, S. and Selvakumar, A., (2004), The Use of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Urban Watersheds,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600-R-04-184.
30 Ibid.
31 Ibid.
32 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
(NPDES)—Grassed Swales Fact Sheet, accessed at: http://
cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.
cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=75.
33 Muthukrishnan, S. and Selvakumar, A., (2004), The Use of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Urban Watersheds,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600-R-04-184.
34 NAHB Research Center, Inc., (2003), The Practice of Low Im-
pact Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, accessed at: www.huduser.org/publications/
PDF/practlowimpctdevel.pdf.
35 Muthukrishnan, S. and Selvakumar, A., (2004), The Use of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Urban Watersheds,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600-R-04-184.
36 ibid.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
53
-------
37 ibid.
38 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
(NPDES) - Grassed Swales Fact Sheet, accessed at: http://
cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.
cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=75.
39 Muthukrishnan, S. and Selvakumar, A., (2004), The Use of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Urban Watersheds,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600-R-04-184.
40 Community Design and Architecture, (2005), Stormwater
Guidelines for Green Dense Redevelopment, U.S. EPA, ac-
cessed at: www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/Stormwater_Guidelines.
pdf.
41 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, (2000), Protection
Water Quality in Urban Areas, March 1,2000, accessed at:
www.pca.state.mn.us/water/pubs/sw~bmpmanual.html.
42 Washington State Department of Ecology, (2004), Storm-
water and Economic Development, 04-10-001, accessed at:
www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0410001 .pdf.
43 Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C, (2006), Rooftops to Rivers: Green
Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer
Overflows, Natural Resources Defense Council, accessed at:
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp.
44 Van Metre, P. et al, (2006), Parking Lot Sealcoat: A Major
Source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban
and Suburban Environments, USGS Fact Sheet 2005-3147,
January 2006.
45 U.S. EPA, (2007), Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollu-
tion) website, accessed at: www.epa.gov/owow/nps/whatis.
html.
46 Muthukrishnan, S. and Selvakumar, A., (2004), The Use of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Urban Watersheds,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600-R-04-184.
47 U.S. EPA, (1999), Storm Water Technology Fact Sheet Infiltra-
tion Trench, EPA-832-F-99-019, accessed at: www.epa.gov/
owm/mtb/infl trenc.pdf.
48 Wossink, A. and Hunt, B., (2003), An Evaluation of the Costs
and Benefits of Structural Stormwater Best Management
Practices in North Carolina, North Carolina State University,
accessed at: www.stormwaterauthority.org/assets/Storm-
water_BMP_Factsheet%20-%20NC.pdf.
49 U.S. EPA, (1999), Preliminary Data Summary of Urban
Stormwater Best Management Practices, EPA-821-R-99-012,
August 1999, accessed at: www.epa.gov/waterscience/
guide/stormwater.
50 Muthukrishnan, S. and Selvakumar, A., (2004), The Use of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Urban Watersheds,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600-R-04-184.
51 Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C., (2006), Rooftops to Rivers: Green
Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer
Overflows, Natural Resources Defense Council, accessed at:
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp.
52 Wossink, A. and Hunt, B., (2003), An Evaluation of the Costs
and Benefits of Structural Stormwater Best Management
Practices in North Carolina, North Carolina State University,
accessed at: www.stormwaterauthority.org/assets/Storm-
water_BMP_Factsheet%20-%20NC.pdf.
53 Chester County, Pennsylvania Water Resources Compen-
dium, (2005), Watershed Primer Part 4: Land Use impacts
and Watershed Economics, accessed at: http://dsf.chesco.
org/water/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=607722.
Information for this case study was obtained from: LaCroix,
R., et al, (2004), Reining in the Rain: A case study of the city
of Bellingham's use of rain gardens to manage Stormwater,
accessed at: www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/Rain_Garden_
book.pdf and personal communication with Bill Reilly, City
of Bellingham Public Works Department.
King County Environmental Purchasing Program, (2007),
Recycled Asphalt Fact Sheet, King County, Washington, ac-
cessed at: www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/asphalt.htmtt1.
U.S. EPA, (2005), EPA Lessons Learned Paper - Heifer Inter-
national, page 5.
Similarly, the new paving product RESINPAVE™ is manu-
factured from renewable resources, contains no petroleum
ingredients, and is highly reflective. However, it too is
impervious, and is also still in experimental stages.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chapter
9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
Ibid.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
(2004), New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices
Manual, accessed at: www.njstormwater.org/tier_A/pdf/
NJ_SWBMP_9.7.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf
Knox County, Tennessee, (2007), Stormwater Management
Ordinance, Volume 2 (technical guidance), accessed at:
http://knoxcounty.org/stormwater/volume2.php.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf
Frazer, L., (2006), Paving Paradise:The Peril of Impervious
Surfaces, Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Jan;114(1 ):A21.
Cahill, T. et al, (2005), Stormwater Management with Porous
Pavements, Government Engineering, March-April 2005,
pp. 14-19, accessed at: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
Key Resources
54
-------
70 McDaniel, R., (2004), Field Evaluation of Porous Asphalt
Pavement - Research Summary, Purdue University,
accessed at: http://meweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~sqdh/
SQDH2004_3/RS%20McDaniel%20Porous%20Asphalt.pdf.
71 Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, (2005), Storm
Water Best Management Practices Catalog, accessed at:
www.deq.idaho.gov/water/data_reports/storm_water/
catalog/sec_3/bmps/11 .pdf.
72 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
(2004), New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices
Manual, accessed at: www.njstormwater.org/tier_A/pdf/
NJ_SWBMP_9.7.pdf.
73 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimina-
tion System (NPDES) - Alternative Pavers Fact Sheet,
accessed at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/storm-
water/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_
results&view=specific&bmp=134.
74 Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, (2005), Storm
Water Best Management Practices Catalog, accessed at:
www.deq.idaho.gov/water/data_reports/storm_water/
catalog/sec_3/bmps/11 .pdf.
75 Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, (2005), Storm
Water Best Management Practices Catalog, accessed at:
www.deq.idaho.gov/water/data_reports/storm_water/
catalog/sec_3/bmps/11 .pdf.
76 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chap-
ter 9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
77 Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, (2005), Storm
Water Best Management Practices Catalog, accessed at:
www.deq.idaho.gov/water/data_reports/storm_water/
catalog/sec_3/bmps/11 .pdf.
78 US Department of Transportation, (2007), Stormwater Best
Management Practices in an Ultra Urban Setting, accessed
at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ultraurb/uubmp3p6.
htm.
79 Diyagama,!., et al. ,(2004), Permeable Pavement Design
Guidelines - Draft, prepared for North Shore City, EcoWater
Solutions, and Rodney District, accessed at: www.northsho-
recity.govt.nz/IDSM/IDSM2006/downloads/PDFs/Perme-
able_Pavement_Design_Guidelines_Draft_092004.pdf.
80 US Department of Transportation, (2007), Stormwater Best
Management Practices in an Ultra Urban Setting, accessed
at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ultraurb/uubmp3p6.
htm.
81 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chap-
ter 9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
82 Cahill,T.etal, (2005), Stormwater Management with Porous
Pavements, Government Engineering, March-April 2005,
pp. 14-19, accessed at: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chap-
ter 9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
83 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
84 Knox County, Tennessee, (2007), Stormwater Management
Ordinance, Volume 2 (technical guidance), accessed at:
http://knoxcounty.org/stormwater/volume2.php.
85 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chap-
ter 9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
86 Ibid.
87 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
Cahill,T.etal, (2005), Stormwater Management with Porous
Pavements, Government Engineering, March-April 2005,
pp. 14-19, accessed at: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
88 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
89 Ibid.
90 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chap-
ter 9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
91 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
92 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
(2004), New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices
Manual, accessed at: www.njstormwater.org/tier_A/pdf/
NJ_SWBMP_9.7.pdf.
93 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
94 Ibid.
95 Ibid.
96 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chap-
ter 9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
97 Cahill,T.etal, (2005), Stormwater Management with Porous
Pavements, Government Engineering, March-April 2005,
pp. 14-19, accessed at: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
98 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chap-
ter 9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
55
-------
U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
0 CahillJ.etal, (2005), Stormwater Management with Porous
Pavements, Government Engineering, March-April 2005,
pp. 14-19, accessed at: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
1 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
2 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chapter
9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
3 Hinman, C, (2005), Low Impact Development Technical
Guidance Manual for Puget Sound, Puget Sound Action
Team, publication number PSAT 05-03, accessed at: www.
psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_tech_manual05/lid_index.
htm.
4 Bean, E., et al, (2007), Field Survey of Permeable Pavement
Surface Infiltration Rates, J. Irrig. and Drain. Engrg., Volume
133, Issue 3, pp. 249-255, May/June 2007.
5 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71
Hinman, C., (2005), Low Impact Development Technical
Guidance Manual for Puget Sound, Puget Sound Action
Team, publication number PSAT 05-03, p. 121, accessed at:
www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_tech_manual05/lid_in-
dex.htm.
6 Hinman, C., (2005), Low Impact Development Technical
Guidance Manual for Puget Sound, Puget Sound Action
Team, publication number PSAT 05-03, accessed at: www.
psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_tech_manual05/lid_index.
htm.
7 Cahill,T. etal, (2005), Stormwater Management with Porous
Pavements, Government Engineering, March-April 2005,
pp. 14-19, accessed at: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
8 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chapter
9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
9 Knox County, Tennessee, (2007), Stormwater Management
Ordinance, Volume 2 (technical guidance), accessed at:
http://knoxcounty.org/stormwater/volume2.php.
0 Turfstone9, UNI Eco-Stone9, Grasspave28, and Gravelpave29
1 Brattebo, B. and Booth, D., (2003), Long-term Stormwater
quantity and quality performance of permeable pavement
systems, Water Research, 37,4368-4376, November 2003.
2 Hinman, C., (2005), Low Impact Development Technical
Guidance Manual for Puget Sound, Puget Sound Action
Team, publication number PSAT 05-03, accessed at: www.
psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_tech_manual05/lid_index.
htm.
3 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) - Porous Pavement Fact Sheet, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/in-
dex.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=71.
4 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
5 Cahill,T. etal, (2005), Stormwater Management with Porous
Pavements, Government Engineering, March-April 2005,
pp. 14-19, accessed at: www.govengr.com/ArticlesMar05/
porous.pdf.
6 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
7 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chapter
9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
8 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2005), Draft Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Manual, Section 6 - Comprehensive Stormwater Manage-
ment: Structural BMPs, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/
dep/subject/advcoun/stormwater/Manual_DraftJan05/
Section06-StructuralBMPs-part1.pdf.
9 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimina-
tion System (NPDES) - Alternative Pavers Fact Sheet,
accessed at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/storm-
water/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_
results&view=specific&bmp=134
0 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
(2007), New York State Stormwater Design Manual - Chapter
9, accessed at: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html.
1 Another option is to also include coal ash in the concrete,
which improve its strength and durability while using a
recycled material. Heifer explored this, but chose other
sustainable options for their lot based on preference and
budget.
2 Wade, B., (2000), Putting the freeze on heat islands, Ameri-
can City & County, 115,2,30, page 2, Feb 2000.
3 Calculated using the PaLATE model, a lifecycle assessment
tool created to derive the environmental and economic
effects of paved surfaces. Information on the PaLATE model
can be found at: www.ce.berkeley.edu/~horvath/palate.
html.
4 Mercury (Hg) emissions were modeled by PaLATE, but were
not mentioned here because the emissions difference was
negligible.
5 U.S. Office of Management and Budget, (2005), Draft 2005
Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal
Regulations, Appendix B and U.S. Office of Management
and Budget, Circular A-94: Guidelines and Discount Rates
for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs, accessed at:
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a094/a094.pdfon
January 10,2007.
It should be noted that the values shown here are based on
national averages.
The high end of this range represents values associated
with avoided emissions in areas with severe air quality
impairment, and are likely too high to apply to the Little
Rock area, which is in attainment with federal PM,n and SO,
Key Resources
56
-------
standards, as well as all other air quality standards. Query
of EPA Air Data, January 21,2006: www.epa.gov/air/data/
nonat.html?st~AR~Arkansas.
5 Sources for this case study include: McNally, C, et al,
(2003), The University of Rhode Island's Permeable Parking
Lots: A case Study of Alternative Pavement Materials, ac-
cessed at: www.uri.edu/ce/wq/NEMO/Publications/PDFs/
PP.URICaseStudy.pdf; and the 2005 update to this docu-
ment located atwww.uri.edu/ce/wq/NEMO/Publications/
index.htm.
' URI also does not permit commercial and industrial vehicles
on this lot because of groundwater contamination con-
cerns, and to avoid compaction of the pourous bituminous
asphalt.
! Potable water is defined by the US EPA as water suit-
able for drinking or cooking purposes from both health
and aesthetic considerations. (Office of Environmental
Information, (2007), Ecoview Glossary, accessed at: http://
iaspub.epa.gov/trs/trs_proc_qry.navigate_term?p_term_
id=291323&p_term_cd=TERMDIS).
' Romero, M. and Hosteller, M., (2007), Policies that Address
Sustainable Landscaping Practices, Circular 1519, University
of Florida, accessed at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW253.
' U.S. EPA, (2005),The Natural Landscaping Alternative:
An Annotated Slide Collection, from Green Landscaping:
Greenacres Natural Landscaping Tool Kit, accessed at: www.
epa.gov/greenacres/tooltestkit/gallary/index.html.
1 San Mateo County, (2007), Recycle Works - Landscape
Plantings, accessed at: www.recycleworks.org/greenbuild-
ing/sus_plantings.html.
! Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
(2006), Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Practices Manual: Chapter 5 - Non Structural BMPs,
363-0300-002, accessed at: www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/
deputate/watermgt/wc/subjects/stormwatermanagement/
BMP%20Manual/05_Chapter_Final_Draft.pdf.
! Illinois Conservation Foundation and Chicago Wilderness,
(2005), Change Cost Perceptions: An Analysis of Conserva-
tion Development, accessed at:www.cdfinc.com/CDF_Re-
sources/Cost%20Analysis%20-%20Part%201%20-%20
Report%20-%20with%20Exec%20Summary.pdf.
1 King County Department of Natural Resources (2007) Na-
tive Plant Salvage Program, accessed at: http://dnr.metrokc.
gov/wlr/pi/salopps.htm.
' City of Chicago, (2003), A Guide to Stormwater Best Man-
agement Practices, accessed at: www.cdfinc.com/CDF_Re-
sources/Chicago%20GuideTo%20Stormwater%20BMPs.pdf.
' U.S. Department of Energy, (2006), Federal Energy Manage-
ment Program - Water Efficiency, accessed at: http://www1.
eere.energy.gov/femp/water/water_bmp3.html.
' Ibid.
! San Mateo County, (2007), Recycle Works - Landscape
Plantings, accessed at: www.recycleworks.org/greenbuild-
ing/sus_plantings.html.
' By using high efficiency irrigation technology, developers
can acquire LEED Water-Efficiency (WE) Credit 1.1 if they
reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by fifty
percent over conventional means. In addition, they can also
achieve LEED WE Credit 1.2 by not installing a permanent
landscape irrigation system, which is the highest goal of
water efficient natural landscaping. National Institute of
Building Sciences, (2007), Whole Building Design Guide,
accessed at: www.wbdg.org/tools.
0 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, (2006),
Water Best Management Practices, Florida Green Lodging
Program, accessed at: www.treeo.ufl.edu/greenlodging/
content/gr_h2o.htm.
1 Ibid.
2 U.S. Department of Energy, (2006), Federal Energy Manage-
ment Program - Water Efficiency, accessed at: http://www1.
eere.energy.gov/femp/water/water_bmp3.html.
3 Ibid.
4 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, (2006),
Water Best Management Practices, Florida Green Lodging
Program, accessed at: www.treeo.ufl.edu/greenlodging/
content/gr_h2o.htm.
5 Ibid.
6 San Mateo County, (2007), Recycle Works - Landscape
Plantings, accessed at: www.recycleworks.org/greenbuild-
ing/sus_plantings.html.
7 As with high-efficiency irrigation technology, developers
can also acquire LEED WE Credit-1.1 by recycling rainwater
or using recycled wastewater to reduce potable water
consumption by fifty percent over conventional means;
or through LEED WE Credit-1.2 by using only captured
rainwater or recycled water to eliminate all potable water
use for site irrigation (except for initial watering of plants).
National Institute of Building Sciences, (2007), Whole Build-
ing Design Guide, accessed atwww.wbdg.org/tools.
8 State of California Energy Commission, (2005), Califor-
nia's Water-Energy Relationship, CEC-700-2005-011 -SF,
accessed at: www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/
CEC-700-2005-011 /CEC-700-2005-011 -SF.PDF.
9 Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, (2007), State
of the Art Report Draft, accessed at: www.mmsd.com/
wqi/2020Plan/SR_04.pdf.
0 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
1 Ibid.
2 Ibid.
3 Muthukrishnan, S. et al, (2004), The Use of Best Manage-
ment Practices (BMPs) in Urban Watersheds, U.S. EPA,
EPA/600/R-04/184, accessed at: www.epa.gov/ORD/
NRMRL/pubs/600r04184/600r04184.pdf.
4 Ibid.
5 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
6 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, (2006),
Water Best Management Practices, Florida Green Lodging
Program, accessed at: www.treeo.ufl.edu/greenlodging/
content/gr_h2o.htm.
7 U.S. Department of Energy, (2001), Greening Federal
Facilities, second edition, accessed at: www.nrel.gov/docs/
fy01osti/29267.pdf.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
57
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8 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
9 U.S. Department of Energy, (2001), Greening Federal
Facilities, second edition, accessed at: www.nrel.gov/docs/
fy01osti/29267.pdf.
0 North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, (2005), Water Efficiency: Water Management
Options, Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental
Assistance, accessed at: www.p2pays.org/ref/04/03102.pdf.
1 U.S. EPA, (2003), Water-Efficient Landscaping, accessed at:
www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/waterefficiency.pdf.
2 U.S. EPA, (2007), Landscaping with Native Plants, accessed
at:www.epa.gov/greenacres//index.html#Benefits.
3 U.S. Department of Energy, (2003), The Business Case for
Sustainable Design in Federal Facilities - Appendix D, ac-
cessed at: http://www1 .eere.energy.gov/femp/sustainable/
sustainable_federalfacilities.html.
4 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
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5 City of Chicago, (2003), A Guide to Stormwater Best Man-
agement Practices, accessed at: www.cdfinc.com/CDF_Re-
sources/Chicago%20GuideTo%20Stormwater%20BMPs.pdf.
6 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
7 U.S. EPA, (1992), Cooling Our Communities,
GPO#055-000-00371 -8, January 1992, accessed at: www.
epa.gov, as cited in Pavement Busters Guide (2002), page
10, Victoria Transport Policy Institute.
8 Wolf, K., (2004), Trees, Parking, and Green Law: Strategies for
Sustainability, accessed at: www.urbanforestrysouth.org/
Resources/Library/Citation.2004-07-14.1757/file_name.
9 U.S. Department of Energy, (2001), Greening Federal
Facilities, second edition, accessed at: www.nrel.gov/docs/
fy01osti/29267.pdf.
0 United Nations, (1993), Text of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, Article 2: Use of Terms, accessed at: www.cbd.int/
convention/convention.shtml.
1 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
2 Ibid.
3 Illinois Conservation Foundation and Chicago Wilderness,
(2005), Change Cost Perceptions: An Analysis of Conserva-
tion Development, accessed at: www.cdfinc.com/CDF_Re-
sources/Cost%20Analysis%20-%20Part%201%20-%20
Report%20-%20with%20Exec%20Summary.pdf.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
7 Ibid.
8 Dunn, A. and Stoner, N., (2007), Green Light for Green
Infrastructure,The Environmental Forum, May/June 2007,
reprinted by the Environmental Law Institute and accessed
at: www. Epa.gov/npdes/pubs/green_light_gi.pdf.
9 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
Systems (NPDES): Green Infrastructure, accessed at: http://
cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298.
0 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES): Green Infrastructure - General Informa-
tion, accessed at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfra-
structure/information.cfm
1 Ibid.
2 Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C, (2006), Rooftops to Rivers: Green
Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer
Overflows, Natural Resources Defense Council, accessed at:
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp.
3 U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6 - 7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
4 Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C., (2006), Rooftops to Rivers: Green
Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer
Overflows, Natural Resources Defense Council, accessed at:
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp.
5 U.S. EPA, Report to Congress: Impacts and Control of CSOs
and SSOs, Office of Water, EPA-833-R-04-001, August 2004
as cited in Kloss, C. and Calarusse, C., (2006), Rooftops to
Rivers: Green Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and
Combined Sewer Overflows, Natural Resources Defense
Council, accessed at: www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/
rooftops/contents .asp.
6 U.S. EPA, (2007), Green Infrastructure Program - A report
evaluating the concept of a major storm water minimiza-
tion program, utilizing green infrastructure and related
methods, prepared by Prepared by Metropolitan Sewer
District of Greater Cincinnati et al, accessed at: www.msdgc.
org/downloads/wetweather/greenre port/Files/
Green_Report.pdf.
7 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System: Green infrastructure—Case Studies, accessed at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/
casestudies.cfm#portland.
8 Dunn, A. and Stoner, N., (2007), Green Light for Green
Infrastructure,The Environmental Forum, May/June 2007,
reprinted by the Environmental Law Institute and accessed
at: www. Epa.gov/npdes/pubs/green_light_gi.pdf.
9 U.S. EPA, et al, (2007), Green Infrastructure Statement of
Intent, Stakeholder Statement of Support for Green Infra-
structure, accessed at: www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
gi_supportstatement.pdf.
0 Grumbles, B.H., (2007), Memorandum from Benjamin H.
Grumbles, USEPA Assistant Administrator on Water, to
USEPA Regional Administrators regarding Using Green
Infrastructure to Protect Water Quality in Storm Water, CSO,
Non-point Source and Other Water Programs, March 5,
2007.
Key Resources
58
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1 U.S. EPA, (2007), Green Infrastructure Program—A report
evaluating the concept of a major storm water minimiza-
tion program, utilizing green infrastructure and related
methods, prepared by Metropolitan Sewer District of
Greater Cincinnati et al, accessed at: www.msdgc.org/
downloads/wetweather/greenreport/Files/Green_Report.
pdf.
! U.S. EPA, (2004), Conference Summary, Landscaping with
Native Plants: Exploring the Environmental, Social and Eco-
nomic Benefits Conference December 6-7,2004, accessed
at: www.epa.gov/greenacres/confl 2_04/conf_knwldge.
html.
! Center for Neighborhood Technology, (2007), Green Infra-
structure Performance, accessed at: www.cnt.org/
repository/BMP-Performance.pdf.
1 Dunn, A. and Stoner, N., (2007), Green Light for Green
Infrastructure,The Environmental Forum, May/June 2007,
reprinted by the Environmental Law Institute and accessed
at: www. Epa.gov/npdes/pubs/green_light_gi.pdf.
' Center for Neighborhood Technology, (2007), Green Infra-
structure Performance, accessed at: www.cnt.org/
repository/BMP-Performance.pdf.
5 U.S. EPA, (2007), National Pollutant Discharge Elimina-
tion System (NPDES): Environmental Benefits of Green
Infrastructure, accessed at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/
greeninfrastructure/information.cfm#enviroben.
7 Arvidson, A.R., (2006), A Green Demonstration, Landscape
Architecture Magazine, September 2006.
8 City of Portland, Oregon, (2006), Green Streets Cross-Bureau
Team Report- Phase I, March 2006, accessed at: www.
portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=123793.
9 City of Portland, Oregon, (2006), Green Streets Resolution,
accessed at: www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.
cfm?id=154232.
3 City of Portland, Oregon, (2006), Green Streets Cross-Bureau
Team Report—Phase I, March 2006, accessed at: www.
portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=123793.
1 Water Environment Research Foundation, (2007), Portland
Oregon: Building a Nationally Recognized Program Through
Innovation and Research, accessed as: www.werf.org/
livablecommunitires/studies_port_or.html.
2 Ibid.
3 City of Portland, Oregon, (2006), Green Streets Cross-Bureau
Team Report—Phase I, March 2006, accessed at: www.
portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=123793.
4 Water Environment Research Foundation, (2007), Portland
Oregon: Building a Nationally Recognized Program Through
Innovation and Research, accessed as: www.werf.org/
livablecommunitires/studies_port_or.html.
Green Parking Lot Resource Guide—February 2008
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