Austin will require all Parks and Recreation projects to be SITES certified

Amid the sweltering, local weather change–fueled heatwave sweeping throughout the U.S., the town of Austin is doing its half in sustainability and environmental well being. The capital metropolis introduced on Monday that it has adopted a SITES certification requirement for its Parks and Recreation Division (PARD) initiatives—turning into the primary metropolis worldwide to take action. 

SITES is run by Inexperienced Constructing Certification Inc. (GBCI), a number one world well being and sustainability certification entity; this system grants certifications to industrial, residential, and institutional, streetscaping, and landscaping initiatives of at the very least 2,000 sq. toes. It primarily examines a undertaking’s landscaping, making certain its terrain is working to scale back water and power consumption and enhance air high quality and human well being. The certification standards is formed by a set of guiding ideas that place human and environmental well being on the forefront and encourage continued moral collaboration and analysis.

“By utilizing the SITES framework to information the event of our panorama initiatives, PARD hopes to enhance high quality of life and human well being by supporting and regenerating our ecosystem and constructed setting,” mentioned PARD Assistant Director Liana Kallivoka. “Clear air and water, and a thriving ecosystem are important to the well being and well-being of people and all life round us.” 

The GBCI additionally manages Management in Power and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The Austin metropolis council voted to mandate that initiatives obtain a LEED silver certification, or increased, in 2000. 

“The Metropolis of Austin was one of many first on the earth to formally undertake LEED and is now  proud to proceed its management in sustainability and inexperienced constructing by being the primary to undertake SITES certification requirements for our important park initiatives,” mentioned Metropolis of Austin’s Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens. 

Whereas LEED considers each the undertaking’s constructing and its environment, SITES focuses particularly on all undertaking features aside from the constructing. The 2 environment-focused certifications are complementary and can be utilized in tandem, in response to GBCI’s web site; initiatives that obtain particular certifications from SITES can earn credit within the LEED program. 

The adoption of SITE certification is part of Austin’s continued efforts to make its areas extra environmentally resilient and cut back the dangerous impacts that initiatives can have on current ecologies. The town talked about in a press launch that the Waterloo Greenway Confluence undertaking is on observe for a SITES Gold certification as development is ready to start later this yr. 

“SITES is a globally acknowledged and applied management customary, however its roots are in Austin,” mentioned Danielle Pieranunzi, SITES Director. “As an Austin resident myself, I’m proud to see the town appearing on its dedication to a extra sustainable, ecologically resilient future for its neighborhood members to take pleasure in.”