Sustainable design protects and benefits ecosystems, watersheds, and wildlife habitat in the presence of human development.

Land Use and Site Ecology addresses:

• How the development of the project’s site responds to its ecological context, including the watershed, and air and water quality at different scales from local to regional level
• How the development of the immediate site and its buildings contribute to environmental quality
• How the design accommodates wildlife habitat preservation and creation
• How the landscape design protects or creates on-site ecosystems
• How the design responds to local development density (rural to urban) or conditions (brownfield to greenfield)

TOPICS (# on 50to50)

• (3) Alternative Transportation
• (4) Appropriate Size and Growth
• (7) Building Orientation
• (15) Daylighting
• (16) Earth Sheltering
• (18) Efficient Site Lighting Systems
• (23) Geoexchange
• (24) Green Roof
• (28) Mass Absorption
• (30) Natural Ventilation
• (32) Passive Solar Collection Opportunities
• (34) Preservation/Reuse of Existing Facilities
• (41) Sun Shading
• (46) Vegetation for Sun Control
• (47) Walkable Communities
• (49) Water Conservation
• (50) Windows and Openings

Other appropriate topics include:

• Safety & Security Systems (defensive planting, innovative design, defensive space)