mark hostetler dept. of wildlife ecology & conservation the green leap
TRANSCRIPT
Mark HostetlerDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
THE GREEN LEAP
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Resources and Programs
• Introduction - Green Communities
• Future Sustainability Directions in Florida
Agenda
How can we make Florida sustainable in one generation?
Green Communities: Decision Makers
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
Where to Go from Here?
• Homeowners
• Developers
• Policy/Planners
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
Strategy: Create Model Green Communities
Florida Today
Florida 2060
Source: 100 Friends of Florida and UF GeoPlan Center
Green Development
Site design Construction
Post-Construction
Green Developments: Goals
1. To conserve natural resources on site
2. To minimize impact on surrounding areas
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
1. Subdivision Environmental Education Program
2. Living Green TV Series
3. Living Green Web site
4. Continuing Education Course - Conserving Biodiversity in Urban & Rural
Environments
5. Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC)
6. Sustainable Development Policies – Edis documents
7. Conservation Subdivision Series – Edis documents
8. Evaluating Green Communities – Edis document
9. Carbon Sequestration and Greenspace – Edis document
10. Retrofitting Yards and Neighborhoods Course
Resources and Programs
Install neighborhood educational programs
• Town of Harmony: dynamic educational signs installed along sidewalks
• Package includes Web site and brochure (see http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/gc/
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Drawing down water table• Spread of invasive plants and animals• Improper management of LID features• ATVs and foot traffic into conserved areas• Nutrient runoff from lawns an impervious surfaces• Underground seepage from septic tanks• Improper management of stormwater systems• Improper fertilizer and pesticide use• Impacts of pets• Feeding wildlife and other human/wildlife conflicts• Conflicts with nearby agriculture and forestry operations
Potential ProblemsPotential Problems
1) Homeowners score low in terms of environmental attitudes, knowledge, or behaviors
2) Homeowners do not have appropriate information to manage homes, yards, and neighborhoods
4) Homeowners desire local environmental information
3) Sale office information not adequate; homeowners forget the information
Most residents are not green
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
Longitudinal Study
Source: Harmony, FL
• Harmony vs. Conventional (Results)– Sufficient information to apply practices– Improved environmental attitudes,
knowledge, and behaviors
Living Green TV
• Dvds available– Landscaping for
Wildlife– Invasive Exotics– Conservation
Easements– Renewable Energy – Energy Conservation– Sustainable Fishing– Living with Sea
Turtles– Living Green
Moments
• Living Green Web site– www.livinggreen.ifas
.ufl.edu
www.livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu
Conserving Biodiversity in Urban and Rural Environments
• Continuing Education Course
• Targets planners, developers, and other built environment professionals
Course Offerings May 11, 2010 | St. Augustine, FL St. Johns County Extension Hurricane House, 3111 Agricultural Center Dr. May 18, 2010 | Largo, FL Pinellas County Extension (Gardenia Room), 12520 Ulmerton Road May 25, 2010 | Orlando, FL Orange County Extension, 6021 S. Conway Rd.
• BOLA 0008628 4 CEUs• AR 9877984 4 CEUs• FBPE exp4028 4 PDHs
12:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Registration Fee: $145
Program for Resource Efficient Communities
PREC
Building & Construction
Policy & Law
Energy
Environmental Horticulture
Landscape Architecture
Wildlife
Agriculture Engineering
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
Mission - To promote the adoption of best design and operation practices in new residential community development that measurably reduce energy and water consumption and environmental degradation.
Program for Resource Efficient Communities
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Over 25 different courses Preserving wildlife habitat Energy-efficient housing Trees Alive
• Consultations Developers Municipalities
Program for Resource Efficient Communities
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• “Sticks”– Alternative zoning ordinances (overlays)– Clustering requirements– Urban service boundaries
Sustainable Policies
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• “Carrots”– Transfer of development rights (TDRs)
Sending to receiving areas
– Conservation Easements – Other Incentives (tax breaks, fast tracking)
Policy
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Develop incentives with stakeholder input
• Good marketing and education campaign
• Built government capacity (make the policy mandatory for county developments)
• EDIS documents available
PolicySteps to successful incentive-basedpolicies (research):
Policy
Site design Construction
Post-ConstructionPOLICY
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Design
• Construction
• Post-construction
Conservation Subdivision
EDIS Series:
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Top eleven questions to ask
• Targets homebuyers
Evaluating Green Communities
EDIS Document:
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• CO2 sequestration
• More turf – less CO2 sequestered
Carbon Sequestration and Greenspace
EDIS Document:
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Targets homeowners
• Under development
Retrofitting Neighborhoods
Continuing Education Course:
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
Future Directions
Tactic 1: Create polices that encourage property owners to adopt LID practices
• Germany: they give stormwater tax breaks for homeowners that adopt LID enhancements (Individual Parcel Assessments)
Tactic 2: Reduce Carbon Footprint
• HB 697
• Can benefit wildlife (open space)
Tactic 3: Create and promote model yards
• Concentrate efforts on motivated homeowners to adopt new designs and management practices
• Include rewards for such sustainable yards (biodiversity!)
• Homeowners talking with homeowners!
Program for Resource Efficient Communitieswww.buildgreen.ufl.eduDept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec.ufl.edu
• Create New Green Communities
Summary
• Retrofit Current Urban Communities