CATHIE

Central America Tourism + Hotel Investment Exchange

March 26, 2009
Sustainability: What is it?

• What is sustainability, what does it mean?

• Why do we need it, why do we need to consider it?

• How do we achieve it, how do we incorporate it?

• What are the advantages, will there be a return

on my investment?
Sustainability: What is it?

•Merriam Webster Dictionary – of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting

or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanantly
damaged.

• Brundtland definition - meeting the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
(most quoted definition and from the 1987 Report of the World Commission on
Environment and Development)

PEOPLE

SUSTAINABILITY
PRINCIPLES

PROFIT PLACE
 SUSTAINABILITY

environmental social

economic
E N V I R O N M E N T

a i r

energy

water

land
CASE STUDY Bundoran Farm
North Garden, Virginia
Rural Conservation Development
 sustainable numbers:

over 2300 acres

+
95 homesites (2 acres each)

+
8.2 miles of road

=
less than 20% total land area disturbed!
 Earthwork Cost Comparison
Date Total Cut Total Fill Cut/Fill Total Earthwork
(CY) (CY) Balance (CY)
Private Roads 44023 45581 1559 89604
Public Roads 139248 169800 30552 309048

Savings $724,702

Reduction in road width created a significant reduction in earthwork (8.2 miles = over $88,000 per mile!)
 sustainable infrastructure measures:

reduction in road width

+
vegetated swales in lieu of traditional curb and gutter

+
conversion of erosion control measures to permenant water treatment facilities

+
thoughtful design and placement of infrastructure

=
reduced construction costs
($725,000 in earthwork alone)
 sustainable “place” measures:

utilization of GPS for homesite location and existing stream crossing identification

+
use of native vegetation which does not require fertilization and minimizes maintenance

+
use of existing roadway alignments and avoidance of significant stands of trees and watercourses

=
reduced disturbance, environmental mitigation and maintenance costs

+
conservation of natural features, systems and vistas

+
preservation of agrarian character and operation

+
enhancement of wildlife habitat

=
increased market value and profitability
lots sold range from $300,000 (2 acres) to over $1 million (50 + acres)
 3-d model by Wolf-Ackerman Architects

CASE STUDY Oakhurst Inn

City of Charlottesville, Virginia
Urban Infill Development
Re-development is included and encouraged in sustainable design principles
 sustainable programmatic measures:

$100 / month rent reduction for apartment dwellers who do not park their own cars on the premise

+
2 Smart cars and several bicylces provided for free to residents

+
Connectivity of pedestrian and bicycle circulation in proximity to the University

=
reduction in parking footprint (place);

walking and biking encouraged (people);

increased density (profit)

 sustainable site design measures:

use of porous pavers and/or light-colored concrete instead of asphalt

+
underground parking facility

+
enhanced proposed tree canopy; preservation of existing tree canopy

=
reduced impervious area;

reduced heat island effect

 rainwater harvesting:

reuse for potable water source (laundry, toilets, etc.)

+
reuse for non-potable uses such as irrigation

=
payback from water usage savings
 2005 City of Charlottesville Outstanding Development of the Year
2007 Garden Club of Virginia – Dougdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation

CASE STUDY Union Bank & Trust

City of Charlottesville, Virginia
Urban Infill Development
Original site plan – box culvert stream for easily accessible parking lot
Revised LID site plan proposal – keeping stream open and treating stormwater from parking areas with biofilters
 sustainable objectives:

preservation of existing stream and other natural

systems on site

+
treatment of stormwater runoff in biofilters

+
native plants garden palette

=
enhanced environmental quality on site;

increase in bank business from customers

sharing similar environmental beliefs;

awards and positive press from the local

community