Orange County NC Website
14 <br />square foot home generates about 8,000 pounds of waste, <br />occupying roughly 51 cubic yards of landfill space. This equates to <br />an average of about four (4) pounds of waste per square foot of <br />conditioned space. <br />Landscaping and irrigation standards. Water reuse offsets central <br />water supply through the capture and controlled reuse of rainwater <br />and/or grey water. Rainwater harvesting systems collect and store <br />rainwater for landscape irrigation use or indoor water use. Grey <br />water recycling systems collect water from designated plumbing <br />fixtures to be treated and re-used. <br />Install high efficiency irrigation systems with the following features: <br />central shut-off valve, sub-meters for the irrigation system, at least <br />half of the planting beds have a drip irrigation system to minimize <br />evaporation, turf and each type of bedding area should be <br />separately zoned, a timer and controller system, pressure <br />regulating devises, high efficiency nozzles, check valves in heads, <br />and moisture sensor or rain delay controller. <br />Parking lots. Shading of hardscapes through landscape features <br />that will reduce local heat island effects. ~ocate.trees to shade <br />hardscapes and the design and installation of trees and shrubs, or <br />preservation of existing trees and shrubs, so that at least fifty (50%) <br />percent of sidewalks, patios, and driveways within fifty (50') feet of <br />the house will be shaded; or install light colored hardscapes with <br />light-colored, high albedo materials for at least fifty (50%) percent of <br />site's non-roof impervious surfaces. <br />Outdoor lighting. The elimination of light trespass from outdoor <br />buildings, parking lots and landscaping illumination will improve <br />night sky access and reduce development impacts on nocturnal <br />environments <br />Stormwater management. Design site features to minimize <br />erosion and run-off from the home site. Permeable sites that <br />design lots such that at least seventy percent of the site, not <br />including area under roof, is permeable or designed to manage <br />water run-off. <br />Erosion represents the loss of a valuable resource from the home <br />site -topsoil -that can overload storm sewers, and may cause <br />stream clouding and siltation, with potential harm to wildlife. <br />Permeable surfaces also assist in recharging local aquifers and <br />may reduce irrigation needs. <br />