Managing Wet Weather with
Green Infrastructure
a periodic update on activities
Volume 2009, Issue 6 December 2009
One year ago last month 1050 K Street opened its doors in the heart of Contacts
Washington DC, demonstrating the potential for green infrastructure to
mimic natural systems even in the densest of cities. 1050 K Street is a EPA Headquarters
LEED® Gold-certified office building located on the site of a former Jenny Molloy, OW/OWM
parking lot. The building owners not only averted further stormwater [email protected]
impacts by siting their building in a developed area, but mitigated exist Robert Goo, OW/OWOW
ing stormwater impacts by in [email protected]
cluding a suite of green infra Gary Hudiburgh, OECA
structure practices in the build [email protected]
ing design. Two tiers of green
EPA Regions
roofs retain rainwater falling
Katie Connors, R1
on the rooftop, while three bio
[email protected]
retention cells located in the
Stephen Venezia, R2
building plaza retain and treat
[email protected]
runoff from adjacent impervi
Dominique Lueckenhoff, R3
ous areas. A 5,000 gallon cis
[email protected]
tern beneath the building com
Jim Giattina, R4
plements these features by
[email protected]
storing any stormwater that
Bob Newport, R5
cannot be retained. The man-
[email protected]
made water cycle is completed Photo: Chris Moore, Washington, DC
Brent Larsen, R6
by drawing all irrigation water
[email protected]
from the cistern, reducing building water consumption and maintaining
Mandy Whitsitt, R7
cistern storage capacity. 1050 K Street’s suite of green infrastructure
[email protected]
practices provides not only stormwater benefits, but urban oases for the
Gregory Davis, R8
tenants and passers-by, and a competitive advantage for the building
[email protected]
owners. The building opened with a pre-lease occupancy rate of ~61%
John Tinger, R9
(remarkable considering the state of the economy), and interest in the
[email protected]
retail spaces remains robust.
Krista Mendelman, R10
[email protected]
In October of 2009, EPA opened an experimental parking lot at its Edi
son, NJ laboratory to research the performance of permeable pave Steering Committee Partners
ments. Three types of pavement were installed—porous asphalt, porous Nancy Stoner, NRDC
concrete, and interlocking concrete blocks. Researchers will monitor an Nathan Gardner-Andrews &
extensive set of environmental parameters, including not only runoff Keith Jones, NACWA
quantity and quality, but urban heat island mitigation as well. The site Chris Kloss & Neil Weinstein,
will be monitored for at least ten years. In opening this experimental LID Center
Katherine Baer, American Rivers
lot, EPA positions itself as a leader in the reinvention of our transporta
Linda Eichmiller, ASIWPCA
tion infrastructure.
For more information on managing wet weather with green infrastructure see the website at: www.epa.gov/
greeninfrastructure. To be added to an e-mail distribution list for future issues of this bulletin, or if you have items of
interest to be considered for inclusion in future issues, send an e-mail request to [email protected].
Volume 2009, Issue 6 December 2009
The Sustainable Sites Initiative released its Guidelines
and Performance Benchmarks for sustainable site de
sign in November 2009. The Guidelines are the prod
uct of four years of development and public feed
Upcoming Forums & Events
back, and are intended to promote sustainable land
practices (defined as practices that preserve ecosys
PUT A LID ON IT: Overcoming Technical and Policy Chal
tem functions such as site hydrology) by providing a lenges of LID. January 20, 2010. Minnetonka, MN. Link
comprehensive set of performance criteria. These
criteria are integrated into a rating system that Baltimore Green Infrastructure Workshop. January 22,
“scores” the sustainability of site design, construc 2010. Baltimore, MD. Link
tion, and maintenance. The Sustainable Sites Initia
tive is now calling for pilot projects to test and refine Beyond the Basics: Green Infrastructure for Clean Water.
the rating system. Future iterations of the LEED® February 18, 2010. Woodridge, IL.
Green Building Rating System are expected to include
the Sustainable Sites Guidelines and Performance MillionTreesNYC, Green Infrastructure, and Urban Ecol
Benchmarks. ogy: A Research Symposium. March 5-6, 2010. New
York, NY. Now accepting abstracts. Link
Strategic Conservation Planning Using the Green Infra
structure Approach. March 8-12, 2010. Shepherdstown,
WV. Link
2010 International Low Impact Development Conference:
Redefining Water in the City. April 11-14, 2010. San
Francisco, CA. Link
2010 Ohio Stormwater Conference. June 10—11, 2010.
Sandusky, OH. Link
2010 Green Remediation International Conference. June
On December 1, 2009, representatives of Tempe, Ari 15-17, 2010. Amherst, MA. Link
zona accepted the award for Smart Growth and Green
Building for the Tempe Transportation Center at the StormCon: The North American Surface Water Quality
National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. The Conference and Exposition. August 1—5, 2010. San An
Tempe project integrates Smart Growth, green infra tonio, TX. Link
structure, and water and energy conservation to cre
ate a vibrant and sustainable community center The following boot camps offered by Green Roofs for
adapted to the Sonoran Desert environment. Built on Healthy Cities introduce participants to the principles
the site of a former parking lot, the Center features a and practice of green roof design
green roof, stormwater and greywater harvesting,
and waterless urinals, among other design innova January 28—31, 2010. Toronto. Link
tions. The green roof is planted with low water-use March 25—28, 2010. New York, NY. Link
April 15—18, 2010. Austin, TX. Link
plants adapted to the arid climate, and collects and
filters rainwater for storage and reuse.
The following seminars offered by ASCE provide techni-
cal training on the design, construction, and assessment
of site-scale Green Infrastructure practices Link
Partner Features
The Low Impact Development Center recently
launched its Green Streets Website to highlight suc New Publications
cessful Green Streets programs throughout the na-
tion. “Green Streets” apply innovative designs and
technologies to manage stormwater at its source, Re-Imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland. Kent State
while providing environmental, social, and economic University. December 2008.
benefits for residents, businesses, and passers-by.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity - Summary:
The website will offer case studies, technical guid
Responding to the Value of Nature. UN Environment Pro
ance, and policy updates to promote the implementa
gramme. November 2009.
tion of more ecologically sensitive street designs.
