Mark Hostetler Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation THE GREEN LEAP

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

Wildlife Extension

www.wec.ufl.edu/extension

Mark Hostetler – hostetm@ufl.edu