Bioenvironmental Engineering Design I
Fall 2011 Assignment 1
Low Impact Development and Sustainable Design Paper and Presentation
Background :
Low-Impact Development (LID) is a stormwater management approach that is utilized with growing
enthusiasm in the United States. Rather than move water off-site for treatment, LID attempts to manage
stormwater at the source by mimicking natural hydrologic processes in building and landscape designs.
While LID focuses primarily on stormwater issues, the term ‘sustainable design’ encompasses a broader
range of green measures used to reduce environmental impact.
Task :
Research a LID or sustainable design technique currently utilized in the engineering field. These include,
but are not limited to, the following:
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Permeable Pavement
Bioretention Systems/Rain Gardens
Constructed Wetlands
Cluster Development
Wind Power
Solar Energy
Onsite Waste/ Wastewater
Management Systems
Green Roofs
Geothermal Energy
Green Infrastructure
Green Streets
Urban Farming
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Urban Heat Island Effect
Rainwater Harvesting
Tree Box Filters
Sustainable Transportation
Urban Reforestation
Stream Restoration
Disconnection of Impervious Cover
Alternative Landscaping
Reclamation of Urban Vacant Lots
Green Purchasing
Stormwater Management Retrofits
Brownfields to Greenfields
Green Walls (Living Walls)
Write a 10-12 page report summarizing your findings. Address important design features of your
assigned topic and how they relate to sustainable design or low-impact development. You may include
cost analysis, energy savings, case studies, and any other pertinent information you might come across.
The report should be 1-1/2 line spacing, 1” margins, size 12 font.
Paper is due September 27th and you will be required to give a 10 minute oral presentation to the class.
Hard copy of the paper along with digital copies of the paper and powerpoint presentations must be
submitted.