THE GREEN LEAP Mark Hostetler Dept of Wildlife

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

Agenda • Introduction - Green Communities • Resources and Programs • Future Sustainability Directions in Florida Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

How can we make Florida sustainable in one generation?

Green Communities: Decision Makers

Where to Go from Here? • Homeowners • Developers • Policy/Planners Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Strategy: Create Model Green Communities Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Florida 2060 Florida Today ource: 100 Friends of Florida and UF Geo. Plan 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

Resources and Programs 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 Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

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/extens ion/gc/

Potential Problems • • • 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 Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Most residents are not green 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 3) Sale office information not adequate; homeowners forget the information 4) Homeowners desire local environmental information

Longitudinal Study • Harmony vs. Conventional (Results) – Sufficient information to apply practices – Improved environmental attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Source: Harmony, FL Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

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. uf l. edu

www. livinggreen. ifa s. ufl. edu

Conserving Biodiversity in Urban and Rural Environments • Continuing Education Course • Targets planners, developers, and other built environment professionals

Course Offerings • BOLA 0008628 4 CEUs • AR 9877984 4 CEUs • FBPE exp 4028 4 PDHs 12: 30 pm - 4: 30 pm | Registration Fee: $145 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.

Program for Resource Efficient Communities Wildlife Building & Construction Agriculture Engineering PREC Policy & Law Landscape Architecture Environmental Horticulture Energy

Program for Resource Efficient Communities 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. Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Program for Resource Efficient Communities • Over 25 different courses Ø Preserving wildlife habitat Ø Energy-efficient housing Ø Trees Alive • Consultations Ø Developers Ø Municipalities Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Sustainable Policies • “Sticks” – Alternative zoning ordinances (overlays) – Clustering requirements – Urban service boundaries Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Policy • “Carrots” – Transfer of development rights (TDRs) ØSending to receiving areas – Conservation Easements – Other Incentives (tax breaks, fast tracking) Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Policy Steps to successful incentive-based policies (research): • Develop incentives with stakeholder input • Good marketing and education campaign • Built government capacity (make the policy mandatory for county developments) • EDIS documents available Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Policy Y IC Site design P L O Construction Post-Construction

Conservation Subdivision EDIS Series: • Design • Construction • Post-construction Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Evaluating Green Communities EDIS Document: • Top eleven questions to ask • Targets homebuyers Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Carbon Sequestration and Greenspace EDIS Document: • CO 2 sequestration • More turf – less CO 2 sequestered Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Retrofitting Neighborhoods Continuing Education Course: • Targets homeowners • Under development Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Future Directions Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

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!

Summary • Create New Green Communities • Retrofit Current Urban Communities Dept. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation wec. ufl. edu Program for Resource Efficient Communities www. buildgreen. ufl. edu

Wildlife Extension www. wec. ufl. edu/extension Mark Hostetler – hostetm@ufl. edu