Browsing by Subject "Landscaping"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Open Access
Developing a Strategic Framework for Sustainability Investments in Real Estate
(2019-04-26) Du, Honglin; Gambhir, Piyush; Li, Yuanwei; Xu, Mengting
The Master’s project “Developing a Strategic Framework for Sustainability Investments in Real Estate” is a continuation of its predecessor project titled “Financially Viable Sustainability Solutions for multi-family sector” (Long & Walker, 2018). The client, Drucker and Falk (D&F) is a real estate management company that focuses on third-party fee-based management of multifamily residential properties. D&F initiated the project to explore possible energy retrofit measures and continued it into the second year to explore additional savings measures and move closer towards finding a business value in sustainability. To evaluate the prospect and realize the vision, the present team audited two D&F properties for energy, landscaping and sustainability best practices and retrofits and created respective guides to serve as templates. Additionally, the project team collaborated with a software team at the Pratt School of Engineering to create a web-based delivery platform for these decision tools and guides. The intention behind the delivery package was to make the project outputs easy to use and customizable, while providing the necessary decision-making tools for maintenance managers, property managers and corporate. The final goal of the project is to equip and assist D&F in executing sustainability measures on its properties and market the same for increased business revenue and clientele.
Open Access
Water Usage Geospatial Tool and Maintenance Plan for a Southern California Demonstration Garden
(2012-04-24) Packer, Christopher
Southern California faces the potential of future water shortages due to increasing population and uncertain supplies of water. Over half of water consumption in the region is attributed to residential use with over half of this amount typically attributed to outdoor use. While new supply sources should be investigated, conservation efforts can drastically decrease water consumption. Numerous sources have pointed to water efficient landscaping practices as an effective means by which to accomplish this. As part of an internship, I helped Orange County Coastkeeper complete work on a 2-acre demonstration garden in Orange, CA. The garden will serve to promote efficient irrigation practices, drought tolerant plants, and other efficient landscaping practices. In order to help convey the message of water-efficient landscaping, I developed a geospatial tool that visitors to the garden can use to estimate water use when employing practices seen in the garden. The tool uses the Landscape Coefficient Method (LCM) and Water Use Classification of Landscape Species III (WUCOLS) which were developed by University of California Cooperative Extension and initiated by the California Department of Water Resources. Visitors of the garden will be able to access a webpage where they can select their yard or area to be landscaped on a Google map. After their selection regional and areal information will be sent to a tool hosted on an ArcGIS Server and the resulting water requirements returned to the user. In addition to helping Coastkeeper promote its message to visitors I have developed a maintenance plan for use by those working at the garden. The plan includes pruning, mulching, watering, and pest guides relevant to the region, as well as quick reference guides by season and a comprehensive species characteristics listing. The plan will help in the operation of the garden, and be used as a resource to educate visitors.