Water quality protection
Household sewage: If there is no community sewage system, base the type and size of household wastewater treatment system on a thorough assessment of soil type and maximum occupancy of your home, in accordance with regulations of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). The local public health official will make the determination of the type to be used for your household. A septic tank and field line is appropriate in well-drained soils. In many heavier, clay soils common in Louisiana, a mechanical treatment plant may be required.
A rock reed filter (plant bed filtration systems) and other alternative systems may be used to minimize effluent (discharged waste water) from the treatment plant. These systems can fit into your landscaping. Establish a routine maintenance and inspection program for these systems.
Water backflow prevention: Install check valves or anti-siphon valves on all outside faucets and on interior sinks with attached hoses. This prevents the backflow of household water from reentering the community water lines if a drop in water pressure occurs.
Storm water management/runoff reduction: The use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) is important to protect water from contaminants carried by surface runoff from your site and to prevent loss of valuable topsoil. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations require contractors to have a storm water management plan and take measures during construction to reduce run-off, such as temporary silt fencing and filter material in drainage.
Plan a variety of ways to reduce run-off by retaining water on site (landscaped retention areas and rainwater harvesting) and filtering out run-off contaminants with vegetation, non-floating mulches, porous paving and sediment traps. More information on BMPs is available from your local Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service office or online at www.lsuagcenter.com (select Environment and Natural Resources link).
Minimized Use of Environmental Hazards
Look for alternatives to materials that can release toxic or environmentally harmful substances. Choose foam insulations, cooling refrigerants and fire suppression systems that are free of CFCs and HCFCs (compounds that can damage the earth’s protective ozone layer). Environmental landscape management practices (native plants, IPM, etc.) reduce the need for pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals. Use synthetic rubber or cement-based damp-proofing products as an alternative to asphalt-based ones. Seek alternatives to solvent-based products.
Wood stove: Wood is a renewable resource, but a polluting fuel. If you use wood (or coal) for heat, choose a high efficiency stove with a catalytic combustor or special design to minimize emissions and capture more heat from the wood.
Wood preservatives: CCA treated wood has been phased out of the market for general use (due to concern about potential arsenic exposure) For areas not in contact with the ground or water, borate pressure treated wood and foam products treated with borates are a very low-toxicity alternative that has low corrosiveness, so does not require special hardware. For outdoor uses, ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary) or CA (copper azole) pressure-treated wood are available; due to the corrosive property of the copper treatment, double-hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel hardware should be used. Other treatments, namely some organic (metal-free) preservatives for above-ground use and surface-coated products for interior framing, are entering the market and can be effective.
Native Tree and Ecosystem Protection
Permaculture is a design concept and system for creating sustainable human environments. It uses ecology as the basis for integrated systems of food production, housing, appropriate technology, and community development. Gardening and recycling methods common to permaculture include edible landscaping, keyhole gardening, companion planting, trellising, sheet mulching, solar greenhouses, spiral herb gardens, swales (surface drainage), and composting. Water collection, management, and re-use systems like greywater, rain catchment, constructed wetlands, aquaponics (such as constructed wetlands or ponds with fish and plants that sustain each other), and solar aquatic ponds (to break down waste) are also key features. Many of these practices are not only kind to the environment, but also provide benefits such as reduced labor and maintenance, cost savings and scenic beauty.
Native tree/plant retention: Protecting and planting native trees is not only good for the ecosystem, it substantially increases the value of a home, can save energy, increase enjoyment and also provide windstorm buffer and floodwater absorption benefits. It costs much less to prevent tree damage than to remedy it, but good planning and implementation are required.
Trees are often damaged or decline and die during and after home construction. Causes include grading that alters the ground level or water table at the roots, excavation and trenching, soil compaction by heavy vehicles, chemical substances, accidental damage or improper cutting. Construct barricades around tree canopy drip lines or plant groupings you wish to protect, and prevent runoff to those areas. If making grading changes, consult with a licensed arborist or other green industry professional to develop a tree preservation plan.
Wetlands and wildlife protection: On large sites, preserve existing terrain, wetland areas and plant communities in the natural state as much as possible. If adding a water retention area for storm water management, investigate how to make it a “constructed wetland.” Consider creating a wildlife habitat or shelter with native plants that can survive on rainfall, self-sustaining soil nutrients and natural pest control.