Energy Efficient Landscape

Written by: D. Buckley on December 5, 2010 @ 2:57 pm

There are some interesting developments on alternative energy in Dallas and I wonder what the effect will be for future landscape design. Oncor plans to install 850 miles of transmission lines from West Texas windmills to recharge electric vehicles in Texas. Dallas has a recharging station that opened on September 2010 at the Half-Price Bookstore on Northwest Highway east of US 75. There are less than a dozen others throughout the metroplex, at least as of this writing.

One thing to consider is how the growing number of recharging stations will affect the urban landscape. Commercial landscapes may include more and more recharge stations amongst other utility configurations. But how do will these recharge stations affect traffic patterns and be incorporated into site design? Is there opportunity here for landscape and urban designers to make a difference (even if these utilities fall under the purview of utility companies)?

Check out the concepts for electric recharge stations by Evoasis, based in the U.S. and the U.K.. The company incorporates electric vehicle Rapid-Charge stations (EVSTAT) into existing parking areas. In some cases, they retrofit abandoned gas stations and other neglected areas to accommodate these stations.

Thinking beyond recharging stations, how can landscape designers plug into the wave of alternative energy? In one application, landscape architect, Walter Hood, designed a campus plan with solar arrays. The large panels are iconic and serve as functional art pieces. The 5000 solar arrays will supply power to student housing. It is a laudable foray into newer territory of alternative energy as functional landscape design.

But landscape designers don’t have to apply renewable energy into design with large gestures. Architects already incorporate energy-efficient methods/tools such as solar panels into building facades. An increasing number of site amenities use energy-efficient LED lighting. Newer concepts show street lighting that draws and stores energy from solar or wind energy by day to be illuminated at night. What about paving? LED and solar-powered pavers are available now. The images below show paver installations with Meteor Solar LED pavers.