Land is a crucial component of the built environment. Too often, however, projects are designed without regard to their harmful impact on scarce resources, local culture and community, and underlying ecological systems.
Fortunately, we can create high-performance landscapes that provide a variety of benefits to a community, such as conserving resources, managing stormwater, cleaning air, reducing urban heat island, and improving human health and well-being. Sustainable landscapes can create ecologically resilient places better able to withstand and recover from episodic floods, droughts, wildfires and other catastrophic events.
These landscapes appreciate in value, unlike conventional building projects that typically depreciate in value. The SITES v2 Rating System for Sustainable Land Design and Development elevates the value of landscapes and guides projects towards regenerative and resilient design.
At Greenbuild Chicago, running November 14–16, learn more about the SITES v2 Rating System and how it can influence and improve your development projects. Mark your calendar for this lineup of events:
Daily, November 14–16
Visit the USGBC x GBCI Booth #1111 and Certification Work Zone on the expo floor. If you have questions about the SITES v2 Rating System, becoming a SITES AP, registering a project or handling a technical issue, our subject matter experts will be on hand to assist.
Pre-conference events
Monday, November 12
1–5 p.m. | Tour Meet Desk | Chicago Navy Pier Sets Their SITES on Gold
In this tour, learn about the Chicago Navy Pier—the first project to achieve Gold certification under SITES v2 Rating System. Explore what strategies this century-old landmark is using to preserve and protect the environment, including tactics like expanded green spaces, water and energy conservation, implementation of innovative stormwater management and use of recycled materials
Tuesday, November 13
8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | 176C | Sustainable SITES Workshop (SITES-specific CEUs offered)
Explore the SITES v2 Rating System and learn about the benefits of pursuing SITES certification, using real-world project examples. GBCI SITES staff are joined by project team members from two exceptional SITES-certified projects: The Dell Medical District at the University of Texas at Austin and the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Bartholdi Park. You will also learn about the important connections and distinctions between SITES and LEED. Prepare for an interactive workshop that will engage participants through live discussion and application of SITES strategies.
Conference sessions
Wed., November 14
11–11:30 a.m. | USGBC x GBCI booth #1111 | Meet the Experts of SITES
Want to learn more about SITES? Stop by the booth for a 30-minute presentation and Q&A with one of our SITES experts.
1:30–2:30 p.m. | 183C | SITES Client Buy-in and Prerequisite Tips for Success (SITES-specific CEUs offered)
Two of the biggest challenges with SITES certification are client buy-in and understanding the importance of SITES Prerequisites. Learn how to address questions clients are asking about SITES and why the Atlanta Beltline is the first municipal agency to include SITES in its next round of projects. Learn how design teams have addressed challenging prerequisites that allowed projects to move forward. Get detailed strategies for addressing the challenges of prerequisites 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2 and 7.3.
Thurs., November 14
3–4 p.m. | 184 | Continuous Simulation Models in the LEED and SITES Rainwater Management Credits (SITES-specific CEUs offered)
Explore the Rainwater Management credit in the LEED v4 rating system, and the Water prerequisites and credits within the SITES v2 Rating System. Learn about the evolution of stormwater management and how these credits have advanced over the lifetime of the LEED and SITES rating systems.
1–1:30 p.m. | USGBC x GBCI Booth #1111 | Meet the Experts of SITES
Want to learn more about SITES? Have questions about the SITES program? Join us at booth #1111 for a 30-minute presentation and Q&A with one of our SITES experts.
Fri., November 16
8–9 a.m. | 183C | Grey to Green to Smart: The Next Generation of Urban Stormwater Management (SITES-specific CEUs offered)
By diverting and managing stormwater before it enters the sewer system, green infrastructure is augmenting grey infrastructure to allow sewer systems to operate more effectively and efficiently. In this session, uncover how the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District holistically implemented green infrastructure technologies to create one of the most successful urban stormwater management plans in the U.S., and explore how these methods contribute to fulfillment of a multitude of credits in the SITES V.2 rating system.