Saltworks Carbon Emissions Comparison

Project Description

Biohabitats provided ecological restoration and sustainable design services for a 1,400-acre property in the San Francisco Bay region. Using a green neighborhood approach, the development encompasses a variety of mixed uses seamlessly integrated into a green infrastructure of stormwater management, wildlife habitat, parks, open space and landscape restoration buffers.

As part of the sustainability guidelines Biohabitats evaluated the carbon reduction and sequestration potential of the proposed project. A final report calculated and compared the projected carbon footprint of the proposed transit-oriented development to that of an average local greenfield commuter development. The research results indicated that providing residences close to jobs significantly reduces transportation-related carbon production. These carbon savings, combined with those based on projected residence and business energy efficiency, made the case for locating residences near jobs even stronger. The final report also included a comparison of the development’s projected annual net reduction in carbon production to that of the carbon sequestration potential of restored saltmarsh ecosystems.

To help ensure true stakeholder involvement in the project, Biohabitats participated in and led community design charrettes, public workshops, government agency workshops, and roundtable discussions on ecological restoration, water quality, sustainability and habitat throughout the design process.