Green Features
Our community plan is designed to offer simple, sustainable and affordable technologies that make the most sense. We have incorporated housing materials and technologies that lower monthly operating costs, provide superior indoor conditions, reduce or eliminate maintenance, while still maintaining the high ergonomic standards and functionalities you have come to expect from your community and home. Listed below are many of the topical areas of expertise and best practices that comprise sustainable community design.
Low Impact Development
Every Okko Community is designed with Low Impact Development (LID) principles. LID features of our communities include: collection and reuse of 100% of storm water runoff through vegetated bioswales, stormwater ponds, permeable paving, individual collection barrels and site appropriate landscaping. LID can help protect the environment through the removal of pollutants and better water management, to protect our drinking water supply and quality. Low Impact Development is a cornerstone of our community planning processes.
Dark Skies Policy
Artificial Light disrupts wildlife and ecological balance, wastes energy and has been linked to negative consequences on human health. “Dark Skies” lighting policy preserves and protects the nighttime environment. Our Dark Sky goals are simple. Decrease the amount of wasted light used at night by maintaining appropriate light levels for both energy consumption reduction and quality of life for man and animal; shielded, light efficient fixtures aimed directly at the ground; and the incorporation of sensors and timers to shut lights off when not required.
Storm Water Management
The goal of stormwater management is to maintain the health of streams, lakes and aquatic life as well as provide opportunities for human uses of water by mitigating the effects of urban development. To achieve this goal Stormwater management strives to maintain the natural hydrologic cycle, prevent an increased risk of flooding, prevent undesirable stream erosion, and protect water quality.
Natural and Open Space Policies
Environmental restoration and enhancement are components of the design of our open space systems. Components include the utilization of native and local vegetation, reforestation options along trails and green belts and enhancing wetland facilities. To balance air quality in our communities, we use vegetation to process carbon dioxide generated from community use. This will be accomplished through measures such as wetland and tree plantings.
Pioneering Design
Produce pioneering designs of a pedestrian oriented, ecologically sustainable mixed-use community. Using the local landscape and climate as a guide to what works. Natural processes are the best models of how to live in a sustainable environment. Good design increases ecological understanding and awareness of how to minimize destructive impacts. We also, avoid and mitigate disturbance of environmentally Sensitive Areas while balancing economic and recreational use of land with the production and enhancement of areas of natural wildlife. Our communities are small in scale and responsive to local conditions and people, designed to integrate both with the cities we build in, as well as their natural environment.
Snow Removal
Snow Removal for our communities shall be completed on all roadways, driveways and urban trail. The snow cleared will be recycled on site in the Stormwater ponds.
Community Development and Integration
Maintaining the values and needs of the cities we build in by creating communities that are extensions of the city. Knitting the new community into the fabric of the city, making it a permanent resident community.
Healthy, Active Living
We create streetscapes that are pedestrian in scale using a mix of land uses that encourages modes of transportation other than the private automobile. This promotes walking and social interaction while enhancing the ecological systems, and promoting healthy, active living of the residents.
