Air Force Sustainable Planning and Development
Roger D. Blevins, AICP
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Session:Planning, Partnering and Marketing Sustainable Planning (March 14, 10:15am)

There are numerous federal initiatives to promote sustainable and livable communities at federal facilities and installations. As these initiatives mature, planners at all levels will be asked to identify new approaches and techniques to develop sound and lower cost solutions, based on best professional practices. These challenges to the planning professionals will ask you to create communities and federal installation/facilities that are more environmentally responsible and economically viable over the long term.

This presentation presents a representative sample of federal initiatives in sustainable planning and development.

I will discuss current trends in the market place for sustainability products. I will share our experiences with you in effective execution of sustainability goals and objectives.

As a panel member, I hope to convey to you strategies that will overcome impediments to business development and that will capitalize on opportunities for new partnerships, allowing you to gain access to federal sustainability work.

First, the question, "Why is the Department of Defense Concerned about Sustainability?"

  • 25 million acres of land under DOD management
  • Continued loss of sustainability in natural systems
  • DOD policy to preserve and conserve to support military mission
  • Stewardship role and responsibility
  • Operational Costs

One DOD major concern that directly impacts our "mission" is urban growth, otherwise known as sprawl or encroachment. This is a threat to sustaining the range management and mission capability of our installations. In the past, the traditional military installation was analogous to a mountaintop. We can no longer afford to live on a mountaintop.

DOD Charter

  • Preserve natural resources and diversity
  • Provide the opportunity for military mission
  • Improve the health of our personnel by improving their work and living environment
  • Define strict administrative procedures

DOD Policy

  • DOD Ecosystem Management Policy (1994)
  • DODI 4715.3, Environmental Conservation Program
  • AFI 32-7062, Comprehensive Planning
  • AFI 32-7064, Integrated Natural Resources Management

In the United States origins of sustainable planning and development included:

  • Local Government "sustainable development codes"
  • 1987 Bruntland Commission, Our Common Future
  • 1970’s Carrying Capacity Studies

Recent federal historical developments have increased the federal government's sustainability efforts. During the Clinton-Gore administration there were several mandates at the federal level that directed stakeholders responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of federal facilities to incorporate principles of sustainability into their decisions and actions regarding those facilities. All Federal Agencies had to have a response to this requirement. Specific Executive orders governing this, include:

  • EO 12852 President's Council on Sustainable Development
  • EO 13123 Greening the Government Through Efficient Energy Management
  • EO 13148 Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management

Defense-related and other federal agencies began and have continued to initiate a variety of responses to this mandate. The responses include the development of sustainable design guides, the testing of new sustainable or "green" technologies, the adoption of rating techniques/criteria for decision making, and the creation of strategic partnerships to move toward the goal of making federal facilities more sustainable. This is just the tip of the "ice berg."

Air Force Planning Perspective

  • "Sustainability" is more than planning or design.
  • Based on the historical "Carrying Capacity (pre-1987)" and
  • Present day "Sustainability (post-1987)"

Air Force Sustainable Planning, Design and Development should apply all skills and abilities to:

  • Plan smart
  • Design precisely
  • Construct correctly
  • The triad of "planning, design and development" is critical for success
  • These activities are interdependent on one another for a successful project
  • Professionally independent

As the sustainable planning requirements have increased, we now see developing some standard sustainable planning RFP market language and RFP standard "Selection Criteria" factors. The following are examples of the language you might find within an advertisement to perform contractual services for the federal government:

  • "Applying sustainability concepts and principles"
  • "The proposed contract is being set-aside for small business firms. Large businesses will not be considered."
  • "Sustainable design using an integrated design approach and emphasizing environmental Stewardship."
  • "Experience with green building and sustainable design projects."
  • "Experience in the area of sustainable development"
  • "Specialized experience and technical competence and demonstrated understanding sustainable design practices."
  • Demonstrated success in prescribing the use of recovered materials and achieving waste reduction and energy efficiency in facility design (sustainable design).
  • The contractor must have experience researching attitudes toward transportation, environment, health and sustainability issues.

It is necessary that we develop a shared language of sustainability. From the examples above, you can see that sustainable planning is part of what the Federal government is seeking. You will need to understand this language within the Federal "Request for Proposals (RFP)" if you are seeking federal sustainability work. Sustainability efforts include incorporating sustainable design factors, i.e., using an integrated design approach and emphasizing environmental stewardship. Energy and water conservation and efficiency are important and quite important. This translates to:

  • use of recovered and recycled materials;
  • waste reduction; reduction or elimination of toxic and harmful substances in facilities construction and operation;
  • efficiency in resource and materials utilization; and
  • Developments of healthy, safe and productive work environments.

Many of the federal RFP requirements include a number of "green building/sustainable design" features and processes, which will qualify this facility for the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Level Certification. The contractor will be required to submit documentation to certify compliance with these special requirements. Some of the "green building/sustainable design" features include but are not limited to the following:

- Geothermal heat pump HVAC system;

- Use of local materials (within a 500-mile radius of the project site);

- Use of materials with recycled content;

- Recycling construction waste;

- Use of materials with low emissions (VOCs);

- Use of water saving and energy efficient mechanical fixtures and equipment;

- Use of day lighting and multiple switching to reduce lighting energy consumption.

There is now a Department of Defense Sustainable Planning Guide that was developed to give guidance to all the services. This guidance, or policy for Sustainable Planning, is provided in "A Multi-Service Assessment 1999." This report is a significant item that will assist you in understanding the direction of federal contracting. The official title is The Feasibility Study for Implementing Sustainable Development Concepts and Principles into the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Land and Facilities Planning Processes and Programs or Sustainable Planning: A Multi-Service Assessment 1999. The project was sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and is the first service-wide attempt by the DOD to address sustainability and sustainable planning at a policy level. The purpose of the Feasibility Study was to establish a common understanding of sustainable development that can be applied to planning, and to use that understanding to assess opportunities to include sustainability in military planning. Definitions of sustainability, sustainable development, and sustainable planning communicate a value system that is both universal and complicated. A key aspect of the report is the joint DOD approach in seeking practical applications of sustainability within the unique culture of the military. Other governmental guidance is provided through the US HUD and USEPA's "Smart Growth" program and planning guidance. Additionally, the American Planning Association has published a guide for sustainable planning.

As you can see there is a considerable amount of information about sustainable planning and development that is being generated in both the public and private sectors. This constitutes an ever-growing, and often overwhelming, array of considerations, strategies, options, and approaches for realizing sustainability. Your greatest difficulty may be to decide which approach or guide you adopt. APA has led the way in an attempt to define and give some parameters to sustainability. In addition, the DOD Sustainable Planning Guide and GSA guidance is mandatory reading. However, this will likely be an on-going process. Therefore, do not wait for a final definitive guide before you begin your sustainable planning efforts

From the Federal planning perspective, a "sustainability planning product" might include:

  • plans,
  • indicators,
  • green installations,
  • smart growth planning and design guides
  • green building programs

References for incorporating sustainability concepts into Air Force projects fall into three areas:

  • Planning
  • Environmental Management
  • Design

Planning--These resources will be most helpful in the planning arena:

Environmental Management -- There is a wide range of assessments and source material addressing natural resources, pollution prevention and environmental quality. Both governmental and non-governmental sources are of value. The US Department of Energy has played a significant role in this field through its Federal Energy Management Program and the DOE Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development. Many more government and nonprofit conservation organizations are concerned about waste and environmental abuse of the nation's natural resources. These Internet sites are included below.

Design -- The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has created the "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM)" Rating System as a tool for measuring a project's sustainability. Points are awarded for achievements in four areas: Sustaining Sites and Safeguarding Water; Improving Energy Efficiency; Conserving Materials and Resources; and Enhancing Indoors Environmental Quality. A project can earn a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum rating from the USGBC depending on the total points awarded. Qualifying for a LEEDTM rating is now a goal for the design of all Air Force MILCON projects.

Finally, the following agencies are advertising for sustainability

  • Navy (NAVFAC offices)
  • National Park Service
  • US Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Department Of Energy
  • Department of Commerce, NOAA
  • Department of the Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command
  • Department of State, Office of Acquisition
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Now I am turning the presentation back to Mary Anne Bowie. She will tell you how she has incorporated sustainable polices into local government planning. Thank you.

Author and Copyright Information

Copyright 2001 by Author

Roger D. Blevins, AICP, has worked as a professional planner for twenty-seven years, in local, regional, state and federal agencies. Mr. Blevins received his undergraduate degree and graduate degree in Urban Planning from Florida State University and his graduate degree in Public Administration from University of North Florida. In his role at the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, he serves as the Senior Air Force Planner, responsible for comprehensive planning for all the air force bases in the world. As Air Force representative to the Department of Defense Sustainable Planning Guide: "A Multi-Service Assessment 1999", he was a key participant in the development of the sustainable planning approaches that will be used for all the military services regarding installation planning.