Sustainability is the practice of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing environmental, social and economic outcomes.
For parking, sustainability starts with not building more parking than is needed, because every space carries embodied carbon, land and cost. For the parking that is built, it covers energy, materials, water, operations and the mobility choices a facility supports.
In parking facilities
- Right-sizing. Shared parking and accurate demand studies reduce the number of spaces built.
- Energy. LED lighting, controls, efficient ventilation and on-site solar. See solar canopy.
- Materials. Lower-carbon concrete and durable design. See embodied carbon and SCMs.
- Water. Stormwater management and reduced heat island. See stormwater detention.
- Mobility. EV charging, bicycle parking, car sharing and transit connections.
- Certification. Parksmart is the rating system designed for parking structures.
The Parkonomics view
The most sustainable parking space is the one that did not need to be built; the next is the one that can become something else. Design and certify for the first, plan for the second.
Related terms: Parksmart Certification, Embodied Carbon, Carbon Footprint, Adaptive Reuse, Heat Island Effect