SITES is a sustainability-focused framework that ushers landscape architects, engineers and others toward practices that protect ecosystems and enhance the mosaic of benefits they continuously provide to communities, such as climate regulation, carbon storage and flood mitigation. By providing performance measures rather than prescribing practices, SITES supports the unique conditions of each site, encouraging project teams to be flexible and creative as they develop beautiful, functional and regenerative landscapes. SITES is complementary with the LEED system. There is a pre-certification option available.

Sector(s): Urban Planning, Natural Infrastructure
Lifecycle Phase(s): Strategic PlanningPublic authorities identify the needs and long-term vision for infrastructure development., PrioritizationAuthorities decide which projects to realize and how to allocate resources., Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design., ConstructionThe asset is constructed in line with design, budget and timeline., Operation and MaintenanceInfrastructure assets are managed and maintained during their use time.
Type(s) of Tool: Rating SystemsProvide quantifiable sustainability ratings and / or certification for projects or assets.
Organization: Sustainable Sites Initiative, Green Business Certification, Inc (GBCI)

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) helps policy makers and investors take informed decisions on infrastructure financing based on customized simulations. The tool forecasts how infrastructure projects will affect and be affected by the environmental, social and economic dynamics and simulates how different risk scenarios affect a project’s financial viability across its life cycle and how material externalities can affect future cash flows. Thereby, SAVi allows to evaluate the financial attractiveness of infrastructure projects across the life cycle, considering important environmental, social, economic and governance factors that are overlooked in traditional valuations, and to compare different infrastructure scenarios and their financial viabilities.

Sector(s): Tools applicable to all sectors
Lifecycle Phase(s): FinanceDevelopers decide how to pay for their project.
Type(s) of Tool: Economic / Financial ValuationsAnalyses the economic/financial value and risks related to projects.
Organization: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
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