The TECHBlue Center is a non-profit clearing house for sustainable waterfront planning information. We develop alliances and professional resources for the development of clean waterfront destinations. Review teams and development resources are available to property owners, waterfront planning professionals, marine contractors and environmental educators.

Waterfront and planning professionals are encouraged to suggest improvements to our libraries and references.

The TECHBlue Center promotes the use of recognized environmental management systems (EMS), best management practices (BMPs), and best available technology (BAT) to continually improve the quality of our waterways:

Waterfront Development Goals:

Protect and Improve Water Quality - monitor water quality.

Protect and Improve Local Marine Habitats - monitor habitat sustainability.

Improve Product Life-Cycles of Waterfront Building Materials - beyond industry norms.

Improve Waterfront Building and Site Efficiency - reduce waste and monitor maintenance systems.

Improve Economic Impact of Waterfront Development - encourage local preferences and cost/ benefit monitors.

Increase Subscriptions to Clean Water & Clean Marina Programs - encourage registration and participation.

Increase Subscriptions to Environmental Management Programs - encourage ongoing monitoring, community education events and trade industry participation..

Sustainable Policies and Practices:

Sustainable Waterfront Commitment - make a company-wide commitment to sustainable practices.

Sustainable Purchasing Policy - practice a company-wide purchasing policy which encourages environmental practices.

ISO Guidance - use management templates which follow the guidance of the International Standards Organization for an Environmental Management System -- ISO 14001, and manufacturing quality control -- ISO 9000.

Construction Specification Institute (CSI) - use the CSI Green Format for product specifications whenever possible.

Improvement Priorities - maintain a priority list of high impact changes to waterfront development sites.

Clean Water & Clean Marina Programs - consolidate best management practices as a waterfront specific reference.

Trade & Professional Associations - encourage involvement and promote membership in trade associations which recognize sustainable waterfront practices. Association List

 

Sustainable Waterfront Benchmarks & Standards:

General Descriptions - see Glossaries

RFP Descriptions - Request for Proposal sample descriptions using the TECHBlue review process.

Review Policies - typical review policies. Policy Review Example

Benchmark Data - quantifiable data to compare waterfront products and applied technologies. Benchmark Review Data

Clean Marina Reviews - an independent chronicle of clean marina programs in the U.S. Sustainable Clean Marinas Case Studies - an independent chronicle of sustainable waterfront sites monitored by the TECHBlue Center. Case Study Index

Sustainable Waterfront Product Reviews - An on-going, independent study of the effectiveness and impact of building materials on waterfront destinations. Product Reviews