The First Facility Management Blog

The Sustainable Sites Initiative invites public comment until January 20, 2009 on a new report that offers a comprehensive set of voluntary, national guidelines developed for sustainable landscapes. Titled Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008, it provides more than 50 prerequisites and credit options that cover the gamut, from initial site selection design to construction and maintenance.

The Sustainable Sites Initiative is a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin, and the United States Botanic Garden. These entities are working in conjunction with a diverse group of stakeholder organizations to create a voluntary rating system for sustainable landscapes, large and small.  

Landscapes have the potential to use resources more efficiently, improve air and water quality, reduce the urban heat island effect and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere–helping reduce global warming. However, previous efforts to address sustainable practices in the design and construction industry mostly focused on buildings, according to the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

A recent consumer survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) reflects this disparity. While only 58% surveyed said they used energy and resource saving practices in their yard, lawn or garden, many more (96%) used similar practices in their home.

The Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008 is the second report from the Initiative. The U.S. Green Building Council is lending its support to this project and anticipates incorporating the Initiative metrics into future versions of LEED® Green Building Rating System.

”Whether the site is a transportation corridor, shopping mall, park, large subdivision or a single home, landscapes hold the unique potential to create a net improvement to the sustainability of the area,” said Nancy Somerville, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. “This new report finally creates a way to measure and recognize those efforts.”

Over three dozen technical advisors in hydrology, vegetation, soils, materials and human health and well being contributed thousands of hours to ensure the credits could apply to any landscape, with or without buildings.

“This is a guidebook for all those who design, construct or maintain our outdoor landscapes,” said Susan Rieff, executive director of the Wildflower Center. “If we follow these directions we can create compelling landscapes that actually mitigate environmental harm–making our communities better places to live.”

“These guidelines will change not only the landscape and garden industry but will also raise public expectations about the health and quality of the built environment,” said Holly Shimizu, executive director of the United States Botanic Garden. “We are asking industry professionals and interested parties to participate in this 45-day public comment period to insure the quality and applicability of the report.”  

An online form is available for the public to provide feedback on this draft at www.sustainablesites.org. Responses will inform the final Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks which will be released in the summer of 2009.

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), The University of Texas at Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the United States Botanic Garden announced the development of a new rating system for sustainable landscape design, called the Sustainable Sites Initiative. Just as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® rating system measures a building’s environmental impact, the Sites Initiative will measure the sustainability of designed landscapes of all types, including public, commercial, and residential projects. The U.S. Green Building Council is lending its support to this project and plans to adopt the Sustainable Sites metrics into its LEED® system once it is finished.

“This will provide the missing link for green building standards,” said Nancy Somerville, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. “Developers, designers, owners, and public officials will now have the tools at hand to significantly increase sustainability in the built environment, from interiors to landscapes.”

“We are acutely aware that the best guidelines and standards in the world will not be adopted if they are not cost-effective for builders and landowners,” said Frederick R. Steiner, FASLA, dean of The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and a member of the Wildflower Center Advisory Council. “Sustainable landscapes have enormous environmental benefits, and any additional costs should be easily recovered over the life of the project in energy, water, and other savings.”

“The U.S. Botanic Garden is extremely excited to be a part of the Sustainable Sites Initiative”, said Holly Shimizu, executive director of the Garden. “We recognize that through partnerships and collaborations we can make a much greater impact on promoting and guiding sustainable design, implementation, and management of gardens, landscapes, and all outdoor spaces. This initiative will help balance the built and natural environments for the long-term health of communities nationwide.”

Additional program partners include the U.S. Green Building Council, the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenScapes Program, the National Recreation and Parks Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Environment and Water Resources Institute, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the Nature Conservancy’s Global Invasive Species Initiative, and The Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Texas at Austin.