Pilot Program on Call for Sustainable Landscapes

 

The U.S. Green Building Council, a stakeholder in the Initiative, anticipates incorporating the Sustainable Sites guidelines and performance benchmarks into future iterations of its LEED Green Building Rating System.
- Courtesy of Cultivate Landscapes

The Sustainable Sites Initiative has an upcoming Nov. 5 call for pilot projects that will test the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes. The initiative will accept applications on that date and close Feb. 15, 2010, in conjunction with the release of the next report and new rating system, called The Sustainable Sites Initiative: Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009. As this country has been going green this century, it has become more and more important for landscape professionals to create and promote sustainable landscapes.

Any type of designed landscape is eligible to participate, ranging from academic and corporate campuses, parks and recreation areas, transportation corridors to single residences so long as the total size exceeds 2,000 square feet. Fees for participating in the pilot project process may run between $500 to $5,000 depending on project budget (Note, limited scholarships will be available). About 75 to 150 projects will take part in testing the rating system.

Until now, design and construction rating systems included little recognition for benefits of sustainable landscape and site design. Landscapes can clean water, reduce pollution and restore habitats, all while providing significant economic benefits to land owners and municipalities.

- Courtesy of ASLA