Landscape Architect Articles

Sustainable Landscape Rating System Changes Hands 09-01-15 | News

Sustainable Landscape Rating
System Changes Hands
SITES Important to Creating Livable and Resilient Communities.

Green Business Certification Inc. launched its newly acquired SITES rating system, the most comprehensive program and toolkit for developing sustainable landscapes.

SITES was developed through a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort of ASLA, The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin, and the United States Botanic Garden. The rating system can be applied to development projects located on sites with or without buildings, ranging from national parks to corporate campuses, streetscapes and homes, and much more.

"Landscapes knit together the fabric of our communities," said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO, GBCI. "Sustainable landscapes are critical in their ability to reduce water demand, filter and reduce storm water runoff, provide wildlife habitat, reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, improve human health, and increase outdoor recreation opportunities. SITES is an important addition to our toolkit, and GBCI appreciates this opportunity to support this additional contribution to healthy, thriving communities and neighborhoods."

The SITES rating system uses progressive industry standards for landscape design and incorporates additional recommendations from technical experts in the fields of soil science, botany and horticulture, hydrology, materials, and human health and well-being.

Some of the credits for sustainable landscape performance have been developed in alignment with similar credits in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system, the world's most widely used green building program.