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The Sustainable Sites Initiative (www.sustainablesites.org) developed the first set of guidelines and performance benchmarks to establish and encourage sustainable design, construction and maintenance of landscapes.   The Initiative released their guidelines and rating system on November 5, 2009, in two new reports: The Case for Sustainable Landscapes and Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009, both available for free at www.sustainablesites.org/report .  As these guidelines become the accepted practices by professionals and nonprofessionals alike, they will transform the ways we design and build on the land, creating landscapes that nourish life for generations to come.

Also announced on November 5th was the Call for Pilot Projects that will continue the rigorous testing of the system (see www.sustainablesites.org/pilots/).  During the pilot phase, projects must meet applicable prerequisites and points will be awarded by achieving combinations of the 51 credits covering areas such as proper site selection, the sustainable use of water, the conservation of soils, wise choices of vegetation and materials and design that supports human health and well-being. Any type of designed landscape is eligible, with a minimum project size of 2,000 square feet, with or with out buildings. The call will remain open until February 15, 2010, and the pilot phase will follow and work with these projects for approximately 24 months.

A guide for homeowners on creating sustainable landscapes will be available in Fall 2010.

More about the Sustainable Sites Initiative

The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an interdisciplinary partnership led by 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 to transform land development and management practices with the nation’s first voluntary rating system for sustainable landscapes, with our without buildings. For more information, visit www.sustainablesites.org.

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