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The Sustainable Sites Initiative

NEW STANDARDS FOR SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING WILL SOON COMPLEMENT THE US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL’S STANDARDS FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION.  LANDSCAPING’S GETTING GREENER ON TODAY'S ENVIRONMINUTE.

THE SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE IS A JOINT PROJECT OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, OR ASLA, THE US BOTANIC GARDEN, AND THE LADYBIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER.

EXPECTED BY TWO THOUSAND TWELVE, THEIR RATING GUIDE WILL PROVIDE LANDSCAPERS WITH VOLUNTARY STANDARDS FOR SOIL, VEGETATION, MATERIALS, AND HYDROLOGY.  THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WAYS SUCH AS REDUCING POLLUTED RUNOFF.

NANCY SOMERVILLE OF THE ASLA SAYS THE METHODS PROVIDED, SUCH AS COLLECTING RAIN AND PLANTING NATIVE VEGETATION, APPLY TO ANY LANDSCAPE.

SOMERVILLE: SO, INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS CAN LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY’RE DOING JUST AROUND THEIR OWN PROPERTY AND FIND BETTER APPROACHES.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Visit the Sustainable Sites Initiative web site.