WHAT:
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 are collaborating to develop a 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 they are finished.
WHY:
Sustainable landscape design can save billions of dollars in infrastructure and environmental costs while reducing individual maintenance and utility bills. However, no rating system exists to guide development beyond building construction.
This new initiative will help balance the built and natural environments for the long-term health of communities nationwide.
WHO:
Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice President and CEO of ASLA Frederick R. Steiner, FASLA, Dean of the University of Texas School of Architecture.
WHEN:
Saturday, October 6 at 10:30 AM
WHERE:
Room 111 of the Moscone Center
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
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