You probably know by now that burning fossil fuels to heat your home, run your appliances and drive your vehicles creates carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG), but you may not have thought about the GHG produced with watering, mowing and fertilizing landscapes. The problem is that there are not good tools for calculating this. Carbon and other GHG calculators do not typically include the embodied energy of water nor landscape maintenance in their equations.
An interesting question is beginning to be raised in terms of sustainable landscaping, how can we use annual plants in our sustainable landscape? This presents an interesting topic for discussion and we would be interested in your opinions. In most areas of the U.S., annuals can play an important role in many landscapes such as healing environments. The benefit of certain colors and mental restorative factors is a consideration in landscapes and human health.
Do you want to become a LEED-Accredited Professional, but are not sure whether any LEED specialty suits you as a landscape architect? Or are you already a LEED-AP, accredited before the revised credentialing system took effect, and are considering becoming a LEED-AP in a specialty?