The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is introducing a series of free online sustainable design guides that highlight ways for residential landscapes to support the environment—no matter the location or property size.
The design guides focus on increasing energy efficiency, improving water management, applying ecological design, and using low-impact materials. Developed for homeowners, landscape architects, and designers alike, the guides are designed to help spread more sustainable and resilient practices.
The four guides fit into a larger trend about the growing preparedness of homeowners to make changes to their landscapes in response to climate change. In fact, results from ASLA’s 2017 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey showed consumers prefer sustainable design elements for their outdoor living spaces.
Through integrated site design, a comprehensive approach to sustainable building and site design, sustainable residential landscape architecture practices can not only improve the environment, but also result in net-zero or even climate positive homes.American Society of Landscape Architects
The guides offer a wide selection of tips, research, and best practices, including The Sustainable SITES Initiative™ (SITES®), a system for developing sustainable landscapes. They also include information on the following best practices:
- Planting pollinator gardens;
- Ecological gardening;
- Installing drip irrigation;
- Reuse and recycle; and
- Going solar.
For more information on the ASLA’s sustainable design guides, click here.
