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GreenScapes a Little Greener
Note
GreenScapes is no longer a partnership program. Everyone can now enjoy the program's benefits.
GreenScapes just got a little greener. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recently joined EPA's GreenScapes as an Ally. To kick off the new relationship, GreenScapes, ASLA, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will team up to develop and implement a new rating system for site development.
This tool would evaluate a site's sustainability and would be used by designers or developers of landscape sites, parks or other non-building projects. These organizations will work with the US Green Buildings Council (USGBC) to incorporate this tool into the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.
In addition, GreenScapes and ASLA are collaborating to develop
several educational sessions on sustainable landscaping for
ASLA's
Annual Meeting and Expo 
on October 6-9, 2006, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
"ASLA is proud to be an Ally of GreenScapes. Stewardship of the land has been a core mission of the Society and its membership since ASLA was founded in 1899. Our members are dedicated to protecting the environment by improving the health of ecological systems and fostering the development of sustainable landscapes," said Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice President of ASLA. "We are pleased that, through our partnership with GreenScapes, we will be able to expand the information and technical resources available to our members to support this core mission."
ASLA isn't just talking the talk; it's also walking the walk.
ASLA has begun construction to replace their current Washington,
DC, headquarters' roof with a green roof. The 3,300-square-foot-roof
will be entirely covered by plantings and will feature two
slopes, each showcasing their own microclimates. The professional
organization has also adopted an environmental code of ethics
which requires members to educate and promote environmentally
friendly and sustainable land-use practices to clients and
governmental authorities. ASLA recently established a professional
practice network group devoted to sustainable design and development
issues .
This group is leading the LEED rating improvement project
with GreenScapes.
The ASLA is a national professional organization representing more than 15,000 members and 48 chapters in all US states and territories and 42 other countries.
GreenScapes is a public-private partnership that aims to combine the strengths of government and industry to influence the reduction, reuse, and recycling of materials and other natural resources in large land use applications, such as roadside landscaping, Brownfields land revitalization, and the beautification and maintenance of office complexes.
For More Information:
- GreenScapes - EPA's program promoting beneficial landscaping
- GreenScapes: Environmentally Beneficial Landscaping (PDF) (8 pp, 760K, about PDF) - Brochure describing EPA's GreenScapes program, providing cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for large-scale landscaping
- Greenscaping Your Lawn and Garden (PDF) (8 pp, 1.8MB, about PDF) | en Español: Haciendo Aún Más Verde ("Greenscaping") su Césped y Jardín (PDF) (8 pp, 313K, about PDF) - Booklet encouraging consumers to grasscycle, mulch, and compost to reduce the amount of yard waste in the waste stream
- American Society of Landscape
Architects
- Learn about landscape architecture and ASLA on this Web
site
- US
Green Building Council
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating
system
- Center
for Green Roof Research
- Located at Penn State, its mission is to demonstrate and
promote green roof research, education, and technology transfer
in the Northeastern US