Sustainable Sites Initiative: A New Stand-alone Rating System

The National Building Museum recently held a session on Sustainable Sites Initiative, which outlines voluntary guidelines for sustainable practices.

1 minute read

June 20, 2009, 9:00 AM PDT

By Liyuan Huang


The sustainable Sites Initiative outlines voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable design, construction and maintenance practices. It focuses on the "connective tissue between buildings", said Nancy Somerville, CEO of ASLA. I will be integrated into LEED and also serve as a stand-alone rating system.

"Jose Alminana, ASLA, Principal, Andropogon: Alminana explained the importance of the Sustainable Sites Initiative. Alminana argued that "blue is the new green," and highlighted figures that show humans rely on 1 percent of the earth's water for all their needs. As a result, buildings and sites need to be re-thought in terms of their water use. Green sites can cut down water and energy use, C02 emissions, and the amount of solid waste produced."

Thursday, June 18, 2009 in THE DIRT

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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