The American Society of Landscape Architects has released a study revealing that while most adults practice energy-efficient strategies at home, they are considerably less green in their yards and lawns.
"'The results clearly show a desire and willingness to use techniques that reduce utility bills at home, but few know what can be accomplished outside their homes,' said Nancy Somerville, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. 'The space between buildings is just as important-perhaps more so-to not only reducing energy costs, but addressing a broad range of environmental issues.'
The survey comes in advance of a comprehensive November report, coming later this month, on sustainable landscape benchmarks and guidelines from the Sustainable Sites Initiative™, a partnership between ASLA, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary guidelines and a rating system for sustainable landscape design. The U.S. Green Building Council is lending its support to this project and anticipates adoption of the Sustainable Sites metrics into future versions of the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System."
"The report will offer scientifically researched approaches to create sustainable sites and landscapes ranging from backyard gardens to major urban developments. Additionally, 125 case studies provide real-life examples of projects using many approaches in the guidelines that demonstrate measurable results."
FULL STORY: Research Finds Many Live Green Indoors, but Not Out

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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