Sustainable Sites Initiative: A New Stand-alone Rating System

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."