The Importance of Good, Sustainable Landscape Design


        The past five years have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for commercial and residential design projects in the USA. This demand has been thwarted, however, by the rising costs of raw building materials due to the need abroad in burgeoning societies like China and India. The high number of natural disasters in resent years, such as the tsunami in southeast Asia and hurricanes along the gulf coast, have also challenged the availability of materials like steel, concrete, and lumber. It is now more important than ever that planning be done with a keen investment in environmental sustainability. Not only do sustainable designs reduce the strain on materials, they also save money in the long term cost of maintenance.
        Landscape designs have traditionally used building materials without much thought. Concrete is applied liberally as patios and walkways and steel is used for piping and sprayheads in irrigation design. Sustainable landscape architecture is able to minimize the amount of these materials and uses them in a manner to maximize their longevity. Considering that the price of steel has gone up 66% in the past year and concrete 30%, that will save quite a bit of money over the lifetime of the landscape.
        Another benefit of quality landscape designing is on the low cost of plant material. Plant prices have been relatively stable over the past few years and make a great alternative to expensive hardscapes. This is only true, however, with appropriate plant choices. Plants placed in the wrong environment will not thrive and eventually need to be replaced. Soil, climate, and surrounding vegetation need to be considered when choosing the right plants to incorporate into a landscape.
        Plants have the added benefits of temperature regulation, outside as well as inside a building. Strategically placed trees provide shade and filtered sunlight. On a hot summer day, this can help lower temperatures and reduce the need for air conditioning. Likewise in the winter, dense vegetation insulates and can reduce heating costs.
        While the initial cost of a sustainable landscape design may cost a bit more because it entails a more careful analysis and development process, the construction cost will be significantly lower-- by an average of 48% in residential applications. Year to year maintenance, such as weeding, mowing, herbicide, and plant replacement will be dramatically reduced as well. 30% is saved on average annually in the first five years. This can be as much as an 85% reduction by the 10th and 11th years. Beyond the money saved by the owners through sustainable landscape design, it will help reduce the strain on raw building materials.