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Tips for Building "Green" - Landscaping
The vast amount of information available about building green can be overwhelming. To assist our customers in making environmentally sensitive decisions while building their new home, Donald A. Gardner Architects has compiled this handy FREE guide to building green.
Landscaping

When building a sustainable home, there are many things to consider. Often, because it is not part of the construction process or the home itself, landscaping is overlooked. Making smart choices with your planting choices can positively affect the energy efficiency of your home, and create curb appeal at the same time.

To create environmentally-conscious landscaping for your new home, consider a few of these ideas:

a) Plant deciduous trees that will shade your house during the hottest hours of the day, and plan windbreaks to divert the cold winter winds that can force your furnace to work harder than it has to. Windbreaks are used to reduce and redirect wind.

b) Choose plants that are native to your area. These plants are predisposed to the kind of soil, insect predators, etc. in your region and will require less maintenance, water and harmful chemicals. They can also provide food for regional pollinator species such as bees and butterflies.

c) Collect rainwater for irrigating your garden rather than using a hose, which can waste gallons of water each minute that they are left running. If you choose to use a hose, use a nozzle with an automatic shut-off.

d) Plants absorb airborne pollutants by converting carbon dioxide in oxygen and purifying the air.

e) Choosing organic fertilizers and composts to work with in your garden does less damage to the water supply than using chemical pesticides. In addition, the soil will require much less water and mowing.

f) Another way to conserve water is to choose landscaping elements that use less water, sometimes called xeriscaping. Plants used in xeriscaping are drought resistant and can live in more habitats than most other plants. This form of landscaping can be used in small gardens or can be implemented for your entire yard.

g) Instead of building a fence by cutting down many trees, opt to grow a barrier with dense bushes and hedges. This also creates a place for birds to nest, recreating a habitat for birds who may have been displaced during the construction of your new home.

h) Porous concrete is another option for efficiently using water in your yard and gardens. This stormwater management tool is highly recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. When the ground is hit with heavy rain, much of the water is not absorbed. Porous concrete for your driveways, patios, etc. holds the water so that it can be slowly absorbed into the ground rather than left to runoff.



Tips for Building Green by Donald Gardner

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