Sustainable Land Development Today - November/December 2007 - (Page 20) SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES least helps conserve what water does fall on the site and reuses it, even if only in small amounts. 4. Educate. The easiest way to get clients’ or project partners’ endorsement of water-efficient landscape design principles is to inform them of the benefits. Demonstrate how making wise environmental choices isn’t only about conserving water; it can also yield attractive, appealing results. Developers often understand the pros and cons of water-efficient landscape design, but they’re worried potential buyers won’t accept the changing aesthetic of the “shrinking lawn.” That’s where education can help. For the 850 Winter Street project, for instance, Stantec and Davis Marcus Partners worked together to develop an educational component to the development’s marketing package that informs perspective buyers of the unique land- scape design, its purpose, expectations, and benefits. These materials are also being converted into interpretive signage panels for the site to help make the building’s tenants and visitors aware of the underlying workings of the “natural lawn” and the beds of shrubs. “We liked the idea of putting together information for our tenants and prospective users so they understand what efforts we have made to conform to green standards and how they can participate,” says Machnik. “It helps them learn what it’s all about and what they can do.” A New Kind of Aesthetic By converting the principles of water-efficient landscape design into environmentally and aesthetically acceptable practices for sites such as 850 Winter Street, landscape architects like Stantec are helping developers and their customers slowly but surely accept water-conserving measures into the marketplace as sustainable design continues to build steam. Will home owners in New England begin trading green lawns for yards full of cactus and rock formations? Probably not. But as more developers like Davis Marcus Partners embrace the concept of water-efficient landscape design and its aesthetic results at their highly visible properties, those home buyers may begin to trade some of their ultra-green lawns for areas of lowwater plant materials, meadow grasses, efficient irrigation systems, and mulches. And that’s really the kind of green that counts. SLDT About the author: Phil Pryor is a registered landscape architect with design and consulting firm Stantec. He can be reached at phil.pryor@stantec.com. All photos courtesy of Stantec. Circle 146 • or www.SLDTonline.com/adinfo 20 November/December 2007 Sustainable Land Development Today http://www.schneidercorp.com/ourstory http://www.schneidercorp.com http://www.SLDTonline.com/adinfo
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