Sustainability in Horticulture

Sustainability in Sustainability in HorticultureHorticulture

http://www.good.is/post/leed-for-the-outdoors-landscapes-get-their-own-green-certification-standards/

SustainabilitySustainabilityWe do not inherit the earth from

our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

SustainabilitySustainabilityThe design, construction, and

maintenance practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Healthy

ecosystems provides goods and services of benefit to humans and other organisms.

http://www.sustainablesites.org/

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™)

is an interdisciplinary effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™The US Green Building Council to

incorporate Sustainable Sites benchmarks into future versions of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Hydrology Water is the driving force behind many initiatives Demand for water in US has tripled in last 30 years

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™HydrologyManage and clean water on-site Design a site to capture, slow, and treat stormwater runoff

by reducing impervious surfaces Bioretention, rain gardens, wetlands, green roofs, and

bioswales

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™HydrologyDesign stormwater features to be accessible to site

users Provide calming views and spaces for restoration

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™HydrologyMinimize potable water for irrigation  Rainwater from rooftops and graywater Smart controllers lowers water use

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Hydrology In Portland, Oregon, nearly 49,000

downspouts have been disconnected, removing more than 1.2 billion gallons of stormwater per year from the combined sewer system

A 2,500-acre wetland in Georgia saves $1 million in water pollution abatement costs each year

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Hydrology NYC acquired thousands of acres of watershed lands, $1.5M

over 10 years, saved about $5M in construction costs of water filtration plant and $300M in annual operations

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Soils Healthy soils allow rainwater to penetrate, preventing

excess runoff, sedimentation, erosion, and flooding Clean, store, and recharge groundwater

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™SoilsProtect healthy soils  During construction, retain topsoil and minimize soil

disturbance

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™SoilsUse plant trimmings as compost Compost supplies slow-release nutrients

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™SoilsImprove health of degraded soils  Address soil compaction, organic matter levels, and

the balance of soil organisms in existing soils

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Vegetation Stormwater management, filtration, and groundwater

recharge Vegetation maintains soil structure, contributes to soil

organic matter, and prevents erosion

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™VegetationProtect and use existing vegetation Design the site to minimize disruption to existing habitats

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™VegetationRegional vegetation Use native and appropriate non-native plants adapted to

site conditions Avoid invasive plants

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™VegetationLower energy consumption Strategic locations around buildings Reduce urban heat island effects

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Materials Reuse as much of the existing site materials as practical

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™MaterialsPurchase local and sustainably-produced For lumber, choose certified, sustainably harvested wood

◦ Well managed forestry practices or reclaimed wood Forest Stewardship Council logo

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™MaterialsPurchase local and sustainably-produced Recycled materials Stone Timber Crushed glass

PlasticPlasticPlastic lumber, 100% recycled

plastic

http://blog.gardeners.com/2013/03/what-to-do-with-horticultural-plastic.html?SC=ZNA7014D&utm_campaign=Other&utm_content=Gnews040213other&utm_medium=email&utm_source=direct&email=sharon.coke@tridenttech.edu

PlasticPlasticBaleboard Recycled bale wrap and greenhouse plastic

PlasticPlasticComposite woodRecycled plastic

and waste wood fibers

PlasticPlasticPlasphaltPlasphalt™ is a combination of

recycled plastic and asphalt ◦More resistant road material

RubberMulch

◦Playground has no metal (Playsafe)

RubberMulch

Rubber The groups claims are brought on by recent findings of the 

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, which suggest that the chemical, butylated hydroxyanisole, found in reused tire mulch, is a potential carcinogen and skin irritant. The research has been backed by spokespersons at the Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, who claim there has been an increase in skin infections from children playing on synthetic turf fields.

RubberRubberCrumb rubberCommon synthetic turf

topdressing

RubberRubberCrumb rubberConcern over harmful leachates

◦Water and environmental

Toxic materialsToxic materialsPVC considered dangerous

plastic to produce (14 billions pounds annually)

Toxic materialsToxic materialsSolid PVC is relatively harmless,

other stages of life cycle raise major environmental concerns

Toxic materialsToxic materialsCA require vinyl garden hoses

warning (vinyl is essentially PVC with plasticizers)

Toxic materialsToxic materialsThis product contains chemicals

known to cause cancer and birth defects or reproductive harm. Do Not Drink From This Hose.

Toxic materialsToxic materialsPVC not recyclableAlternatives: PE, ABS, HDPE

Toxic materialsToxic materialsWood preservatives are designed

to kill micro-organisms (prevent decay)

Chromate copper arsenic (CCA) banned in 2004

Toxic materialsToxic materialsCCA was replaced by ACQ,

alkaline copper quat (quaternary ammonia)

ACQ copper not as fixed, more susceptible to leaching

Toxic materialsToxic materialsUsing non-toxic naturally

resistant wood: tropicals (Ipe, teak), cedar, or cypress

Sustainable SubstituteSustainable Substitutehttp://

www.amerinursery.com/blog-1439.aspx

Black locust suggested by some to replace ipe wood (considered unsustainable)

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Human Health & Well-beingFocus on natural views

The Sustainable Sites The Sustainable Sites Initiative™Initiative™Human Health & Well-beingProvide spaces for mental restoration,

social interaction, and physical activity

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preservehttp://oakterracepreservesc.com/

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Oak Terrace PreserveOak Terrace Preserve

Case StudiesCase StudiesAmerican Society of Landscape

Architectshttp://www.asla.org/

sustainablelandscapes/

TTC GreenTTC Green◦http://www.tridenttech.edu/

TTCGreen.htm◦http://www.sustainablecitiesnet.com/

http://www.sustainabilityinstitutesc.org http://www.treehugger.com/best-of-green/ http://www.livablestreets.com/about http://oakterracepreservesc.com/http://www.mixson.com/http://www.gogreencharleston.org/http://www.asla.org/

sustainablelandscapes/http://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?

id=24076http://www.metropolismag.com/nextgen/

pastyears.phphttp://www.sustainablesites.org/