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Frequently Asked Questions about the Sustainable Sites Initiative

What is the Sustainable Sites Initiative?
The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an effort underway to develop guidelines and performance benchmarks for site development that will reduce the adverse environmental impacts of planned landscapes. It is a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden in conjunction with a diverse group of stakeholder organizations. The Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks will include criteria for site design, implementation and maintenance.  The Initiative will analyze, consolidate and advance the research needed to establish sound metrics and create regional guidelines and incentives for sustainable sites.

What makes a landscape sustainable?
A sustainable site links natural and built systems to achieve balanced environmental, social and economic outcomes and improves quality of life and the long-term health of communities and the environment. Sustainable landscapes balance the needs of people and the environment and benefit both.

Why do we need a site-specific rating system?
Green building standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and other organizations are a growing success story, providing guidance and motivation to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. Currently, these standards lack comprehensive criteria for sustainable landscapes and site components.  Existing green building rating systems address some site issues but do not fully address landscape sustainability. The Sustainable Sites Initiative will fill this gap.   

Healthy landscapes have the capacity to enhance and regenerate natural resources and ecosystem health.

What is the USGBC's position on the Sustainable Sites Initiative?
USGBC recognizes that there is a need within LEED® to improve the site components and supports the Sustainable Sites Initiative.  To help guide the Initiative, the USGBC is participating in the Initiative and anticipates incorporating the Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks into future iterations of LEED®.

What types of projects does the Sustainable Sites Initiative address?
The Initiative seeks to apply sustainability principles to any site, with or without buildings, which will be protected, developed or redeveloped for public or private purposes.  The Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks can apply to all landscapes including commercial and public sites, parks, campuses, roadsides, residential landscapes, recreation centers and utility corridors.

What are the Sustainable Sites products designed to achieve?

Who will use the products of the Sustainable Sites Initiative?
The products can be used by developers, designers, owners, builders, governments and those who maintain existing green building standards.  

Will compliance with this Rating System be mandatory?
The Sustainable Sites Initiative products are designed to be voluntary.

What steps have been taken to create the Rating System?
The Sustainable Sites Initiative started in 2005. A Steering Committee representing 11 organizations and Technical Subcommittees comprised of more than 30 experts identified best practices and continue to work on Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks and a Reference Guide for the landscape industry. Three reports developed between 2007 and 2009 allow time for feedback from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The hope is for maximum input from interested groups.

What organizations are involved in Sustainable Sites?
The American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden are partnering in this effort in conjunction with a diverse group of stakeholder organizations which include the U.S. Green Building Council, the Environmental Protection Agency's GreenScapes Program, the National Recreation and Park Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers' Environment and Water Resources Institute,  the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the Nature Conservancy's Global Invasive Species Initiative and The Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Texas at Austin.

What are the similarities/differences between LEED® for Neighborhood Development and Sustainable Sites?
The LEED® for Neighborhood Development Rating System and Sustainable Sites are similar in that they both significantly extend the focus of green building beyond the single-building envelope. A distinguishing characteristic of LEED® for Neighborhood Development is its focus on location and community pattern - where people live and work and how they move around. Sustainable Sites focuses on the site scale and the way people maintain, protect or restore ecosystem services such as clean air and water, climate protection and habitat. The Sustainable Sites Initiative is currently developing Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks and plans to be in its pilot project phase in 2010. Although the two systems are quite different, they are intended to be complementary to one another.

Who is funding the Sustainable Sites Initiative?
In addition to the three Founding Partners, funding is provided by The Meadows Foundation and Landscape Structures Inc, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Horticultural Research Institute, the USDA Forest Service and the U.S. General Services Administration.