It's getting easier to be green!

It's getting easier to be green!

Everything is turning green, from paving and retaining walls to rooftops and vertical walls. Good design, smart design, energy efficient design, -all of these things are now green design, low impact development, or sustainable design. We are learning to lower our carbon footprint and even our "cookprint". http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/05/cookprint-kate-keyhoe-induction-cooking-energy-efficiency-mark-bittman-microwave-ovens.html.

To a certain extent, green design is driven by product availability. Some interesting products that we have seen advertised but not installed and that appear to assist in obtaining LEED points include:

RECYCLED PLASTIC PRODUCTS
Composite pavers system: David Justice, djustice@vastpavers.com
Recycled plastic retaining wall system:Millenia Wall Solutions, milleniawalls.com/Green.aspx
Permeable paving systems: TurfPave XD, rginc.com/geo

REDUCING ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
Contemporary LED site lighting: Leonis by Lumec, www.lumec.com/newsletter/architect_10-08/leonis_hid-led.htm?utm_source=newsletter
Traditiional LED site lighting: Holophane, www.holophane.com/products/Family.asp?Brand=HLP&Family=GranVille%20LED&ProductType=Outdoor&Category=Decorative&SubCategory=Historical

REDUCING THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
Solar reflective coatings: StreetPrint, www.integratedpaving.com

REDUCING USE OF CHEMICALS AND WATER IN LANDSCAPING
Xeriscaping:Legacy turf-type buffalograss (Buchloe Dactyloides), www.toddvalleyfarms.com
No mow lawn: Bella Bluegrass (Poa Pratensis), www.toddvalleyfarms.com
No mow lawn: No Mow Lawn Mix, 6 low growing fine fescue turf grasses w/ or w/o annual rye nurse crop, www.prairienursery.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11

Have you seen some interesting things that can be added to this list?