The Sustainable Sites Initiative has released the nation's first rating system for the design, construction, and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. The Initiative— a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and U.S. Botanic Garden—spent four years developing the system, working with dozens of leading sustainability experts, scientists, and design professionals, as well as public input.

"While carbon-neutral performance remains the holy grail for green buildings, sustainable landscapes move beyond a do-no-harm approach," says Nancy Somerville, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA, in a statement. "Landscapes sequester carbon, clean the air and water, increase energy efficiency, restore habitats and ultimately give back through significant economic, social and environmental benefits never fully measured until now."

The rating system works on a 250-point scale, with levels of achievement for obtaining 40, 50, 60 or 80 percent of available points, recognized with one through four stars, respectively. If prerequisites are met, points are awarded through the 51 credits covering areas such as the use of greenfields, brownfields, or grayfields; materials; soils and vegetation; and construction and maintenance. These credits can apply to projects ranging from corporate campuses, transportation corridors, public parks and single-family residences. The rating system is part of two new reports issued from the Initiative, the Case for Sustainable Landscapes and Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009.

To test the rating system, the Sustainable Sites Initiative is seeking pilot projects in conjunction with the release of the rating system. Any type of designed landscape is eligible, so long as the project size is at least 2,000 square feet. The call will remain open until February 15, 2010, and the initiative will work with and oversee the projects during the two-year process.

—Nielsen Business Media