Material and Energy Resources
Proper selection, installation and management of material and energy resources can help reduce waist production, energy consumption and pollution. Materials selected for the landscape should ideally be obtained from producers and manufacturers that utilize sustainable practices. The demand for and use of off-site resources and inputs should be minimized. The use of locally produced materials should be encouraged to reduce transportation requirements. When possible, rapidly renewable products should be specified, such as bamboo, hemp and jute. Many materials are available at local salvage yards. Selecting materials that require less energy to produce and transport will lower the carbon footprint. It is also important to consider the embodied energy, or life-cycle cost (harvesting, processing, manufacturing, transporting, use and recycling or disposal) of each material. In order of efficiency with regard to materials usage and waste reduction we should reduce, reuse, recycle and dispose. Choose products that require little or no packaging, and request that manufacturers and suppliers reduce packaging materials.
The specification and use of materials that generate toxins, whether during manufacture, usage or disposal, should be reduced or eliminated. The application of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides usually be avoided. These chemicals seep into the groundwater and are transported to lakes and streams. Many of the pesticides used in our lawns are considered to be carcinogenic. Studies have shown urban/suburban streams carry more fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides than many rural agricultural streams. There are alternatives to chemicals for plant nutrients and weed control which should be broadly embraced. Whereas chemicals often destroy the microorganisms that are essential to soil health, organic fertilizers help to establish and maintain healthy soil flora.
Composting is an excellent means of converting landscape trimmings and other organic material generated on site into a valuable soil amendment. Using low maintenance practices we can reduce the need for energy consuming machinery, such as mowers, blowers and weed eaters. The emissions from gas powered garden equipment are not regulated like they are from automobiles, so garden machinery often produces greater emissions and greenhouse gasses than do automobiles. It may be preferable to use electric powered lawn equipment, particularly if the electricity comes from a non-polluting, renewable source.
Examples:
-
Collect and recycle materials during construction and installation
-
Materials with recycled content (wood & plastics)
-
Reuse of materials found on site
-
Reuse of locally salvaged materials
-
Regional materials (extracted, processed and manufactured)
-
Rapidly renewable materials (bamboo, hemp, jute, straw, cork)
-
Organic mulch
-
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products
-
Electric or manual lawn and maintenance equipment
-
Renewable, non polluting sources for electricity (on site or off site)