Sustainable Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
RHA Landscape Architects-Planners, Inc. is LEED certified and a leader in the design of energy efficient, water wise parks and public spaces. RHA actively encourages the employment of environmentally friendly sustainable design practices. We encourage clients to use sustainable technologies and products to achieve innovative, resource conserving, maintenance friendly public and private facilities which provide long term budget savings.
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Use innovative design to create useable areas which detain storm water on site to reduce the amount sent to the storm sewer
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Reduce pollution by treating storm water through the use of on-site bioswales, storm water planters, rain gardens and eco-roofs
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Create walkways, paths, plazas and parking areas using decomposed granite, porous concrete, porous asphalt and permeable pavers
Storm Water
Management
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Space plant material to allow for growth and encourage plants to realize their natural forms
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Use lawn substitutes to reduce the amount of mowing needed
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Specify organic mulch in shrub / groundcover areas to retain water and suppress weeds
Maintenance
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Design spaces which encourage and enable social gathering spaces
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Incorporate interpretive signage that speaks of community and site history and sustainable design principles
Social Capital
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Provide recycling bins for park users
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Specify quality products and materials that are durable and can be recycled in the future
Waste Reduction
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Utilize disturbed land to develop park and public spaces
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Design buildings, picnic structures, pavilions or other structures to take advantage of the natural day light, ventilation and solar gain
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Plant trees to reduce energy needs in the summer, allow winter sunshine, and provide relief from seasonal and prominent winds to protect buildings, picnic areas, play areas, courtyards and plazas
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Incorporate native trees, shrubs and groundcover and other water wise plant materials into the design
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Specify the use of locally sourced building and plant materials to reduce transportation costs
Resource
Conservation
Green Friendly Check List