Sustainability

If you’re here, you’re curious about our take on sustainable design.

So first, consider which of these could be a sustainable landscape:

The simple answer is that it depends on your expectations, and the circumstances.

What are your expectations for a “sustainable” landscape?

A common perception is that a sustainable landscape is “zero-scape”:
minimal, sparse plantings, a lot of rock, weedy looking, and expensive (more on that later).

But a sustainable landscape can also be:

  • An orderly design with shrub rows

  • Bountiful color via foliage and flowers

  • A reconstructed native ecosystem

  • Commercial plantings at a public plaza

  • An ephemeral wildflower meadow

  • Flowing water, at the right time of year

“Sustainability” can be different things
in different circumstances.

For us, it’s a set of flexible operating principles.

Sometimes, the term “sustainable” is used interchangeably with “xeriscape”, the resource-efficient practice focusing on water conservation: proper soil prep, low-water plants, drip irrigation, minimizing lawn and maintenance.

Most cities that require water-use calculations also require these elements for plan approval.

Resource-efficiency is the “low-hanging fruit”
of sustainable design -
the base principle of The Laughing Earth’s work.

But we strive to go further,
designing truly sustainable landscapes
that are both resilient and regenerative.

  • Once established, sustainable landscapes require zero additional water or fertilizers.

  • Maintenance is minimal (removal of trash and invasive species, for example).

  • The landscape as a whole thrives indefinitely, well beyond a 20- or 30-year life expectancy, as plants spread and fill in gaps.

  • The species mix may change over time in response to local conditions,
    meaning the landscape adapts as needed with minimal human intervention.

And the long-term benefits of utilizing sustainable principles
include reduced operating costs and longer landscape life.

In addition to being resilient and regenerative,
sustainable landscapes are also ideally
integrated with site and building functions.

These integrated features often have an
ROI (return on investment) of six to ten years from first costs.

  • Stormwater integration
    Integrate detention/retention ponds with landscape areas, reducing visual pond footprint

    Divert surface/rooftop flows to storage tanks for re-use, reducing or eliminating supplemental water needs in some climates

  • HVAC integration
    Reduce cooling energy use by allowing for well-placed trees and shrubs

  • Process water integration
    Divert HVAC condensate to irrigation systems, reduce water costs and tap sizes

  • Waste stream integration
    Capture and re-use graywater for irrigation

Building code requirements are changing
towards being more environmentally-friendly.

Sustainable measures, from the simple to the complex,
help meet those requirements.

Any additional first costs are quickly offset
by life-cycle savings and value-added measures.

And all it takes is a slightly less-traditional way of
looking at the work that’s already required.

Tell us about your upcoming projects.
Let’s see what we can do together.