ASLA created a new online resource guide on improving water efficiency through sustainable residential landscape architecture. The guide contains lists of organizations, research, concepts and projects related to water efficiency and sustainable landscape architecture, and includes sections on: residential bioswales and bioretention ponds, residential rain gardens, residential rain water harvesting, residential water recycling, and the residential drip irrigation. Developed for students and professionals, the resource guide contains recent reports and projects from leading U.S. and international organizations, academics, and design firms.
This sustainable residential design resource guide is the second in a new four part series. See the first guide in the series: increasing energy efficiency through sustainable residential landscape architecture. Future guides in the residential design series will focus on how sustainable residential landscape architecture can enable the productive use of plants and soils, and incorporate innovative materials.
The guide is separated into five sections:
- Residential Bioswales / Bioretention ponds
- Residential Rain Gardens
- Residential Rain Water Harvesting
- Residential Water Recycling
- Residential Drip Irrigation
As an example, the section on “residential bioswales / bioretention ponds” includes models for reducing water usage through natural landscape systems, as well as recent local regulations encouraging the use of bioswales and bioretention ponds in water-efficient designs. There are also links to projects that have successfully incorporated these concepts in a residential context.
See earlier resource guides:
- Combating Climate Change with Landscape Architecture
- Livable Communities
- Sustainable Design and Development
- Sustainable Transportation
- Sustainable Urban Development
- Improving Skills During the Economic Downturn (career resource guide)
Go to the Resource Guide
Image credit: NE Siskiyou Green Street
