by Lisa Van Liefde | Mar 15, 2022 | Green-Sustainable, Landscape Design
Learn how simple swaps — or a different approach — can reduce your yard’s water consumption Keeping your landscape’s water use low is a must if you live in a drought-prone area. But it’s a good approach to take even if you live in a region that doesn’t face water...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Feb 17, 2022 | Green-Sustainable, Natural Stone
Reducing energy demand and CO2 emissions is more important now than ever. And because the construction industry makes a major contribution to global CO2 emissions and energy consumption, construction products should have the lowest possible environmental impact. In a...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Sep 24, 2021 | Green-Sustainable, Santa Barbara Sandstone
Santa Barbara Sandstone is a beautiful locally sourced option! Santa Barbara Sandstone, locally sourced from Southern California, is an excellent building and landscape stone. Santa Barbara sandstone is not ‘quarried’, but rather ‘harvested’ as boulders. The stone is...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Sep 3, 2021 | Green-Sustainable, News
There’s a colorless, odorless, and largely benign gas that humanity just can’t get enough of. We produce 40 trillion kg of carbon dioxide each year, and we’re on track to cross a crucial emissions threshold that will cause global temperature rise to pass the dangerous...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Mar 18, 2020 | Green-Sustainable, Natural Stone
Natural Stone in the Home When you chose natural stone for your home, whether exterior cladding, veneer or interior surfaces and stone flooring, consider how to keep the integrity of the stone intact and optimize the role it plays in your home. Natural stone is a...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Oct 10, 2019 | Green-Sustainable, Santa Barbara Sandstone
Sustainable Gardens Use Local and Reusable Materials If you’re investing in new building and hardscape materials for a landscape project, try to choose long-lasting ones that have been sustainably obtained and locally sourced. Locally sourced materials will have had...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Feb 14, 2019 | Green-Sustainable
Stone that can be locally sourced is abundant in the U.S.A. Locally sourced stone, related to guidelines set out by US Green Building for LEED accreditation, is stone that is quarried or harvested within 500 miles of the build site. There are numerous natural stone...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Aug 1, 2018 | Green-Sustainable, Landscape Design
No matter where you live, isn’t it time to consider a more water-wise and fire-safe landscape for your garden? From our friends at Houzz.com, this article “Fire-Wise Landscapes Can Help Keep Your Home and Property Safe” is full of compelling facts and advice...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Feb 22, 2018 | Green-Sustainable, Landscape Design
Sustainability is a key part of landscape design Since 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has been the professional association for landscape architects in the United States, representing more than 15,000 members. The Society’s mission is to...
by Lisa Van Liefde | Dec 12, 2017 | Green-Sustainable, Natural Stone
The latest in a series of studies conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics in partnership with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that green homes are continuing to gain market share. The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based...
