Green on the Outside / UNDER THIS ROOF
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Green on the Outside
Improve your exterior to reduce your carbon footprint and your operating costs.
by Carleen Brice
What about “greening” the exterior of your building? Start with your landscape, said James
T
Owens, AIA, LEED, AP, an associate at Rauhaus Freedenfeld & Associates, an architectural firm specializing in the design of veterinary hospitals. “Sustainable landscape design mini-
mizes the use of irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides and can prevent soil erosion and sedimentation,” he said. “Use native and adapted plants. They require less maintenance and irrigation and fewer or no applications of chemical fertilizers and pesticides compared with most for- eign plant species.” In addition to being easier on the envi-
ronment, this will save you money. “Landscaping designed for your local
climate and your site’s microclimate is one of most effective strategies to avoid escalating water costs,” he said. “A hos- pital’s water bill can be significantly reduced through thoughtful planning and careful plant selection and layout.” Another good reason to use native plants is for the welfare of local wildlife. “As wildlife is displaced by develop-
ment, it becomes crowded into increas- ingly small spaces, and, eventually, the population exceeds the carrying capac- ity of the area,” Owens noted. “Preserv- ing and restoring native and adapted
Trends magazine, April 2012
Sometimes artificial is better for nature. For example, use artificial turf in animal walking areas.
vegetation and other ecological features on your site provides wildlife habitat.” This is especially important if you are
building on a new site. Remember, dur- ing construction, more land and trees are cleared for the working areas needed to construct a new hospital. “I recommend that hospital owners
work with their design team to establish strict site boundaries and staging areas during construction to reduce the dam- age to the site.” In addition to selecting the right plants
for your landscape, Owens says you will help the environment when you: Plant more shade trees and install architectural shading features, such as canopies, at dog walking or relieving areas. Consider using reflective “cool-roofs,” such as
he ways to make the inside of your hospital more green, such as using energy-efficient light bulbs and better insulation, are well known.
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