The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) was created in response to an immediate need to shift our current development mindset to define and measure the performance of healthy ecological systems. By altering our current development path to be more compatible with these natural systems, we can increase the capability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Your project team is interested in pursuing SITES v2—the most comprehensive program for sustainable landscape design—but how do you know if your project is eligible? With this handy list, you'll be able to determine if your project can achieve SITES certification. Here are a few things to keep in mind before your team registers a project in SITES Online.

The concept of intentional, regionally appropriate and resource-efficient landscape design and management has been essential to LEED since its inception. As an increasing number of practitioners have sought to demonstrate leadership in this space, the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) was developed as a freestanding rating system to complement its presence within LEED.

Traditional land development and land use decisions often underestimate or ignore healthy ecosystems. Sustainable land development is cost-effective, better for the environment and fosters resiliency. Last year, GBCI expanded on its vision of speed to market transformation for the built environment to cover nearly every facet of sustainability, including sustainable landscape design and management.

Considering implementing SITES in your organization or practice? Interested in earning a SITES professional credential? We are exploring this possibility at USGBC and need your feedback.

This year’s Greenbuild Conference and Expo will feature over 270 sessions that include education sessions, summits, expo discussions, tours and more.

Traditional landscaping and land development require a great deal of water, energy, labor, materials and other scarce resources. Because our communities are using more resources than ever before, the increased waste creates a negative impact on the environment. Sustainable landscaping is cost-effective, environmentally sound and fosters resiliency. It plays a key role in reducing the impact of population growth and development and offers solutions for problems such as pollution and waste.

Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST for a free webinar on the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES).

Population growth and development are causing our communities to use more resources than ever before—which means more waste and a negative impact on the environment. Traditional land development and land use decisions often underestimate or ignore healthy ecosystems. Sustainable land design and development is cost-effective, better for the land and fosters resiliency.

Have you heard about SITES, the new sustainable landscape certification, and want to learn more? Are you a developer or government agency who wants to get recognition for your commitment to sustainable site design and construction? Maybe you’re a green building or landscape architecture professional who hopes to offer consulting services for SITES, but isn’t familiar with the certification process. You could be working on a project with sustainable landscaping elements and wondering if the project is eligible for SITES.