Masonry Magazine October 2008 Page. 21
IAMU Assassi Exterior WaterView 2:
Permi
Courty of ROG Punning &
Elizabeth Lexau BACKYARDS GO GREEN
Image Courtesy of www.greenscenelandscape.com
In the last five years, several regions of the United States have survived some of the most devastating natural phenomena. From the hurricane-ravaged areas of New Orleans to the tornado that leveled Greensburg, Kan., Mother Nature has dished some incredibly destructive forces. Many of these areas are coming back better than ever and-despite the environment not being friendly with them-constructing environmentally friendly, sustainable buildings. All of the public schools in New Orleans are being built green, and Greensburg is striving to rebuild the town entirely with LEED-certified structures. This inclination toward building green is not unique to the United States, with sustainable designs popping up globally, from the ACROS Fukuoka in Japan and high-efficiency Wal-Marts in Canada, to the futuristic projects of the techno-savvy SmartCity Malta and zero-carbon, zero-waste Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Internationally, the green movement has taken on a life of its own.
Today's sustainable design
ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA, "The needed aim of sustainable design is to produce places, products and services in a way that reduces use of non-renewable resources, minimizes environmental impact, and relates people with the natural environment." Sustainable design can be utilized in fields ranging from interior design to architecture, often referred to as green building.
Eco friendly landscape design
Today's homeowners are environmentally savvy, which is apparent in the home landscape. "More homeowners want yards that are beautiful, comfortable and eco friendly," says Scott Cohen, president and supervising designer for The Green Scene, an award-winning outdoor design and construction firm.
Cohen is known for his unique designs that put recycled materials, particularly wine bottles, to beautiful use. Shimmering wine bottle waterfalls, multi-colored mosaics of glittering broken glass, and outdoor kitchen counters constructed of hundreds of recycled bottles, are just a few of his signature pieces.
"Recycling can be incorporated into every aspect of landscape installation," says Cohen. "For example, when we remove an old concrete patio or driveway, we don't bring it to a landfill. Instead, we take it to a company that processes it into a substitute for crushed stone, which we then use for a variety of purposes in the landscape. We also use recycled mulch made from shredded urban forest products. We even recycle the plastic containers from new plants. There are so many ways to reuse old stuff."
"Low-voltage landscape lighting is getting better all the time," says Cohen. "New LED bulbs deliver high-quality light with four-times the energy efficiency of incandescent lights. We also like the decking made from recycled plastic and wood shavings. It performs well and keeps its color without the need for stains or paints that contain harmful chemicals. IMAS
About Scott Cohen/The Green Scene
Scott Cohen is a two-time Master's Of Design award winner. His work is featured on HGTV and in national magazines and books. Cohen's designs are available for purchase from www.Fetch-A-Sketch.com. Visit The Green Scene Web site, www.greenscenelandscape.com.