So you want to have a LEED-certified lawn. That’s great! Not only will your landscaping look phenomenal, but you’ll boast one of the most economic-friendly yards in the neighborhood. You’ll be able to assume some long-term cost savings by reducing waste and maintenance costs, not to mention the tax breaks you’ll stand to receive. For both home and commercial property owners, a LEED certification is a noble pursuit.

A LEED Certification is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. There are levels of LEED Certification, but the underlying requirement for any LEED Certified landscape is that it meets standards for water usage, energy consumption, resources and environmental quality. Higher levels also include innovation and environmental design. This includes avoiding invasive plant species, minimizing water consumption, and the use of synthetic chemicals for pest control and fertilization. Your project must be in a permanent location or on an existing building site and must use reasonable LEED boundaries. All projects must be constructed and operated on a permanent location on existing land. Projects designed to move at any point in their lifetime are not eligible for a LEED Certification.

The following is a checklist to help you work toward getting that LEED Certification. Make sure to follow all the necessary steps for the landscaping of your dreams.

Determine The Level Of LEED-Certification You’re Pursuing

There are different levels of LEED Certification earned with points or credits based on the number of items you include in your landscaping project. This rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces or neighborhoods and all of the environmental impacts associated with those projects. There are essentially four levels of LEED certification – Certified/Green, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The lowest level, Certified, only requires a minimum of 40 points, while a Platinum certification requires more than 80 points. Landscape design and maintenance are included in the scoring system used for LEED certification.

To read more on LEED certification levels, check out this article.

Determine Your Landscaping Budget

A LEED-Certified lawn/landscape can help you save money over the long-term, but getting to that point comes with a cost. To reach that Platinum level you should expect to have an appropriately high budget, whereas a Green certification can be more cost-effective. There are some costs you just can’t avoid, but in many cases you can make smart decisions that will save you money. Instead of using LEED-approved chemicals for weed control and insects, consider focusing on soil health and appropriate irrigation that promotes healthy turf. When a lawn is healthy there’s little room for weeds to move in.

Another trick is to use permeable surfaces instead of hard surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt. Permeable interlocking pavers are LEED eligible, reduce the need for irrigation, and come at an affordable cost. Finding ways to harvest rainwater or stormwater runoff is also a great way to save money on high-cost irrigation sources. Utilizing native plants – especially shade-providing trees – goes a long way toward mitigating costs associated with drought and water conservation.

Contact Local Extension Service Or State Agency For A List Of Regional Plant Species.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, the prerequisites of a LEED-Certified lawn is that it has no invasive plants. Invasive plant species vary by region, so one of the first things you should do is consult your local Extension Service or State Agency to get a list of regional plant species. Not every non-native species is considered invasive, so getting a consultation is key!

A list of regional resources is also available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Meet Basic LEED Certification Landscape Standards.

LEED points/credits are assigned according to various design specifications – such as erosion control or soil stabilization measures. Basic landscape design music use turf that is drought-tolerant. That turf can’t be in a densely shaded area and cannot be used in an area with a slope of more than 25-degrees. If mulch or soil is necessary to meet these requirements, organic mulches are recommended. All compacted soil must be tilled to at least 6 inches. An alternative to this is to limit the use of conventional turf. Those who use less than 20 percent conventional turf in their landscape design will receive the highest points toward their LEED certification. Installing drought-tolerant plants or reducing the overall irrigation demand is also a basic requirement, with the more points given for greater amounts of irrigation reduction.

Of the minimum 40 points required for basic LEED certification, most are landscape-related. If you’re taking on the project yourself make sure to fully research those landscape specifications, or if you’re using a contractor make sure to research contractors who are familiar with LEED certification and have experience with those types of projects.

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There are multiple steps that come with the details of that pursuit of a LEED-certified landscape, but in general, some basic landscaping strategies can help you earn the credits you need to be awarded that LEED certification. And best of all you’ll be making a positive impact on your environment!