Meredith Sessions

The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) is gaining momentum with an announcement they have certified the nation’s first three projects.  As a landscape architect professional, would you become a SITES AP?

Hi Oona, I was involved in the Redwood Empire Chapter when I lived in Sonoma County. It did help me with networking and learning about specific sustainability topics. Suzan

Are you involved in your local USGBC chapter?  How has it benefited your career, if at all?

LEED GA – is it worth it?

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EFLA Registration

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Tanya, thanks for the advice. My first option would be to get professional experience in restoration design before I go back to school and I’m very much looking into that but also looking to keep my options open. Also, thanks for the advice about the portfolio, that’s something that I’m aware of but it slipped my mind at the time. Changing now, thanks!

Hey Charles – rather than spending more $$$ you might try an internship with someplace like Barr Engineering in Minneapolis – they have a lengthy restroration portfolio. If you want hands-on experience you might call them to ask who does the installation of their projects. Ann Riley’s Waterways Restoration Institute in Berkley, CA might be a g…[Read more]

Here in india, i do not think how much points or requiremrnt is fulfilled as per LEED USA, but green building is done in india on based on india green building council .
explain more about your projects about commerical/ factory/ park /residentials.

Does anybody have any experience with LEED projects in India? We are working on a possible LEED ND project in Tamil Nadu and I’m not sure how some of the US requirements will transfer over there. Is the USGBC pretty amenable to adjusting the prerequisites based on differences in infrastructure systems?

Thank you Eric for your feedback – invaluable information since many have been asking about the LEED GA exam.

Just sat for the GA Exam and passed on the first attempt. It’s definitely distilled down from the old version of the exams. From my perspective the LEED GA is a great credential for LAs to have the distinction, but without having to go through the specialty portions that are beyond our typical work. Sustainable Sites is where I’m placing my emphasis.

That’s fantastic to know USGBC is taking SiTES seriously. Alot of fellow designers have been very concerned about how SITES and LEED will integrate or if any integration will take place at all!?!?! There are so many great things about SITES that it would be a shame for LEED to miss. Thanks for the note, Heather!

Hey Folks! Just a quick note to say hello and introduce myself. After completing the 2009 report, I resigned as project manager of the Sustainable Sites Initiative to pursue other opportunities and spend more time with my 7 month old son. I am currently working with the USGBC as a subject matter expert to incorporate portions of the Sustainable…[Read more]

Thanks much to Chad and Charles. Are there specific details that you used, or did you just design your own details for each specific site? I’m going to look at SSI and see if there are any parking lots in their case studies; looking for pictures of good examples to show client that it can look good as well as earn them LEED credits!

Naomi-
If 6″ curbs are a must, explore the possibility of using curb cuts at regular intervals or where it makes sense….the cuts will still allow runoff to enter the depression. Clay soils? Maybe grade soil towards a central trench/basin filled with gravel. Put an underdrain at the bottom of the gravel and follow Charles’ suggestion of piping…[Read more]