"LEED for the Land": Sustainable Sites Initiative

As Scott Carlson puts it, in this brief Chronicle blog post, this initiative is "like LEED for the land."

As those who put this latest 100-page report together, put it:

The Preliminary Report on the Standards and Guidelines for Sustainable Sites is the result of more than a year of work by a diverse group of experts in development, design, construction and maintenance of landscapes. It is based on a thorough and comprehensive review of the current science as well as best practices in the industries involved. The report details the important contributions to the environment made by soils, hydrology, vegetation and materials and how sustainable sites benefit people who view and enjoy them. We invite you to read and comment on this report.

The organizations behind this initiative are also looking for volunteers to review the proposed standards.