“The big myth is that green design costs more,” pointed out Brad Smith, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP, during his presentation as part of a panel entitled “Creating Curb Appeal with Eco-Friendly Landscaping and Roof Gardens” at Nielsen Business Media's inaugural Green + Design Conference and Expo, held recently in Atlanta.
Smith, a registered landscape architect and senior associate with EDAW in Fort Collins, Colo., told conference attendees that a lot of data has found that a little over zero to 3 percent on the cost per square foot is a reasonable mark-up expectation for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified projects.
However, Smith warned, “When green design is layered on as an afterthought is when you run into the most disappointing [and costlier] results.
“The biggest hurdle to more ‘green’ usage is getting the design/construction community here in the United States familiar with these practices, which,” Smith added, “are second nature in Europe.” He reported that the U.S. is definitely seeing more demand for green building techniques and products.
Leo Alvarez, a principal based in Perkins & Will’s Atlanta office and another member of this conference panel, cited another common misconception—that a green roof could mess up a building owner’s roof. In fact, Alvarez maintained, “Evidence shows that a green roof system, when done right, can extend the life of the roof.”
Furthermore, Alvarez suggested that “roof garden” is perhaps a broader, more accurate term for how multifamily building rooftops are more and more being used as amenity spaces, as opposed to true “green” roofs, which are layered assemblies that support plantings. Whatever form these take, he noted, “One of the most green things we can do is to reuse the land we’re covering with the building.”
Todd Tibbitts, senior vice president of property services for Post Properties Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, reported that this owner/manager’s extensive use of landscaping has helped produce high rents per square foot as well high resident satisfaction levels.
Tibbitts, who has both academic and practical experience in horticulture, emphasized the importance of “putting the right plant in the right place” and being very smart about water usage and overall environmental stewardship. He also shared examples of how plantings can carry out a community’s design theme, be that Tuscan or contemporary, for example.
Post has 63 branded multifamily communities in nine major markets across the U.S.; 90 percent of its properties are high-end apartments. At some properties, Post has set aside land for common gardens and also grows culinary herbs, edible plants, blueberries and dwarf fruit trees for residents’ use. A lottery system is in place at a couple of Post Properties to give residents their own garden plots.
Panelists also showcased how the use of native plants and "xeriscaping" (choosing plants with lower water requirements) can enhance curb appeal in an environmentally responsible way.