sustainability in the landscape - wiu.edu · constructing, implementing, and managing our...

THE GREEN INDUSTRY IN THE GREEN ECONOMY

Dr. Mari Loehrlein --- Professor of Horticulture School of Agriculture WIU [email protected]

WIU Environmental Summit 2010

The Green Industry in Illinois’ Economy

The combined value of green industry product sales and service sector receipts amounted to $3.99 billion in 2003

Ornamental nurseries, greenhouses Sod production Landscaping Lawn and tree care Golf courses Garden and floral centers Residential/homeowners

Illinois Green Industry Association: http://www.ina-online.org/Dr. Mari Loehrlein

What is “Green” in the Green Industry?: Sustainability

Ability to be continued ad infinitum without altering the environment or depleting resources

Refers specifically to impact of human activity on earth

http://sustainablelandscaping.us

Dr. Mari Loehrlein WIU Environmental Summit 2010

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What is Sustainable Landscaping?

Finding solutions to problems of environmental harm caused by human practices in the process of constructing, implementing, and managing our residential and commercial landscapes.


Issues

Global Climate Change Water:

Storm Water Run-off Water Shortages and Conservation Water Pollution

Air Pollution Pesticide Use Non-Renewable Resources Energy Sources


Global Climate Change-Impacts on the Green Industry

Change in average annual temperatures – affects plant hardiness, flowering, pollination

Flooding in some areas, and drought others will affect: plant growth irrigation practices golf course operation greenhouse production


Water Issues: Solutions in the Landscape Industry

Stormwater Runoff Rain Gardens and Bio-swales Green Roofs Permeable Paving

Water Shortages and Conservation Use of Grey Water on Plants Water-wise Landscaping Rain Water Harvest

Water Pollution Integrated Pest Management Rain Gardens

Constructed WetlandsDr. Mari Loehrlein WIU Environmental Summit 2010

Green roof on the new Wal-Mart in Chicago

Water Conservation

Rain Barrels Gray Water Rain Water Harvest

Aquascapes (http://www.aquascapeinc.com/products)

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Gray Water on Plants

Gray water is not a problem if: It is used immediately (not stored) Does not puddle Is applied to well-draining soil

If stored, it should be applied within 24 hours After 24 hours it becomes noxious, anaerobic, and a

potential source of human pathogens Normally does not hurt trees, shrubs, flowers, or turf if

applied directly to the soil Does not damage soils if harsh chemicals are absent

Water Pollution

50% of water pollution problems are due to stormwater run-off

Storm-water run-off travels into streams and rivers

Urban run-off carries fertilizers, pesticides, pet and yard waste, motor oil and anti-freeze, household hazardous wastes, paint and street litter


Air Pollution in the Landscape Industry

Gasoline powered engines 2-cycle pollute more than 4-cycle engines

Gasoline-powered landscape equipment (mowers, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws) account for over 5% of urban air pollution (EPA)

Smoke from burning landscape waste Particulate matter creates haze, contributes to smog


Reduce Emissions

Use 4-cycle engines when possible Electric mowers, etc. - ? Replace high-maintenance areas with lower

maintenance areas Avoid plants requiring excessive pruning (i.e. fast-

growing trees) Tall fescue is more drought tolerant than other

turfgrasses in this area. It also is grown taller –3-4” before being mowed, compared to 2-3” for bluegrass, etc.

Pesticide Use in the Landscape

7% of pesticides sold in the US is sold to home and garden consumers

Homeowners use 10-20X the amount of pesticides per acre than farmers (EPA)

Excess pesticide material is disposed of improperly disposal is not closely regulated education is needed

Detectable amounts of pesticides have been found in 5-10% of wells


Benefits of Turf

The average-managed lawn can absorb 4X the amount of carbon than the typical carbon output of a mower

A dense lawn absorbs rainfall A 50’ x 50’ lawn releases enough oxygen for a family

of four Reduces noise Traps and helps control dust and pollen Limits pesticide runoff by allowing infiltration Improves soil qualities

Integrated Pest Management

Less toxic: soaps, oils, biologicals Better targeted to pest, life cycle Improved genetics Mechanical control Cultural practices Acceptable thresholds

Recycled/Renewable/Remanufactured Resources in Landscape Products

Plastic for plant pots Decking and fencing material Hardscaping materials Benches, waste cans, other

accessories (Solar-powered landscape lighting

uses renewable energy)


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Remanufactured

Made from recycled materials What’s Available:

Plastic lumber Recycled glass Crumb rubber Crushed concrete, asphalt

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Sustainably Harvested

Wood: the only major construction material that is grown rather than mined

It takes time to renew a forest Smaller cuts of wood are currently harvested as

compared with colonial times Organic matter must be left for decomposition and

recomposition, otherwise nearly sterile soil is all that is left

There is a certification process

Energy Efficient Landscape Design

Right plant, right place Reduce solar heat gain in summer, maximize it in

winter Channel wind to maintain cooling breezes in summer Plant wind breaks to minimize heat loss in winter

Wind Protection

At 70oF a building sheltered from the wind will save 23% fuel for heating

With good protection on 3 sides of a building, the savings may run as high as 30%

National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program All you need to do is provide elements from each of

the following areas: Food Sources - For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits,

nuts, berries, nectar Water Sources - For example: Birdbath, pond, water

garden, stream Places for Cover - For example: Thicket, rockpile,

birdhouse Places to Raise Young - For example: Dense shrubs,

vegetation, nesting box, pond Sustainable Gardening - For example: Mulch, compost,

rain garden, chemical-free fertilizerhttp://www.nwf.org/

Sustainable Sites Initiativehttp://www.sustainablesites.org/

Interdisciplinary effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Gardento create: voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and

maintenance practices.


Role of the Homeowner

Use pesticides in conjunction with cultural and mechanical practices

Right plant in the right place Improved cultivars for pest resistance Backyard Habitat (www.nwf.org) Use mulching mowers Use, store and dispose of pesticides and containers properly Practice good soil health Compost kitchen and yard waste – and use it on your

gardens!**(Yard wastes (mostly grass clippings) comprise 20% of

municipal waste collected and most ends up in landfills)

http://www.nwf.org/�

THANK YOU!

Dr. Mari Loehrlein, Professor of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, WIU

Resources

Campbell, G., W. Kruidenier, and C. Bartanen. 2003. The Illinois Green Industry: Its 2003 impact, growth and characteristics. College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. Univ. Ill. Champaign, IL.

Bradley Rowe, Michigan State University. In person at Pro Hort. 2007. www.hrt.msu.edu/greenroof Greenroofs.org Greenroofs.com Creating homes and habitats for Illinois wilidlife.

http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/pfc/guide/introduction/intro.htm. Viewed Aug. 5, 2009. Illinois Dept. of Conservation. 1993. Landscaping for Wildlife. Natural Heritage Division.

Springfield, IL. National Wildlife Federation: certify your wildlife garden.

http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/certify.cfm?campaignid=WH09HTOP. Viewed Aug. 5, 2009.

Tufts, C. 1988. The backyard naturalist. Nat. Wildlife Federation.

Dr. Mari Loehrlein

http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/pfc/guide/introduction/intro.htm�

http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/certify.cfm?campaignid=WH09HTOP�

Resources

Bird Watching. http://www.birdwatching.com/. Viewed Aug. 5, 2009. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ Viewed Aug. 5,

2009. Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, D. Wheye. 1988. The birder’s handbook. Simon &

Schuster. NY. 785pp. Henderson, C. L. 1995. Wild about birds. Minn. Dept. Nat. Res. St. Paul, MN.

278pp. Website by Ken Robertson, formerly of the Center for biodiversity at the Illinois

Natural History Survey: http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/~kenr/corridors.html Latimer et al. 1996. Reducing the pollution potential of pesticides and

fertilizers in the environmental horticulture industry: II. Lawn care and landscape management. hortTech. July/Sep. 6(3).

RJ Gilliom, et al. February 15, 2007. The Quality of our nation’s waters: Pesticides in the nation’s streams and ground water. 1992–2001. US Geological Survey.

Dr. Mari Loehrlein

http://www.birdwatching.com/�

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/�

http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/~kenr/corridors.html�

Resources

http://co.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/urbanPortal/index.html http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Docs/ref_regulatoryCA.html#CAGroundWater http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_effects_of_pesticides T.L. Pedersen. 1997. Pesticide residues in drinking water.

http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/safedrink/pest.htm. retrieved July, 2009. Beard, J. B. and R. L. Green. 1994. The role of turfgrasses in environmental

protection and their benefits to humans. J. Environ. Qual. 23:452-460. Sahu, R. 2008. technical assessment of the carbon sequestration potential of

managed turfgrass in the United States. Cathcart, T. 2002. Regenerative design techniques. John Wiley & Sons. NY.

410pp. Michitsch et al., 2007. Use of wastewater and compost extracts as nutrient

sources for growing nursery and turfgrass species. J. Environ. Qual. 36:1031-1041.

Dr. Mari Loehrlein

http://co.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/urbanPortal/index.html�

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Docs/ref_regulatoryCA.html�

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_effects_of_pesticides�

http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/safedrink/pest.htm�

Resources

Hayes, et al. 1990. Irrigation of turfgrass with secondary sewage effluent: I. Soil and leachate water quality. Agron. Jnl. 82:939-942

Hayes, et al. 1990. Irrigation of turfgrass with secondary sewage effluent: II. Turf quality. Agron. Jnl. 82:943-946

Green Water Systems. http://www.greenwatersystems.us/graywatersystem.htm

Viewed Aug. 3, 2009. http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/lc/purchasing/glasspavers.cfm http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/recycled_glass_tiles.htm http://www.terragreenceramics.com/ http://www.wausautile.com/ Thompson, J. W. and K. Sorvig. 2000. Sustainable landscape construction.

Island Pr. Wash., D.C. 348pp.

Dr. Mari Loehrlein

http://www.greenwatersystems.us/graywatersystem.htm�

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/lc/purchasing/glasspavers.cfm�

http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/recycled_glass_tiles.htm�

http://www.terragreenceramics.com/�

http://www.wausautile.com/�

Resources

Calhoun, S. 2009. Designing water-thrifty gardens. The American Gardener. July/Aug. pp. 20-24.

Carver, S. 2008. Water-wise landscaping can improve conservation efforts. Landscape Management. May/June. p. 8.

Krizner, K. 2008. Smart water solutions. Landscape Management. May/Jun. p. 31-2.

White, J. D. 2008. When the well runs dry. Growertalks. 42-50.

Winstanley, et al. 2006. The water cycle and water budgets in Illinois: a framework for drought and water-supply planning. http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/IEM/ISWSIEM2006-02.pdf. Viewed 7/29/09

Dr. Mari Loehrlein

http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/IEM/ISWSIEM2006-02.pdf�

Resources

Colorado State Extension. Windbreak planting and design http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/Adams/sa/windbreak.htm Viewed July 27, 2009.

Pitt, D. G., J. Kissida, W. Gould, Jr. 1980. How to design a windbreak. Amer. Nurseryman. 10-11.

Mason, S. 2000. Essential Elements for Windbreak Design . http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/homeowners/001118.htmlViewed July 27, 2009.

Robinette, G. O. 1983. Energy efficient site design. Van Nos. Rheinhold. Dreistatd, S. H., J. K. Clark, and M.L. Flint. 1994. Pests of landscape trees

and shrubs: an integrated pest management guide. University of California, Div. Agri. And Nat. Res. Oakland, Ca. 327pp.

Schrock, D. et al. 2000. IPM and pesticide safety, in Illinois Master Gardener Manual. Univ. Ill. Extension. Champaign, IL.

Dr. Mari Loehrlein

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/Adams/sa/windbreak.htm�

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/homeowners/001118.html�

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