The American Society of Landscape Architects has announced a new series of comprehensive online resource guides on sustainable design and planning. Created for national and local policymakers, government agencies, design professionals, planners and students, the guides include hundreds of project case studies, research papers, organizations and other government resources on sustainable design aggregated for the first time. The announcement took place at the ASLA 2009 Annual Meeting and EXPO in Chicago.

With expanding urbanization and increased competition for scarce resources, cities and local communities face immense challenges ranging from overburdened infrastructure to decreasing amounts of green space. Sustainable design practices can mitigate the effects of rising greenhouse gas emissions, aid in adaptation to climate change, clean air and water, reduce the urban heat island effect and increase the health and well being of residents all while providing significant long-term savings through lower heating and cooling energy costs, higher property values and viable, livable communities. The guides provide the “best of the best” resources and award-winning projects that offer real economic, social and environmental benefits.

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NEW YORK (Money Magazine) — If prospective buyers looked at your house today, what would they see outside? A giant evergreen that looks as if it might swallow the station wagon, perhaps, scraggly old foundation plants or maybe a kitchen-table view of the neighbors’ kids’ trampoline?

If so, you have a truly inexpensive opportunity to boost your home’s curb appeal.
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