Eco-friendly commercial landscaping is more than just a trend in Greater Chicago. You might even say it’s part of the future of commercial property management.
Environmental concerns and cost efficiency drive this shift toward sustainable and low-maintenance landscaping.
Businesses increasingly opt for native and drought-resistant plants that require less water and upkeep, reducing long-term maintenance expenses. In addition, permeable pavers, recycled mulch, smart irrigation systems, and bioretention systems are gaining popularity as they help manage stormwater runoff and minimize water waste.
As a property manager, you want to improve sustainability and reduce your carbon footprint, all while saving resources, which leads to reductions in cost and time.
How can you do this effectively? Through LEED-certified landscaping.
Let’s review criteria for LEED-certified landscapes, as well as LEED-certified landscaping requirements such as these key standards:
When you better understand low-maintenance commercial landscaping and its benefits for your facility, you can find ways to incorporate it into your commercial landscape design in Greater Chicago.
Property managers should first learn what it entails to best understand LEED-certified landscaping requirements.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a globally recognized green building certification system that provides a framework for sustainable construction, design, and maintenance practices that improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Managed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification is based on a point system that evaluates buildings in categories like energy efficiency, water conservation, and environmental impact.
For commercial properties in Greater Chicago, LEED certification is particularly valuable in mitigating urban flooding, optimizing energy use in extreme weather, and attracting environmentally conscious tenants. LEED certification signals a commitment to sustainability, which can enhance your property’s marketability.
Moreover, Greater Chicago offers incentives for sustainable practices, making LEED certification a wise investment for commercial property owners and managers.
To earn LEED certification for your commercial landscape design in Greater Chicago, your building must meet specific criteria across multiple sustainability categories.
A project must meet prerequisites in the LEED categories and earn points based on performance. Certification levels include:
These are important categories in LEED-certified landscapes:
While LEED certification applies to entire buildings, eco-friendly commercial landscaping is crucial in meeting sustainability goals.
There are five areas where big differences can be made.
Water conservation is a key component of LEED-certified landscaping, especially in urban environments like Greater Chicago, where stormwater runoff can overwhelm sewer systems.
You can achieve this by using drought-tolerant plants to reduce irrigation needs, installing efficient irrigation systems like drive irrigation and rainwater harvesting, and implementing bioswales and rain gardens to manage stormwater runoff.
Since urban flooding is a significant issue in Chicago, these strategies are important to avoid potentially costly issues.
Landscaping with sustainability in mind means choosing materials that have minimal environmental impact.
Locally sourced materials, for instance, can reduce transportation emissions.
Additionally, you can maximize impact by using recycled or reclaimed materials for pathways, benches and landscape structures.
Incorporating permeable paving can allow rainwater to filter naturally into the ground, reducing runoff.
Urban areas made with concrete and asphalt tend to trap heat. And since Greater Chicago experiences hot summers and freezing winters, energy efficiency is critical.
LEED-certified landscaping can counteract this effect by reducing heating and cooling costs. To do so, plant shade trees to reduce the temperature around buildings, install green roofs to help regulate building temperatures and improve air quality, and use reflective materials in hardscapes to minimize heat absorption.
Additionally, living walls and green roofs are being incorporated outside urban buildings to improve air quality, provide insulation, and reduce stormwater runoff. These eco-friendly features support sustainability goals while offering visually striking and functional landscape designs.
Windbreaks and shelterbelts, or strategically placed rows of trees and shrubs, can also improve energy efficiency by reducing wind impact on buildings, cutting heating and cooling expenses.
Healthy soil is the foundation of low-maintenance commercial landscaping, especially in areas with heavy rain or wind.
To improve soil quality, implement mulching, use groundcover plants to present erosion, and avoid using too many products that can leach into waterways. Meadow plantings, for instance, are becoming a popular alternative that minimizes mowing needs while providing habitat for birds, bees, and other wildlife.
Bee and butterfly gardens enhance a property’s environmental impact, add color and seasonal interest, and make spaces more inviting for guests, visitors, tenants, and employees.
Data-driven maintenance is also gaining traction. Advanced sensors monitor soil moisture and plant health in real time, enabling precise watering and fertilization.
Using energy-efficient LED lighting can reduce electricity use, while motion-sensor lighting can prevent unnecessary energy consumption.
In commercial landscape design in Greater Chicago, implementing downward-facing light fixtures can minimize light pollution.
While LEED–certified landscapes offer all of the benefits above, they also have some challenges property managers should consider as they budget and plan for them.
First, sustainable materials and systems will often cost more upfront before they pay off in savings down the road. Registration fees can run between $900 to $1,500, while certification fees can range from between $2,500 and $35,000, depending on project size. Additional costs may include design consulting, documentation, energy modeling, and audits.
In addition, LEED certification involves a complex certification process involving extensive documentation and compliance requirements, which can be time-consuming for project managers.
Finally, some buildings may not achieve projected energy savings despite obtaining LEED certification. However, most buildings experience cost savings through reduced energy use, water efficiency, and tenant appeal.
Proper planning and expert guidance are needed to mitigate these obstacles. KD Landscape, for instance, has worked with numerous commercial properties to incorporate LEED landscaping practices.
We’ve seen this create long-term savings for these businesses, enhance their brand images, and contribute to higher employee productivity and lower absenteeism.
Also, it’s important to remember that LEED-certified landscapes are created through both commercial landscape design in Greater Chicago and commercial landscape maintenance.
The initial planning phase is crucial for LEED certification, focusing on sustainable site selection, materials, and systems.
But after construction, sustainability doesn’t stop. Ongoing maintenance with regular soil health monitoring, efficient irrigation system management, and sustainable plant selection updates is key to maximizing your sustainability efforts.
Now that you have a list of LEED-certified landscaping requirements, you have the information you need to proceed.
But this entire process can feel a bit overwhelming. We completely understand.
LEED-certified landscaping isn’t just about compliance; it’s also about creating long-lasting, environmentally responsible commercial properties. Whether you’re pursuing full certification or simply adopting more sustainable landscaping practices, every step toward green design makes a difference.
The experts at KDLandscape love designing, installing, and maintaining commercial landscapes that elevate the entire property and make everybody happy. And we can do this while helping you obtain LEED certification.
It all starts with us sitting down with you to hear about your functionality and business goals. Next, we identify your property’s key issues and present relevant solutions. After designing and installing a LEED-certification approved design, we ensure long-term sustainability with low-maintenance plants, growth plans, and seasonal upkeep implementation.
The end result is a Greater Chicago commercial facility that attracts tenants, customers, guests, and visitors and becomes a hotspot for the local community to frequent and embrace.
Want to learn more about our commercial landscape design and maintenance in Greater Chicago and LEED-certified landscaping requirements? Get started today with an on-site consultation. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.