Verdant Design

simple concepts that better the environment

Verdant Thumb

Verdant Design has a separate blog for sustainable garden design called Verdant Thumb.  It shows the ongoing life and changes of our 3-year-old rain garden, sustainable practices, favorite plants, and situations we have encountered. It is more of a gardening perspective for those who would like ideas for a yard. We hope it is a help for you.

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View of the rain garden

Lobelia cardinalis

Lobelia cardinalis

The view from the office window of the rain garden has changed yet again. The drama of the red Cardinal Flower has given way to the seed capules for new plants next year. The rain barrel is also more apparent since the Black Eyed Susan plants were cut back. Summer is turning into Autumn and soon the plants will all be prepared for Winter.

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Models

A custom model is another avenue to produce a three-dimensional mock-up of a project.

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Smith Residence

The Smith Residence shows how a very steeply sloped back yard can become its greatest feature. Rain barrels capture the water for planting beds near the house. New terraces shaped like arcs create level ground. Places where erosion occured become a focal point as a dry creekstone bed.
This is a 3D view of the conceptual design.

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2701 Eastpoint Parkway landscape

A client needed a landcape inspection report in order to wrap up their project.  Photos from the final landscape can be seen below.  Click here for more on the project.

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What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  It is a voluntary building rating system that evaluates buildings in five areas:sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality.  US Green Building Council (USGBC) certifies the buildings using the LEED rating system with the hope that it will increase sustainable practices from concept to construction.  In order to do this in a standardized manner, individuals can become LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP).  This shows a level of understanding green building techniques, the LEED system, and the approval process.  John Pacyga with Verdant Design, LLC is a LEED Accredited Professional.  

Here are some links for additional information:

US Green Buiding Council

What is LEED?

Kentucky Chapter of USGBC

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Sketches

Sketches tell a great deal about the thought process and intent before it becomes a polished final design.

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Cycling to meetings

We take sustainability seriously.  Whenever possible, we will commute by bike to meetings for instance.  Why?  Because for short trips, it can’t be beat:

  • It conserves gas
  • It doesn’t decrease air quality
  • It doesn’t require a 9′x18′ parking space or the expense of parking
  • No time is needed to get to the car or to find a parking space at the destination
  • Best of all for clients, the Feds don’t have a mileage rate for bikes, so there is no expense to the client!

    When longer trips require more time, we use an efficient, 4-cylinder car. So for your short trips, have you considered biking or walking rather than driving?

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