February 22 2021 12-1:30pm | Register Here

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Conventional landscape practices consume large amounts of fossil fuels. An estimated forty million lawnmowers consume 200 million gallons of gasoline per year nationally, releasing potent greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In addition, the power required to supply the water needed to irrigate our California landscapes is expected to increase as temperatures rise and drought conditions continue throughout the West. 

Landscape designers, installers and professional maintenance staff can play an important role in conserving energy to mitigate climate change through shading buildings and paving to moderate temperatures and reduce the heat island effect, designing site lighting to use less energy and minimize light pollution and trespass, choosing and maintaining equipment for fuel conservation, and specifying materials with a low carbon footprint and embodied energy.

Cielo Sichi is the owner of Landfour Landscape Architecture. He has been professionally designing and building landscapes with a focus on sustainability since 2003. Cielo has extensive experience with landscapes of all sizes and types, including single and multifamily residential, commercial, institutional and recreational projects. He holds a BS in Environmental Horticultural Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and is currently the Chair of The Horticulture Department at American River College where he teaches landscape and irrigation design and construction courses.

The webinars will provide information about reducing emissions and creating resilient landscapes. Up to 30% of urban water use goes to landscaping. We know that climate change will continue to stress water supplies throughout California and the US. Conventional landscape construction and maintenance practices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and air pollution.

Regenerative design install and maintenance of a landscape can help save energy and water. Sustainably well-designed landscapes not only add beauty to the environment, but also reduce heating and cooling costs. Awareness of the right drought-resistant plants located in the right location- trees, shrubs, or vines- deliver effective shade and cooling, decrease water usage, act as a windbreak, and reduce energy bills. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses.

Topics are based on ReScape’s 8 Principles and will provide an overview of the problem and the solution vis-à-vis the Principles. There will be hands-on tips and best practices for sequestering carbon, reducing emissions, saving water and creating resilient landscapes; and include actionable steps with references to science-based data and additional resources. Speakers are professionals, scientists and other experts. 

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