Pollinator and naturalistic garden designer Sarah Geiger-Behm has recently achieved an impressive milestone by excelling in the LEED Green Associate Exam. Known for her dedication to exploring and studying natural plant habitats as well as the latest trends in garden ecology, Sarah’s new certification underscores her deep commitment to designing gardens that harmonize with nature.
What motivated you to study for the LEED certification?
I’m interested in how we can use plants and open spaces around our homes and buildings to function as better quality habitat. I think we can make choices that work better for both people and the environment, and the LEED certification program is leading the way to transform how we can do that.
As a garden designer focusing on naturalistic planting, what elements of the course did you find particularly beneficial?
In LEED there is an emphasis on using less water and chemicals, both indoors and outdoors. For landscapes, there are ways to drastically cut down the need for irrigation and chemicals, especially when compared to traditional landscapes. There are choices you can make that help deal with wider problems like stormwater management, the urban heat island effect, habitat loss and drought stress. These might seem like huge intractable problems, but it would be a mistake to think that you can’t do anything about them. In fact, these are problems that can be mitigated on almost any property with a thoughtful approach.
How do you see LEED certification impacting garden design, not just for Wimberg, but for the industry as a whole?
I believe we’re going to see a lot more LEED projects in the coming decades, and garden design is going to play a role in that. People will be planting more trees for shade and windbreaks to cut down on their energy bills and to make it more tolerable in the heat of summer. I think more people are going to realize that plants should play a bigger role in the future of our built environment, and not just because it’s cost and energy efficient, but because it makes it more livable for people as well.
Is there a next level of LEED study – certification you wish to pursue?
The next level is to become a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) with a specialty in either Building Design and Construction and/or Homes. There is also a similar program called SITES which is for green spaces with or without a building (like parks), and that would be a good next step to broaden the kinds of projects I could lead.
As you are already very mindful of the environment, plant communities, and gardening in conjunction with nature, did you find that a lot of the course was already familiar to you- the philosophy behind LEED?
I took a green roofs class at UC last year and have been doing a lot of self-study about rainwater management, so a lot of the technical information was not new, but there was a lot to learn about the goals and structure of the certification program and the process of shepherding a LEED project from start to finish. I came away impressed with the goals of the LEED program and excited about the opportunity to use my professional background to be a part of these innovative projects.
How will you, if you do, discuss LEED with future clients?
It will depend on the client, of course. For highly motivated homeowners, there is a LEED certification program for private homes that is available. I’d be happy to talk with any client interested in pursuing that certification. For larger community buildings like schools, apartments buildings or corporate parks, I can talk them through what a LEED certification process might look like if that is their goal. But more broadly, whether a client is interested in certification or not, we can still use the goals and impact categories of LEED to inform our choices for their space.