USGBC Green Home Guide. April 5, 2012. By Cassy Aoyagi: Sustainable landscaping saves time and quickly produces both cost savings and health benefits for existing buildings as well as new construction. Of all the tricks of the trade, replacing a thirsty, traditional lawn – or not planting one in the first place – has the most profound total cost benefits.
First, the benefits. Simply swapping a traditional lawn for a native grass can eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can adversely effect the health of children and pets.