Sustainable design made easier with launch of BALI-supported tool
Landscape designers can now make more informed, eco-conscious decisions to help them create sustainable designs from the outset of their projects, thanks to the launch of “elemental”.
The comprehensive green-design audit tool is aimed at assisting garden and landscape designers in minimising their environmental impact, aligning with BALI's commitment to promoting high standards in landscape design, construction, and maintenance.
This new sustainability tool was developed via a collaboration of industry stakeholders, including Royal Horticultural Society, Society of Garden and Landscape Designers, Landscape Institute, and Nicholsons. In addition to providing knowledge and support, BALI also part-funded the project, which is now available for members to use for free.
How does elemental work?
The web-based tool uses a simple question and answer format to assess designs against six elements of sustainability:
- materials management
- soil
- water and air
- biodiversity
- people
- emissions
A report is produced for each design, providing the user with a numeric score for each of the first five elements as well as an estimate of overall carbon emissions.
The user can then attempt to improve the reported outputs by amending the proposed design and revisiting the questions.
Alternatively, they can produce a new report and compare the two, or simply share, download, or lock the original.
Visit the elemental website to read more about the tool, watch a recorded demonstration, or give it a go yourself:
calculator.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk/elemental