HOW TO GO GREEN IN 2008.
Going green and becoming more environmentally oriented is the right thing to do. And, it’s actually very simple. Here are the top tips from southern Nevada’s leading conservation partners committed to helping residents
of the Las Vegas valley to GO GREEN!
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CREATE YOUR OWN DESERT OASIS:
Desert Landscaping
It’s funny that one of the best ways to “go green” in Las Vegas is to convert to a desert landscape. But when you only receive 3.5 inches of
rain annually, water conservation is not only smart; it’s essential to long-term sustainability in the desert.
Although southern Nevada is currently under a Drought Alert, there has been a continuing trend of declining water use in Las Vegas, thanks
largely to water efficiency programs. The result, Southern Nevadans have consumed 15 billion gallons less water in 2007 than in 2002,
despite a rapidly growing population and tourist economy.
But aside from being good for the planet and lowering your utility bills, converting to a desert landscape lets you blend into the local
ecosystem and bring a beautifully fresh change to your environment.
Getting Started
The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) can help you conserve water and save money with a range of free services, resources and
rebate programs to help you become water smart. For example, SNWA offers property owners $1.50 per square foot of grass removed and
replaced with a water-efficient landscape. And there is no cap on maximum square footage.
Click here for SNWA free services, resources and rebate programs.
Designing Your Desert Landscape
Many people think desert landscaping only consists of cacti and gravel. But you can actually have a lush and colorful landscape with
beautiful plants, flowers and trees, while still being very water-efficient.
Desert Landscaping Design Options
Your desert landscape design is only limited by your imagination. SNWA offers a variety of free, professionally-developed sample designs
to help you plan your new landscape. They range from a child-friendly backyard design to a low maintenance front yard, and provide great
examples of colorful and exciting, yet water smart landscapes.
Click here to see all of the sample designs.
Bring Life To Your Yard
Another option for your design is to transform your yard into a wildlife habitat. This will attract various types of wildlife that are indigenous
to Southern Nevada. But in order to have your backyard wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) you must first
meet these five criteria:
- Food: Grow foliage that is indigenous to the area. Be sure to provide food sources for wildlife by including trees and
plants that supply fruits or seeds.
- Water: Since most wildlife require water to drink and wash themselves, arrange a birdbath or shallow water source.
- Cover: Animals need shelter from poor weather conditions and predators. Plant heavy shrubbery or create hollowed out
areas for their protection.
- Places to raise young: Wildlife need secure areas to raise their young. These areas might include trees for birds and
squirrels or ponds for amphibious creatures.
- Sustainable gardening practices: Remember that your habitat not only affects you and your backyard, it affects our
environment. Helping our environment includes planting native vegetation, reducing chemicals and building healthy soil.
Click here for more info on creating a wildlife habitat.
