Seattle Green Factor (www.seattle.gov/dpd/Permits/GreenFactor/Overview/), an innovative landscaping standard first implemented in 2007, has won recognition from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) at national and state levels.

Applied in commercial and multifamily residential zones, the Green Factor raises the bar on how much landscaping is required for new development while increasing design flexibility. It encourages tree preservation, green roofs and walls, permeable paving, and food cultivation. Cities including Portland, Chicago, Washington D.C., and London are developing programs based on Seattle’s standards.

ASLA awarded the Green Factor a 2010 ASLA Professional Award in the Planning and Analysis category. This award recognizes the Green Factor’s thorough code development process, its contribution to sustainable landscapes in Seattle, and its role as a precedent for other municipalities. For more information, see the 2010 Professional Awards link at www.asla.org/.