High Performance Landscapes: Protecting and Restoring Soil Health in Urban Landscapes

Biography

Using her background in landscape architecture and ecological restoration, Heather Venhaus works with teams of scientists, designers, and educators on projects emphasizing sustainable development, land restoration, and environmental education. Ms. Venhaus facilitated and led the development of the Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks and worked with the U.S. Botanic Garden to developed the educational content and teaching materials for Landscape for Life. Heather is a contributing author to the Sustainable Sites Handbook and author of Sustainable Site Design: Integrated Design Strategies for Small Scale Sites and Residential Landscapes. Ms. Venhaus is the principal of Regenerative Environmental Design, a sustainable design-consulting firm in Austin, Texas that strives to connect natural and built systems in mutually beneficial ways. Heather is currently assisting a variety of public and private projects with SITES certification and other sustainability objectives. Heather has held several leadership roles in the American Society of Landscape Architects and the U. S. Green Building Council at both local and national levels. More information about Heather can be found at http://www.linkedin.com/in/heathervenhaus