What environmental problems are associated with conventional yards?
An environmentally friendly yard, or ecological landscape, needs less chemical treatment and less water. It stands to reason that applying far fewer fertilizers and chemicals is much safer for homeowners as well as the ecosystem. The direct health benefits of a “green” landscape come from cleaner air. Trees, shrubs, and grass clean the air by sequestering pollutants (nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and dust). These same plants release oxygen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that trees in New York City remove 2,000 metric tons of pollutants each year. The benefits also include reduced water use and water runoff, and less energy needed to cool buildings. A study in Arizona found that ecological landscapes reduced air conditioning in homes by 25 percent.
