Policy Shapers Interview: Deon Glaser, ASLA

Deon discusses her work at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the opportunities for landscape architects and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®).

Deon Glaser, ASLA

The Public Practice Advisory Committee (PPAC) of ASLA produces the "Policy Shapers" series to spotlight landscape architects who are active in shaping public policy. PPAC member Barbara Deutsch, ASLA, interviewed Deon Glaser, ASLA, for this article.

1. What is your field of practice in landscape architecture?

I work at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an environmental nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. Our core purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

My title is “LEED Program Coordinator” and I am responsible for five critical functions, including supporting the LEED Steering Committee (LSC); managing the LEED for Health Care rating system development; supporting the LEED for Core and Shell Pilot Program; supporting the Water Efficiency Technical Advisory Group (WE TAG); and updating and modifying the LEED Foundations Documents and Organizational Policies. Additionally, I sit on the ASLA/Wildflower Center’s Sustainable Sites Initiative Product Development Committee (http://www.sustainablesites.org).

As the only landscape architect at USGBC (www.usgbc.org) my efforts also include educating stakeholders about the critical role that landscape architects play in the environmental design and construction realm.

2. Why did you decide to become a landscape architect, and how did that influence your attaining your current position?

Landscape architecture is a perfect way to blend my love of design with my interests in environmental and social issues. I enjoy landscape architecture’s focus on bigger picture ideas and the wide variety of project types that fall under the scope of the profession. In college I developed an interest in the impact that landscape architecture can have on society and focused more on research than design.

My passion for social and environmental work in the design industry led me to the U.S. Green Building Council, a mission-driven organization composed of professionals working toward positive change that will affect the quality of life for generations. Working in the LEED Department has given me the ability to blend my interests in design, the environment, and social issues while giving me the foundation necessary to maximize my impact on the environment and quality of life for the public.

Key influences in my career choice and path started with developing an environmental ethic from my family. Interning at Casey Trees in Washington, D.C., I developed a greater appreciation for the importance of cities, and economic and community values, in addition to environmental values. I was also introduced to the nonprofit sector and the opportunities it provides to affect public land. My first job out of college was influential because I gained valuable design experience. It also made me realize how much I wanted to become more directly involved in sustainable design. All these influences directed me to my job at USGBC, where I appreciate the mission-driven practice and large-scale impact I can have on the quality of our built and natural environment.

3. What projects, programs, or community groups do you serve?

I serve the public through USGBC’s efforts to transform the design and building industries practices so that they create projects that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. I am also supporting the landscape architecture community by participating on the Sustainable Sites Initiative product development committee, which is developing environmental standards for site-focused projects. These standards will be integrated into LEED in the future.

Early on at USGBC, I was able to educate the organization about the practice of landscape architecture. This was well received and greatly appreciated. I think that it helped the people in other disciplines to see how we could all work together cooperatively, rather than feeling uncertain about each other’s intentions and roles.

4. What are some examples of how your work influences the community?

My work influences the community in different ways. The work I do with the LEED Steering Committee affects the USGBC membership community, as well as every project that goes through LEED certification. The restructuring of the LEED rating system will create a more flexible and adaptive system by harmonizing, aligning, and improving existing LEED credits; integrating life cycle assessment and regionally based credits into LEED; and reorganizing credits based on environmental impact. It will create a more dynamic set of environmental building standards resulting in higher performing and healthier places to live and work.

The development of LEED for Health Care will increase communities’ access to environmentally sensitive health care facilities by creating a standard that also considers the patient and staff experience. Projects that use this new rating system will have a lower reliance on natural resources and better access to nature.

My involvement in the Sustainable Sites Initiative allows me to educate the green building community on the importance of landscape architects in the built environment and their potential contribution to the LEED system. When the SSI work is complete, we will have expanded the scope of LEED to include many different types of projects that the public will use, including parks, transportation corridors, playgrounds, public plazas, and environmentally sensitive areas, in addition to sites surrounding buildings.

5. What would you like to accomplish at the USGBC?

As the only landscape architect at USGBC, I believe there is great opportunity for me to improve the quality of the built and natural environment and represent the profession as part of the building industry and the environmental movement. I am working with the LEED Steering Committee on developing the new structure of LEED, which includes the bookshelf concept designed to allow projects to use a custom LEED system tailored to their specific type of project. This will open the door for many types of projects that currently do not fit into a particular existing LEED rating system, including landscape architecture projects. I would like to continue working on this initiative to ensure that landscape architectural projects have the opportunity to participate in the LEED system as rigorously as any other design/construction project.

I would also like to use my position at USGBC to educate the industry about landscape architecture and to help clear up common misconceptions about our profession. I believe that we still struggle with our identity and position in the design industry, and I would like to do my part to help advance the credibility of the profession.

6. What is next for LEED?

LEED is currently going through major changes. Because of the new structure and bookshelf system, our LEED committee structure has been reorganized to better serve the development of the new system. LEED is moving away from individual building type rating systems and toward one LEED. Therefore the new LEED committees have been restructured to address our three most critical areas: technical development, market segment focus, and certification process. These committees will serve to address the new LEED structure and also work to improve the LEED system and processes in general.

USGBC is also working to integrate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into LEED, develop regionally based credits, and reconfigure the organization of credits by environmental impact to better address important environmental issues such as climate change and carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, LEED is moving to a regular development schedule, similar to building code development cycles, which will allow for active participation from our members and also provide more continuity in our credit development process. Through this process, new ideas and technological advances can be introduced by project teams, which will help inform the LEED Steering Committee of new ideas to be integrated into LEED in the future.

USGBC is also working with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and ASLA on developing a standard for landscapes through the Sustainable Sites Initiative. This initiative serves to provide environmental standards for site-focused projects not currently addressed in the LEED system and will address the design, development, and maintenance of landscapes.

7. What information sources would you recommend for landscape architects who are looking to bring positive change in the public realm?

I believe one of the largest hurdles landscape architects face is misunderstanding of the profession. Educating those in the public realm is critical to increasing our influence in society and the design industry, and the more visible landscape architecture becomes the more positive change we can provide.

One way to get more involved in the environmental design realm is by getting your firm or organization to become a USGBC member and attend Greenbuild, USGBC’s annual conference, which this year is being held November 7-9 in Chicago
(http://www.greenbuildexpo.org). There are thousands of representatives present from both the public and private sectors, and the conference is a great way to network and meet people.

USGBC has been working with state and local governments on integrating LEED into building regulations, so it is important for our profession to stay informed and get involved in our communities. As the green building movement spreads, the opportunities for landscape architects to bring about positive change in the public realm grows–we just have to seize the opportunity.