Jim Patterson is certified as a LEED® 2.0 Accredited Professional with the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

White Oak Studio is a corporate member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote projects that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

Jim’s certification represents our interest and commitment to environmentally responsible, sustainable design of outdoor spaces.

Some best practices include:

• Site design to mitigate harsh environmental conditions and create comfortable micro-climate conditions

• Use of plant material to reduce erosion, heat gain, glare and wind exposure

• Selection of paving materials to reduce the urban heat island effect

• Use of permeable paving materials to reduce runoff and increase groundwater recharge

• Use of durable recycled materials where appropriate for site furnishings and hardscape materials

• Efficient irrigation design - use of rainwater for landscape irrigation, water-efficient irrigation heads, rain, wind and moisture sensors to reduce waste and drip irrigation where appropriate