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Indoor/ Outdoor Landscape Architect

Landscape architects are an important part of the green collar workforce. They are set apart from conventional landscapers by their knowledge of the efficiency of proper foliage selection and placement. There are outdoor and indoor landscape architects, both of which create a better living environment simply with the addition of plants and shrubbery.

Outdoor landscape architects take eco-friendly designs into consideration when creating the perfect yard surrounding a home or commercial space. For instance, landscape architects plan for suitable shading with the arrangement of various deciduous and evergreen trees, and also consider which trees will help to let light into the dwelling during dreary winter months. They also have knowledge of the various plants and flowers that serve as natural pest repellants - including mosquitoes - in order to avoid the usage of chemical sprays. Drought-resistant plants are also utilized in order to conserve water. Additionally, natural materials such as mulch and stone often surround plant beds in order to use as many sustainable resources as possible.

An indoor landscape architect works to arrange foliage in indoor spaces. Indoor landscaping is also referred to as plantscaping. Not only does plantscaping create aesthetically pleasant living areas, but it also helps to clean the air. NASA scientists have declared that the addition of greenery in a room is the most efficient way to purify the air. This is not only a simple means of breathing easier, but it also saves money, as the need for expensive air cleaners is eliminated. Indoor landscape architects know how to arrange indoor plants to create focal points, soften edges, and design a room that is both beautiful and ecologically healthy.

Indoor and outdoor landscape architects make handsome salaries, ranging from 49 to 83 thousand dollars a year. Those pursuing a career in landscape architecture should seek both a landscaping degree and LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which is in high demand among those in the green industry. LEED certification entails the passage of an exam, which is two-tiered. Certification in the first tier earns the test-taker the title of LEED Green Associate, and passage of the second tier garners the title of LEED Accredited Professional. However, one does not have to obtain any degrees or have any job experience in energy and environmental design in order to take the lengthy exam. Attaining LEED certification gives a job applicant an edge as it demonstrates an individual's knowledge of the green industry.

So, if you have been blessed with a green thumb and love working with interior or exterior design, you may wish to consider employment in landscape architecture. Helping others to use simple means to solve ecological problems and to work more efficiently is what the green industry is all about.

Indoor/ Outdoor Landscape Architect Resources

*Color Drawing: Design Drawing Skills and Techniques for Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers
*Planting Design Illustrated
*Lake|Flato: Buildings & Landscapes (v. 2)
*The New Urbanism: Toward an Architecture of Community

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