Click on any of the thumbnails to the right to view green project photos.
The media is full of it...Talk about "Green" is everywhere. This hot topic seems to be on everyone's mind, especially with gas prices, energy costs and environmental concerns escalating all over the country. There are so many options, so many possibilities to make positive impact.
We have all heard that it is important to have wind breaks to reduce heating costs during winters. In addition, plants shade our homes thereby reducing cooling costs, and decrease the "urban heat island" effect in our communities. Green plants and, more specifically, trees are the single greatest air conditioners in the world. They remove the carbon dioxide we release into the air, producing life sustaining oxygen. This is one way to reduce our carbon footprint. In fact, the plants installed by Lied's through the years today absorb 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year!
Another way to reduce carbon is to use more locally produced goods. This substantially reduces fuel consumption. Lied's large selection of nursery plants could not get any more locally produced! In addition, we utilize our knowledge of the area's stone quarries to bring our clients the highest quality local materials.
An expanding area of interest is green roofs. They can have a tremendous positive effect on the environment by reducing air pollution, filtering particles from the air, cooling our cities, reducing rainwater runoff and reducing landfill consumption by lengthening the life of roofing materials.
Water quality and storage is a big concern in our area. Rain gardens are a wonderful and beautiful way of keeping your rainwater rather than allowing it to be flushed down the drain. While we have been doing this on commercial sites for years, this thoughtful capture and treatment of run-off from our gutters, lawns, walks, drives and gardens can now be done in your landscape.
Restoration of prairies and natural vegetation is yet another way to positively impact our environment. Natural areas substantially reduce maintenance requirements (think lawn mowers running) as well as increase the biodiversity of our local fauna!
With all these opportunities for improvement, it is easy to be overwhelmed. A multitude of questions arise: Where do I start? What alternative is going to be most effective for my property and my needs? How do I build a rain garden that really works? Should I really have a lawn? Is it feasible to put a green roof on my new building? How should I prune my trees to protect my investment and their cooling value?
This is why it is wise to turn to the professionals at Lied's. With 63 years serving the communities of southeastern Wisconsin and hundreds of years of combined experience among our staff, Lied's represents the best of the "original Green Collar" workers.
One call to Lied's will get you started on the right track to reducing your carbon footprint by selecting from our locally grown trees and shrubs, or to minimizing rainwater run off (and making you the envy of the neighborhood) with a rain garden. Whatever your green goals are, we are here to help!
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Green Roof Project
Madison
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Prairie
Rain Garden
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