Green Buildings and LEED Training Advice
Expert Advice on Green Buildings

LEED and Pesticides: Is there a Product that's LEED Certified?

   
Question:

Justin asks: I have several shrubs that are infested by caterpillars. Is there a product that is green or LEED "certified" that you would suggest to keep them away?

Answer:
Advice provided by: Lorne Mlotek, LEED AP BD+C, LeadingLEED
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Hello Justin,

Thanks for your question about greenly eliminating a caterpillar infestation issue. I am happy to help you find a solution to this out of the ordinary question asked of www.green-buildings.com.

Firstly, there is no such thing as a LEED Certified product. Only buildings can be certified, and people accredited.

However, there are products that can assist in earning LEED points, but they are not referred to as "LEED Certified."

There are no products to my colleagues nor my knowledge that eliminate caterpillars while earning LEED points.

However, there are green and organic ways to get rid of the caterpillars. For instance, you can:

1. Place sticky bands around the base of the plant

2. Use frogs, lizards or wasps in your garden
or, the most feasible method:

3. Using organic, non-toxic pesticides that will not have an effect on your garden, but will get rid of the caterpillar issue.

A good and renown example of an ORGANIC insect spray with pyrethrum is: Beat-A-Bug.

In future, to prevent such infestations I would suggest you build up the soil using lots of mulch as well as ensure you rotate your plants if possible.

Thank you,
Lorne Mlotek LEED AP BD+C

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Expert Advice and Comments
clairemolo's picture

Additional Info

Tue, 08/23/2011 - 19:05 — clairemolo

Hi Justin,

I have some additional info, if you're interested!

A commonly recommended way to treat pests with lessened risk to humans, animals, and the environment is called “integrated pest management”, or the use of both non-chemical controls and less toxic pesticides. Non-chemical controls include removing the insect’s food, water and shelter – essentially using common sense to prevent these pests from invading your plants.

Following this, you can treat the problem using less toxic pesticides. In general, these products will be labeled with “CAUTION” rather than “Warning” or “Danger”. Our Water, Our World has compiled a helpful list of less toxic pesticides to treat a variety of pests, including caterpillars: http://www.ourwaterourworld.org/Portals/0/documents/pdf/products_by_pest.... You could also make your own natural pesticides. For example, a simple combination of garlic, hot pepper, soap and water can create an effective pesticide. Check out http://www.cdcg.org/pests.html#garlic for a recipe.

Another great resource is your local Cooperative Extension Service: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/. You can call a local expert free of charge to help identify the pest and an environmentally friendly solution.

I am a recent graduate of Cornell University, where I studied Environmental Science and concentrated in Sustainable Development. My interest in green building and LEED stems from my project-based coursework at Cornell, where I proposed design strategies

That's quite some helpful

Sat, 01/28/2012 - 05:44 — denny11

That's quite some helpful information. I try all these alternatives along with my organic alternatives. I also found helpful tops on pest management on this www.terminixpestcontroloffers.com resource. As you can see, we can't complain about not having options in this field.

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