Environmental Conservation and the Water Gardener

Environmental sustainability has taken center stage in today’s world, and water plays an important role as the world’s greatest resource.  If you’re a lucky Aquascape pond owner, you know that an ecosystem pond is self-sustaining with very little maintenance.  Although it takes many gallons of water to fill initially, over the long haul it requires less water than the expanse of lawn it replaced. 

Water features attract wildlife of all kinds, from birds to butterflies, to frogs and salamanders.  Certified wildlife habitats are growing in popularity, and water is one of the elements required to achieve certification.  Water gardening becomes your new hobby as you feel yourself drawn to its beauty and natural elements. 

A pond provides opportunity to have fish as pets, without the mess and maintenance of an aquarium.  Aquatic plants give you the chance to broaden your gardening horizons with choices that go beyond the standard petunia and rose.  In addition, bird lovers will delight in the new variety of feathered friends that flock to a water feature.  Nature lovers simply can’t go wrong with water features.

Not only is an ecosystem pond a thing of beauty in the landscape, but it provides energy savings for homeowners too!

“Landscaping can change the microclimate around a building by 20 - 25 degrees F. According to the US Department of Energy, energy-efficient landscaping can save up to 30% on home heating bills. Savings for cooling can be even more. Tests in Florida showed a 50% reduction in air conditioning costs. Most people can save at least a few hundred dollars a year by properly reworking their yard … Water also tempers heat.  Even a small pond can help.”
(http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/landscap.htm)

Homeowners today are also incorporating rainwater harvesting with their water features. Aquascape pairs a rainwater harvesting system with a decorative water feature so you can have the best of both worlds: the sight and sound of beautiful waterfalls or fountainscapes in your landscape using captured and stored rainwater to sustain itself. For more information on Aquascape’s RainXchange™ rainwater harvesting systems paired with decorative water features, visit http://www.aquascapeinc.com/why_rainwater_harvesting.