Sustainable Green Living on the Single-Family Side of Town

There’s a lot of talk lately about sustainability and green development for municipalities that takes into consideration doing things on the large scale. Nestled gently into a White Plains neighborhood, however, is a living example of how families can create their own sustainable environment right in their front and back yards – on the small scale.

White Plains Councilwoman and Chair of the Sustainable White Plains Committee (SWP), Milagros Lecuona, invited The White Plains Examiner to visit her home to take a look at the Green initiatives she has in place.

Lecuona is a firm believer that everyone can enhance the quality of their living environments while establishing life-supporting sustainable practices.

One of the first things you notice at the Lecuona residence is that the birds are singing. Then there’s a bit of awe at how the plantings have been designed to provide a private, almost secluded space, which despite the fact that houses are somewhat close together as in most White Plains neighborhoods, there is the impression of being out in “the country.”

It’s all deliberate. Lecuona has worked hard to create her special space and she wants to share with her neighbors how sustainable and Green practices can become a part of everyday living.

To some extent Lecuona credits her vision with growing up on one of the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain. It was a magical place to live, she says. There were birds everywhere and the people took for granted clean water and pure Earth because they did not waste what they had and knew how to put back into the land what they had taken out.

Most of the projects at the Lecuona house are ongoing – and that’s okay because one of the things Lecuona wants to impress most upon people is that they don’t have to do everything all at once: “They can take it slow and work in the sustainability one project at a time.” And sometimes those projects will be ongoing until they are complete.

One example is the permeable driveway Lecuona has been installing that uses Turfstone with grass that has alleviated flooding in the front area of her property.

As an architect, Lecuona has worked with the product on commercial properties where flood mitigation was an issue. It’s somewhat expensive (which is why the driveway is being done in sections), but the same products used commercially with some design changes can be applied to residential areas to reduce stormwater concerns.

“I used to have flooding when it rained and the large puddle turned into a skating rink at the front of my property during the winter,” Lecuona said. “I don’t have that problem anymore.”

The effect is more green space – where the cars are parked.

Lecuona designed the pattern for the paving stones herself. The portions of the former driveway that have been dug up are being used to level out a section of the back yard.

The permeable paving requires three levels: soil, sand; the Turfstone or other paving stones and then the planting material – grass.

“I have been trying to get the city to use this technology on some of the parking lots,” she said.

The grass is cut with a weed whacker and a nearby barrel collects rainwater from the house gutters, which is used to water the driveway when needed.

In the back yard Lecuona has several gardens with vegetables and herbs and there are flowering plants and trees everywhere. There is even a composting area where she creates fertilizer for the gardens.

When the driveway project is complete Lecuona has set her sights on creating a green roof over the garage and installing solar panels. She also has plans to design a lattice for a vertical garden along one side of the house.

As chair of the Sustainable White Plains Committee, Lecuona has been working with members to bring these and other Green practices to the attention of city administration and residents.

Commissioned by the Mayor SWP advises on responsible, realistic and cost-effective measures for reducing the environmental impact of the activities of residents, visitors, organizations and businesses, as well as of City government itself. Some strategies that have been or are now under consideration include: Encouraging more and safer bicycle riding; Supporting more intensive recycling programs; Exploring new opportunities for using solar power; Using fuel-conserving City vehicles and equipment; Participating in Earth Day and other consciousness-raising events including the “Climate Smart Communities” program.

The SWP meets on the fourth Thursday of the month in the Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 255 Main Street. Residents are welcome to attend and to submit suggestions to the Committee.

Lecuona says she hopes to see more people become involved.