Item Detail
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27830
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0
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0
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English
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Redefining Landscape Norms : Exploring the Influence of Normative Landscaping Patterns in Washington County, Utah
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Logan, UT
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Utah State University
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86
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Master of Landscape Architecture
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Social norms are known to have a significant influence on people’s conservation behaviors. In Washington County, Utah water conservation is becoming increasingly important due to a growing population, limited water supply and the anticipated effects of climate change. Because traditional turf landscaping consumes a large portion of urban water usage, conservation messaging has focused heavily on promoting landscape efficiency and alternative landscape norms. In order to evaluate whether a shift in normative landscaping has occurred, we surveyed three Washington County populations: visitors to a local conservation garden, individuals who had participated in conservation programs and workshops, and members of a homeowner association. The results showed a strong injunctive norm or approval of neighbors choosing alternative landscape patterns such as desert landscaping. Washington County residents, however, do not feel strong social pressure to conform to a particular normative landscape pattern which indicates a dominant descriptive norm does not exist. Demographic variables significantly correlated with actual landscape preferences. In particular, households with children were more likely to prefer lawn-dominant landscapes rather than desert landscaping. Conservation messaging will be most effective if tailored to the needs and concerns of specific demographics. Recommendations are given for promoting descriptive norms in favor of low-water landscape alternatives.