By properly positioning a building, providing for more open space and planting appropriate vegetation, site planning techniques can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Site planning is the art and science of arranging the uses of portions of land. Proper site planning can lead to substantial reductions in energy use and sequester sizeable amounts of carbon emissions. Through an assessment of a site's environment, the landscape architect can purposefully site buildings, provide open space, and specify appropriate vegetative density.

In order to develop a site plan that includes comprehensive environmental mitigation solutions, the landscape architect must perform a thorough site investigation. Site reconnaissance includes a careful evaluation of the site's ecosystem, including solar access, open space, drainage, vegetation, growing potential, and other important environmental characteristics of the site's region. Information collected through this process provides a guide for subsequent design decisions.

A building should be situated in a way that maximizes the insulating and buffering capabilities of trees. The site plan can orient structures within a site to take advantage of trees and passive solar energy, as well as minimize the impact of development on existing environmental site conditions.