Behavior Change Campaigns

Green infrastructure is a method for creating beautiful, functional communites by working with the natural hydrology cycle. Historically, roughly 50% of rainwater evaporated back into the atmosphere and almost all the rest was absorbed into the ground. Very, very little spilled across the surface into waterways.  

In modern times, though, a huge percentage of our towns and cities are covered with asphalt and concrete, which are impervious surfaces that are not able to absorb rainwater. We also have lots of lawn, which is able to absorb some rainwater, but not very much. This results in most rainfall running across these surfaces, picking up pollutants and sediment, and traveling directly to sewer systems or surface waters. As a result, groundwater levels are greatly reduced, as rainfall cannot reach it. Sewer systems get overwhelmed, due to the large quantities of water entering them. And waterways become polluted from being inundated with sediment and pollutants. 

Green infrastructure uses soil restoration, plantings, and engineered areas that make use of permeability to allow rainwater to be absorbed. It brings trees and natural beauty into our communities and makes them more comfortable and enjoyable. It also extends the life of our sewer systems, roadways, and sidewalks by reducing the amount of water inundating them.

Green infrastructure is especially useful at addressing some of the biggest issues facing cities today: the urban heat island effect, stormwater runoff, and aging infrastructure.

Due to the concentrated use of so much asphalt, concrete, and glass, cities get noticeably hotter than surrounding areas. According to the EPA, "daytime temperatures in urban areas are about 1–7°F higher than temperatures in outlying areas and nighttime temperatures are about 2–5°F higher." Green infrastructure addresses this by reducing the amount of impervious and semi-impervious surfaces (asphalt, concrete, and lawn) and replacing them with native vegetation - in other words, native trees and plants. Trees provide shade and all plants naturally cool the air around them through evapotranspiration. They can have an enormous impact on urban areas by reducing temperatures. This provides a more pleasant community experience and also reduces the amount of energy needed for air conditioning.

Stormwater runoff, also caused by impermeable surfaces, can be a major threat to infrastructure in urban areas. It overwhelms old sewer systems and increases the need for water treatment before it enters natural waterways. Green infrastructure helps rainwater be absorbed into the soil or evaporated into the atmosphere before it becomes runoff. 

Cities often have aging infrastructure that is vulnerable to large amounts of water. Brick, concrete, and asphalt can all wear out sooner when exposed to large amounts of runoff. By using green infrastructure to reduce runoff, cities also protect their roads and buildings.

Green infrastructure tries to mimic the natural hydrology cycle by allowing rainwater to infiltrate into the groundwater or be evaporated into the air. This keeps stormwater runoff from crossing over streets and sidewalks and roofs only to dump sediment and pollutants into surface waterways, like creeks or rivers. It can also keep heavy rainfalls from scouring the edges of streambanks. In addition to increasing groundwater, green infrastructure also creates cleaner water by using vegetation as a filter. Green infrastructure should also use native plants to create pollinator habitat. It also seeks to protect mature trees and plant new trees and shrubs, which benefit wildlife and also provide a carbon sink.

Yes. Low-impact development is the same as green infrastructure. 

Green infrastructure provides a wide range of benefits. It reduces stormwater runoff and cleans water before it enters surface waterways; it also increases groundwater levels. It can add ecological benefits by creating pollinator habitat and providing food for birds and other wildlife. It cools the surrounding area, which is a boon to urban environments. By reducing stormwater runoff, it also extends the life of built infrastructure like roads, sidewalks and sewer systems. Green infrastructure can help reduce speeding and create a more walkable and bicycle-friendly community. It adds enormous aesthetic appeal and creates more beautiful places to live. Green infrastructure also generally costs less to build and maintain then conventional approaches.

If your town is overhauling your comprehensive plan, you are likely already working with professional planners and your planning board. If you want green infrastructure included in your plan, you need to begin by educating everyone on your team. Above all, you want to be sure that green infrastructure is incorporated into all future development, landscaping, maintenance, and repairs. It needs to be a fundamental in the approach your town uses, as opposed to something implemented on a particular site. 

Your town's planning and zoning regulations are usually based on your comprehensive plan, so you want to be sure that green infrastructure approaches are incorporated into that. From there, you need to educate your planning and zoning board on the importance of green infrastructure and how to approach it when reviewing a project or zoning appeal. You may also want to reach out to your state or county planning education board and request courses on green infrastructure. The local chapter of your planning association might also be able to provide education on green infrastructure. 

From there, it is a matter of encouraging your planning and zoning board to get in the habit of thinking of green infrastructure approaches for all their projects. While it may not be appropriate to use green infrastructure on all projects, it is still good to have it top of mind. That helps avoid green infrastructure being included as an afterthought, which is usually less effective and more expensive.

Your town's engineering firm likely can handle the implementation of a green infrastructure project. However, they may need some supplemental expertise, for instance from native plant specialists or ecologists. It can be useful to find examples of what you are looking for and share those images with your engineer. It is also helpful to have someone on your team familiar with green infrastructure who can manage the project. 

The biggest challenge in implementing green infrastructure is that most people still don't know much about it. That means every potential project will need to begin with education, so people understand what it is and how it can benefit them. 

During the planning phase, it can be difficult to find people with the right expertise. Since green infrastructure can be implemented in such a variety of projects, you may need engineers, planners, stormwater specialists, arborists, ecologists, or landscapers on your team. Once a project is underway, the challenge is making sure everyone involved understands the principles enough to work within them (for instance, not parking heavy equipment on site). Afterwards, as with any project, you will want a clear maintenance plan so the site will continue to function well and be aesthetically pleasing.

A project manager knowledgeable in green infrastructure can help ensure you are asking the right questions and that you get the results you wanted.

Green infrastructure can extend the life of existing sewer systems by reducing stormwater runoff. For new development, it can require less piped infrastructure to be built in the first place. Its ability to reduce stormwater runoff also leads to decreased costs from flood damage and repair. Green infrastructure can also increase property values, as treed lots and areas with vegetation are generally considered more desirable places to live. Green infrastructure typically costs less to install and maintain than conventional infrastructure.