June 2012, Vol. 67 No. 6
Newsline
Report shows economic advantages of green infrastructure
On April 12, American Rivers, the Water Environment Federation, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and ECONorthwest released Banking on Green: How Green Infrastructure Saves Municipalities Money and Provides Economic Benefits Community-wide.
According to the report, green infrastructure is a cost-effective way to manage runoff and prevent sewer overflows when integrated into new construction and redevelopment projects. Green infrastructure often offers lower capital costs and operational expenses, as well as reduced land-acquisition requirements. In addition to costing less, green infrastructure reduces economic costs associated with illness by improving public health and floods. Green infrastructure also reduces energy costs associated with transporting and treating water and, in the case of green roofs, building heating and cooling. Finally, green infrastructure can improve municipalities’ resiliency to climate change.
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