BENEFITS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
- Green infrastructure can have economic, social, and environmental benefits[1]. The economic benefits include the improves climate resiliency. Climate change exacerbates existing pollu tion problems, the impacts of human activities, and environmental stressors that affect the nation’s land, air, and water, as well as the people who depend on these resources. The impacts of climate change affect people in every region of the country, threatening lives and livelihoods and damaging infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems. Green infrastructure increases adaptive capacity in communities experiencing flooding, heat waves, and water quality challenges. Where site conditions allow, green infrastructure can be designed to soak water into the ground, which can increase the recharge rates of groundwater, helping to replenish groundwater reserves and maintain base stream flows. Increasing groundwater recharge helps mitigate the impacts of drought events—which are increasing due to climate change—as well as the effects of urbanization and increased impervious cover.Â
- The social benefits created by green infrastructure include green spaces, urban tree canopies, parks, green streets, that can provide a peaceful atmosphere for residents to enjoy. More green space and parks promote outdoor physical activity and can be used to improve safety. Green spaces have been shown to enhance the strength of social ties between neighbors, which can lower rates of social disorder, anxiety, and depression within a neighborhood. Experiencing green spaces helps reduce mental fatigue or stress. In densely developed areas, adding green infrastructure provides vegetation and open space in locations that can be nature deprived. Additionally, green infrastructure with vegetation can further benefit residents by improving air quali  ty and reducing noise pollution.
- The environmental benefits of green infrastructure include increasi ng adaptive capacity in communities experiencing flooding, heat waves, and water quality challenges. are many. Where site conditions allow, green infrastructure can be designed to soak water into the ground, which can increase the recharge rates of groundwater, helping to replenish groundwater reserves and maintain base stream flows. Increasing groundwater recharge helps mitigate the impacts of drought events which are increasing due to climate change—as well as the effects of urbanization and increased impervious cover. Â
- [1] US Environment Protection Agency, 202