Quote: "Green infrastructure or blue-green infrastructure refers to a network that provides the “ingredients” for solving urban and climatic challenges by building with nature."
The design and development of natural and engineered systems that manage stormwater, reduce urban heat island effects, and provide other ecosystem services.
Ecological principles: Understanding the importance of ecology and natural systems is critical for green infrastructure. This includes knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and ecological processes.
Sustainable design: Green infrastructure is characterized by sustainable design that seeks to minimize the impact of human activities on the natural environment.
Water: Water management is a crucial component of green infrastructure. This includes topics such as watershed management, green roofs, rain gardens, and stormwater management.
Plants: Plants play a critical role in green infrastructure, including the design and installation of vegetation, green walls, and green roofs.
Climate change: Climate change is a global phenomenon that has significant impacts on the environment, making it an essential topic to consider when developing green infrastructure.
Soil science: Understanding soil science is essential for green infrastructure, including knowledge of soil types, soil fertility, and soil degradation.
Urban planning: Green infrastructure is closely related to urban planning, as it involves the design and management of green spaces within urban areas.
Infrastructure planning and design: Planning and design of green infrastructure includes knowledge of engineering, landscape design, and urbanism.
Economic considerations: The economics of green infrastructure, including cost-benefit analysis, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.
Policy and governance: Policies and governance mechanisms are necessary for the successful implementation of green infrastructure projects. Understanding the legal framework for green infrastructure is crucial for its effective implementation.
Green roofs: Vegetation on building rooftops, providing benefits such as insulation, reducing the heat island effect, and absorbing stormwater.
Green walls: Vegetation on building facades or walls, providing similar benefits as green roofs.
Rain gardens: Landscaped depressions that capture and treat stormwater, promoting infiltration and reducing runoff.
Bioretention: Similar to rain gardens, but designed to manage larger volumes of stormwater.
Permeable pavement: Paving materials that allow water to infiltrate, improving stormwater management.
Urban forests: Areas of trees and vegetation within urban areas that provide numerous benefits, including reducing the heat island effect, absorbing carbon dioxide, and providing wildlife habitat.
Wetlands: Natural or constructed areas of wetland vegetation that filter and absorb pollutants, reduce flood risks, and provide wildlife habitat.
Blue-green infrastructure: A combination of natural and built infrastructure that manages both stormwater and water quality.
Green corridors: Linear green spaces that connect larger green spaces, promoting connectivity and access to natural areas.
Green open spaces: Public parks and open spaces that provide opportunities for recreation, social interaction, and stress reduction.
Community gardens: Urban gardens that provide fresh produce, promote community engagement, and contribute to biodiversity.
Pollinator habitats: Vegetated areas designed to support bee and butterfly populations, promoting plant pollination and biodiversity.
Pedestrian and bike paths: Paved or natural paths for pedestrian and bicycle travel, promoting active transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Green alleys: Redeveloping alleys into green spaces designed to manage stormwater and provide a safe and attractive pedestrian and bike path.
Living shorelines: Natural or engineered shoreline stabilization techniques that utilize vegetation, building materials, or a combination of both to prevent erosion and maintain aquatic habitat.
Green infrastructure for agriculture: Strategies for sustainable, environmentally-friendly agriculture that conserve soil health, promote biodiversity and protect water resources.
Solar green infrastructure: Renewable energy sources integrated with green infrastructure to maximize energy production and environmental benefits.
Quote: "The main components of this approach include stormwater management, climate adaptation, the reduction of heat stress, increasing biodiversity, food production, better air quality, sustainable energy production, clean water, and healthy soils..."
Quote: "Green infrastructure also serves to provide an ecological framework for social, economic, and environmental health of the surroundings."
Quote: "Green infrastructure is considered a subset of "Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure", which is defined in standards such as SuRe, the Standard for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure."
Quote: "More recently scholars and activists have also called for green infrastructure that promotes social inclusion and equality rather than reinforcing pre-existing structures of unequal access to nature-based services."
Quote: "However, green infrastructure can also mean "low-carbon infrastructure" such as renewable energy infrastructure and public transportation systems..."
Quote: "Blue-green infrastructure can also be a component of "sustainable drainage systems" or "sustainable urban drainage systems" (SuDS or SUDS) designed to manage water quantity and quality, while providing improvements to biodiversity and amenity."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include stormwater management..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... climate adaptation..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... the reduction of heat stress..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... increasing biodiversity..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... food production..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... better air quality..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... sustainable energy production..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... clean water..."
Quote: "The main components of this approach include... healthy soils..."
Quote: "Green infrastructure also serves to provide an ecological framework for... increased quality of life through recreation..."
Quote: "Green infrastructure also serves to provide... the provision of shade and shelter in and around towns and cities."
Quote: "Green infrastructure is considered a subset of "Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure"."
Quote: "Blue-green infrastructure can also be a component of "sustainable drainage systems" or "sustainable urban drainage systems"... designed to manage water quantity and quality, while providing improvements to biodiversity and amenity."