Future Value Now is a guide assessing the value of common ciyy design methods across 12 benefit areas. The purpose is to highlight practices that deliver multiple benefits to deliver enhanced value to property owners and tax payers.
Alleys offer opportunities for green infrastructure by replacing impervious pavement with pervious materials and landscaping. Cities can also swap older lighting with energy efficient fixtures.
Channels and runnels are concrete or stone lined pathways used to carry rainwater runoff along the surface or subsurface to other stormwater features and systems. Runnels are smaller, shallow systems while larger, deeper channels carry larger flows.
Invasive aquatic, plant, animal & microbial species disrupt local ecological systems, causing negative impacts for local flora & fauna, posing economic threats, and destabilizing systems.
Stormwater inlets collect runoff from streets, typically along curbsides, and direct water to underground pipes for discharge to a river or stream. Cities are retrofilling inlets with filtering design & devices to treat runoff before it enters waterways.
Infill guidelines & toolkits provide ideas, examples and pattern books to influence quality design for infill projects.
Real time, connected monitors alert first responders and city residents of areas under risk of flash flooding & inundation. Technology can also add a predictive feature for even earlier alerts.
Tree canopy programs increase and maintain tree canopy coverage in urban & suburban areas for commercial & residential settings.
Cities are dropping older street design & network models based solely on moving automobiles in favor of emerging new metrics for streets that serve mulitple uses and users.
Zoning code audits comb through outdated zoning code language that mandates unsustainable neighborhood, site & building design.
Green street designs support water management, flood control, landscaping & mobility options.
Support for green infrastructure can rely on making the economic case for dollars saved and multiple benefits of installations. Image: Center for Neighborhood Technology & American Rivers
Green infrastructure regulations can be complex with differing rules for various properties and situations. Game board and other graphics can help users follow appropriate compliance pathways. Green infrastructure regulations can be complex with differing rules for various properties and situations. Game board and other graphics can help users follow appropriate compliance pathways.
Stormwater credits allow homeowners who install green infrastructure and handle stormwater to attain and trade/sell credits to property owners who need to comply with stormwater requirements and fees. Stormwater credits allow homeowners who install green infrastructure and handle stormwater to attain and trade/sell credits to property owners who need to comply with stormwater requirements and fees.
Planter beds are recessed planting areas with inlets to divert storm water into the trenches. Good for parking lot retrofit. Recessed planter beds are sunken planting areas with inlets to divert storm water into the submerged trenches. Good for parking lot retrofit.
Shared stormwater best management practices (BMPS) collect and manage stormwater from several properties, typically saving space, money and maintenance costs. Shared stormwater best management practices (BMPS) collect and manage stormwater from several properties, typically saving space, money and maintenance costs.
Rooftop downspouts are directed to vegetated areas rather than to driveways, curbs and gutters. This reduces the amount of rainwater that must be managed by sewer systems and eventually drained into waterways. Rooftop downspouts are directed to vegetated areas rather than to impervious driveways, gutters and eventually into waterways.
Pervious pavers provide infiltrative surfaces in urban landscpaes for sidewalks, walkways, parking and streets. Installation and subsurface preparation are designed for maximum performance and maintenance. Pervious pavers provide infiltrative surfaces in urban landscpaes for sidewalks, walkways, parking and streets. Installation and subsurface preparation are designed for maximum performance and maintenance.
Bioswales are stormwater runoff conveyance systems that can absorb low flows or heavy rains to improve water quality by filtering storm water. The thicker and heavier the grasses, the better the swale can filter out contaminants. Bioswales are stormwater runoff conveyance systems that can absorb low flows or heavy rains to improve water quality by filtering storm water.