Green Infrastructure Solutions to Mitigate the Effects of Extreme Weather
Naturally Resilient Communities is a guidebook and interactive tool featuring communities around the US that rely on green infrastructure solutions to protect themselves against climate change related extreme weather events. The guidebook includes over 30 case studies from communities of various sizes that are facing issues from coastal erosion to stormwater flooding. The interactive tool helps users tailor their search results by allowing them to customize their search based on the hazard(s) facing their community, region, community type (urban, suburban, or rural), scale, and cost. The goal of the guidebook is to feature successful projects to help communities learn more and identify which green infrastructure solutions might work for them.
Green infrastructure on Agriculture Land
Green infrastructure is a system that connects rural, suburban, and urban areas, though discussions often focus on the urban context. Agriculture land is an important part of our province’s green infrastructure network, but it can also benefit from integrating other green infrastructure practices, especially trees. A recent blog post from the Union of Concerned Scientists highlights how agroforestry can provide many benefits, including:
- Windbreaks
- Forest farming
- Riparian forest buffers
- Alley cropping
- Silvopasture
Return on Investment: A Hospital’s Green Roof
The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio has integrated multiple green roofs in to its complex. The hospital includes green roofs spaces designed as healing gardens and relaxation areas for patients and staff. There is also a large green roof with views of the downtown skyline and rentable space that can be used for meetings and special events. Since its completion the rental space has hosted an average of ten events per week, which will pay for the cost of all the green roofs in 2 years and continue to pay maintenance costs in perpetuity.