Popular Types of Green Infrastructure

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Green infrastructure is increasing in popularity as a complement to gray infrastructure traditionally used for stormwater management. This infrastructure features the application of natural systems that include soil and vegetation to capture, absorb, and filter runoff water.

This infrastructure has proven to have various benefits in addition to capturing water and improving the water quality of waterways. Green infrastructure is also an effective carbon sequestration system. It also provides a habitat for wildlife and insects, thus improving ecological balance.

There are various types of green infrastructure. This article discusses some of the most common types of infrastructure getting applied in urban areas.

Popular Types of Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management

Green infrastructure is growing in popularity as a complement to traditional stormwater management systems. Natural processes that include vegetation and soil are getting used to capture runoff water before it enters piped systems. That helps to reduce flooding. It also helps to absorb and filter out pollutants.

How Can Green Infrastructure Benefit Your Community And Reduce Pollution | Gregory Voetsch

Green infrastructure offers a sustainable way to manage stormwater in urban settings. It also works to improve aesthetics and prevent the urban heat island phenomenon.

The components and processes used as part of green infrastructure systems are vast. Some of the most common elements include:

1. Green roofs

These are living landscapes installed on rooftops. They often include hardy plants such as succulents, wildflowers, and grasses that require little or no maintenance. They provide an oasis for birds and insects, such as butterflies. They also provide a restful oasis for people who have access to them.

Green roofs offer energy saving benefits to buildings as they provide an extra layer for insulation. They help to slash the energy required for heating and cooling buildings. One-story buildings have reported energy use reductions by more than 75 percent.

Green roofs capture rain and absorb carbon dioxide and other gaseous pollutants in the air. About 80 percent of the rain that falls on these roofs gets retained. The water is then released back into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. Gregory Voetsch

2. Rain gardens

These include small yards and gardens planted on sidewalks. These gardens often include vegetation such as shrubs, grasses, and perennials. They also consist of a shallow basin. Rain gardens are absorbed to capture runoff from sidewalks, streets, and rooftops. The water permeates into the soil as well as by the plants.

A typical rain garden can be as much as 30 percent more absorbent than a standard lawn. These rain gardens are not only aesthetically pleasing but provide a habitat for wildlife.

3. Swales

These are channels that carry water like pipes do and act as an alternative to conventional piped drainage systems. They feature plants such as grasses and flowers. They also feature soils that are customized to improve absorption and filtration of water.

Swales not only channel water to waterways but also absorb runoff through the soils and plants. The plants slow down the flow of water to aid in the filtering of pollutants out of the water. The slowing down of the water also encourages the absorption of more water into the soil.

Swales often get installed to limit flooding and slow the release of runoff water during heavy rainfall to sewer systems. They help to improve the water quality of waterways.

4. Trees

Trees aren’t just good for shade. An urban canopy is an effective stormwater management system. The cover formed by the trees helps to intercept rain before it hits the ground. Mature trees can absorb up to 4000 gallons of water in a year. Their root systems also play a vital role in slowing down runoff for more water to get absorbed through the soil. Gregory Voetsch

5. Permeable paving

These often get used in parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways. They feature the use of permeable surfaces that allow water to soak into the soil underneath. These surfaces may be in the form of block pavers laid with gaps in between to allow water to get absorbed into the ground or porous materials that have infiltration gaps in their structure.

Various other green infrastructure solutions are getting adopted for sustainable stormwater management. These are just the beginning.