Why Green Infrastructure?

Green infrastructure can provide many benefits to a community, including flood mitigation, improved water quality, reduced heat island effect, habitat for wildlife and socioeconomic improvements. Here is a list of resources that can help you explore and define the value of green infrastructure for your community. 

American Rivers, American Society of Landscape Architects, ECONorthwest and Water Environment Federation, 2012. Banking on Green: A Look at How Green Infrastructure Can Save Municipalities Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-wide.
Explores economic impacts of stormwater and how green infrastructure can help offset these costs.

American Rivers and Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2010. The Value of Green Infrastructure: Guide to Recognizing Its Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits.
Outlines the multiple economic, environmental and social benefits of green infrastructure and how to assess these diverse benefits to guide decision-making.

Center for Clean Air Policy, 2011. The Value of Green Infrastructure for Urban Climate Adaptation.
Identifies benefits of green infrastructure to communities to manage extremes in precipitation and temperature.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013. Case Studies Analyzing the Economic Benefits of Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure Programs.
Contains thirteen case studies from across the United States using various economic methods to determine cost-benefit analysis of green infrastructure and low-impact development projects.  

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2014. Green Infrastructure for Climate Resiliency. 
Identifies how green infrastructure can help communities build climate resiliency.

Wisconsin Sea Grant, 2017. “What’s the Impact?” from Tackling Barriers to Green Infrastructure: An Audit of Local Codes and Ordinances.
Includes examples of code and ordinance amendments on the implementation of green infrastructure and reductions in stormwater runoff volume and total suspended solids.