Archive:

2015

FLASHBACK TO 2007: At Water Balance Model Partners Forum, the BC Ministry of Environment’s Peter Law introduced “Develop with Care” to a Metro Vancouver audience


“Decisions related to urban and rural land development in this province are shared by many; therefore, this document is intended to support and encourage good decision making by all those involved in land development in British Columbia. Develop with Care emphasizes the use of the Water Balance Model to achieve desired rainwater management outcomes”, stated Peter Law.

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Project Clear: St. Louis, Missouri demolishes vacant buildings to reduce rainwater inflow to combined sewer systems


Right now, big storms can overwhelm the city’s combined stormwater and sewer system, causing raw sewage to overflow into rivers and streams. If a surface is paved over — or has a building on it — rain will run off it into the sewers. But take the building away and the rainwater can seep into the ground instead. “We were amazed to find that the building demolitions actually resulted in a large amount of water capture for relatively very few dollars of investment,” said Brian Hoelscher.

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“Good things happen when nature is part of the equation,” writes Michele Molnar about the Town of Gibsons Eco-Asset Strategy


“With municipalities receiving just eight cents of every tax dollar to build and maintain almost half of the country’s core infrastructure, it’s not surprising that Canadian cities are looking for innovative, cost-saving approaches to manage it. As aging infrastructure eats up more and more of municipal budgets in maintenance, repair and replacement costs, this becomes urgent,” wrote Michele Molnar.

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“If we’re going to build, let’s build green,” says David Suzuki


“We shouldn’t lose sight of less-expensive and longer-lasting solutions to many of our infrastructure needs, like planting trees in urban areas for stormwater management and other services,” wrote David Suzuki. “Adding 10 trees to a block can produce health benefits equivalent to a $10,000 salary raise or being seven years younger. Despite their enormous value to society, urban forest canopies are stressed and in decline in many parts of the country.”

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Plan to enhance one of the world’s greenest capital cities: London infrastructure ‘should be 50% green by 2050’, recommends Task Force


“To meet the challenge of a growing population, future investment in traditional infrastructure, public health programmes and regeneration, needs to include more green infrastructure-based solutions, so London continues to be recognised as one of the greenest and most liveable big cities in the world,” said Matthew Pencharz, London’s Deputy Mayor. “Since 2009, £400 million has been invested in order to hold London’s ‘green mega city’ status.”

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Looking At Rain Differently in New York City: “Everyone understands what a sponge does, even if they don’t understand green infrastructure or phytoremediation,” said Susannah Drake


Sponge Park is a $1.5 million pilot project that will determine whether such spaces can effectively prevent new pollution from entering the canal. “In the vast majority of storms, the park would capture all of the water flowing to a dead end at the canal,” said Susannah Drake. During the heaviest rainfall, the park will at least cleanse and filter water before it flows into the canal.”

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Architects propose plan to transform New York City’s iconic Broadway into 40 blocks of Green Space


“Following the High Line’s evolution from abandoned railway to bustling park, urban planners have been brainstorming creative ways to develop more green space for New York City. This latest proposal is unique—instead of utilizing unused space, it would re-purpose one of the busiest streets in the borough,” wrote Michele Debczak. “A few recent changes to the area have already laid the foundation for the project.”

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“Nature is a fundamental component of a municipal infrastructure system,” says Emanuel Machado, Town of Gibsons Chief Administrative Officer


“At the heart of the Gibsons Eco-Asset Strategy is North America’s first natural asset policy, which directs the municipality to consider the role of natural assets within our overall asset management strategy. What gives life to the policy is the fact that, once the natural asset is within the policy, a budget must be set aside for its ongoing management and maintenance, and town staff must work together to preserve its integrity,” states Emanuel Machado.

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Article in Construction Business Magazine (Oct 2015): “Sustainable Service Delivery is the ‘New Paradigm’. It is the singular aim,” stated David Allen


Released in December 2014, ‘Asset Management for Sustainable Service Delivery: A BC Framework’ is a game-changer. “Sustainable Service Delivery is defined in the BC Framework as: a collection of practices that enables continuous delivery of current community services in a responsible manner that does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” states David Allen.

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NEW REPORT: The Decisions We Make Today Will Shape Tomorrow


“Mayors are incentivized on providing safety, economic security, growth and a healthy environment for people,” says Seth Schultz. Not all C40 mayors may be direct advocates of the environment, but they’re all advocates of providing these crucial assurances to their cities, he says, and this report suggests that investing in green infrastructure is a way to do that.

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