Green Infrastructure

In the United States, water and wastewater treatment facilities account for 35% of energy used in municipalities. The consequences of the growing electric power and water demands will require more intensive management of water resources, greater integration between water and energy planning, more watershed or regional planning, and new science and technology to meet these needs.

“The City of Courtenay's Official Community Plan illustrates the benefits that result when municipal master planning and program implementation are guided by an holistic way-of-thinking that ‘connects the dots’ to achieve integrated and sustainable solutions,” stated Kevin Lagan.

Paved surfaces present rainwater management challenges, especially when adjacent to fish-bearing streams. The driveway and parking lot at the Regional District of Naniamo’s Water Pollution Control Centre represent a practical response to these issues.

Three Vancouver Island case studies comprised of commercial developments represent a linked set.They address similar rainwater management issues including extensive impervious surfaces as well as challenging geological and hydrological site features, and in every project “design with nature” technologies have been used to address these challenges. Finally, the same owner's agent was responsible for all three projects.

Inland Kenworth says its newest location — Inland Kenworth Nanaimo –has succeeded in all accounts, and recently marked its first year of operation with a grand opening event. By incorporating green measures into the dealership’s design and operation, Inland Kenworth also leads the way in helping to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment.

Building on the interest in rainwater / stormwater modelling generated by a province-wide series of technical seminars, the Green Infrastructure Partnership delivered a one-day seminar on how to implement ‘green solutions’ that actually protect stream health. Held in November 2007, the seminar is part of the rollout of 'Beyond the Guidebook: Context for Rainwater Management and Green Infrastructure in British Columbia.'

According to Kim Stephens, a decade ago British Columbia and Washington State had the same science and a common understanding of what it meant. The point of departure was the same. A decade later, they are on diverging paths. In British Columbia, the way land is developed is changing. Washington State is not. “Nirvana has by no means been achieved in British Columbia, but green infrastructure is on the right path,” said Stephens.

When the Township of Langley hosted the second event in “Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver: The 2007 Series”, this provided a timely opportunity for other Metro Vancouver municipalities to learn about how a ‘water-centric’ approach is changing the way that land is developed in Langley.

When the Township of Langley hosted the second event in “Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver: The 2007 Series”, Ryan Schmidt reported out on the Township's five milestones for implementing its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan.

We seem to be building larger and larger homes for smaller and smaller families. Even if our homes are built to be energy-efficient, this still means larger spaces to heat, and more resources to build these larger homes.