Green and Gray Networks
Every neighborhood has “green” (ecological or natural) and “gray” (human, built) networks. Integrating the two creates opportunities to improve the environmental performance of a neighborhood, create more beautiful places, and often reduce costs.
Storm water systems, for example, often consist of pipes and treatment plants that deal with runoff from pavement and roofs. But installing green roofs, pervious paving, and landscaped swales, a storm water system evolves into part of the neighborhood’s green network.
The key is to integrate green elements into every scale of design to produce multiple benefits.
Opportunities and Benefits
At each scale – region, community, neighborhood, street, building – integrated green networks can perform multiple functions.
These include:
- Provision of habitat – for fish, birds, small mammals, butterflies, and others
- Management of water quality and erosion, and protection from floods
- Sequestration of carbon and improvement of air quality
- Reduction of heating and cooling loads through shading and insulation
- Reduction of the urban heat island effect.
Actions
Local governments can take a number of interrelated actions to integrate green networks effectively into neighborhoods.
Of these, two are addressed in the infrastructure section:
- Adopt low-impact development principles and use green infrastructure to manage storm water.
- Integrate district energy systems.
Other actions are addressed in the articles below.
