Improved air & water quality, temperature regulation, and protection of sensitive areas.
- Improved air quality: Burning less fuel keeps air cleaner. Much of the savings comes from driving less, the rest from adoption of green building standards and construction of smaller units.
- Improved water quality: As vehicle use decreases, so do amounts of related contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, oils and heavy metals (7). Compact development generates three times less storm water runoff per household than low-density development does (7). Less runoff means less erosion, less damage to infrastructure, and less pollution of streams, lakes and estuaries.
- Better temperature regulation: Trees, green roofs, and green spaces help cool neighborhoods in the summer and retain moisture in arid climates – trees can reduce local ambient temperatures by 5 degrees (8).
- Protection of farms, open space and wildlife habitat: Encouraging compact development within cities reduces development pressure on land in the countryside. The landscaped areas within green neighborhoods quickly evolve into good living spaces for birds and other small animals.
- Protection of open spaces: Focusing development on less valuable lands protects farms and environmentally sensitive areas.
