EPA Launches New Strategy to Promote Use of Green Infrastructure for Environmental and Economic Benefits (HQ, CA, CO, DC, FL, MA, MO, NY, OH, TX, WA)
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
launching a new strategy to promote the use of green infrastructure
by cities and towns to reduce stormwater runoff that pollutes our
nation’s streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
Green infrastructure decreases pollution to local waterways by
treating rain where it falls and keeping polluted stormwater from
entering sewer systems. In addition to protecting Americans’
health by decreasing water pollution, green infrastructure provides
many community benefits including increased economic activity and
neighborhood revitalization, job creation, energy savings and
increased recreational and green space.
“Through this agenda, we’ll help cities and towns
across the nation clean up their waters and strengthen their
communities by supporting and expanding green
infrastructure,” said Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe,
who announced the agenda at a Green Street, Green Jobs conference
focused on fostering green infrastructure in the Washington, DC
metropolitan area. “Green infrastructure changes improve the
health of our waters while creating local jobs, saving communities
money and making them healthier and more prosperous places to raise
a family and start a business.”
Stormwater is one of the most widespread challenges to water
quality in the nation. Large volumes of polluted stormwater degrade
our nation’s rivers, lakes and aquatic habitats and
contribute to downstream flooding. Green infrastructure captures
and filters pollutants by passing stormwater through soils and
retaining it on site. Effective green infrastructure tools and
techniques include green roofs, permeable materials, alternative
designs for streets and buildings, trees, rain gardens and rain
harvesting systems.
As part of the strategy, EPA will work with partners including
local governments, watershed groups, tribes and others in 10 cities
that have utilized green infrastructure and have plans for
additional projects. EPA will encourage and support expanded use of
green infrastructure in these cities and highlight them as models
for other municipalities around the country. The 10 cities are:
Austin, Texas; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colo.;
Jacksonville, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles, Calif.;
Puyallup, Wash.; Syracuse, N.Y.; and Washington, DC and neighboring
Anacostia Watershed communities.
Energy savings is one of the greatest benefits of green
infrastructure. On and around buildings, green infrastructure can
reduce heating and cooling costs. For example, green roofs reduce a
building’s energy costs by 10 to 15 percent, and an
additional 10 percent of urban tree canopy can provide 5 to 10
percent energy savings from shading and windblocking. Green
infrastructure also conserves energy by reducing the amount of
stormwater entering combined collection and treatment systems,
which reduces the amount of wastewater processed at treatment
plants.
EPA will continue to work with other federal agencies, state and
local governments, tribes, municipalities, and the private sector
to identify opportunities for using green infrastructure and
provide assistance to communities implementing green approaches to
control stormwater. EPA will also provide additional tools to help
states and communities leverage green infrastructure opportunities
within other innovative environmental projects.
For more information on EPA’s green infrastructure
agenda: http://epa.gov/greeninfrastructure