What does it cost to transition towards green infrastructure?
What steps can we take to finance transition strategies that make our cities hospitable, attractive, and resilient?
I'm not going to be answering these big questions today; however, I will be addressing the challenges, cost, and benefits of implementing eco-friendly design on my college campus. But nevertheless, these questions are vital to address to create the best future of safety and sustainability, in both an economic and environmental sense.This week, in my Green Communities class, we were given the chance to redesign portions of the University of Utah's campus to create more enjoyable spaces that also serve a beneficial ecological purpose.
Our team talked about adding living, green walls, implementing cobblestone pathways and parking lots to remove impervious surfaces, adding the names of notable U alumni to popular walkways to create a "Walk of Fame," as well as creating a yearly event that mimics Salt Lake City's Downtown Garden Stroll.
But what does this cost, and whats the benefit?.... and how can funding be arranged?!
For a public, research one university, economic support for innovative ideas may come easier than for independent projects, or city experimentations.
Our first idea was to strip several areas of pavement and sidewalks to create spaces that foster natural absorption of water, while reducing pollutants from entering the water supply. This is possible due to the porous composition of these pavers, which filters the water while it returns to the soil.
Surprisingly, one of the greatest sources for water pollution is form storm water. As the water moves across roofs, sidewalks, lawns, roads, and gutters, it often collects fertilizers, harmful vehicle byproducts, animal feces, and other components the reek havoc in waterways.
Permeable pavers are also a beneficial way to allow trees roots to have access to the nutrients and water they need to develop mature roots, providing the tree with enough stability to reach its full growth potential. The spaces between the pavers can also foster an environment for smaller plants to grow, with little maintenance, which reduces the urban heat island effect.
Overall, the implementation of friendly, permeable pavers enhances the experience of the pedestrians who enjoy its beauty, while protecting the environment from hazards elements synthesized from our modern lifestyles.
If the University were to implement the addition of cobblestone/permeable pavers on some of the sidewalks, it would cost approximately $4-6 per square foot for materials, plus the cost of labor and potential maintenance. Funding for this change could come from the SCIF grant if students collaborated on the project.
Ecological/Aesthetic Benefit of Permeable Pavers
A great addition that our group thought of was to create a "Walk of Fame" on these new sidewalks in popular areas on campus. These would say the name of a famous Ute, as well as a brief summary of their successes and societal impacts. One of my group members proposed the idea of asking the Alumni association to fund this projection, which seems somewhat promising.
This would give students more pride in their school, and could provide them with inspiration they can draw upon in their lives.
Another idea for an eco-enhancement on campus was the implementation of a "Living Wall" on the North side of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.
This artistic expression of sustainability will provide an incentive for the museum's cafe to host outside seating, and will create overall enhance the pedestrian's attraction to the area.
The cost of a green wall project depends on the dimensions of the project. The structure, plants, and irrigation system cost approximately $160 per square meter, according to the Growing Green Guide.
Logistically, university planning code may have to be manipulated in order to allow a living wall to be attached to a building. But, as for funding, if student's rallied together to prove environmental and aesthetic benefits of such a wall, perhaps they could apply for SCIF funding to make it a
reality.
Our final idea was to encourage an annual springtime event that would encourage students to build their own green social space. This project would mimic the Downtown Garden Stroll that is already hosted by Salt Lake City.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the garden stroll, it is an event that hosts an annual competition for citizens to compete for funding for their temporary garden exhibit. It requires that people fill their 8x20ft plot with seating, interactive games, and seasonal plants that will bloom during its exhibit time, which lasts for about a month an a half.
This project would encourage student innovation and collaboration, and could potentially receive funding from the SCIF program.
After listening to the presentations of my peers, it seems that there are millions of possibilities when it comes to creating more accessible places and social hubs, while catering to disabilities (something I didn't cover in this blog post) while having a beneficial impact on the environment. Although it is easier to receive funding on college campuses, this shouldn't discourage people from actively working towards a better, more beautiful tomorrow in the places they love.
Check out this link to see some EPA recommended resources for exploring the cost-benefit of environmentally friendly infrastructure and design.
https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/green-infrastructure-cost-benefit-resources#costanalysis 
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