6 Multi-Benefit Resources

Wiped Out by the ‘Greenwave’: Environmental Gentrification and the Paradoxical Politics of Urban Sustainability

Author: Checker, Queens College CUNY (2011)
Geography: Northeastern U.S.
Level of Detail: Case study

Availability: Paywall

Water Management Strategies: Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Environmental Remediation, Land Management

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Aesthetics, Affordability, Community resilience, Health and safety, Local economy, People and Community, Recreation

Wiped Out by the ‘Greenwave’: Environmental Gentrification and the Paradoxical Politics of Urban Sustainability examines how profit driven environmental improvements could exacerbate inequities through ethnography in Harlem, New York. Environmental gentrification can be an issue when pursuing green infrastructure (GI) projects. The author suggests making any changes in land use sensitive to cultural activities and historical context.

Just green enough: contesting environmental gentrification in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Author: Curran & Hamilton, DePaul University (2012)
Geography: Northeastern U.S.
Level of Detail: Case study

Availability: Paywall

Water Management Strategies: Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Environmental Remediation, Land Management, Water Conservation and Efficiency

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Aesthetics, Affordability, Community resilience, Health and safety, Local economy, People and Community, Recreation

Just green enough: contesting environmental gentrification in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is a case study showing the benefits of partnerships between developers, environmentalists, and community members. While development can lead to displacement, there is a space for strategic development that does not negatively alter the neighborhood. Focusing on people’s health instead of aesthetics can protect the character of the neighborhood.

The Green Edge: How Commercial Property Investment in Green Infrastructure Creates Value

Author: Clements & St. Juliana, NRDC (2013)
Geography: Northeastern U.S.
Level of Detail: Case study, Economic valuation, Qualitative description, Quantitative benefits

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Conservation design, Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Infiltration or filtration, Low impact landscaping, Runoff conveyance, Runoff storage

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Aesthetics, Affordability, End use energy, Energy, Local economy, People and Community, Regulatory compliance, Reputation, Risk and Resilience, System resilience, Urban heat island, Water supply reliability

This report explores the range of economic benefits that accrue to commercial property owners (including owners of multifamily residential buildings) when they install green infrastructure on their property to improve stormwater management.

Stream Reach Assessment Tool

Author: The Academy of Natural Sciences, Drexel University (N/A)
Geography: Northeastern U.S.
Level of Detail: Decision support tool

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Land Management

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Ambient water quality, Water quality

Stream Reach Assessment Tool is an online tool used to assess surface water quality within the Delaware River watershed. Through the integration of a wide range of datasets, an interactive water quality map was developed that depicts interactions between the rivers and streams within the Delaware River watershed. The tool provides information on 1) mean annual pollutant load (i.e., total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total suspended sediment, 2) mean annual in-stream concentration for each of the pollutants considered, 3) location and impact of point sources, and 4) general evaluations of the landscape features. The goal of the tool is to provide information on the effectiveness of land management practices.

The Economic Impact of Green City, Clean Waters: The First Five Years

Author: Sustainable Business Network (SBN), Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners, Econsult Solutions (2016)
Geography: Northeastern U.S.
Level of Detail: Economic valuation

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Centralized Stormwater Infrastructure, Conservation design, Detention basins, Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Flood Control, Infiltration basins, Infiltration or filtration, Low impact landscaping, Retention basins, Runoff conveyance, Runoff storage

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Aesthetics, Affordability, Air quality, Community resilience, Energy, Flooding, Habitat and biodiversity, Land and environment, Local economy, People and Community, Recreation, Risk and Resilience, System resilience, Urban heat island, Water quality

The Economic Impact of Green City, Clean Waters: The First Five Years evaluates the economic impact of the Green City, Clean Waters (GCCW) plan in Philadelphia, PA. The Green City, Clean Waters was an initiative of the Philadelphia Water Department to implement more green infrastructure in the city of Philadelphia. The initiative resulted in a multitude of benefits, including boosts in the local economy, increased jobs, improved equity, revived habitats, and overall enhanced aesthetics.

The Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure A Case Study of Lancaster, PA

Author: U.S. EPA (2014)
Geography: Northeastern U.S.
Level of Detail: Case study, Quantitative benefits

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Infiltration or filtration, Low impact landscaping, Runoff conveyance, Runoff storage

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Air quality, Carbon sequestration, Educational opportunity, End use energy, Energy, Energy for wastewater, Energy for water extraction, Energy for water treatment, Flooding, Habitat and biodiversity, Land and environment, Local economy, People and Community, Recreation, Total flood volume, Urban heat island

The Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure: A Case Study of Lancaster, PA provides an economic valuation of green infrastructure in Lancaster, PA based on the Framework described in CNT’s “The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing Its Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits, 2010”. The report provides data requirements and methodologies for evaluation of water-related benefits (avoided capital costs of storage needs, avoided operational costs from wastewater treatment), energy-related benefits (reduced energy use for indoor temperature control), air-quality benefits (smog reduction, including NO2, O3, SO2 and PM10), and climate change-related benefits (CO2 reduction from carbon sequestration, reductions in water and wastewater pumping and treatment, and building energy use). The report also includes a discussion on the additional qualitative benefits including reduced urban heat island effect, increased property value, reduced noise pollution, increased recreational opportunities, habitat improvement, public education, and community cohesion.