 Equity in stormwater infrastructure is a vital component of urban infrastructure, especially in densely populated areas. It helps prevent flooding, protects water quality, and ensures a sustainable future for cities. However, to build resilient and equitable urban stormwater systems, it is essential to prioritize equity in their planning, development, and maintenance. In this blog post, we will discuss why equity should be included in stormwater infrastructure and provide insights into how cities can incorporate equity principles into their stormwater management strategies. Why Equity i ..read more

 Resurfacing Urban Cities: The Green Revolution with Nature-based Solutions In our bustling urban jungles, where concrete and steel dominate the landscape, the fight against urban heat often feels like an uphill battle. But what if there’s a natural ally in our quest to combat climate change right beneath our feet? It’s time to reconsider the way we resurface our cities. Instead of endless expanses of concrete and manicured grass, let’s turn to native landscaping and nature-based solutions to pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future. Concrete vs. Nature: The Urban Dilemma ..read more

TLDR: Native Landscaping is getting a boost at the moment during extended droughts, but depending on your area and budget-you might want to consider everything that goes into a transformation.  Ditching the Grass: Going Natural with Native Landscaping If you’re tired of mowing, watering, and watching your grass turn brown in the summer, you might be considering a change. Or maybe you want to create a more equitable world for pollinators and rain water collection? The best way to save money and start investing in your soils, neighborhood climate, and curb appeal is to go with native landsca ..read more

TLDR: Stormwater Retention Credits, also called Stormwater Credit Trading Programs, are ways to benefit developers and property owners by buying and selling stormwater best management practices.     What are Stormwater Credit Trading Programs?   Stormwater credit trading programs are a mechanism for buying and selling stormwater retained or treated through green infrastructure (GI), sometimes also called nature-based solutions (NbS). When a business, organization, or other landowner’s stormwater facilities treat beyond what is required of them through their local storm ..read more

TLDR: Utilizing grants, stormwater management programs, and community empowerment can lead to building community green infrastructure that solves drainage problems aesthetically pleasingly.     When it comes to building community green infrastructure, it takes a village for residential stormwater management. Fortunately, green neighborhoods nationwide have successfully implemented green infrastructure (GI) and other stormwater management practices around parks, schools, and homes. While each rain barrel and garden is doing its part to capture and filter stormwater, communities a ..read more

TLDR: See the infographics below for quick education content.  With the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), types of green finance and how they will be utilized have become of interest to not only the public but also investors. The IRA was a large package involving healthcare, inflation reduction, and economic stimulus. Still, at its core, it was a climate change bill with sights set on funding and growing economic development around sustainability. Proof of that comes from the bill creating the United States’ first national green bank, the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Fund, which will ..read more

Recently we posted about residential rainwater collection systems on social media, and it ignited a discussion on whether having a rain barrel was legal or not in their state. We won’t bury the lead here, and rainwater harvesting methods are legal in all 50 states. Each city will have certain restrictions, but there is no place in the United States where catchment systems are entirely banned. So can you collect rainwater in California? Yes. Can you collect rainwater in Tennessee? Yes. Let’s break down what to look for in each state, and we will share links with you about state water catchmen ..read more

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If your property repeatedly flooded due to poor stormwater management and water coming from further uphill, what would you do to fix it? Would you try and control the flooding on your own lawn or go directly to the source? Even if that meant you pay your uphill neighbors to improve their landscaping as a solution?  That’s exactly what some residents in Takoma Park, MD, are undertaking with a new agreement to install a series of rain management projects across five properties and pay for it collectively.  Landscaping solutions to flooding problems are frequently cheaper and more eff ..read more