Benefits of greenery-John Hayson

 Plants in a city can provide quantitative benefits, in the form of financial return, as well as qualitative environmental, social and aesthetic benefits. They are not mutually exclusive and the integrative value of greenery in a built environment should be appreciated no matter they are quantitative or qualitative ones.

Environmental benefits

1. The ability of vegetative surfaces to retain stormwater and lower peak runoff can aid in reducing the extent of storm water drainage infrastructure.

(Scholz-Barth, 2001). It has been reflected by employing smaller storm sewers, which, in turn saves construction and maintenance costs of cities’ drainage systems.

2. Plants introduced around buildings can improve construction’s integrity by lessening the weather effect. Hence it can prolong the service and practical life of buildings.

According to Peck et al. (1999), the reduction of extreme temperature variation through the use of green roofs can lessen the stress due to expansion and contraction on the membrane, thereby reduces cracking and aging of the membrane.

3. Energy savings is a significant economic contribution brought by greenery in cities.

Parker (1983) has conducted studies on plants’ energy saving in Miami, Florida. He found that the energy savings exceeded 50% in some hot days and the long-term savings were around 25%.Readmore