Protecting the Future Through Sustainability and Green Infrastructure

Building Green, Sustainable Infrastructure with McClure

Sustainability is increasingly one of the most important elements of successful urban design. As we face mounting environmental challenges, solutions that are low cost and resilient to dynamic conditions are ideal Green infrastructure, both through nature and innovative technology, can provide these ideal solutions Through natural resources, clean energy, and other strategies, building sustainable communities is easier than ever. Green infrastructure is uniquely positioned to help with is stormwater runoff management.

There are a wide range of nature-based solutions-such as bioswales and permeable pavement-that assist with absorbing excess runoff and filtering out contaminants. McClure’s expertise rests within identifying the green infrastructure solutions ideal to your project.

What Makes Infrastructure Sustainable?

Building infrastructure is already a complex issue. Challenges include managing available resources, meeting the community’s needs, and balancing longevity with maintenance costs. To meet these challenges, McClure expands the definition of sustainability. Truly sustainable infrastructure should be designed, built, and maintained to meet the needs of the present without compromising success for future generations. It should be characterized by its ability to be resilient, efficient, and adaptable.

In the United States, green infrastructure primarily refers to natural methods for capturing, filtering, and reducing stormwater runoff. As such, we believe green infrastructure should accomplish some of the following:

Strong integration with existing infrastructure or natural environments: Infrastructure is most effective when it works seamlessly with other elements of urban design. For example, in terms of runoff management, it could help bridge urban environments with nearby water sources to assist with the filtration of contaminated water.

Offer lasting benefits while remaining adaptable for the future: As population centers expand or become denser, additional pressure may be placed on infrastructure. Sustainable designs like natural bioswales provide a greater capacity for meeting increasing demand while helping to better manage the resources required for maintenance or renovation.

Equal benefits and accessibility for the entire community: The most successful infrastructure serves as many people as possible in a safe and efficient manner. Through natural beauty, cleaner water and air, and lower maintenance costs, green infrastructure is capable of benefitting everyone.

Examples of Sustainable, Green Infrastructure

Urban Forests: Urban forests are areas of trees and other vegetation within cities and towns. They provide a variety of benefits, including improved air and water quality, carbon sequestration, energy conservation, and wildlife habitat. They also help to manage stormwater by intercepting and absorbing rainfall, reducing the amount of runoff that reaches waterways.

Permeable Pavement: Permeable pavement is a type of pavement that allows water to pass through it, rather than running off into stormwater systems. This can include permeable concrete, pavers, and asphalt. These pavements can help to reduce the amount of runoff and improve water quality by filtering pollutants and sediment from the water.

Rainwater Collection Systems: Rainwater collection systems capture and store rainwater for later use, such as irrigation or toilet flushing. This can help to reduce the demand on municipal water systems and decrease the amount of stormwater runoff.

Existing Natural Environments: Natural environments such as wetlands, riparian areas, and coastal habitats can help manage water quality and runoff by filtering pollutants and sediment, absorbing excess water and recharging groundwater. Preserving these natural environments limits the need for new infrastructure while providing additional benefits such as wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.

Bioswales and Ram Gardens: Bioswales and rain gardens are landscaped areas designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff. They can be used in place of traditional stormwater drainage systems and can help to improve water quality, reduce flooding and erosion, and create habitats for wildlife.

It’s important to note these strategies are not mutually exclusive. In fact, many forms of green infrastructure can be combined to create more comprehensive and effective solutions. What’s important is green infrastructure projects are tailored to specific site conditions and community needs.

Making “Grey” Infrastructure More Sustainable

While green infrastructure focuses on integrating natural systems into communities, it’s also important to consider how traditional, or “grey,” infrastructure can be designed and built more sustainably. This can be achieved through tools like renewable resources and new technology.

Consider the use of renewable energy sources to power grey infrastructure. This could mclude solar panels on buildings or roads, wind turbines on bridges, and geothermal systems for heating and cooling commercial property. This can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease the carbon footprint.

Another way to improve grey infrastructure’s sustainability is through the use of new technologies that improve energy efficiency. Smart lighting systems, for example, use sensors and algorithms to adjust lighting levels based on the amount of natural light available.

Finally, sustainable materials and construction methods can be used to build grey infrastructure. This can significantly reduce infrastructure’s carbon footprint, as the bulk of its environmental impact is produced during its construction. By using materials made from recycled content, such as recycled steel or concrete, we reduce the environmental impact of construction. This could also be accomplished through smarter design techniques such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) to increase project efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and reduce waste during construction.

Protecting the Future Through Sustainability and Green Infrastructure

Building Green, Sustainable Infrastructure with McClure

Sustainability is increasingly one of the most important elements of successful urban design. As we face mounting environmental challenges, solutions that are low cost and resilient to dynamic conditions are ideal Green infrastructure, both through nature and innovative technology, can provide these ideal solutions Through natural resources, clean energy, and other strategies, building sustainable communities is easier than ever. Green infrastructure is uniquely positioned to help with is stormwater runoff management.

There are a wide range of nature-based solutions-such as bioswales and permeable pavement-that assist with absorbing excess runoff and filtering out contaminants. McClure’s expertise rests within identifying the green infrastructure solutions ideal to your project.

What Makes Infrastructure Sustainable?

Building infrastructure is already a complex issue. Challenges include managing available resources, meeting the community’s needs, and balancing longevity with maintenance costs. To meet these challenges, McClure expands the definition of sustainability. Truly sustainable infrastructure should be designed, built, and maintained to meet the needs of the present without compromising success for future generations. It should be characterized by its ability to be resilient, efficient, and adaptable.

In the United States, green infrastructure primarily refers to natural methods for capturing, filtering, and reducing stormwater runoff. As such, we believe green infrastructure should accomplish some of the following:

Strong integration with existing infrastructure or natural environments: Infrastructure is most effective when it works seamlessly with other elements of urban design. For example, in terms of runoff management, it could help bridge urban environments with nearby water sources to assist with the filtration of contaminated water.

Offer lasting benefits while remaining adaptable for the future: As population centers expand or become denser, additional pressure may be placed on infrastructure. Sustainable designs like natural bioswales provide a greater capacity for meeting increasing demand while helping to better manage the resources required for maintenance or renovation.

Equal benefits and accessibility for the entire community: The most successful infrastructure serves as many people as possible in a safe and efficient manner. Through natural beauty, cleaner water and air, and lower maintenance costs, green infrastructure is capable of benefitting everyone.

Examples of Sustainable, Green Infrastructure

Urban Forests: Urban forests are areas of trees and other vegetation within cities and towns. They provide a variety of benefits, including improved air and water quality, carbon sequestration, energy conservation, and wildlife habitat. They also help to manage stormwater by intercepting and absorbing rainfall, reducing the amount of runoff that reaches waterways.

Permeable Pavement: Permeable pavement is a type of pavement that allows water to pass through it, rather than running off into stormwater systems. This can include permeable concrete, pavers, and asphalt. These pavements can help to reduce the amount of runoff and improve water quality by filtering pollutants and sediment from the water.

Rainwater Collection Systems: Rainwater collection systems capture and store rainwater for later use, such as irrigation or toilet flushing. This can help to reduce the demand on municipal water systems and decrease the amount of stormwater runoff.

Existing Natural Environments: Natural environments such as wetlands, riparian areas, and coastal habitats can help manage water quality and runoff by filtering pollutants and sediment, absorbing excess water and recharging groundwater. Preserving these natural environments limits the need for new infrastructure while providing additional benefits such as wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.

Bioswales and Ram Gardens: Bioswales and rain gardens are landscaped areas designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff. They can be used in place of traditional stormwater drainage systems and can help to improve water quality, reduce flooding and erosion, and create habitats for wildlife.

It’s important to note these strategies are not mutually exclusive. In fact, many forms of green infrastructure can be combined to create more comprehensive and effective solutions. What’s important is green infrastructure projects are tailored to specific site conditions and community needs.

Making “Grey” Infrastructure More Sustainable

While green infrastructure focuses on integrating natural systems into communities, it’s also important to consider how traditional, or “grey,” infrastructure can be designed and built more sustainably. This can be achieved through tools like renewable resources and new technology.

Consider the use of renewable energy sources to power grey infrastructure. This could mclude solar panels on buildings or roads, wind turbines on bridges, and geothermal systems for heating and cooling commercial property. This can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease the carbon footprint.

Another way to improve grey infrastructure’s sustainability is through the use of new technologies that improve energy efficiency. Smart lighting systems, for example, use sensors and algorithms to adjust lighting levels based on the amount of natural light available.

Finally, sustainable materials and construction methods can be used to build grey infrastructure. This can significantly reduce infrastructure’s carbon footprint, as the bulk of its environmental impact is produced during its construction. By using materials made from recycled content, such as recycled steel or concrete, we reduce the environmental impact of construction. This could also be accomplished through smarter design techniques such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) to increase project efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and reduce waste during construction.

Where We Make An Impact

Today’s infrastructure can replace concrete and steel with wood and water. From effective stormwater management to built-in flexibility for the future, McClure’s green infrastructure ensures more livable, resilient communities.

WHERE WE MAKE AN IMPACT

Today’s infrastructure can replace concrete and steel with wood and water. From effective stormwater management to built-in flexibility for the future, McClure’s green infrastructure ensures more livable, resilient communities.