Green infrastructure makes dollars and sense!

• Increases property values  Homes with trees or those that are located on tree-lined streets have higher resale values.  A 2005 study by the University of Pennsylvania found that planting a tree within 50 feet of a house can increase its sale price by 10-15 percent.

• Benefits the local economy  People who shop in neighborhoods where there is more green space will pay 10 percent more compared to when shopping in areas without green space.

• Costs less than gray infrastructure  In contrast to gray infrastructure, green infrastructure costs significantly less to build and maintain because it is essentially mimicking natural habitat and doesn’t require energy to operate.

• Enhances a community’s livability  Improving parks and recreation areas and adding more green space to a community enhances quality of life for residents and attracts more visitors who contribute to the local economy.

Read about the US Forest Service scientist who’s calculating a monetary value to urban forests