New York, New York: Living Breakwaters

Posted on November 13, 2018 by jehollow

City: New York
Country / US State / US Territory: New York
Type of Solution: Seawalls and Living Shorelines
Climate Impact: Seal Level Rise; Hurricanes and Storm Surge; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding
Social Value Created: Educational and Career Development Opportunities; Active Living and Recreation; Community Engagement; Social Cohesion; Arts and Culture
Cost: $60 million
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Rebuild by Design competition

Living Breakwaters is a project aimed at helping to reduce wave energy, lowering flooding risks during extreme storm events. The project was developed by SCAPE landscape Architecture for the Rebuild Design Competition, a competition held by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve coastal resilience in response to Hurricane Sandy.

The Living Breakwaters approach uses structures to restore and enhance marine habitats, as well as improve biodiversity. Structures include reef ridges, reef streets, crenulated crests, and bio-enhancing concrete. This habitat mimics historic oyster reefs, which helps to restore the oyster population.

Additionally, the project co-creates social value. The project will help to prevent beach erosion and protect property values. The project also will improves access to the shoreline an recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing.

Also, an on-land Water Hub will be constructed on shore for visitoring groups, recreation, and educational programs. The Harbor School and Billion Oyster Project will create educational opportunities for local schools to learn about ecological stewardship and how they can help to protect Staten Island’s coastline. Implementation of the project also provides educational opportunities for research and skill development through project monitoring.

Fig: Graphic showing the project design and connection between risk reduction, ecology, and culture (Image retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters)

Fig: Graphic showing more specifics about the project’s landscape architecture design (Image retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters)

Fig: Rendering of the Living Breakwaters project featuring contributions to social resilience (Image retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters)

Sources

Atlas. (n.d.). Creating protective infrastructure to reduce coastal risk, enhance aquatic habitat, and foster social resilience. Retrieved from https://www.the-atlas.com/project?id=374#.

New York State. (n.d.). Learn more about the Living Breakwaters project. Retrieved from https://stormrecovery.ny.gov/learn-more-about-living-breakwaters-project.

Rebuild by Design. (n.d.). Living Breakwaters. Retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters.

Washington, D.C.: Smart Roof Program

Posted on November 7, 2018 by jehollow

City: Washington
Country / US State / US Territory: D.C.
Type of Solution: Roof
Climate Impact: Extreme Temperatures and Urban Heat Island Effect
Social Value Created: Educational and Career Development Opportunities; Employment Opportunities; Public Health and Safety

Washington, D.C. has a Smart Roof Program that was implemented to counteract the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The program integrated roof asset and energy management projects to retrofit roofs of 435 buildings, totalling 321 acres of roof area, including schools, police stations, fire stations, park and recreation centers, and office buildings.

Program objectives include energy conservation, stormwater management, heat reflection, solar energy production, carbon management, and leading through use of best practices and community involvement. The Washington, D.C. Department of General Services is projected to save $33 million over 20 years and will result in a reduction of 20,000 metric tons of CO2e annually. Additionally, the project addressed safety issues of the aging roofs.

The program focused on two types of roofs: vegetative (green) roofs and cool roofs. Vegetative roofs are used to teach students about botany, and solar PV installations on cool roofs are used as vocational education for students on renewable energy technologies through the DC Greenworks apprenticeship program. Projects were also used to support job creation and training in the local community.

Sources:
Bluefin. (n.d.). Success stories: SmartRoof Program makes Washington DC one of the greenest cities in America. Retrieved from http://www.bluefinllc.com/success-stories/smartroof-program-makes-washington-dc-one-of-the-greenest-city-in-america/.

Rast, Richard. (October, 2013). Washington D.C. Smart Roof Program. Bluefin.

The Adaptation Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Washington D.C. smart roof – roof asset and energy management program. Retrieved from http://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/washington-d-c-smart-roof-roof-asset-and-energy-management-program.html.

Baltimore, Maryland: Growing Green Initiative

Posted on November 6, 2018 by jehollow

City: Baltimore
Country / US State / US Territory: Maryland
Type of Solution: Green Infrastructure
Climate Impact: Extreme Temperatures and Urban Heat Island Effect; Air Quality; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding
Social Value Created: Social Cohesion; Educational and Career Development Opportunities; Food Security and Nutrition; Water Quality; Community Engagement; Arts and Culture

The City of Baltimore launched its Growing Green Initiative (GGI) in 2014. The program works to repurpose vacant lots into community assets, such as green infrastructure, community gardens and urban farms, recreational space, and open space for community gatherings. Residents have the ability to adopt a lot. Thus far, the city has successfully repurposed nearly 800 vacant lots.

Green infrastructure helps to manage stormwater by increasing the amount of pervious surfaces for on-site water treatment, reducing flooding and thereby improving community health and safety. Lots are also used to increase the tree canopy and increase the urban forest, helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and act as a buffer along railways and highways.

Some lots have been converted into community gardens and urban farms to help combat Baltimore’s food deserts, improving food security and nutrition, as well as increase social cohesion. Other lots have been converted into community gathering spaces and play spaces, improving social cohesion and increasing physical activity of children, improving children’s health.

One vacant lot was transformed into a sculpture park on Homestead Street in East Baltimore, contributing to the community’s arts and culture. Employment and job training opportunities are also created by this program for landscape maintenance and planting, stormwater facility development, urban farming, and food systems.

In 2016, the City of Baltimore partnered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Chesapeake Bay Trust to hold a competition, the Growing Green Design Competition: Vacant Lots Transformed. The competition engaged community groups, design firms, non-profit, and private partners to develop ideas for transforming vacant lots. Seven projects were awarded $300,000 to design and construct their ideas.

Fig: Guide for repurposing vacant lots in Baltimore, Maryland (Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Green_Pattern_Book.pdf).

Fig: Urban agriculture on a vacant lot (Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/projects/baltimore-green-network/)

Fig: Sculpture park on a former vacant lot on Homestead Street in East Baltimore (Retrieved from https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/2017/6/20/vacant-lot-transforms-into-sculpture-park-in-east-baltimore).

Sources:
Dillin, A. L. (June 20, 2017). Vacant lot transforms into sculpture park in East Baltimore. Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/2017/6/20/vacant-lot-transforms-into-sculpture-park-in-east-baltimore.

The Climate Adaptation Clearinghouse. (May, 2014). Baltimore, Maryland Growing Green Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/baltimore-maryland-growing-green-initiative.html.

United States Forest Service. (2015). Green pattern book: using vacant land to create greener neighborhoods in Baltimore. Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Green_Pattern_Book.pdf.