• Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
Benefits of Green Spaces in Urban Areas
August 25, 2017

green_urban

A major concern in urban planning is the challenge of creating efficient urban settings that are designed to enhance life, increase well-being, and reduce symptoms associated with overcrowding. Modern urban planning should not only focus on the improvement of how a city works, but also how the structure and design of the city affects the population. With more than half of the world’s population now living in cities, and populations expected to double in major cities over the next couple of decades, it is paramount that creating green space be a significant focus in terms of sustainable design.

Open spaces or green spaces are areas within a city that have been designed with natural elements in mind, meaning the planting of trees, native flora, and grass. These can be along sidewalks or within plazas as well as be actual parks and resting areas. While at first glance these designs may seem purely aesthetic there are actually a number of different benefits associated with increased green spaces in urban settings.

Here are just a few ways green spaces benefit cities, both from an environmental and human standpoint.

  • Rooftop Green Spaces Reduce Urban Heat Island Effect

The urban heat island effect is a term used to describe the hotter temperatures found in cities compared to rural areas within the same region. Human activities increase the temperature within cities, and with a reduction in greenery there is little natural cooling. An excellent way to combat this is to turn rooftops into green spaces or green/living roofs. Planted roofs are exceptionally effective at reducing environmental heat as well as provide greater energy-efficiency within the building itself.

  • Greater Energy Conservation

Not only does an increase in green space directly affect the building it surrounds or is on (in the case of green roofs), but they also contribute to energy conservation to the city as whole. By reducing temperatures naturally and helping to bring down air temperature, buildings’ HVAC systems can run at a slightly lower power. This is especially true for residential neighborhoods which may see up to a 4% increase in AC efficiency when trees are properly planted to block sunlight in the hottest parts of the day.

  • Natural Reduction in Noise Pollution

Noise pollution in the form of nearby industrial buildings or busy roads and highways can naturally be buffered by green spaces. Strategic planting of shrubs and trees are a way to not only enhance the surrounding areas but also help protect people from unpleasant, disruptive noise.

Enclosed green spaces may not actually be such a bad idea, especially for green spaces around office buildings where the area functions as a place for employees to relax. Noise pollution in densely populated areas within a city can be quieted by the use of insulated concrete walls surrounding green spaces, even if only as a single wall barrier alongside a busy highway adjacent to the space.

  • Improved Air Quality

Air pollution is a serious issue in many big cities that are densely populated. It is fairly common knowledge that plants clean the air, a primary reason why so many homeowners enjoy their houseplants. On a larger scale, green spaces with trees and shrubs are an ideal way of naturally cleansing the air. One tree can remove about 26lbs of carbon dioxide from the air every year.

  • Erosion and Runoff Control

Water and wind erosion cause sediment to seep into bodies of water, storm drains, and roads. When erosion occurs in an urban setting it can easily lead to flooding, mudslides, and dust storms. A densely planted green space is the natural way of reducing erosion. A well-planted green space will also help prevent nutrient loss in the soil, which can still occur in poorly planted spaces.

  • Promotes a More Active Lifestyle

Numerous studies have concluded that access to more green space also increases the population’s activity level. A major factor in the struggle of obesity is regular exercise, a problem only made worse within cities with little access to parks and similar open spaces. Simple observational research shows people living in greener areas are more active. This is especially true for children, as majority of the physical activity in childhood outside of the school playground is in parks.

  • Effectively Helps Prevent Disease and Ease Mental Illness Symptoms

Not only does being in a green space help with the healing process, both physically and mentally, but it also works towards preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It comes as no surprise that more and more hospitals and similar healthcare buildings are creating “healing gardens”, green spaces where patients can visit and relax. Green spaces also help with mental conditions like ADHD (particularly in children) as well as insomnia, depression, anxiety, and chronic stress.

There are a plethora of different benefits associated with adding more greenery to cities. As the concern over climate change and human adaption to these changes continues, the practice of bringing more of nature back into our urban areas will skyrocket.

Share

Green Tips

John Tarantino
My name is John Tarantino … and no, I am not related to Quinton Tarantino the movie director. I love writing about the environment, traveling, and capturing the world with my Lens as an amateur photographer.

Leave a reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Recent Posts

    • The Environmental Impact Of Biomedical Waste And How To Reduce It
    • What Are the Most Eco-Friendly Types of Water Filters?
    • The Top 7 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Cabinet Picks For 2023
    • How To Sustain A Carbon-Neutral Lifestyle
    • Sustainable Fishing Methods to Fish More Responsibly
  • Categories

    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Environmental Policy
    • Green Food
    • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
    • Green Travel
    • Infographics
    • Other Stories
    • Pollution
    • Recycle
    • Sustainability
    • Toxics
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2011



Home | About | Advertise With Us | Bike The Netherlands | Current Environmental Issues | Eco Editorial | Contact