Green Infrastructure & Green Jobs for the 21 st Century. Paul D. Schwartz February 25,

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1 Green Infrastructure & Green Jobs for the 21 st Century Paul D. Schwartz February 25,

2 A New Water Infrastructure Paradigm Sustainable water systems in the future will use, treat, store, and reuse water efficiently at a small scale and will blend designs into restorative water hydrologies.

3 The traditional infrastructure paradigm The traditional model of centralized, big-pipe infrastructure relies on an industrial model of specialization and economies of scale This approach is wasteful, environmentally disruptive, and ultimately not sustainable as populations increase and more and more land is developed over time Climate change-related extremes of heavy storms and droughts will place even greater stresses

4 Original Green Infrastructure

5 The new paradigm that works with and mimics nature Nature Recycles everything Banks on diversity Rewards cooperation Creates beauty and abundance and no waste Uses only the energy it needs Rebuilds from disturbances Can collapse from extreme stress

6 Environmental Benefits of Green Infrastructure Filters polluted stormwater Recharges groundwater Reduces heat island effect Improves air quality Provides wildlife habitat and recreational space Protects stream banks Conserves energy Conserves water Prevents flooding Captures carbon Reduces greenhouse gas pollutants Improves urban aesthetics Reduces sewer overflows

7 Global Warming Benefits of Green Infrastructure Vegetation captures runoff reducing overflows, pollution, treatment costs Infiltration enhances depleted water supplies, saving energy and GHG emissions as well as water Trees provide shade, cool the air by evapotranspiration and capture carbon Wetlands capture floodwaters, purify water, reduce storm surges Green roofs/vegetation reduces urban heat island and insulates buildings Stabilized stream hydrology better withstands changes in volume and timing of flows

8 Economic Benefits: Homeowner Reduced maintenance costs Increased property value Enhanced aesthetics Greater sense of community Lowered water bills Savings

9 Health and Safety Benefits Studies show green infrastructure Hastens surgery recovery, decreases sick rates, reduces stress Enhances cognitive functioning: school performance, worker productivity, creativity Open space, walkable neighborhoods encourage physical activity, increasing fitness and weight loss

10 Economic Benefits: Community Savings Land Water Community Infrastructure Reduced long-term infrastructure costs Avoided centralized storage and treatment costs Avoided stream restoration and drinking water filtration costs Leverage private investment More tax revenue from enhanced properties Fewer crimes/less violence

11 Economic Benefits: Job Creation Creates new jobs for architects, designers, engineers, construction workers, maintenance workers, landscapers, nurseries, etc. Approximately 5 jobs would be created for every 100,0000 square feet of green roof installed in D.C. 1,700 jobs per year for ten years just to install green roofs in D.C. TreePeople projects creation of 50,000 new jobs from LA s citywide green infrastructure initiative.

12 Green Jobs

13 Job Opportunities for the Green Economy A groundbreaking report, Job Opportunities for the Green Economy, takes a state-by-state look at existing jobs skills across a wide range of occupations and income levels that would benefit from America s transition towards a clean energy economy. The report quantifies the number of workers who can apply their skills to six categories of green industries building retrofitting, mass transit, fuel efficient automobiles, wind power, solar power, and cellulosic biomass fuels. Robert Pollin and Jeanette Wicks-Lim Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst

14 Models for Green Jobs In New York, Sustainable South Bronx runs a program that teaches participants how to install green roofs, clean toxic spills and restore rivers. Of the 128 lowincome workers who have completed the program, 85 percent currently have jobs. In California, Women s Action to Gain Economic Security has helped low-income immigrant women build four successful green housecleaning cooperatives that employ hundreds. And in Chicago, Growing Home has trained 100 formerly incarcerated, homeless or addicted individuals in organic farming. Sixty-five program graduates are now employed, and 90 have found permanent housing. In 2008, similar training programs opened in Los Angeles, Newark and Oakland. Obama has also pledged to expand federal job-training programs to include green skills.

15 Research and Development Jobs Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes significant investments in a wide array of research and development activities through a number of different federal agencies. The Act designates a total of over $1 billion toward the construction of new laboratories and other research facilities, which will create new jobs for technicians and advanced researchers. It also provides support for a wide array of research priorities. The Department of Energy receives support for research into the physical sciences, including funds to the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA- E) to support innovative high-risk, research of energy efficiency and alternative energy sources.

16 More R & D Jobs The US Geological Survey, NOAA, and NASA all receive funding for scientific research on climate change and its impacts on the environment. The National Institute of Standards and Technology receives support for coordinating research around green building standards, smart grid, and other technologies.