Green infrastructure is becoming prominent in today’s society. But, what happens when technology and laws prevent corporations from achieving this goal?

As our world shifts toward a more sustainable future, one crucial piece of this transition has been buildings. According to One Tree Planet Organization, green infrastructure uses innovative solutions to help manage water and use renewable energy sources. Green infrastructure also reduces buildings’ carbon footprint. This eco-friendly infrastructure can be seen in multiple ways in these buildings.

For example, as opposed to traditional gutters and pipes, green buildings use rainwater collection to use the water for future use. Other additions to green buildings include permeable pavement which prevents flooding and water pollution by absorbing rainwater. By combining features like these, buildings are able to recycle more natural materials and improve safety regarding environmental crises.

Many national organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommend green infrastructure. However, the Harvard Gazette reported that eco-friendly infrastructure requirements can often be costly and employ untested technology. Strict environmental regulations also add to the deterrent for creating green infrastructure.

One prime example of these issues is One Vanderbilt, which is a New York skyscraper that was unique for its environmentally friendly features. However, the New York Times communicated that there were technology struggles with its green heating system that eventually required retrofitting. One Vanderbilt not only encountered technology problems but also grappled with New York’s climate laws that restricted many parts of the building process.

On the other hand, experts believe that the benefits of green infrastructure outweigh the potential obstacles. Holly Samuelson, an Associate Professor of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, is one of these experts. Samuelson believes that Wwhile some technology is novel, sustainable technology has often been well-tested and is functional in many homes. Green buildings are also created with climate resilience in mind, which improves safety as more environmental issues cause destruction. Lastly, Utilities One found that green infrastructure absorbs carbon dioxide which reduces greenhouse gasses and helps reverse climate change.

In an interview with the Harvard Gazette, Samuelson explained the importance of organizations implementing green buildings if they have the time and resources.

“I think you make the best decisions possible with the information that’s available. No one has a crystal ball. That’s how Harvard as a university can help, because we’re able to look farther ahead than what design teams have the capability to spend time on right now, and we can say, ‘Here’s what we think is coming, and here’s what we think is going to be important if we look farther down the road.’ So, the best we can do is to arm decision-makers with the best information possible about the anticipated future,” Samuelson said.

In my opinion, I think that government incentives are a great option for green infrastructure. The Water Environment Federation’s Stormwater Report described five types of these incentives available in the United States: development incentives; grants; rebates and installation financing; awards and recognition programs; and stormwater fee discounts. These government incentives reward organizations for implementing green buildings and cover part of the cost to make this transition more accessible. A few examples of US incentive programs for green buildings are the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program and the Watershed & Flood Prevention Operations program.

Overall, green buildings can significantly contribute to decreased emissions while also having unique safety measures and recycling initiatives.