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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters switch to permeable pavement, for every inch of rain that falls, we'll save enough runoff to water 4,050 lawns on a hot day.
COCKTAIL FACT
Atari produced millions of E.T. game cartridges, only to bury them under a bed of concrete in the NM desert when few sold.
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home › tip library › Eco Gardens and Homes - Permeable Pavement and Concrete
What's the earth under the concrete saying?
The Bite
"So, so... thirsty..." {insert raspy voice here} Choose cool-looking alt pavement, which lets rainwater drain into the earth like it's supposed to, instead of running off to storm sewers (picking up pollutants and causing erosion along the way).The Benefits
- Better for the earth. Paving stones, rather than laid concrete, let water drain naturally into the ground, reducing flood risks.
- Cleaner waterways. Water flowing to waterways picks up junk like motor oil as it goes (part of why about 40% of US lakes and rivers aren't safe for fishing or swimming).
- Some pavers are made from recycled materials and reflect light, so your pavement stays cool in the heat.
- Increase your home's value. Following this tip can help increase your home's green LEED credits.
Personally Speaking
Heather volunteered for Earth Pledge for a year, during which time she became way too familiar with the different permeable pavement options. As soon as she buys her own home it's gonna be salvaged cobblestones all the way.Wanna Try?
Locally sourced stone/reclaimed concrete pavers are best for the planet, requiring less transport energy to get to your yard. Prices depend on amount bought and region:- Gavin Historical Bricks - salvaged antique cobblestones and pavers - place them without concrete for best flow-through.
- Biopaver - great concrete alternative: interlocking pavers with room for plants to grow.
- NaturalPAVE XL - great-looking resin-based pavement.
- TerraPave - resin-based asphalt alternative, with a binder made from trees from sustainable forests.
- Earth911 - enter your zip to see where to recycle the concrete removed to put in new pavers (which helps decrease the need for gravel mining).
Mar 19,2007
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Paving the World
For the past few months, I've been looking to buy a house. Since I've never owned a home before, I find this whole thing terribly educational.
One of the things I learned is that apparently, here in the US if you CAN pave it in, you do. Nearly every place I have seen has lovely, small, backyard city yard... paved within an inch of it's sad, little backyard life.
Years ago, I volunteered at Earth Pledge - a nonprofit organization devoted to sustainability in New York City. One of their main initiatives focuses on green roofs (my personal obsession and the reason I got into sustainability in the first place) - the building of rooftop gardens directly on the rooftops of buildings in the city. Me? I loved the idea because greenroofs can lower the overall heat index of a city, reduce the need for air conditioning in the top floors of the buildings that have them, and provide city habitats for pollinators. Add to that the creation of ambient spaces in the middle of cities desperately in need of green areas, and greenroofs feel like a no-brainer to me.
But one of the main reasons cities need green roof initiatives is that they offset all of this pavement we seem to be so desperately attached to. We've paved our cities with such determination, our stormwater systems often can't handle the rains - forcing water that should be feeding plant life to flood our water systems, often to the point of sending sewage into our streams, rivers and bays.
Needless to say, the second I actually DO find a place to buy, I'm ripping up any concrete I find in any garden space. Permeable pavers and flow-through systems? Fine. But give me some dirt to dig in any day.
-Heather... off to continue my house hunt...
One of the things I learned is that apparently, here in the US if you CAN pave it in, you do. Nearly every place I have seen has lovely, small, backyard city yard... paved within an inch of it's sad, little backyard life.
Years ago, I volunteered at Earth Pledge - a nonprofit organization devoted to sustainability in New York City. One of their main initiatives focuses on green roofs (my personal obsession and the reason I got into sustainability in the first place) - the building of rooftop gardens directly on the rooftops of buildings in the city. Me? I loved the idea because greenroofs can lower the overall heat index of a city, reduce the need for air conditioning in the top floors of the buildings that have them, and provide city habitats for pollinators. Add to that the creation of ambient spaces in the middle of cities desperately in need of green areas, and greenroofs feel like a no-brainer to me.
But one of the main reasons cities need green roof initiatives is that they offset all of this pavement we seem to be so desperately attached to. We've paved our cities with such determination, our stormwater systems often can't handle the rains - forcing water that should be feeding plant life to flood our water systems, often to the point of sending sewage into our streams, rivers and bays.
Needless to say, the second I actually DO find a place to buy, I'm ripping up any concrete I find in any garden space. Permeable pavers and flow-through systems? Fine. But give me some dirt to dig in any day.
-Heather... off to continue my house hunt...
Biter Comments...
Somewhat unrelated to the tip, but when you are buying, make a list of the most important things for you, that the realtor can look at. Make sure that there is no homeowners association. Your neighbors may end up getting strange if you do too many "odd" environmental things.
I know I have a relatively new asphalt driveway, and have been considering tearing it out. I just hate to see all that tar/oil go into the dump, but having had gravel in the past, it works so much better.
The first thing I did when I moved into my beautiful neighborhood in Dallas was become a volunteer for my neighborhood association. They were eager for block captains to distribute newsletters once a month (good exercise!), educated me about using non-toxic fertilizers and planting indigenous plants, and organized a twice yearly neighborhood meeting and crime watch program. These folks are good people, dedicated to a strong, actively supportive neighborhood. When you become a homeowner, those are the people you want as neighbors.
I have a question about alternatives to pavement. Anybody have experience with snow plowing on these? I now have gravel, which I think is just fine, but the hubby hates it. Wants asphalt. Is there something prettier, more cost effective and plowable in the alternative paving world?
Laura D.-
Snow plowing should be fine with the pavement-type options in the tip. In fact, NaturalPAVE and TerraPave are often used for driveways/small streets that would require snow plowing in places where there's snowfall in the winter.
http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/ear_to_the_pavement_garden_week/
Hi, just wanted to let you know that I mentioned you on my blog today. Hope you get some signups from it!
www.casapinka.typepad.org
A great tip (water permeable concrete, pavers etc.)- and a very needed tip applicable to so many homes and communities. The concrete jungle also can act as a retainer of heat and helps keep cities hot just when the weather is the hottest. Utilizing the materials identified in the Tip will help reduce this heat sink effect too besides help recharge the groundwater.
I have recently moved into an old home in south-central Oregon complete with charm yet also a small concrete area out the back door. My drive is gravel but I a can experience run-off issues from the completely paved adjoining drive of my north neighbor. As for my patio, I look forward to using the sledgehammer or renting the jack hammer later this year and relish the task of deciding what form of water permeable surface will go best with my evolving yard and house re-design. It will certainly add value to my home too!
I am also talking to my south neighbor about permeable options to impervious paving that she has suggested along our property boundary. So far she is interested... I will keep up the eco-evangelism!! Thanks for the tips -
Pavers can percolate up to 50% when installed properly, More info can be found at http://www.ICPI.org and http://www.Modernapavers.com
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: AG | March 19, 2007 at 01:46 AM