how do we measure the benefits of green infrastructure?

Measuring the Benefits of Green InfrastructureUsing a Systems Approach

Parkway Infiltration Swale11th St & Hope St – Los Angeles

October 16, 2012

Adel Hagekhalil, P.E., BCEEWing Tam, P.E.

Dan Rodrigo

Purpose of Side Bar&

Introduction to Green Infrastructure Benefits

As urban communities consider green infrastructure as an option to meeting regulatory requirements and environmental goals, it is important to fully measure all of the potential benefits using triple-bottom-line.Urban communities are systems of many systems (water, energy, transportation, environment), which are all interconnected. Using a systems approach, all of the benefits of green infrastructure can be measured more accurately,which will help foster greater partnerships and increase funding opportunities!

Purpose of Side Bar

Institutional MeasuresPublic OutreachPublic Education

Municipal OrdinancesGreen Building OrdinanceLow Impact Development (LID) Ordinance

Local (on-site) ProjectsRain BarrelsBioswales

Regional ProjectsWetland ParksGreen StreetsRegional GW Recharge

Integrated

Water Resources Approach

Institutional

Measures

Local (on-site)

Measures

Regional Measures

Ordinances

Multi-Faceted Approach is Key!

Green Infrastructure Takes Many Forms

Green Infrastructure Has Multiple BenefitsExamples Benefits

Improved water qualityLocal water supplyLocal flood controlEnergy reductionGHG reductionIncreased open spaceIncreased recreationIncreased/improved habitatsDeferment of grey infrastructureGreen jobsPublic education

Bioswales

Cisterns/Rain Barrels

Green Roofs

Constructed Wetlands

Green Streets

Regional GW recharge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:20080708_Chicago_City_Hall_Green_Roof.JPG

Systems Approach to Measuring Green Infrastructure

What is Systems Thinking?Systems thinking is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole.

Systems thinking illustrates that events are separated spatially and temporally; and can demonstrate that an improvement in one area of a system can impact another area.

Systems thinking promotes communication and understanding at all levels so that silo approaches to solving problems are avoided.

Systems thinking may be used to study any kind of system — natural, engineered, human, conceptual, or combinations of systems.

Simple System for Water

Demands• Indoor Potable• Indoor Non-potable• Cooling• Irrigation

Discharge

Rain Capture

Treatment

TreatmentPumping Storage

Pumping Storage

Storage

Rooftop Runoff

Municipal WTP

Municipal WWTP

Pumping

Municipal Supply

Greywater

Recycled Water

Rainwater

Losses ConsumptionGroundwater

Rainwater

infiltration

Why Do We Need an Urban Systems Model?Complexity of Urban SustainabilityReduce Energy

Footprint

Reduce Water Footprint

Zero Waste

Carbon Neutral City

Overall: Achieve Urban Sustainability

Gre

enho

use

Gas

es

Fina

ncia

l Ana

lysi

s

Reso

urce

Util

izatio

nAnaly

tical

Laye

rs

CDM Smith’s Urban Systems Model

Water

Energy

Ecosystems

Buildings

Transportation

Solid Waste

Syst

em M

ap

Activities

UrbanSectorsSimulation Model

Urban Form

Infrastructure/Facilities

Green Technology

Model Components and Relationships


Model Simulates:• Rainfall rates, infiltration and hydrology• Water and wastewater demands, flows through treatment and

distribution and system storage• Stormwater system flows• Transportation demands• Solid waste production• Energy demand and energy sources• Receiving water quality• Impacts to ecosystem habitats


Model Tracks Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)• Total lifecycle costs of alternatives such as gray and green

infrastructure• TMDLs and other water quality metrics• Water shortages/surpluses• Greenhouse gas emissions• Resiliency to extreme climate events• Groundwater storage• Solid waste production and reuse• Renewable energy production• Heat island effects

Library of Building Types

Buildings Sector: ‘Building Types’ and ‘Building Groupings’

Building Types:Building types are pre-

defined as appropriate to local project. Each will

include parameters relevant to resource calculations and

energy modeling.

Occupancy Area per person

Building usage Gender ratio

Daily patterns

Resources (unit) Energy demand Water demand

Waste generated

Location Information Elevation

N-S, E-W location Orientation

Energy zone

Building Geometry Shape Footprint, roof area(s) Number stories Height

Envelope Construction Material Glazing Insulation

Roof Construction MaterialColor/Reflectivity Insulation

Building Groupings:Building groupings will be specified spatially and then described by their percent composition of local, ‘generic’ building types.

Urban FormTotal AreaLocationElevation

CompositionPercent makeup, each building type

Infrastructure

Water Sector

Legend

Centralized

Decentralized

MunicipalWater Treatment

Plant

MunicipalWater Recycling

Plant

All Sectors Included

• Stormwater

• Energy

• Solid Waste

• Transportation

• Ecosystem

Water Sector Technologies

• Rain Harvesting

• Green Roofs

• Rain Gardens

• Bioswales and Bio-Retention

• Graywater

• Recycled Water

• Conservation

• Desalination

• Groundwater

Features of the Urban Systems Model

Water Sector

GHG

Onsite WaterReuse

Irrigation Reuse

Indoor BuildingReuse (graywater)

Used Water

Rain

Rooftop Rain Capture& Storage

System Supplies - Potable - New Water

Onsite Stormwater Management

GHG Layer

• Detailed GHG Accounting• Custom User-Input and Setup• Flexible Pivot-Chart Output• Linked to GIS Mapping

Other Sectors/Layers• All Sectors Report Emissions• Include Cost of Carbon

Contents of Urban Systems Model

Greenhouse Gas Layer

Vehicles

Process(landfill, incineration)

Power Plant Emissions

Energy Use

Refrigerants

Atmosphere Emissions

C02 Sequestered

Energy Use

Energy Use

Energy Use

Wastewater Emissions

Water

Ecosystems

Energy

Buildings

Transportation

Solid Waste

Qua

lity

of

Life

Energy ProducedRoof Area for Rain Capture

Ene

rgy

Dem

and

Waste Generated

Water Demand, Wastewater Generated

Urb

an H

eat I

slan

dT

empe

ratu

re

Shading

Urban Heat IslandIndex

Quality of Life

Eco Index

Wat

er A

ttenu

atio

n

Air Emissions

Tot

al E

nerg

y U

se

Em

issi

ons

GH

G

Red

uced

Dem

and

Rel

iabi

lity

Grid

Req

uire

men

t

Ren

ewab

le E

nerg

y

Pea

k P

ower

Sha

ved

Water Demand(cooling)

Air EmissionsGHG

Eco Intrusion Index

Fuel Demand

Veh

icle

Mile

s, H

ours

Tra

vele

d

Qua

lity

of L

ife

Pro

xim

ity M

etric

s

Impervious Surface, Runoff

Electric VehicleDemand

Air Emissions

Mat

eria

l Fat

e

Tra

nspo

rtat

ion

Dem

and

Energy Generated(Waste to Energy)

Energy Demand

Water Demand, Wastewater Generation

Wat

er A

vaila

ble

Rel

iabi

lity

Dem

and

Red

uctio

n

Ons

ite C

aptu

rean

d R

euse

Flo

od M

itiga

tion

Energy Demand(process)

Pol

lutio

n

Bicycle

Auto

Bus

Light Rail

Transport Modes

TransportationDemand

Origin/Destination

Population

Trips

Built Areas

Natural Area

Surface Water Area

Open Area

Infrastructure

Area Summary

Inp

uts

- R

ain

Ser

ies

- E

T S

erie

s-

Dem

and

Fac

tors

Inp

uts

- S

olar

Ser

ies

- W

ind

Ser

ies

- D

eman

d F

acto

rs-

Grid

Typ

e

Inp

uts

- M

odes

- N

etw

ork

Des

crip

tion

- V

ehic

le ty

pes

- T

rips/

dest

inat

ions

Inp

uts

- R

outin

g op

tions

Inp

uts

- B

uild

ing

desi

gn-

Site

layo

ut-

Urb

an d

esig

n-

Pop

ulat

ion

- B

uild

ing

usag

e-

Per

cap

ita d

eman

ds

Inp

uts

- C

limat

e-

Top

ogra

phy

- W

ater

shed

and

b

io c

hara

cter

istic

s

Water Sector

Energy Demand

Demands• Indoor Potable• Indoor Nonpotable• Cooling• Irrigation

Discharge

Rain Capture

Treatment

TreatmentPumping Storage

Pumping Storage

StorageRooftop Runoff

Municipal WTP

Municipal WWTP

Pumping

Municipal Supply

Greywater

Recycled Water

Rainwater

Losses Consumption Electric Power Demands

Solar EvaporativeCooling

Ground SourceHeat Pump

RainwaterCooling Exchange

Surface WaterCooling Exchange

SolarHeat Exchange

SewerHeat Exchange

Waste-to Energy

Building Solar PV

Building Hydro Power

Fuel Cells

Grid Power

Site Wind

Site/City Solar PV

Biogas (WW)

Electricity

OtherSector

Demands

AirCooling

Lighting

WaterHeating Water

PumpsPlug

Loads

Co-G

ener

ation

FuelDemand

WaterSector

Energy Sector

Solid WasteGeneration

Height

AmbientTemperature

BuildingOrientation

Angle ofSunlight

Area

TreeShading

Landfill

Process Process Process

Waste-to-EnergyRecycleCompost

WaterSector

EnergySector

WasteGeneration

Biogas Energy

Greenhouse Gas Layer

Applying the Urban Systems Model

Envision and draw urban plans to ‘feed’ into model

Urban Plan “Maps”

Out

put M

etric

Decision Variable

Alternative C

Alternative A

Alternative B

Target

Output, Analytics, and Decisions

Dynamic, integrated simulation in Urban Systems Model

Model Input Application

GIS Application

Systems Dynamics Simulator

Output Tools

Urban Planners, Facility Designers, and Architects

Staff from Public Agencies / Developers

Community Interests and Individuals

Public Agency / Utility Managers

Iterative Input and Feedback in Design and Planning Process

Output from EPA Total Water Management Study (Using Los Angeles as Case Study)

Performance MeasureBaseline

(Status Quo)Integrated

Alt 1Integrated

Alt 2

Water Demand in 2030 (acre-feet/year) 680 585 635

Maximum Supply Deficit During a Drought (mgd)

70 0 11

Average Use of Imported Water (mgd) 121 29 56

Additional Groundwater Storage in 2030 (million gallons)

0 147 174

Zinc Loading at Downstream End of Los Angeles River (kg/year)

26,569 23,788 22,089

Cumulative CO2 Emissions (million metric tons)

26.1 22.6 24.2

Average Monthly Wastewater Flows into Hyperion Plant (mgd)

375 270 335

Present Value Cost ($ billions) $6.7 $5.7 $6.4

Measurement of Green Infrastructure Leads to Partnerships

and Expanded Funding

25 25

Before AfterConstruction

Community Partnership

Elmer Avenue Green Street

Multiple Sources of Funding:• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation $0.33 M• State Water Resources $0.86 M• City LA Sanitation $0.08 M• City LA Stormwater $0.30 M• Local Water Agencies $0.81 M

(LA Water & Power, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, City of Santa Monica)

• LA Street Services Doing Construction

Many Project Supporters:• Council for Water Health (NGO)• Tree People (NGO)• Urban Semillas (NGO)• Local Neighborhood Council• Area Residents & Businesses

Leveraging Funding Resources

Elmer Avenue Green Street

27 27

Community Opening

After

During Construction

Garvanza Rainwater Park

Multiple Sources of Funding:• State Water Resources $1.00 M• City LA Sanitation (SEP) $2.55 M• City LA Stormwater $0.10 M• LA Water & Power $0.24 M

Many Project Supporters:• USEPA• Los Angeles Regional Water Quality

Control Board• North East Trees (NGO)• Local Neighborhood Schools• Local Neighborhood Council• Area Residents & Businesses


Garvanza Rainwater Park

29

Before After

Community Opening

South Los Angeles Wetlands Park

Means Multiple Sources of Funding:• U.S. EPA Brownfield$ 0.20 M• State Water Resources $ 6.60 M• Metropolitan Transportation Agency $ 0.97 M• City LA Sanitation (SEP) $ 3.74 M• City LA Clean Water Bond $13.36 M• City LA Park Bond $ 1.50 M

And Many Project Supporters:• USEPA• Los Angeles Regional Water Quality

Control Board • Local Neighborhood Schools• Local Neighborhood Council• Area Residents & Businesses


South Los Angeles Wetlands Park

ConclusionsGreen infrastructure has multiple benefitsIt is part of an integrated water resources solution and urban sustainabilityA systems approach can help measure the benefits more accuratelyThis leads to increased partnerships and expanded funding

For more information, contact:Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation:

Adel Hagekhalil, Assistant [email protected]

Wing Tam, Assistant Division ManagerWatershed [email protected]

CDM Smith:Dan Rodrigo, Vice PresidentWater Resources Practice [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



how do we measure the benefits of green infrastructure?

Documents

hydrology water

water quality impacts

systems thinking

local project

combinations of systems

energy sources

energy modeling

model components