Shanghai-UK Industrial Challenge programme Innovate UK

Project Description

Green Infrastructure Assets (GIAs) can often be perceived as an unnecessary cost, and something that must be done because of law or planning policy, however there are many business opportunities that GIAs can deliver in terms of cost, time savings, enhanced performance and overall market advantage. Failure to incorporate GIAs into planning, design, construction and operation can expose businesses to risks. Ultimately, the associated risks and benefits can result in financial gains and result in better environments for all stakeholders.

The project will provide the ability to measure and quantify further benefits of GIAs as well as the risks posed by spaces which are not developed with GIAs. Economic impact: the economic impacts of this project are potentially wide ranging and long-term. The main project output will be supported by the University's experts in the fields of urban forestry, building thermal performance, environmental modelling and data analytics. The software will in turn help reduce maintenance costs of green infrastructure assets and provide planners and building operators with data that can be used in life-cycle cost assessment and financial viability assessment. There are also implications for the health and well-being of citizens but these are difficult to quantify economically. The design guide produced by the Leeds Beckett researchers will also help investors to understand the design implications and therefore operating costs of buildings within urban heat islands and how green infrastructure can help to reduce these. There are also implications for power supply networks and energy flexibility in buildings. During the most intense heatwaves, which are exacerbated by urban heat island effects, the ability for a building to be flexible and shave peak loads will have potential economic benefits due to peak energy tariffs. This will become more prevalent as the mix in energy supply integrates more renewable technologies.

Environmental impact: there are multiple environmental benefits to promoting and supporting the introduction of green infrastructure within urban areas, especially those with excessive and disruptive urban heat island effects. Green infrastructure can help to mitigate the excessive temperatures associated with urban heat islands as well as reducing localized and global CO2 levels through their natural respiration processes and their capacity as carbon sinks. Green infrastructure also has the potential to help reduce the energy consumption of neighbouring buildings by helping to mitigate the extent of the urban heat island effects. In addition to the issues related to energy and emissions, it can also increase biodiversity within and around urban environments. As with the economic impacts, there are advantages to buildings being flexible in their energy demands, especially during peak demand times. The more flexible buildings become in their energy demands, the more renewable energy sources can be utilized in electricity grids at a local and national level. Social impact: the localized pollutant and temperature data for green infrastructure areas will be visualized for citizens, meaning they can access spaces with cooler temperatures and lower levels of pollution; this will be particularly effective during heatwaves and times when the urban heat island effects are at their greatest. This will have benefits not just to the wellbeing of citizens but also their health, especially for those with existing conditions who are vulnerable to high temperatures and air pollution. Green infrastructure helps to improve air quality and provide city residents and visitors with areas within which they can partially escape from the busy urban environments that surround them, helping to reduce stress and further support well being. These spaces also offer alternative areas for social activities to take place, supporting another aspect of human well-being.