We came across a planning concept showcasing Japanese streets completely paved in grass. While we can’t find any information about the idea or creators (all copy is in Japanese), the carefully composed images are quite interesting, albeit practically impossible to sustain and the concept completely feasible. [thanks for the correction, HR!]
With the entire first world riding this eco-friendly-plant-green-everywhere wave, how could this possibly affect the locales of which mega-cities get fresh water? An initiative like New York City’s MillionTreesNYC is substantially beautifying the city and creating clean air and cool shade, but could it possibly be taxing our limited water-supply negatively?
Guess it all depends on how much it rains.
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“albeit practically impossible.”
Says who?
February 19th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
The correction has been made!
http://www.paversearch.com/grass-pavers-introduction.htm
Thanks!
February 19th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I suppose the trees/grasses will slow down any rainwater runoff, keeping more water in the local area instead of dumping it into the nearest river
February 20th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Yes part of the idea is that trees stop evaporation, overheating and runoff (thereby conserving water).
February 20th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
So funny to see this when I live in a city at stage 4 water shortage, our dams are shrinking, rivers are drying up, parks and reserves are dry, brown or plain and simple bare dirt. Maintaining a front lawn to keep up with the joneses has become such a low-minus priority…. people just don’t water front lawns anymore.
Melbournians are adapting to a world where water is a seriously limited resource, and we’re changing habits to conserve what we’ve got… showers are kept to under 4mins, people drive around in dirty cars, oh, some may have noticed…. a large portion of the state has burned away.
Maintain picture perfect lawns for streets ?? has me wonder what planet this city would be on.
February 21st, 2009 at 6:57 pm