From cleaner air and cooler temperatures to enhanced social connections and improved mental health, healthy green spaces deliver a wealth of benefits to individuals and communities. Read on to discover just a few of these vital advantages.
Lawns are responsible for 81-90% of the carbon captured in a suburban yard. (1) The greatest carbon sequestration rates occur during the first 25-30 years the turfgrass is planted. (2)
Trees, shrubs, and grass cool down surrounding areas, reducing the urban heat island effect. Roughly 50 percent of the heat striking a turf area is eliminated by transpiration. When the temperature of the sidewalk is 100°F, the temperature of the adjacent turf remains near 75°F. (3)
A well-designed landscape can reduce energy consumption by up to 25%, providing cooling in the summer by releasing water vapor like a natural air-conditioner and offering shade. In the winter, trees and hedges provide windbreaks and save energy. (4)
One 5,000 square-foot grass lawn can produce enough oxygen daily to support 14 to 24 people. (1) The estimated total annual air pollution removal by urban trees across 55 U.S. cities is 711,000 metric tons, representing $3.8 billion in public value. (5)
Lawns are incredibly important in rainwater drainage. In vegetation-free cities, roughly 60% of rainwater becomes surface runoff, which can contribute to erosion and pollute water. In cities with lawns, only 5-15% of rainwater becomes surface runoff, with the rest evaporating or being absorbed into the ground to be used by vegetation. (6)
Research has found that city residents who live adjacent to green space have lower levels of illness and disease than those of similar income levels. (8) Individuals experience a restorative experience and lower stress levels with greater duration and frequency of visits to green spaces. (9)
Landscaping yields, on average, a 109% return on every dollar spent, much more so than other home improvements.
The Healthy Green Spaces Coalition is powered by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.