Why Choose Green?
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Improved storm water management and less soil loss to erosion
Stormwater management and flooding are growing problems as more open land is lost to development. Uncontrolled rain-water runoff carries pollutants into our streams and rivers, killing aquatic life and polluting our drinking water supply. Particularly problematic in St. Louis is the combined stormwater-sanitary sewer system that conveys rain water to the wastewater treatment plants. During a heavy rainfall, the wastewater treatment plants often get overwhelmed; discharging untreated sewage into our rivers.
Topsoil is a valuable commodity without which life as we know it on earth would not be possible. Erosion carries soil to rivers and ultimately to the ocean, where it then is lost from land forever. Nature seeks to level all lands (through erosion), and uncontrolled construction activities accelerate that action.
One of the key elements of green buildings is better management of erosion and rainfall runoff, including the removal of pollutants. Effective green building projects control the quantity and quality of runoff, and reduce soil erosion, through a variety of innovative and imaginative measures. This benefits everyone in the community.
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