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Surveys in cities across the U.S. indicate that consumers are willing to spend 9% to 12% more for goods and services in central business districts with high quality tree canopy.

Wolf, Kathleen L. (2005). Business district streetscapes, trees, and consumer response. Journal of Forestry 103(8): 396-400.

The monetary benefits of urban trees outweigh their maintenance and other associated costs. In a study of five U.S. cities, each dollar invested in urban trees returned between $1.37 and $3.09 in benefits. Benefits...

McPherson, Greg, James R. Simpson, Paula J. Peper, Scott E. Maco, and Qingfu Xiao. (2005). Municipal forest benefits and costs in five U.S. cities. Journal of Forestry 103(8), 411-416.

A Modesto, California study found that asphalt on streets shaded by large canopy trees lasts longer than asphalt on unshaded streets, reducing maintenance costs by 60% over 30 years.

McPherson, E. Gregory, and Jules Muchnick. Effects of Street Tree Shade on Asphalt Concrete Pavement Performance. Journal of Arboriculture 31, no. 6 (2005): 303-310.

Parks and open space contribute to increasing nearby property values. This review of numerous studies indicates that a 20% increase is a reasonable estimate, though the impact varies with park size, use, and design.

Crompton, John L. (2005). The impact of parks on property values: Empirical evidence from the past two decades in the United States. Managing Leisure, 10, 203-218.

Monitoring of side-by-side roof systems in Toronto, Canada, measured a conventional black roof membrane at 66°C (151°F) on a typical summer day, while green roof membrane temperatures peaked at 36-38°C (97-100°F)...

Liu, Karen K.Y., and Bas Baskaran. (2005). Thermal performance of extensive green roofs in cold climates. National Research Council Canada: Institute for Research in Construction, NRCC-4820.

While the prevailing assumption is that "livable" street treatments such as street trees, on-street parking, narrower lanes, and adjacent roadside development have a negative impact on transportation safety...

Dumbaugh, Eric. (2005). Safe Streets, Livable Streets. Journal of the American Planning Association 71(3), 283-300.

In Austin, Texas, the increase in the value of homes adjacent to a greenway in three studied neighborhoods adds up to an estimated $27.28 million. The actual economic value of the greenway is likely much higher, as...

Nicholls, Sarah, and John L. Crompton. (2005). The impact of greenways on property values: Evidence from Austin, Texas. Journal of Leisure Research, 37, 321-341.

A Michigan State University study used test platforms with three different roof surface treatments to quantify differences in stormwater retention over a 14-month period with 83 measured rain events. The typical...

VanWoert, Nicholaus D., D. Bradley Rowe, Jeffrey A. Andresen, Clayton L. Rugh, R. Thomas Fernandez, and Lan Xiao. (2005). Green Roof Stormwater Retention: Effects of Roof Surface, Slope, and Media Depth. Journal of Environmental Quality, 34(3), 1036-1044.

A Michigan State University study used test platforms to test the influence of roof slope (2 and 6.5%) and green roof media depth (2.5, 4.0, and 6.0 cm) on stormwater retention. For all combined rain events...

Elderly residents in a geriatric home had increased powers of concentration after a visit to a garden, compared to after relaxing in a favorite room indoors.

Ottoson, Johan and Patrik Grahn. (2005). A Comparison of Leisure Time Spent in a Garden with Leisure Time Spent Indoors: On Measures of Restoration in Residents in Geriatric Care. Landscape Research 30, 1: 23-55.

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