4 minute read
Sub-Sectors and Stakeholders
The work of the green infrastructure industry can be broadly divided into three subsectors: landscaping, groundskeeping, forestry, and ecological restoration; and construction. Below we explore each sub-sector and how it relates to the Chicago region, and Table 1 maps out the stakeholders within each.
Water Management
Advertisement
The United States Department of Agriculture defines water management as “the control and movement of water resources to minimize damage to life and property and to maximize efficient beneficial use.”9 Traditional water management systems consist largely of hard infrastructure such as storm drains and pipes, while green infrastructure for water Stakeholder Deep Dive: management encompasses a
Metropolitan Water Reclamation variety of practices that mimic
District of Greater Chicago natural hydrological processes This special-purpose district treats wastewater and provides to capture rain where it falls. stormwater management for Chicago and 128 suburban There are multiple features of communities in Cook County. One of the region’s major Chicago and its surrounding area employers in water management, it works to protect water that make its water management
resources and was responsible for the famous reversal of
landscape unique. Its access to
the Chicago River.
Lake Michigan provides a great resource in terms of drinking water, which is managed by the Department of Water Management. Further, Chicago has a combined sewer system in which sanitary sewage and stormwater drain into the same pipe.
As such, management for both are interrelated. The Chicago region is susceptible to flooding, making stormwater management ever more important.10
This sub-sector covers maintenance and installation of natural areas on both public and private lands. While traditional landscaping practices feature ornamental and non-native species that do not contribute to green infrastructure, there has been a growing interest in landscaping with native species in manners that promote natural eco-systems. Modern restoration Stakeholder Deep Dive: Chicago Park District’s Natural Areas Team
Managing over 90 areas within the City of Chicago, this
ecology dates back to the early
team leads native plantings and maintenance, in addition
1900s, and embodies everything
to community stewardship and nature events. Natural areas
from conservation of large swaths offer multiple benefits, including the protection of wildlife of land to site-specific plantings such as birds, stormwater management, and quality of life On the public side, the Chicago for nearby residents. region has long been renowned for its parks and forest preserves, and initiatives have been taken recently to enhance or restore natural ecosystems through efforts such as native plantings. In this sector, “employers” may be the same as “clients” in the sense that they are the party receiving and/or procuring green infrastructure services. This is the case at park districts and forest preserves, though public clients will also contract private Environmental management personnel conduct a controlled burn. Source: Wikimedia employersPrivate clients include property owners seeking green installations.
Sustainably built home featuring solar panels by Kipnis Architechture + Planning. Construction
The environmental movement and high prices of gas during the 1970’s spurred modern philosophies in green construction, which emphasize efficiency in both operational energy usage (e.g., heating and cooling) and embodied energy usage (e.g., building materials and transportation) related to buildings. As sustainable construction practices gain traction, more activities and stakeholders within the industry will fall under green infrastructure. Examples include solar panel and rainwater garden installations, construction of LEED-Certified buildings, retrofitting of existing buildings, and replacing existing cement with permeable pavement.11
Table 1 explores employers, clients (i.e., parties receiving and/or procuring green infrastructure services), and employees under each of the three identified subsectors, as well as parties that support or influence employers, clients, and employees.
Stakeholder Deep Dive: Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)
The largest Passive Building Certification provider in North America, PHIUS maintains climate-specific building standards for passive homes, provides building certification, and trains and certifies professionals.
Water Management
Employers
Municipal wastewater treatment plants, public works departments, sewer and plumbing contractors Government entities distributing grant programs, nonprofits, and
Local municipalities, industrial creators of wastewater Government programs, community groups,
Parties Influencing/ Supporting Employers Clients
Parties Influencing/ Supporting Clients Employees
Plumbers, pipe layers, pipefitters and steamfitters, septic tank servicers and sewer pipe plant and system operators; hydrologists; civil engineers
Parties Influencing/Supporting Employees
Workforce development training programs, unions
Landscaping, Groundskeeping, Forestry, and Ecological Restoration
Public: Park districts, forest preserves, departments of transportation (DOT), education and civic institutions
Private:
Landscaping/ forestry/ecology contractors and consultants, education and civic institutions Government entities distributing grant programs, nonprofits, and philanthropies
Public: Park districts, forest preserves, departments of transportation (DOT), education and civic institutions
Private:
Homeowners associations, education and civic institutions, property owners Government entities distributing grant programs, community based organizations, landscaping influencers
Landscape architects, landscaping and groundskeeping supervisors and workers, arborists, nursery and greenhouse workers, hydrologists, soil and plant scientists, civil engineers, land managers, natural areas workers
Workforce development training programs, unions, education systems
Public: DOT, education and civic institutions Private: Contractors, subcontractors, and consultant in construction, electrical work, plumbing, masonry, cement, paving, roofing solar panel installation etc. Government entities distributing grant programs (e.g. Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago)
Public: DOT, education and civic institutions, municipalities.
Private: Homeowners associations, education and civic institutions, commercial property owners, residential property owners Government entities distributing grant programs, realtor association
Cement masons and concrete finisher, construction managers and laborers, civil and environmental engineers, plumbers, machinists, weatherization technicians, general and operating managers, energy auditors, roofers
Workforce development training programs, unions
