Chicago has long been in the forefront of the green movement. It has more green roofs (in square footage) than any other city in the country -- and according to an article in today's (Nov 26, 2007) New York Times, the city is now moving its campaign into the alleyways.
Chicago has almost 2000 miles of alleys, and it's re-paving them with permeable materials under its new Green Alley program. The idea is that rainwater gets filtered through permeable concrete or asphalt, then ends up in the water table under ground. Most rainwater in cities gets shunted off into storm sewers and pollutes nearby waterways.
According to the Times article, the new alley surfaces also keep the city cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Sounds like a program that other cities around the country should definitely consider. Unless you're in New York, that is, where there are no alleys.
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