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Chicago, Ill., leads U.S. in ‘green alleys’
The Achievement
Chicago is the alley capital of America with its 2,000 miles of small service streets cutting across the city. By the end of 2008 the city hopes to complete 46 “green alleys” under Chicago’s new Green Alley initiative. The green alleys will be retrofitted with environmentally sustainable road-building materials such as more permeable concrete where water can penetrate the soil through the pavement itself.
The Benefits
- The water will then be filtered through stone beds under the permeable surface layer, recharging the underground water table instead of ending up as polluted runoff in rivers and streams.
- The new pavements are also designed to reflect heat from the sun instead of absorbing it, helping the city stay cool on hot days and warmer on cold days.
- Another feature of the green alleys is lighting made with recycled materials that conserves energy and reduces glare.
