This article is part of Credit Valley Conservation’s Greening Corporate Grounds Take Sustainability Outside series. We’re challenging businesses to think outside the box when it comes to corporate social and environmental sustainability.
Business risk related to climate change is a hot topic. The earth has given up quietly nudging us to change the way we work, resorting to more extreme measures to convince us that business as usual just isn’t working.
More frequent rainstorms are challenging our aging infrastructure. Consequently, insurance costs are on the rise and investors, insurers and governments are asking business to demonstrate they have climate resilience plans in place.
Long-term resilience planning needs to address operational and physical climate risk factors. While operational sustainability has become commonplace, landscape sustainability is less commonly discussed but increasingly important. Here’s four simple steps to help you start planning for property resilience.
Step 1: Understand the risk
Grey infrastructure is the traditional human-engineered way of managing stormwater. For example, our parking lots and walkways are sloped toward catch basins, and downspouts on many buildings connect directly to the storm sewer system. Intense rainfall can overwhelm this infrastructure, increasing the risk of severe flooding and catastrophic property damage.
Step 2: Identify your risk
Property location, and the ratio of green space to hard surface area, can also play a role in determining climate-related risk related to extreme weather and flooding. The best way to calculate your risk is through a property assessment. Once you’ve identified high, medium and low-risk areas, you can begin exploring opportunities for your property.
Step 3: Discover opportunities
Green infrastructure uses nature to help manage stormwater where it falls. It’s a sustainable way to reduce climate risk on your property. There are many types of green infrastructure projects. Common examples include tree planting, permeable paving and vegetated ditches or swales.
Step 4: Get advice and create a plan
CVC’s Greening Corporate Grounds offers resources and advice to businesses. We help you reduce climate risk with green infrastructure projects. Together, we can determine which project is best suited to your property. Your project could also qualify your property for a stormwater charge reduction through the City of Mississauga’s Stormwater Credit Program.
Contact us to arrange a free site assessment today. Visit cvc.ca/gcg or connect with us directly at [email protected].
