Absorbent Daylighting
Clearing the curb space next to a crosswalk and upgrading that space with bioswales, green gutters, and other surfaces that allow water to seep into the earth benefits flood-prone neighborhoods with excess asphalt and limited permeable surface area. Installing just one bioswale can manage between 1,100 and 2,200 gallons of water during a storm — reducing the risk of flash floods, maintaining accessibility for people on foot, and keeping water out of basement apartment units.
Case Study: Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
Brighton Beach has no absorbent green infrastructure and less permeable surface area than almost any neighborhood in New York City. With flooding common at high tides and during extreme rainfall, Brighton Beach residents would dramatically benefit from installing absorbent daylighting at every intersection.
