If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of an eco-friendly driveway, you’re not alone. Many homeowners default to impermeable concrete or asphalt without realizing the range of alternatives available. Investing in green driveways and parking areas offers both environmental benefits as well as tangible value for your home in various ways.
Exploring green options is a wise decision for homeowners. Curious about the benefits of sustainable driveways? Let’s explore why investing in these eco-friendly solutions is a smart choice and dive into some innovative green ideas on the market.
Eco-Friendly Benefits of Permeable Surfaces
- Reduced Runoff: Concrete, asphalt and other hard surfaces are impermeable and prevent water from soaking into the ground. However, permeable surfaces mimic nature allowing water to drain naturally. They also reduce runoff and harmful pollutants from entering the watershed as water is filtered when it percolates through the soil.
- Reduced Flooding: When water can’t percolate, it diverts into nearby stormwater systems, streams and rivers, and finally into bodies of water. Runoff during heavy rainfall events moves quickly without natural elements to slow it down leading to flooding and costly damages. Furthermore, it often carries toxic pollutants, oils and residues from vehicles, and pesticides that contaminate our supply of drinking water.
- Recharging Groundwater and Aquifers: In many parts of the world, the main source of drinking water comes from groundwater. Impermeable surfaces have contributed significantly to the reduced amount of rain and snowfall that can recharge groundwater. Permeable surfaces offer a solution to this issue.
- Heat Island Reduction: Traditional surfaces absorb and radiate heat, making surrounding areas hotter. In urban environments, this is exacerbated by reflection from windows and glass of buildings. This process raises temperatures and requires more energy consumption for cooling. Permeable surfaces help to cool things down and mitigate the urban heat island effect and ultimately global warming.
- Improved Air Quality: While grass and trees help filter the air, permeable surfaces improve air quality by reducing the need for blowers that stir up dust and pollutants.
- Recycled Materials: Many eco-friendly options use recycled materials, reducing waste and the environmental impact of production.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: Permeable pavers, gravel drives, and grassed parking lots offer a more natural and visually appealing alternative to traditional grey pavements.
How Do They Work?
On the one hand, permeable surfaces work much like traditional concrete or asphalt pavement. They are solid and durable, and they utilize the power of hardscape materials to allow vehicles and passersby to move safely. At the same time, pavers and other pervious options don’t come with the same flooding risks and water waste. The hardscape mechanisms (pavers, grid systems, porous pavements), combined with the permeable elements (wider joints, gravels, infiltration and storage capacity) allow water to drain through into the gravel and ground below. This helps reduce runoff and flooding and evenly disperses water during rainfall.
Our Favorite Top Contenders in the Eco-Friendly Paving Arena
- Permeable Pavers: These interlocking pavers (think puzzle pieces) create a stable surface while allowing water to drain through the gaps and into the gravel and ground below. They come in various sizes, shapes, and patterns and range in style from modern to rustic. Aggregates like crushed slate, granite gravel, and various pea gravel further extend the stylistic options.
- Grass Paver Systems: This system uses a plastic or concrete grid structure that allows grass to grow through, creating a green parking area that can handle vehicle traffic. They are constructed similarly to permeable pavers with a gravel infiltration bed below and offer all the same benefits. Depending on your climate, plant zone, and plant selection this option may require slightly more maintenance.
- Gravel Driveways: Probably the most popular option we see, gravel driveways, especially when stabilized with a grid system, can be a great alternative to asphalt, concrete, or other paved options. Again, they provide all the same benefits but offer the widest array of possibilities. From #89 granite gravel, Indiana pea gravel and slate chips, we’ve installed it all. The possibilities are endless!
Driveways and parking lots are a ubiquitous part of our modern landscape, but traditional materials like asphalt and concrete can have a negative impact on the environment. They contribute to stormwater runoff, which can pollute waterways and overwhelm drainage systems. They also exacerbate the urban heat island effect, making cities hotter and less livable. And to many, they’re visually unappealing.
Thankfully, there’s a growing movement towards more eco-friendly options for driveways and parking lots. These solutions offer a win-win scenario, providing attractive and functional driving and parking spaces while minimizing environmental impact. If you care about eco-friendly solutions and want a functional driveway, consider reaching out to us.
