There are various benefits of green urbanism or biophilic city, however, these posts will systematically examine only five main types of benefits which are environmental, social and cultural, economic, and health benefits.
The first benefit of a biophilic city is environmental; with the main objective focusing on enriching nature in the biophilic city, the environment will be greener, cooler, and fresher. Reference to specific studies will demonstrate that a range of environmental benefits has been evaluated, including improvements to water, air, biodiversity, and heat reduction (Yang et al. 2009).
First of all, a biophilic city helps to create greenery, predominantly on streets and roofs (see Figure 11). Over the last decade, researchers have shown that biophilic architecture, with new engineering techniques enabling more greenery on roofs, has become a major architectural feature of innovative buildings (Soderlund and Newman). For instance, in Toronto, Canada, a relatively recent bylaw (since 2009), requires the installation of a green roof. Biophilic design advocates primarily focus on the human-nature connection because they understand the possible benefits, not only with the human-nature relationship but also with the nature-integrated designs, especially environmental restoration and regeneration (Beatley 2010).
Secondly, the design of a biophilic city helps in water management and water pollution reduction. Studies have shown that the effectiveness of green roofs includes reduced pollutants in the runoff of cities (Manso 2015). Researches also suggest that green roofs and green walls can help mitigate water pollution and reduce the pollutants such as matter (PM10), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) (World Health Organization, 2016). This water resources can be used in living need such as watering or gardening as well as consumer need with less treatment (FAO 2019). Water- sensitive design is one of the characteristic of biophilic design which helps to save using water and reserve the water source. It also helps to improve water cycling management (SBErnc 2013). Biophilic systems such as green walls and green roof can act as an insulating layer to reduce the energy need and also slow the rainfall to transform it into storm water. This could helps to reuse and recycle the water as well.
Thirdly, air pollution reduction is another benefit of the biophilic city. The reduction of carbon emission created by green urbanism helps to lower the pollution of the cities. Tree canopies and other types of green form such as urban agriculture, green walls, green rooftops, or botanic gardens as well as parks are the source for fresh air and the air controller to reduce the carbon emission in the cities. The study of the Ontario Medical Association found that in Canada, air pollution to result in 9,500 premature deaths per year and estimates increased costs of healthcare up to $506.64 million (OMA 2008). In addition, biophilic processes were used can reduce their ecological impact by replacing fossil fuels as well as bring substantial ecological benefits through an emphasis on natural systems (Beatley 2011). The anthropogenic burning of fuel will create NO2, a toxic substance which causes respiratory diseases, bronchitis in asthmatic, premature deaths and crop yields reduction (EPA 1998). The daily heating generating power and using vehicle by the burning of of sulfur-containing fossil fuels (coal/oil) will create SO2. With the limit for sulphur dioxide is 20 μg/m3 24-hour, it will cause irritated eyes, affect the respiratory system, lung functioning when it is exceeded the limit (WHO 2016). Therefore, green roofs and green wall that help to reduce air pollution by combating the aforementioned effects of harmful air pollutants. They can take up compounds through their natural processes respiration and photosynthesis, then they remove the pollutants from the air to provide good air quality. Furthermore, using a green roof also saves energy. When the energy requirements for building and construction was reduced, it can reduce the urban atmosphere. According to Yang et. al study, green roofs can remove 2.33–3.57 g/m2, NO2 in an urban environment. Jayasooriya et al. (2017) states that green roofs annually remove 0.37 g/m2 of NO2. In addition, another study in Singapore also shown that 21% of nitrous acid, a byproduct of nitrogen dioxide, was reduced directly above a green roof (Rowe 2011).
Next, the biophilic city also brings biodiversity. Many countries have tried to increase habitats, flora and fauna in cities through increasing urban vegetation. Biodiversity loss is a worsening global issue, which was agreed by governments at the United Nations 2–12 Conference on Biodiversity (UNEP 2012). This conference had set up three goals which one of them is focusing on the the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. This goal is later also aligned with the goal 15 “ life on land” of the SDGs. From there, all the nations set up the strategies to achieve the goals because many countries recognize the importance of biodiversity conservation in cities and the risk of ecosystem losing in urban areas. Therefore, they have increased the green roofs, green walls, and street tree canopies, with appropriate plant species selection to increase the biodiversity for the specific region. Several cities in the world such as Basel in Switzerland, Toronto in Canada, or Singapore in Asia have been leading in this innovation (Beatley 2012). Singapore’s KTP hospital incorporated greenery and biophilic design throughout the hospital in the hope that this initiative would encourage butterflies back. Newman (2013), in his assessment of Singapore’s biophilic urbanism suggests that in the high-density cities, the biodiversity is of much greater variety in the structure of habitats when people work and act toward the nature purpose. It shows that people have the same goal to achieve. From this, the relationship between a biophilic and humans can be expressed. When people act in terms of nature with interest in saving water, reducing energy used or increasing biodiversity by different forms of biophilic design, it will have the payback results for the residents living in that environment. A greener, healthier, fresher and sustainable environment embrace people who live within it. Wilson (1984) mentioned that humans co-evolved with nature as they need natural ecosytems in their daily life. Beatley also believed that people always need the “ daily dose of nature” (Beatley 2011). Therefore, the interconnection between humans and a biophilic city is support for each other in providing a better incorporated relationship.
Lastly, urban trees and landscaping help to store and sequester carbon in a city. This is a huge potential to store carbon and create fresh air in the city. This benefit is not only good for the environment but sequestration carbon is also economically beneficial. For example, in the United States in 2013, the total annual carbon sequestration in communities was estimated at 25.6 million metric tons, worth $2 billion in savings (University of Washinton 2014). In short, there are several environment benefits of the biophilic city which directly and indirectly affect human’s life. However, there are more benefits which can count from this type of innovation development. The next ones that will be examined are the social and cultural benefits.
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