City of Tempe, AZ
Home MenuShade and Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Tempe can save water and cool the city by designing landscapes that capture stormwater, while also growing vegetation for shade and cooling. Refresh Tempe is reinvesting in your community with three shade and green stormwater infrastructure projects this fiscal year.
What is Green Stormwater Infrastructure?
Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) uses vegetation, soil, and other permeable surfaces to capture stormwater where it falls. Whereas conventional stormwater systems (called "gray stormwater infrastructure") focus on moving water away from a site using gutters, pipes, and tunnels, green stormwater infrastructure is used to collect, filter, and absorb stormwater into the ground. By soaking up water (like a sponge) instead of redirecting it away (like a funnel), GSI can help to reduce stormwater runoff while providing water for on-site vegetation.
These projects are coordinated by the Sustainability and Resilience Division and are a part of Tempe’s Rain to Roots Master Plan, an effort to develop a comprehensive strategy for implementing, maintaining, and funding green infrastructure to promote equitable urban cooling citywide.