The benefits of a green parking lot

According to Donald Shoup, an urban planner and parking research pioneer at the University of California, Los Angeles, the government doesn’t track the number of parking spaces. But he estimates that on the low end, the U.S. has at least 700 million parking spaces, and on the high end, the estimate is more like 2 billion. Parking our vehicles takes up a significant amount of space, but there’s an upside too: parking lots offer a lot of scope for greening — and that can help us achieve the sustainability goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement. With Mobilane Green Screens, unlocking these benefits is easy — and our ready-made hedges offer a whole host of other advantages too. Read on to learn more about the benefits of an instant natural and green parking lot!

Six benefits of a green parking lot

Incorporating Mobilane Green Screens into the design of parking lots can unlock a range of benefits — without taking up much space — that improve the quality of life for those who use the space, and for those who live or work nearby.

1: Green parking spaces improve aesthetics

One of the most obvious benefits of hedges around parking lots or spaces is that they improve the overall aesthetics of the area. They add greenery, color, and texture to an otherwise bare concrete landscape. On top of that, hedges also help reduce graffiti. When a wall is covered with greenery, there’s less space for graffiti artists to do their ‘work’ — and the local authority saves on cleaning costs as a result.

2: Green parking lots cool their environment and reduce the heat island effect

Parking lots often generate a lot of heat, which further aggravates the urban heat island effect. Hedges can reduce this effect by providing shade and cooling the surrounding air.

3: Green parking lots improve air quality

Ready-made hedges can help filter pollutants from the air, including particulate matter and carbon dioxide. Research in partnership with the University of Staffordshire has shown that Mobilane’s Green Screen Hedera helix “Woerner” is capable of capturing 40-60% of the particulate matter in its environment. On top of that, hedges also act as a sound and dust barrier, leaving the area around the parking lot more enjoyable to use for pedestrians and motorists alike.

4: Green parking lots with Green Screens provide more privacy

Mobilane hedges can be used to create a natural barrier between a parking lot and nearby roads, buildings, or houses. This offers greater privacy for local residents and reduces the impact of noise and headlights. Being able to look out over greenery also helps increase the overall wellbeing of parking lot users and residents alike.

5: Green parking lots offer increased security

Green Screen instant hedges can form a visual barrier between a parking lot and nearby roads. In doing so, they can also help direct traffic, reducing the risk of accidents and improving safety for both motorists and pedestrians. Even a one-meter-tall ready-made hedge is enough for that purpose: it makes the parking lot more visible and easier to find, while also fencing it off from its surroundings.

6: Green parking lots increase local biodiversity

Mobilane’s Green Screens contribute to biodiversity. On top of that, the hedges provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for various animals, including insects such as bees and butterflies, hedgehogs, and birds. The Mobilane Green Screen Pyracantha “Dart’s Red” is a particular favorite for several species of birds. In winter, its berries serve as food and its dense branch structure offers hiding and nesting places for wrens, dunnocks, hedge sparrows, and blackbirds, among others.

More about Mobilane Green Screen

Mobilane’s instant Green Screen consists of a metal grid completely covered with plants. The plants are supplied in a biodegradable container with potting soil. This container is made of organic material — coconut fiber — held together by a natural latex. Mobilane’s Green Screen has a standard width of 1.20 meters and is available in different heights: 1.00, 1.55, 1.80, 2.00, 2.20 and 3.00 meters.