Framework and Tools for Quantifying Green Infrastructure Co-Benefits and Linking with Triple Bottom Line Analysis

The objective of this ongoing research is to develop a systematic approach to help stormwater practitioners quantify and monetize the triple bottom line — i.e., the financial, social, and environmental — benefits of green infrastructure (GI) at the community level. We will accomplish this by developing an economic framework and associated Excel-based tool that will lead utilities through each step of TBL analysis for GI, from establishing a baseline, to identifying and valuing applicable benefits, to developing useful outputs and appropriately comparing benefits and costs. This ongoing research is being conducted in partnership with the Water Environment and Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) and will be closely coordinated with WE&RF’s Community-enabled Lifecycle Analysis of Stormwater Infrastructure Costs (CLASIC) project. However, the TBL framework and tool will serve as a stand-alone resource.