Abstract
Green infrastructure (GI) features in private residential outdoor space play a key role in expanding GI networks in cities and provide multiple co-benefits to people. However, little is known about residents' intended behavior concerning GI in private spaces. Resident homeowners in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) voluntarily participated in an anonymous postal survey (n = 533) containing questions related to likelihood to install additional GI features in their private outdoor space; experiences with this space, such as types of uses; and environmental concerns and knowledge. We describe the association between these factors and people's intention to install GI in private residential outdoor space. Factors such as environmental concerns and knowledge did not influence likelihood to install GI. However, experiences with private residential outdoor space, such as nature uses of this space, level of self-maintenance of this space, and previously installed GI features, were significant influences on the likelihood to install GI. These findings have important implications for managing GI initiatives and the adoption of GI in private residential spaces, such as orienting communication materials around uses of and experiences with outdoor space, having programs that generate direct experiences with GI features, and considering environmental equity in such programs.
Highlights
Green infrastructure (GI) are physical infrastructure systems that integrate natural elements to solve environmental problems (Derkzen et al, 2017)
GI is an integral part of sustainable cities, with many world cities planning to increase the presence of such systems to address climate resilience, urban liveability, and human health and wellbeing goals (Derkzen et al, 2017; Matsler et al, 2021)
Knowledge of Gardening and GI Based on the work by Corley et al (2021) and Kiesling and Manning (2010) on gardening experiences, we developed a measure of level of knowledge about gardening using a simple, one-item, 1–5 level of gardening knowledge scale (M = 3.25, SD = 1.06)
Summary
Green infrastructure (GI) are physical infrastructure systems that integrate natural elements to solve environmental problems (Derkzen et al, 2017). GI is an integral part of sustainable cities, with many world cities planning to increase the presence of such systems to address climate resilience, urban liveability, and human health and wellbeing goals (Derkzen et al, 2017; Matsler et al, 2021). An important aspect of the implementation of the GI objectives for sustainable cities is stimulating people to install GI in their private residential outdoor space. We define private residential outdoor spaces as the space around a person’s home on their own property, including back and front yards, porches, driveways, decks, and patios (Clayton, 2007; Blaine et al, 2012; Freeman et al, 2012; Conway, 2016; Corley et al, 2021).
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