THE FACTORS AFFECTING RESIDENTS’ WILLINGNESS TO IMPLEMENT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES ON THEIR PROPERTY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Urbanization has brought about more impenetrable surfaces, and this causes most regions’ stormwater systems to be not ready to manage flooding occasions related to increased stormwater overflow. To deal with stormwater management concerns, a growing number of states and regions have been implementing green infrastructure. In addition, municipalities must develop green infrastructure on publicly owned land and urge people to install green infrastructure on their private property to meet stormwater management goals. The factors that influence people’s willingness to implement their green infrastructure have been studied in the past. However, very few studies have comprehensively researched the barriers to adoption, and social barriers, for the most part, have been ignored. This research aims to understand better the factors that influence citizens’ desire to install green infrastructure by investigating socio-cognitive factors and other influencing factors. An online questionnaire was established for this purpose. Statistical analyses were conducted using hierarchical logistic regression models built for each form of green infrastructure in the study. Self-efficacy, subjective norm, visual appearance, maintenance time, and general knowledge were all found to be significant determinants of a resident’s willingness to install green infrastructure. In the current study, however, attitudes and cost identified as significant barriers in the literature were not found significant to predict willingness to implement green infrastructure. Moreover, these findings suggest that municipalities may successfully promote green infrastructure adoption on private land by training and sponsoring exemplary projects in residential districts.