As soon as green surrounds us, the quality of life will improve. However, it seems that greenery is receiving less and less attention. And you can do something about it!
The amount of green planting will ultimately have positive effects on the entire population. Think health, crime, economic and educational performance.
We know that the greenery that surrounds us, such as parks and gardens, makes a positive contribution to our quality of life. However, it seems that greenery is receiving less and less attention.
The government often faces enormous challenges in terms of progress in the field of local services. Not to mention that the greening of areas still needs to be considered! This can quickly make a green landscape a thing of the past.
The green effect
Plants do not only affect the quality of life. There are many more positive benefits of plants!
Health & Well-being
- Looking at green landscapes can significantly reduce stress and anxiety within five minutes. This, too, can be scientifically proven! We can measure this stress reduction through positive changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, muscle tension and electrical brain activity.
- Hospital patients facing greenery seem to feel less pain and recover faster. Interestingly, medium to strong painkillers are requested by 25% less in such green surroundings.
Climate change
If 10% more trees are added in cities such as Amsterdam, this will prevent a temperature increase of 4 degrees over the next 100 years. By ‘greening’ urban areas there will be a lot of time before the earth’s temperature really rises.
The workplace
- Plants can help reduce summer energy costs by 20% to 40%. The reason for this? Plants provide shelter and shade, which reduces the need for air conditioning.
- The provision of green areas around a workplace reduces absenteeism. As much as 23%!
Crime
Buildings placed in a well-tended green environment appear to attract 32% fewer crimes.
Financial
Attractive gardens and the presence of trees in or near gardens can increase the value of property by 5 to 7%.
From ideas to action
Very nice and good all those positive effects. To really see these positive effects, action is needed. You too can set up a small-scale green action! Even though it is good to have something to hold on to.
It’s hard to get started, but with such a green planning it should work:
- Step 1: setting up green policies
- Step 2: track figures and impacts of green developments
- Step 3: evaluate the numbers
- Step 4: improve results
- Step 5: provide more greenery in the (own) environment
- Step 6: keep repeating steps 2 to 5
Then we have only one thing to say. Good luck! And above all, have fun greening the environment.
