Will You Pay More for Greener Spaces?
It is a common fact that people love looking at beautiful sceneries. Whether it's the simple sight of trees or the calming landscape of plants, people adore a green environment. Not only adore, but according to a new survey, people love greenery so much that they are even willing to pay more for a greener place to live in.
Based on the findings of the survey conducted by the University of Sheffield in the two urban centers of Manchester and Sheffield, people are willing to pay a hefty price yearly for greener urban spaces.
Under the survey, participants were shown images of how the local areas could be developed and were asked how much more they are willing to pay for each scenario.
When it comes to the Whitworth Street in Manchester, participants were willing to pay an average of £2.20 and £1.50 monthly for street cleaning and maintenance of green spaces, respectively. Proving how much people love a picturesque green scene, members of the public said that they would pay £8.00 monthly for additional landscaping and an astounding £10.81 per month if the natural vegetation was allowed to grow in the riverside.
For survey participants in Sheffield, when asked how much they'll be willing to pay for alternative redevelopment scenarios for the Nursery Street area next to the River Don in the city center, the same trend pervaded: the greener the scene, the higher people will pay. A large area of green of space was shown to the public - this scene attracted an extra £29.21 monthly, or £358.92 per year.
According to Tom Wild, director of South Yorkshire Forest Partnership which led the surveys, the findings prove that attractive, green landscapes does help create the right setting for investment, helping deliver more sustainable jobs and growth.
But having trees and plants aren't just beautiful to look at. Having trees and plants around can actually be beneficial for everyone. According to TreesAreGood.com, greenery can:
- Provide a serene, peaceful, restful, and tranquil environment
- Provide privacy or block out unsightly views, or emphasize views
- Reduce glare and reflection
- Improve air quality, conserve water, and provide wildlife with a habitat
- Shade homes which can lead to less air-conditioning use
- Increase the value of homes as the trees or plants mature