The New Hampshire Legislature in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Services, recently passed a "New and Improved" Shoreline Protection Act, to be effective April 2007.
The New Legislation requires that buildings or additions compensate for the runoff created by these impervious surfaces (like roofs or driveways) by installing porous materials to help absorb the water. The total volume of "runoff" must remain the same! No increase in runoff.... will protect our bodies of water.
In a pro-active reaction to the new Regulations - specifically-
"Pervious" surfaces.
The town of New London experimented in the hospital parking lot, with a Newly Developed Concrete.
To everyone's delight when a truckload of water was dumped on the concrete it drained away like "water on the sand at the beach". It remains to be seen whether the new concrete can stand up to the usual wear and tear.
The town hopes developers will invest in the new product to help reduce erosion and protect our waterways.
The Downside is Cost. The hospital estimated that the porous concrete cost approximately 20% more. That is not astronomical and the Trade Off to Protect the Environment..."Priceless"
Concord NH Realtor Area Information
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Joan Mirantz - Joni is a Realtor® with Keeler Family Realtors, a locally owned, Customer Service oriented Firm.
Joan Publishes a monthly Newsletter "Food For Thought" under the pen name Realtor Sherpa.
(Joan also answers to Miz Maven and Miss Joni.)
Joan works in Buyer and Seller Representation with concentrations in the Merrimack Valley Area and towns surrounding Concord NH - the Capital City.
"I love what I do, and it shows in how I do it"
Joan - sometimes price does not deserve to be the absolute deciding factor. The short range benefit of a lower price will, in many cases, prove to be MUCH more expensive in the long run. Too bad that most government entities don't think that through.
Old adage - Pay now, or pay twice later.
Hi Joan, What an interesting subject and one that certainly shows that with all the science and research that is going on around the world, when there is a need, something shows up that just makes a lot of sense. That concrete sounds totally awesome and something that I would like to know more about. We only have one earth and I hope in the next hundred years we will do a much better job of looking after it than we have the last 100. I am not an environmental extremist either, it is just good common sense to conserve resources and not destroy everything in the path of progress. Today we need a whole lot less politics and lot more common sense.
Your Friend Always,
William
Joan-
What an interesting article! I had no idea that was going on up in New Hampshire. I have family in New London and will send them this article.
I hope the concrete holds up well... I'm happy to see a city taking a stand and being willing to make a difference.
Thanks!
~Emily
The San Diego Real Estate Expert
Hi Emily...
I used to live in that area myself. My son was born in New London Hospital!
This was a very small article but I thought it was really interesting! Glad you spotted it!