GreenPrints: A Blueprint for a Greener, Healthier Charlotte

CleanAIRE NC is excited to collaborate with the City of Charlotte on the GreenPrints initiative, a groundbreaking campaign aimed at revitalizing under-resourced communities in Charlotte while addressing pressing environmental challenges.

The campaign will center around a commitment to green infrastructure—sustainable building solutions that offer a multitude of benefits to both the community and the planet. Green infrastructure encompasses a range of strategies, from tree planting and green roofs to rain gardens and parks, that can play a crucial role in addressing environmental challenges for communities. 

We invite you to be part of shaping the future of Charlotte. A community forum is tentatively scheduled for October to gather input from residents on GreenPrints projects. Your insights and ideas are crucial to the success of this initiative.

Investing in Communities

The GreenPrints initiative will create comprehensive plans, or “GreenPrints,” for historically underinvested areas known as the “Corridors of Opportunity.”

These neighborhoods—Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry and Freedom/Wilkinson, —have long faced disproportionate environmental burdens. GreenPrints aims to change that by addressing issues such as air pollution, energy affordability, flooding, and the preservation of green spaces.

By incorporating green infrastructure into these neighborhoods, we can:

• Improve air quality: Trees and green spaces absorb pollutants, cooling the air and reducing respiratory problems.
• Mitigate flooding: Green infrastructure helps manage stormwater runoff, reducing flooding risks and erosion.
• Create healthier communities: Access to green spaces has been linked to improved physical and mental health. Trees can also provide a respite from urban heat islands, lowering the risk of heat-related illnesses.
• Energy affordability: Green roofs and building facades can act as natural insulators, helping to regulate indoor temperatures. This reduces energy costs for both heating and cooling.
• Support biodiversity: Green infrastructure provides habitat for wildlife and helps restore natural ecosystems.
• Build resilience: Nature-based solutions can help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

GreenPrints is more than just a plan; it’s an opportunity to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable communities. Investing in the “Corridors of Opportunity” will improve the quality of life for residents, create thriving business environments, and build a healthier, more resilient Charlotte for generations to come.

Your Voice Matters

The upcoming community forum in October is a crucial opportunity for residents to have a direct say in the future of their neighborhoods. GreenPrints is committed to creating community-driven solutions, and your input is essential to ensure that the initiative meets the specific needs and priorities of the Corridors of Opportunity.

Your participation is vital in creating a greener, healthier, and more equitable Charlotte. We encourage you to attend the community forum and make your voice heard.