A look at our new Credits Explorer tool, which lets anyone explore the benefits of GSI.
In response to rapidly growing interest from non-residential customers, Philadelphia Water is proud to present the Stormwater Retrofit Guidance Manual. The 186-page manual is designed for those customers poised to benefit the most from adding cost-saving green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to their buildings and grounds. Bringing this customer base into Philadelphia’s green movement is a key part of Green City, Clean Waters, Philadelphia Water’s 25-year plan to protect and enhance our watersheds by managing stormwater with innovative green infrastructure.
The start-to-finish guide to GSI retrofits includes a detailed breakdown of credits and incentives offered through Philadelphia Water’s Green Acres Retrofit Program (GARP) and Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP), instructions for picking the best GSI tools by property, ongoing GSI maintenance requirements, and much more.
As a digital complement to the Stormwater Retrofit Guidance Manual, Philadelphia Water is also releasing Credits Explorer, a groundbreaking new app that allows anyone to virtually add GSI tools to non-residential properties and instantly see potential savings. A variety of stakeholders informed the 18-month effort behind Credits Explorer, resulting in a user-friendly web-based tool making it easier than ever to see the financial benefits of GSI features like green roofs and permeable pavement. The manual and Credits Explorer can be accessed here.
These tools work in conjunction with Philadelphia Water’s innovative Stormwater Billing program, which bills non-residential customers based on the amount of impermeable surface on their property. Implemented in 2010, Philadelphia’s stormwater charges more accurately reflect the true infrastructure and environmental costs associated with impermeable surfaces and provide Philadelphia Water with capital to fund improvements required by state and federal regulations.
Any property is eligible to pursue and install retrofits; however, only non-residential, condominium, and multi-family properties with more than four units are eligible to receive stormwater credits.