Although a rain forecast sends us scurrying for our umbrellas, we rarely think about where all the rainwater ends up. Yet this stormwater runoff is “one of the great challenges of modern water pollution control,” as the Natural Resources Defense Council explains in its Rooftops to Rivers report.

Parksmart certification is all about smarter parking. By pursuing certification through the measures in the Parksmart Certification Standard, parking structures are able to optimize performance, cut energy use and increase sustainable operations.

Parking lies at the intersection of our built environments and the mobility networks that support them. Because of this, parking presents a unique sustainability opportunity, and Parksmart is positioned to drive change in both of these arenas.

Last month, over 18,000 architects, engineers, property owners, developers and other sustainability professionals converged in Los Angeles for the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. Greenbuild always presents an opportunity for professionals from all over the world to connect and learn, with a focus on the latest in sustainable building design, construction and operation.

One of the ways that cities worldwide try to reduce their carbon emissions is through encouraging people to ride bicycles. We may not yet reach the level of the notoriously bike-friendly Copenhagen, which has 390 kilometers of designated bike lanes, but U.S. cities are also making a big push to add lanes for cyclists. This in turn creates a need for bicycle parking facilities, as more and more commuters are taking their bicycles to central work locations.

Parksmart is the world’s only rating system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation. Developed by industry experts, Parksmart offers a roadmap for new and existing parking facilities to use innovative, solutions-oriented strategies. Points are awarded to parking structures for forward-thinking and sustainable practices in three categories: management, programs and technology structure design.

Heading to Greenbuild this year? To help you plan your days, here are some of the offerings focused on Parksmart, the world’s only rating system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation. Developed by industry experts, the Parksmart framework guides projects toward innovative, solutions-oriented strategies.  

Parksmart is the world’s only rating system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation. Developed by industry experts, Parksmart offers a roadmap for new and existing parking facilities to use innovative, solutions-oriented strategies. Points are awarded to parking structures for forward-thinking and sustainable practices in three categories: management, programs and technology structure design.

What?

Park(ing) Day is around the corner, and the International Parking Institute is getting in on the fun. The annual worldwide experiment transforms on-street parking spaces into pop-up parks—just for one day. Dreamed up by San Francisco art group Rebar, the event challenges the public to reimagine metered parking spots as mini parks. In the past, we've seen lawn games, coffee bars, yoga studios and other creative activities.

Parksmart is the world’s only rating system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation. Developed by industry experts, Parksmart offers a roadmap for new and existing parking facilities to use innovative, solutions-oriented strategies. Points are awarded to parking structures for forward-thinking and sustainable practices in three categories: management, programs and technology structure design.