Parking structures account for one of the largest land use in cities and towns. Unfortunately, these structures are primarily inefficient and unsustainable. In the current era of global warming and climate change, sustainable parking is fundamental. Sustainable parking considers people, the environment, and the economy. Urban developers and designers are under pressure to develop smaller, high density, and energy efficient parking structures that are functional and aesthetically appealing. Why is sustainable parking important? Below are 10 reasons to shift to sustainable parking.
1. Space saving
Sustainable parking systems save space compared to traditional parking lots. Space is maximized by reducing empty spaces, using less space per vehicle, and utilizing machine parking. For example, machines can be used to park cars rather than relying on human skills to optimize space.
2. Reduce accidents
Sustainable parking lots decrease the probability of accidents. Also, they reduce the chances of car damage when parked. Nobody would like to park his car in a parking lot only to return to a damaged car.
3. Cost-effective
Sustainable parking is cost effective compared to conventional parking. It saves time and cost of wasted fuel as cars move faster and effectively. Also, maintenance costs are lower because they use green technologies.
4. Increase safety
We’ve all heard cases of theft in parking lots. You leave your laptop in your vehicle in the parking lot and find it’s gone when you come back. With sustainable parking, security is prioritized and hence decreasing cases of theft.
5. Improve visual aesthetics
A parking structure should not be a dull and boring collection of parking lots. It should be bright and beautiful. Sustainable parking is not only functional but also aesthetically appealing. Beautifying aspects such as easy to maintain plants, shrubs, and green beds and landscaping are used generously. These help improve customer experience, as the live plants enhance the quality of air.
6. Energy Efficiency
Sustainable parking employs advanced technologies to increase energy efficiency. It uses lighting controls and sensors to optimize energy use. Some parking structures utilize natural daylight and solar energy to achieve energy efficiency. They install solar panels to tap solar energy instead of using grid electricity.
7. Reduce environmental impact
While conventional parking encourages emissions as drivers circle slowly to find parking, sustainable parking does not. With sustainable parking lots, drivers locate parking in the shortest period possible. Plants in parking lots absorb carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles and increase oxygen supply. Less emission means healthier and cleaner cities.
8. Enhance personal safety
Sustainable parking structures increase personal safety especially, at night. Stories of hooligans attacking people in the parking lots are nothing new. However, with adequate security and lighting, parking structures become safe. Sustainable parking also improves the safety of road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
9. Caters for all users
Traditional parking is known to neglect users with special needs and cyclists. Sustainable parking provides options for all users ranging from cyclists to people with disabilities. Cyclists have a designated place to store their bikes. Also, people with disabilities are not left out and have accessible parking lots to meet their needs.
10. Improve user experience
Sustainable parking optimizes users experience by designating drop-off, pick-up points, and waiting areas that are well-lit and secure. Also, it allows easy use of the facility and users do not spend much time locating open spaces and walkouts.
Parking structures are important parts of our communities and city design. They are the most used outdoor spaces and gateways to buildings. Therefore, it is essential to take parking structures seriously and design them thoughtfully. Sustainable parking lots have benefits for users, owners, and society as a whole.
ParqEx is a sustainable parking solution that is easy to use and environmentally conscious. It connects people to parking spots and saves them the headache of searching for parking. ParqEx aims to solve the problem of urban parking and save the environment from the emissions of drivers looking for parking. Rather than constructing more parking lots, ParqEx believes in sharing existing parking lots. Call us today to schedule a demo.
