The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) selected Greenprint to launch and manage the Green Infrastructure Grants for Homes pilot program to build green infrastructure on residential properties. The goals of the pilot are to understand whether a citywide residential green infrastructure grant program can cost effectively reduce the amount of stormwater runoff entering the sewer system and reduce the stormwater portion of customers’ sewer service charges through the SFPUC’s Stormwater Credit Program.
The program set out to select a handful of homeowners, with equal distribution between eligible east and west side neighborhoods (Inner Sunset, Outer Sunset, Parkside, Bayview, Sunnydale and Visitacion Valley), to test out various green infrastructure types at the residential scale across the city. Projects are fully funded upfront, reducing financial barriers to homeowner participation.
Interest in the pilot program has been overwhelming — over 200 residents expressed interest in participating, and dozens have put their names on a list to be considered for potential program expansion. As the Program Administrator, Greenprint developed an informational webinar, where participants learned more about green infrastructure and program details. After the SFPUC selected 10 homeowners, Greenprint worked with each of them to prepare them for property assessments, develop and review concept plans, and help them submit their applications for funding to the SPFUC. Construction for each of the homes is anticipated for the summer of 2024.
Greenprint is collecting valuable data to help the SFPUC explore the viability of scaling this initiative to a city-wide program and effectively engaging homeowners as stormwater stewards.
Program Details
Location: San Francisco, CA
Duration: 2023–present
Partners: SFPUC, DIVIS, PECI