In 2010, EPA's Office of Water produced this 11-minute video which highlights innovative efforts by green builders in Philadelphia who are helping protect and restore environmental quality and beautify the city. The video features the work of Philadelphia’s Onion Flats LLC, a company that is designing residential buildings with the highest ratings for energy and water efficiency. By installing cisterns, green roofs, porous pavers, solar panels, and Energy Star appliances, the builders are capturing rainwater, reducing stormwater runoff, and saving energy. The exciting news is that the units are selling even in a depressed market, thanks to many of the amenities, including the attractive green roofs, reduced utility bills and proximity to public transit. At the outset of the video, Howard Neukrug with Philadelphia’s Office of Watersheds explains the importance of green stormwater infrastructure. The city is now offering incentives to builders and developers like Onion Flats to use green techniques to help meet clean water and other environmental goals.

Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In

• Reduce el cauce pluvial: Disminuye la velocidad del agua, espárcela, imprégnala (en español) (Flash)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced this 9-minute on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff.

The film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters. The goal is to mimic the natural way water moves through an area before development by using design techniques that infiltrate, evaporate, and reuse runoff close to its source.

The techniques are innovative stormwater management practices that manage urban stormwater runoff at its source, and are very effective at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff and capturing harmful pollutants. Using vegetated areas that capture runoff also improves air quality, mitigates the effects of urban heat islands and reduces a community’s overall carbon footprint.

The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s “One Planet – Ours!” Exhibit" and at the U.S. EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns.

Factsheet about the video (PDF) (2pp, 294K, About PDF)

The video is also avilable for download (MP4) (26.4 MB). Right click and save the file to your computer.

For more information, please visit:

• Low Impact Development
• Green Infrastructure
• GreenScapes
• U.S. Botanic Gardens