Go Green with a Permeable Driveway

In addition to providing homeowners with a safe place to park vehicles and offering an attractive facade, having the right type of driveway installed can offer a whole host of other benefits to any property.

With so many different materials available, it can be tricky to know which type of driveway is right for you.

However, if you’re someone who is conscious of their home’s environmental impact but doesn’t want to compromise on style, permeable paving may be the way to go. 

A permeable driveway is a popular driveway choice across the country, bringing with it a range of environmental advantages that can give you peace of mind that you’re doing your bit for the planet.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how a permeable driveway can help you go green while maintaining a number of functional benefits. 

What is a permeable driveway?

First things first, let’s establish exactly what a permeable driveway is.

It’s fair to say that the UK sees its fair share of rain each year. With this in mind, permeable driveways are constructed using natural materials, such as aggregates and resins, that seamlessly allow rainwater to pass through the driveway and into the surface below. 

As well as providing the water with direct access to the earth and the ecosystems underground, this also means that water drains away from your property quickly and easily.

The same effect will also occur if it’s been snowing, so you won’t be left with any puddles or dangerous ice patches when the snow melts on your driveway.

While its permeable nature undoubtedly provides a great deal of practical benefits, having a permeable driveway installed is also great for the environment. In the next section, we’ll explore some of these green advantages in more detail.  

The benefits of a permeable driveway

Permeable driveways provide a whole host of benefits to properties and the environment. Just a few of these advantages include:

Natural drainage and filtration

Undoubtedly the biggest advantage of having a permeable driveway installed is that it offers natural drainage and filtration systems. Standing water on a driveway can be extremely irritating and cause significant problems. 

But, due to the tiny voids in a permeable driveway, water will filter through to ground level, meaning you won’t need to deal with the issue of standing water. This process will also remove pollutants from the water, meaning that the water that reaches the ground and ecosystems is clean and pure.    

Reduces heat islands 

Heat islands are a common problem in many urban environments. 

A heat island is an urban area where the temperature is higher than the surrounding region. Concrete or asphalt surfaces, like driveways, play a key role in the increase in temperatures. Unnaturally raised temperatures are one of the biggest climate change challenges the world faces. 

These heat islands can be reduced or eliminated by opting for permeable driveways instead.  

Natural materials 

Permeable driveways are only ever made from natural materials including sustainable aggregates and resins. Recycled materials are also often used in the construction process, so you can rest assured that every aspect of the installation process is environmentally friendly. 

Reduces water demand 

As the water drains through the driveway, it can flow directly into your lawn, garden beds, trees and ecosystems in your garden or outdoor space. This means you won’t need to water your home’s plants as much as you would without this type of driveway, saving water.

Removes the need for salt

Many people use salt on their driveways during the colder months in order to prevent ice and snow from settling. With a permeable driveway, you don’t need to worry about this, as its pervious nature will stop this from occurring. 

Removing the need for salt is also an environmental benefit, as salt can cause pollution to local ecosystems – especially if it ends up in nearby rivers.  

Here at R&J Landscapes (London), we provide our customers in Harrow, Watford and beyond with leading landscaping services, including the construction of permeable driveways. To find out more about what we do or to enquire about our services, get in touch with our expert team today.