Iman Saeedi’s research, published in the journal *Environmental Studies* (*محیط شناسی*), offers a revealing look at the sustainability challenges facing urban green spaces—specifically, Mardom Park in Hamadan, Iran. The study doesn’t just diagnose problems; it provides a scalable framework that city planners, park managers, and investors can use to measure and enhance the long-term viability of urban parks. For the energy sector, the findings carry a clear commercial signal: sustainable urban infrastructure isn’t just an environmental goal—it’s a market opportunity.
Saeedi’s team developed a practical assessment tool that breaks down sustainability into 24 indicators across three pillars—environmental, social, and economic. Each indicator is weighted and scored, revealing not only where Mardom Park is falling short but also where targeted interventions could yield the highest return. The park scored just 33.29% overall, with environmental and economic dimensions underperforming at 23.80% and 21.43%, respectively. The social aspect fared better at 54.66%, likely due to its open access and inclusive policies.
“Our framework is designed to be cost-effective and accessible,” says Saeedi, a researcher at Malayer University’s Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering. “It uses operational data that park managers already collect, so it doesn’t require new investments in data systems—just a structured way to analyze what’s already there.”
What makes the research particularly relevant to energy and infrastructure industries is its emphasis on actionable improvements. The study highlights three critical gaps: poor water management, lack of renewable energy use, and inadequate waste systems. Addressing these could lift the park’s sustainability score to 87.96%. For energy companies, this translates into clear demand for solutions like rainwater harvesting systems, solar-powered lighting, and composting programs—technologies already in the market, but now with a quantified case for deployment in urban green spaces.
“If we implement even half of these measures, we’re not just improving a park—we’re creating a replicable model,” Saeedi notes. “Cities worldwide are looking for ways to meet sustainability targets without breaking budgets. This framework shows how data-driven decisions can unlock funding and partnerships.”
The implications extend beyond Iran. As urban populations grow, the pressure on public green spaces intensifies. Investors and municipal leaders are increasingly seeking measurable ways to justify spending on green infrastructure—a sector projected to grow significantly in the coming decade. Saeedi’s work suggests that sustainability assessments can serve as a bridge between environmental goals and financial returns, making green spaces not just ecological assets, but economic ones too.
Published in *Environmental Studies* (*محیط شناسی*), the research offers a timely reminder: the future of urban living may depend less on building new parks and more on making existing ones sustainable, efficient, and economically viable. For energy firms, urban planners, and city governments, the message is clear—there’s a market in turning green spaces green in every sense of the word.