Green Roofing

• Author: Alec LeSher
• Pages: 60-65

60 Sustainable Development Code: Climate Change

GREE N ROO FIN G

Alec LeSher (author)

Jonathan Rosenbloom & Christopher Duerksen (editors)

INTRODUCTION

Several municipalities have found it benecial to oer incentives for or to

make it mandatory to construct a nd maintain “Green Roofs.”1 Developers

that are required or choose to participate in such programs may be rewarded

with benets for constructing and maintaining green roofs on a variety of

buildings. e incentives can provide a developer with a variety of benets,

such as expedited permitting, increased oor area ratio (FAR) or density

bonuses, or tax credits to oset the cost s of green roong. Alternatively, at

least one city has required green roofs as pa rt of development and imposed

penalties for developers that do not incorporate a green roof into their

building.2

A “Green Roof” is a roof that is use d to grow plant life.3 e vegetation can

be anything includin g grasses, wildowers, or agricultural products. In s ome

situations a low maintenance collection of grasses may be most appropriate,4

while in other instances a vegetable/fruit garden can be grown to make agri-

culturally productive use of the area.5 To decrease energy and stormwater

management demands (discussed below), plant life should typically cover

the majority of the surface area of the roof.6 Restrictions in size and type of

vegetation are often dictated by climate and building load capacities.7 Due

to the soil used in the construction of green roofs and soil water retention,

green roofs are typica lly heavier than traditional roofs.8 As a result, they may

require additional support to ensure their proper safety and functioning.9

ey also require a membrane lining a round the soil to prevent water from

damaging the st ructure u nderneath.10

Green roof implementation can be encouraged through municipalities

initiating pilot programs, providing direct or indirect nancial incentives, or

passing regulation.11 Pilot programs can be accomplished th rough construc-

tion of green roofs on municipal buildings to market the positive benets

of green roof s.12 Another tool municipalities may use to encourage green

roong is through the issuance of grants, tax credits or fee waivers for the