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Green roofs become mandatory in Toronto |
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5 Jun 2009, 11:12 AM
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According to US based GreenerBuildings News green roofs are booming if not also blooming in North America. The green roof industry association Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, announced the results of a survey of its members finding that more than 3.1 million square feet of green roofs were installed in 2008, a 35 percent growth over the previous year.
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The City of Toronto also scored a first by passing a new green roof by-law in May. The move received overwhelming support, and consists of a green roof construction standard and a mandatory requirement for green roofs on all classes of new buildings. The legislation requires up to 50 per cent green roof coverage on multi-unit residential dwellings over six
storeys, schools, non-profit housing, commercial and industrial buildings.
Larger residential projects also require green roof coverage, ranging anywhere from 20 to 50 per cent of the roof area. “Toronto’s by-law provides a new opportunity to strengthen the emerging practice of integrated green building design,” said, Steven W. Peck, President of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, which supported the by-law against pressure from developers opposed to the policy. “The by-law breaks new ground on how to structure a mandatory green roof requirement and the construction standard also contains important best practices that may prove to be a model for other cities,” he added.
However, despite the new legislation in Toronto, Chicago remains the city with the most green roofs installed, according to GHRC’s Annual Green Roof Industry Survey. Chicago constructed the most overall square feet of green roofs in 2008, with over 548,000 square feet installed. Washington DC was a close second, with 501,042 square feet. The new law in Toronto may change that, resulting in approximately 50 to 75 new projects annually.
Chicago already requires green roofs on city-owned properties, has established a financial incentive of up to $5 per square foot for existing buildings, and is currently building a publicly accessible green roof on its city hall.
Credits:: Green roof on Chicago City Hall
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| Positive review of this story |
Tara  |
24 Jun 2009, 6:33 PM |
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Great article, this is a very great thing for Toronto.
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