Thursday May 28, 2009, 3:05 pm
Article Text:



The City of Toronto passed a bylaw on May 27 that makes green roofs mandatory on any all classes of new buildings.

The by-law 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 require greater green roof coverage, ranging anywhere from 20 to 50 per cent of the roof area.

Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, a major proponent of the new by-law, said, "This bylaw is a major part of the solution to climate change, the creation of green jobs and it represents a whole new mindset on how our cities approach the 20 per cent or so of surface area that are roofs."

Industrial buildings were given a reprieve until January 31, 2011, while city officials explore options such as reflective white roofs that will help achieve the city's environmental goals, without incurring heavy costs. Toronto already requires green roofs on city-owned properties. The city has established a financial incentive of up to $5.00 per square foot for existing buildings, and is currently building a publicly accessible green roof on its city hall. The project will be unveiled at CitiesAlive (see story below) in October. See www.citiesalive.org for details.

Developers argue that green roofs bring capital and maintenance costs with little payback, but Steven Peck, president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, says opponents of this proposed bylaw are exaggerating the costs and minimizing the benefits. Deputy mayor Joe Pantalone noted that if green roofs spread across the city, the average temperature in August could be reduced by two degrees, meaning less energy would be needed to cool the city.
New York City recently passed a city bylaw that rewards building-owners who cover 50 per cent of available rooftop space with a green roof with a one-year property tax credit of up to $100,000. The credit would be equal to $4.50 per square-foot of roof area that is planted with vegetation, or approximately 25 per cent of the typical costs associated with the materials, labour, installation and design of the green roof.

Toronto hosting conference

The City of Toronto and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities will host the inaugural CitiesAlive World Green Roof Infrastructure Congress, this October.

CitiesAlive 2009 will gather the international green infrastructure community together to address the issues as they relate to environmental, social and economic needs. Green infrastructure embraces the relationship between green roofs and green walls, as well as other forms of urban greenery, such as urban forests.

The Congress will take place at the Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto from Oct. 19 to 22. More than 1,000 participants within the building design, development, construction and management sectors, as well as policy-makers, government officials, students and the public are expected to take part in the event.

Thursday May 28, 2009, 8:52 pm
The US is waaaaay behind. These countries are getting smart and bypassing us in sustainable living.
But, of course like anything the gov will not step up to the plate until it can be sure it can make a buck off of it.

Thursday May 28, 2009, 11:43 pm
That's good news. I hope the idea will take off in other towns and cities, too.

Friday May 29, 2009, 7:00 am
Good start, now what about old buildings and all the other cities?

Friday May 29, 2009, 12:21 pm
Up here in the Mid West they are talking & reseaching White roofs. I don't remember the nameof the program I saw it on but they mentioned something about trying it out for slnted roofs next year.

Friday May 29, 2009, 3:46 pm
When it comes to Green living, recycling and cutting down on wast, this country has ALWAYS been behind. Maybe some day we will finally be shamed to improve our practices!

Saturday May 30, 2009, 6:35 am
Great news.... bad link...

Saturday May 30, 2009, 7:17 am
Good news and bad link indeed Lissette.

Tuesday June 2, 2009, 8:24 am
This action is very similar to the legislation out of Tokyo. Although I would prefer builders and owners to determine whether they want a green roof as opposed to government action, I do believe in the benefits of green roofs.

Canada, particularly Western Canada, has some very successful green roofs. I have read that Canada's largest green roof is in Vancouver (http://cleanerairforcities.blogspot.com/2009/04/canadas-largest-green-roof-is-in.html)

I hope that Toronto's builders, owners, and tenants are able to enjoy the positive benefits of green roofs, despite the imposition of government.