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Kimberly Powell

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If green roofs were mandatory in cities would there be less development and building?

William McDonough knows the benefits that come from designing and implementing green roofs. McDonough has helped design living roofs for big companies such as Nike and Ford Motors. But many companies and homeowners overlook the benefits of green roofs. One benefit of green roofs is that they keep the internal temperature of a building steady throughout the year. The National Research Council of Canada found that having a green roof reduced the daily energy demand for air conditioning in the summer by 75%. Toronto is the first North American city to pass a law mandating green rooftops for all new residential, commercial and industrial developments. Any new construction with floor space of more than 2,000 square meters must devote between 20 and 60 percent of its roof to vegetation. But with green roofs comes an unwanted financial upfront cost. Will developers decide that the benefits outweigh the costs for installing green roofs?

If green roofs were mandatory in cities would there be less development and building?

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Topics: Biodiversity class TEDinClass TEDinClassroom green living
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    Brett Gottfried

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    May 21 2012: I think that it most likely not slow down development. It anything the buildings would just cost a little bit more but i'm sure that there will be some tax breaks that are give to companies that emploment this type of room just like installing solar panles. I strongly think that this should become more of a habbit for every city. It is proven that it is much more cost effective to insulate a building thiis way and it also could create new jobs for people who need to tend to the roofs and maintain them. This is a step forward if it becomes more wide spread.
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      Sarah Caponi

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      May 22 2012: I agree with what Brett has said. I don't think it will create less development or even slow down our development. If anything developers will change what they spend money on in order to make these changes. I like the idea that it will create new jobs and in the end be very cost efficient. I think the idea of making it mandatory is a little extreme but tax breaks would be a great solution. I would like to see all buildings have a living roof top someday.

      I also wonder if the idea of living rooftops will become popular in developing countries and how long it will take to be implemented there.
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      Christopher Tam

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      May 27 2012: How do the green rooftops keep buildings in warm climates cool? It seems more like a way to just keep the heat inside. And how would plants survive on the tall skyscrapers? Would a green rooftop be able to help regulate the temperature of such a large building?

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