Policy Solution
Green walls
Incentive
Overview:
Summary: Green roofs cool the surrounding air and reduce building heat through a layer of vegetation or other plants. Green roofs can also serve as additional green space. There are two main types of green roofs: intensive and extensive.
Implementation: Incentivize installation of green walls through expedited permitting, tax credits, zoning bonuses, and stormwater credits or energy discounts.
Considerations for Use: Green walls require sufficient irrigation and high levels of ongoing maintenance. Plants should be selected that provide dense foliage to maximize coverage.
- Policy Levers:
IncentiveFinancial and non-financial incentives to encourage stakeholders to implement heat risk reduction and preparedness solutions, including rebates, tax credits, expedited permitting, development/zoning bonuses, and more. - Trigger Points:
City planning processesIncludes city initiatives such as the development of climate action plan, pathway to zero-energy, master plan, transit plan, energy mapping etc.Introducing new or updated zoning/codesIncludes codes, zoning requirements or by-laws pertaining to urban planning and building construction activity. - Intervention Type:
Green/natural Infrastructure - Sectors:
Buildings
- Target Beneficiaries:
Heat-vulnerable communities, Property owners, Residents - Phase of Impact:
Risk reduction and mitigation - Metrics:
Decrease in building temperature, Energy savings, Number of installations completed and in progress projects, Stormwater runoff reduction
Impact:
- Houston Downtown Management District Vertical Gardens Matching Grant (EPA, Pg 5)
- Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy (UDF, Pg. 33)
Case Studies:
Implementation:
- Intervention Scale:
Building - Authority and Governance:
City government - Implementation Timeline:
Medium-term (3-9 Years) - Implementation Stakeholders:
City government, Private developers, Property owners and managers - Funding Sources:
private investment, Public investment - Capacity to Act:
High
- Cost-Benefit:
High - Public Good:
Medium - GHG Reduction:
Medium - Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):
Improve stormwater management, Preserve biodiversity, Reduce air and water pollution - Co-benefits (Social):
Build social cohesion, Improve human health, Increased property values, Save on utilities