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

Impact:

• 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

Case Studies:

• Houston Downtown Management District Vertical Gardens Matching Grant (EPA, Pg 5)
• Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy (UDF, Pg. 33)

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

Benefits:

• 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