Recent Legislation Transforms Cities, One Roof at a Time
In March of 2015, France passed a bill supporting green energy which affects the commercial building industry. The bill requires all new buildings in commercial zones to have their roofs partially covered with either solar panels or plants. Although construction companies and builders may see this as an additional upfront cost, the long term benefits will outweigh the initial funding necessary.
Environmental activists initially pushed the French government for all new roofs to be completely covered, but Parliament only agreed to pass a law for partial covering on new commercial buildings. Until recently, France had been lagging behind other European countries when it came to producing solar energy. For example, when it came to solar photovoltaic mechanisms that produce energy from sunlight, France was behind Germany, Spain, and Italy. According to a Reuters article in 2014, “It had 5,095 MW of photovoltaic capacity in June, which accounted for only 1 percent of its energy consumption in the first half of the year, and compares with nearly 37,000 MW in Germany.”1
Solar panels on rooftops help to produce energy which can then be used by the building. Green rooftops help to insulate the building which means it takes less air conditioning in the summer and less heating in the winter. Unlike open land, urban areas are already warmer due to concrete and building materials which have replaced naturally occurring vegetation. Areas with vegetation retain moisture, unlike the dry, impermeable urban landscape which results in higher temperatures.
Not only do higher temperatures mean increased energy bills, but air pollution is considerably higher and water quality becomes compromised. Installation of solar panels and green roofs not only help the environment with alternatives to excess energy use and costly bills, but they create an urban oasis where there wouldn’t be one otherwise. The solar panels help to reduce heat and provide energy which can decrease the temperature of the urban area, getting it closer to what the temperatures are in areas just outside the city. Green roofs provide a tranquil place for birds to visit or nest, and plants have long been known to help reduce toxins in the air.
Countries like Australia and Germany are already popular places to see green roofs. In 2009, Toronto, Canada passed a bill similar to the one in France, but applicable to commercial and residential buildings.2 While this is certainly positive news for these countries, there is still work to be done to get more cities and countries on board.
With the amount of buildings in urban areas across countries like the US, UK, and Australia, there is definitely more legislation that needs to be considered. On a positive note, individuals in many countries are not waiting for legislation. They are taking on the job themselves and creating beautiful flower and vegetable gardens on their rooftops. In New York City, you can even find buildings in an effort to help the bee population. However, what’s really needed is more education to target a larger percentage of the population who might not be aware of the positive impact of using roofs for anything other than protection. Legislation is also necessary to get commercial builders to change their approach to building.
Many industries have been known to fight new regulations due to the perceived cost implications. However, as the benefits of green roofs and solar panels become more widely known, there will be greater demand for these types of roofs, ultimately benefiting everyone. Educating the public on the impact these roofs make can help to get much needed legislation passed which will significantly impact the cities, countries, and world we live in.
Reference:
1 – Solar latecomer France builds Europe’s largest plant. (2014, November 5). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/05/us-france-solar-idUSKBN0IP1RF20141105?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews
2 – France mandates new buildings have green roofs, solar panels | Al Jazeera America. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2015, from https://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/3/20/new-french-law-calls-for-green-roofs-solar-panels.html
Further Information:
Brooklyn Grange: A Rooftop Farm in New York (video), by Geoff Lawton
