FRANCE DECLARES ALL NEW ROOFTOPS
MUST BE TOPPED WITH PLANTS
OR SOLAR PANELS
A new law passed in March mandates that all new buildings that are built in commercial
zones in France must be partially covered in either plants or solar panels.
G
reen roofs, as they are called, have an isolating effect
which helps to reduce the amount of energy needed to
heat a building during the winter or cool it in the summer.
They are capable of retaining rainwater and reducing problems
with runoff, and also offer birds a place to call home in the urban
jungle.
French environmental activists originally wanted to pass a
law that would make the green roofs cover the entire surface of
all new roofs. However, partially covered roofs make for a great
start, and are still a huge step in the right direction.
Some say the law that was passed is actually better, as it
gives the business owners a chance to install solar panels to help
provide the buildings with renewable energy, thereby leaving
even less of a footprint.
Green roofs are already very popular in Germany and
Australia, as well as Canada’s city of Toronto. This by-law was
adopted in 2009 by the city of Toronto which mandated green
roofs on all new industrial and residential buildings.
Original Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/france-declaresall-new-rooftops-must-be-topped-with-plants-or-solar-panels/
Benefits of green roofs
There are so many benefits to green roofs. Here are just a few:
• Adding natural beauty and major aesthetic improvement to
buildings, which in turn increases the investment opportunity.
• Helping contribute to landfill diversion by prolonging the life
of waterproofing membranes, using recycled materials, and
prolonging the service of heating, ventilation, and HVAC systems
through decreased use.
• Green roofs assist with storm water management because
water is stored by the substrate, then taken up by plants, and
thus returned to the atmosphere through transpiration and
evaporation. They also retain rainwater and moderate the
temperature of the water and act as natural filters for the water
that does run off. They delay the time at which runoff occurs,
which results in decreased stress on sewer systems during peak
periods.
• The plants on green roofs do a great job of capturing airborne
pollutants and other atmospheric deposition. They can also filter
noxious gasses.
• They open up new areas for community gardens, commercial and
recreational space in busy citie