The regulation in Toronto requires green roofs for new constructions

Flat roofs hide great potential. They are currently valued as suitable construction structures for the placement of solar panels or vegetation. The Association of Green Roof Suppliers Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) announced the results of a survey among its members.
      The survey among companies showed that in 2008 the area of implemented green roofs increased by 35%. Additionally, the city of Toronto, where GRHC is based, decided to issue a regulation that requires all newly constructed roofs in the city to be at least 50% covered in greenery, despite pressure from developers. The regulation applies to new residential buildings higher than six stories, as well as schools, social housing, administrative, and industrial buildings. Residential complexes of larger scale must cover at least 20-50% of their roofs with vegetation.
      The survey revealed that Chicago is a stronghold of green roofs. In 2008, 51,000 m² of green roofs were realized there. In Toronto, 50-75 new projects are implemented annually, which are subject to the new regulation. The council believes that they will be able to catch up to Chicago's lead thanks to the new regulation.
      Although Chicago is a pioneer in the implementation of green roofs, the average citizen rarely has access to its residential roofs. This is something the initiative Red Line Green Roofs, founded by architect Dave Hampton and biologist Michael Repkin, a recognized expert on the implementation of green roofs, seeks to change. Their aim is to transform 4,600 m² of roofs in the neighborhood of the Chicago elevated train, so that as many residents and visitors of Chicago as possible can enjoy urban greenery. The project focuses on the route from O'Hare International Airport to the city. With the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, the project to green the roofs in Chicago has been designated as a candidate for economic recovery, and grants can be requested in this context.
      Architect Hampton believes that based on state support and the implementation of his project, the idea of green roofs can be rooted in society. The roof will become an important part of the house, and as Hampton himself says: "Designers will finally start thinking of the roof as the fifth facade of the building."

> more information at greenroofs.org