Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008 - (Page 16)

ON THE ROOF WITH… “One reason we have been successful is that we have established clear roles, which are defined such that each organization focuses on its strengths.” many different types of groups in our coalition forces us to remain focused on our broader vision and how each goal that we set works toward this vision. In this way, we are able to be extremely effective and learn from one another. Q: Green roof incentives come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. How was the idea of a tax abatement determined to be the best one for New York State? A: Many swim members, including Sustainable South Bronx, have been advocating for a cost-sharing program between private building owners and the City that would (a) stimulate the market for green roofs, and (b) cover the public benefits of green roofs. Considering that the City is spending billions of dollars on upgrading its sewage and storm infrastructure, we advocated that a cost-sharing program would be a cost-effective investment for the City in the long run. The City, through its planyc Sustainability plan, came to the conclusion that the tax abatement was the way that they were willing to create a cost-sharing program. Q: Were other green roof incentive options considered? If so, what were they and why were they ultimately abandoned? A: Yes – in fact, through my work at Sustainable South Bronx I performed a comparative analysis of green roof incentive programs in cities throughout North America and a few case studies from Germany that we provided to the Bloomberg Administration prior to the release of the planyc. These incentive options — including zoning (density bonuses), stormwater credits, permit expediting, low-interest financing, grant programs and building code requirements—are still on the table, for green roofs and other green infrastructure. swim also drafted a bill, signed into law in February 2008, that requires the City to evaluate and create a plan for encouraging the construction of green infrastructure for stormwater management in a Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan. We are grateful to Councilmember Gennaro of the New York City Council Environmental Committee for sponsoring this bill and seeing its successful passage through Council. Q: The state bill was sponsored by Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr., how did your organization get him onside? FOR GREEN ROOF PLANTS, YOU CAN COUNT ON OUR… EXPERIENCE WITH PROJECTS FROM EAST COAST TO WEST, TORONTO TO TEXAS, AND OVERSEAS. KNOWLEDGE WE’VE TESTED 100’S OF PLANT SPECIES — IN REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS SERVICE INSTALLERS KNOW WE DELIVER PLANTS THAT THRIVE, ON SITE AND ON TIME OVER 300 SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS 49 ACRES… AND COUNTING EMORY KNOLL FARMS, LET OUR EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU! Visit us at: www.greenroofplants.com or call us at 410 452 5880 http://www.greenroofplants.com http://www.greenroofplants.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008 Contents From the Founder: A Robust Economy Letters Strata - People, Products & Projects: Austin's Hotspot for Habitat & Baltimore Hilton Goes Green A Green Roof for a County Courthouse Research Grant for Design Tool On the Roof With... A New Vue on Downtown Open Space Sound Transmission Loss of Extensive Green Roofs On Target Optimizing for Sustainability First GRHC Green Roof Symposium in Florida Welcome New Corporate Members Professional Calendar Experts Reflect on the Value of the GRP

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008

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