FRANCE PASSES GREEN ROOFTOP LAW

France keeps making green headlines lately… the Eiffel Tower’s wind turbines, the tree-shaped wind turbines being installed in Paris, and now an exciting new law that is sure to have a huge environmental impact in urban centers. Every new commercial building in France must meet a new building requirement; the roof must be at least partially covered in either solar panels or plants. Environmental activists had originally called for all for all rooftops to be 100% green, but the Government limited the scope of the law to include commercial buildings only. In an effort to make it less onerous for businesses, the rooftops will also only have to be partially green.

Ecologists say green roofs have many benefits including an isolating effect that helps reduce the energy needed for summer heating and winter cooling, and rainwater retention that helps reduce runoff problems. Green rooftops also encourage biodiversity by creating an excellent place for birds to nest within urban environments. As more studies show the financial and environmental benefits of green roofs, we hope this type of law becomes increasingly common in more countries.

Do you think more countries should mandate green rooftops? Leave your comments below…

• Pieter Siegers
  Yes I think so, more countries should mandate green rooftops. It should be part of the design.
  I also agree with that it should be mandatory for all buildings, although buildings like towers are a bit difficult of course… take the Eiffel tower for example!
  For normal residential housing, the concept of green roofs should even be further taken by integrating houses in the landscape.
• GNK
  I second this measure. Impact on Climate Change has been discussed everyday and Each one of us should act or try to do their part. This has to be imposed by policy makers or each of us should try to imbibe such measures if there is a roof space availability exists.
• Mahsa
  I think its good to specify mounts of green space
  According to the space of Ground of project inspite of green roof
  For example 10 percent of hole would be green space.
• Bob Lee
  Sure I agree that around the world most countries should mandate consider green rooftops. But I suggest that only half of rooftops be designed green covers and the another half of rooftops should be considered installing solar panels, that are the real Eco-Friendly and good for the world climate change control.