Green Corner: History in the Making
On February 1 Toronto City Council committed to a green roof policy for the City marking a significant day for green roof advocates, building owners, and the wider Toronto community. After nearly a decade of research, demonstration projects, market development, and community- motivated green roof projects (like the Robertson Building) Toronto will finally have more green roofs than ever before. The Robertson Building's green roof has played a seminal role in helping city leaders "believe" in this environmentally savvy technology. A new city-managed green roof website, featuring photos of our prairie meadow green roof, helped galvanize the City's commitment to green roof policy development. The recommendations approved by Council included a commitment to install green roofs on new and existing buildings owned by the City whenever practical to do so. For example, green roofs are to be considered for existing municipal buildings when roofs are due to be replaced. For new City-owned buildings, a target has been set to cover fifty to seventy-five per cent of a building's footprint with a green roof.
Council also recommended that a pilot program of financial incentives be initiated this year for the construction of
green roofs, and City officials will work with Toronto Hydro and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund on the possibility of
offering building owners additional financial incentives for retrofits. Mayor David Miller said, "This is a perfect
example of how we expect the new City of Toronto Act will help us govern in the best interests of Torontonians. Given the power to regulate green roofs in our city, we can work with residents to implement major initiatives that will make our city cleaner, healthier and more beautiful." Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone chairs the City's Roundtable
on the Environment, which recommended the "Making Green Roofs Happen" policy. He said, "Torontonians have told us that they want the city to do more to promote green roofs. In response, City Council has approved a comprehensive approach - from establishing standards and building our capacity to support green roofs at the
City level, to offering education, funding, expert advice and promotion."