Energy Probe

The Cost Benefit Group (CBG), formerly Damage Valuation Associates, specializes in evaluating the economic and financial impacts of environmental hazards and real estate development projects.

Green roof infrastructure promises to become an increasingly important option for building owners and community planners. As we move into the 21st century, green roofs can address many of the challenges facing urban residents. Life cycle costing indicates that green roofs cost the same or less than conventional roofing and they are an investment which provides a significant number of social, environmental and economic benefits that are both public and private in nature. These benefits include increased energy efficiency (from cooling in the summer and added insulation in the winter), longer roof membrane life span, sound insulation, and the ability to turn wasted roof space into various types of amenity space for building occupants. Green roofs filter particulate matter from the air, retain and cleanse storm water and provide new pportunities for biodiversity preservation and habitat creation. They generate aesthetic benefits and help to reduce the ‘urban heat island effect' - the overheating of cities in the summer which contributes to air pollution and increased energy consumption.. This article provides an introduction to green roof infrastructure and describes how to implement and market a green roof, looks at costs, and presents three case studies.

The Waterfall Building is part of a new mixed-use project located in Vancouver, British Columbia developed by Hillside Development Ltd. in 2000-2001. The ground floor is reserved for general office, retail or service use, while the remainder of the project is a mixture of commercial "live/work" space. The green roof system was intended to meet the goals of creating an aesthetically pleasing community recreational space - which met both the social development goals of Hillside and the community revitalization goals of the city.

As provincial and local governments focus their attention on setting and reaching goals for greenhouse has reduction and environmental protection, the role that new development and construction can play is under active scrutiny. Readers of Planning West have received a lot of information recently on planning for sustainability and green building technologies. There has also been considerable attention paid to green roofs, and a number of local governments have been considering mandating this type of roof in new construction of various types. This article is about the need to ensure that other important public objectives, particularly consumer protection for new homebuyers, are given appropriate consideration in these processes.

In early 2007, the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) Board of Directors became aware of the need for action to address issues arising from the application of extensive green roof technology in the construction of new homes for sale in British Columbia.

The purpose of this paper is to identify for resolution the issues surrounding the introduction of green building techniques, particularly green roof systems, in residential construction in British Columbia.