New Washington State legislation to require large commercial/multi-family buildings to have green roofs
Green Roofs for Washington?
Netherlands-based CEYES welcomes the introduction of legislation in Washington state to improve the environmental requirements for roofing. Leo van Dongen of CEYES says: “This bill will not only improve the building’s energy and stormwater performance but also provide economic benefits by creating local jobs.”
CEYES produces recycled rubber roofing tiles that enable the development of green roofs.
This bill would require all new large commercial and multifamily buildings in the State of Washington to have green roofs, blue-green roofs, or bio-solar panel energy generation on their roofs.
“Green roofs are an innovative and common-sense way to help our local economies, our learners and our planet,” said Sen. Mona Das (D-Kent). “They answer so many needs: helping our students get hands-on STEM experience and outdoor time in their school day, feeding our communities, cleaning our air, and creating jobs. The invaluable benefits they provide have been demonstrated time and again in communities where green roofs are already widespread. I’m excited to champion this measure to bring green roofs to Washington.”
This Rooftop for Climate Survival Act provides building owners with options to install standard green roofs, and also agrivoltaic systems which produce food, biosolar roofs which produce energy, and blue/green roofs which retain and detain stormwater.
“This proposed legislation follows similar mandatory green roof requirements in Portland, San Francisco, Toronto, New York, and other jurisdictions. It will turn barren Washington State rooftops into a force to fight climate change, better manage stormwater, protect salmon and improve community health and well-being, while also creating jobs,” says Steven Peck, GRP, founder and president, of Green Roofs For Healthy Cities, the green roof and wall industry association. “It’s a natural next step that builds on various local government green roof incentives and numerous projects throughout the state while contributing directly to real estate value. We applaud Senator Das and the leadership of Washington State legislators for supporting SB 5732”
