The green roof on the Vastned off/IND. (Credit: Rotterdam climate)
Rotterdam Initiative to promote the creation of green roofs in the city has seen only 10% of roofs suitable for this converted into green rooftops. The project is part of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative, run by the Rotterdam City Council, port authority and the environmental protection agency with the objective of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% of the city and helping the city adapt to climate change.
Despite large areas of green roofs have many benefits for the cities, such as reducing air pollution and help combat the heat Island effect, Rotterdam was priority to water retention, since the city has a shortage of areas where the water can be stored following rainfall. water management has always been a major concern of the Netherlands, since around 60% of the country lies below sea level. The analysis of the potential of green roofs in Rotterdam that preceded the introduction of grants strongly focused on its ability to store water reduce the discharge of water peak after a rain storm and help prevent flooding.
4,623 000 m2 roof area in Rotterdam was identified as being potentially suited for green roofs in the initial analysis (available only in Dutch; PDF), based primarily on whether they were flat or not. an amazing amount of roofs were flat: 70% of residential buildings belonging to enterprises of housing and 90% of non-residential buildings within the study area. Maps on pages 38 and 40 of this brochure (PDF) shows the buildings that potentially could have green roofs installed, along with the amount of storage of water.If this strategy should be effective in the fight against flooding, a significant proportion of these green roofs really needs to be created.
To promote the installation of green roofs, an "enquiry point ' has been established under the roof (green) of a prominent building in the Centre of Rotterdam and the initiative is being promoted at festivals and community events throughout the city.Green roofs were installed in a number of municipal buildings, including the local hospital, library and the City Government. Subsidies are provided for building owners, the Town Hall and the local water board to the tune of EUR 30 per square foot, where the average cost of installing a green roof is about 45 euros per metre. demand has been high and in March this year the minimum size of the roof that could benefit from a grant was reduced from 40 m2 for 10 m2.
Although the climate initiative Rotterdam highlights the many benefits to building owners have a green roof, as better isolation and an extension to the lifetime of the roof, the greatest benefits to the city as a whole is the reduced risk of flood. this initiative should be pursued in scale to have a measurable impact on water retention, something that the city of Rotterdam, and the water will follow over the next two years, along with the Technical University of Delft and Hogeschool Rotterdam (University).
Alison killing is an architect and urbanist based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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