Green roof toolkit launched for London

The Environment Agency has launched a toolkit to help London’s rooftops ‘go green’ and adapt the city to the challenges of climate change at the World Green Roof Congress, London.

As climate change bites London will experience more extreme weather, with hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. This could bring increased flooding, overheating, and droughts.

Green roofs already grace buildings in Canary Wharf and Cannon Street Station, and many more are planned for new developments such as Greenwich Peninsula and Battersea Power Station. Green roofs – which can be planted with vegetation ranging from small shrubs to wildflowers – can help build a sustainable London by:

•reducing flood risk by storing rainwater that could run-off and overwhelm drains

•creating a better place for both people, wildlife and the environment

•naturally insulating buildings (cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter) which can reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions

•reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect (this is the increased temperature of a built-up area compared to its rural surroundings.) Regulating temperature in this way can also reduce energy consumption

•encouraging and enhancing biodiversity

The Greater London Authority and London Boroughs promote green roofs through the London Plan and the Environment Agency is playing an increasingly active role in promoting this sustainable technology through the planning process.

To help the environment, property owners and developers get the most from this technology, the Environment Agency has worked in partnership with CIRIA and Living Roofs to develop a toolkit to encourage best practice in green roof design and implementation.

Robert Runcie Thames Regional Director and London Sustainable Development Commissioner said: “Green roofs will help adapt our cities to climate change. They are great for people and the environment. Through our role in the planning process we can make a real difference in greening London’s rooftops.

'London is leading the way and the Living Roofs toolkit will enable developers to produce quality green roofs.'

The toolkit, which is part of the Environment Agency’s successful Guide for Developers Pack, was launched on 17 September at the World Green Roofs Congress, London.

Dusty Gedge, co-founder of independent green roof organization Livingroofs.org, said: 'The toolkit continues the process of ensuring green roofs in London are 'designed' to meet the needs of the capital in terms of biodiversity provision, storm water reduction and climate change adaptation.

'Biodiversity was my root into green roofs and the toolkit provides the tools to create ecological landscapes on London’s roofs and goes further than an off the shelf solution. Hopefully this toolkit will provide the basis for an approach to green roof delivery across the country.'

CIRIA Associate Paul Shaffer said: 'We were pleased to join the Environment Agency and livingroofs.org to produce a practical toolkit to enable developers to make our city a better and more sustainable place.

'Green roofs are a simple and yet effective way of adapting to and mitigating the affects of climate change and help manage surface water. Developers will play a major role in creating a sustainable London and CIRIA, the Environment Agency and livingroofs.org are here to help them make the right choices.'