Plant Connection, Long Island NY, Green Roof Legislation, Policies and Tax Incentives

Clean Energy Stimulus & Investment Assurance Act: U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has added a provision to the bill in Congress for residential and commercial property owners who install green roofs to recoup 30% of their cost in a federal tax credit. There is a $5000 cap for residential credits and no limit on commercial roofs; the green roof must cover at least 50% of the total roof surface to qualify.

Energy Policy Act of 2005: Federal tax credits of up to $1.80 per sq/ft are available for green building projects that meet ASHRAE standards.

US General Services Agency: has an upgraded requirement for LEED Gold certification as a minimum in all new federal building construction and substantial renovation projects (GSA previously required LEED Silver for all federal facilities). The new requirement applies to all projects that are currently in design as well as all future projects. For newly constructed properties that GSA leases, the agency has maintained a LEED Silver requirement for new construction projects over 10,000 ft2 (1,000 m2). LEED for Commercial Interiors is optional for GSA facilities in existing buildings.

US Green Building Council: has more than 78 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations from every sector of the building industry, and more than 140,000 LEED Professional Credential holders that work to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. It has developed a variety of programs and services, including the LEED certification program, and works closely with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies to establish standards for green building, design practices and tools, policy advocacy, information exchange, and education.

Environmental Protection Agency: has proposed changes to stormwater regulations that may create opportunities for some businesses using green roof design and construction and new products and techniques. The regulations may cause the use of green roof design and implementation to become far more commonplace, dramatically reducing storm water runoff quantities.

Proposed legislation in the city council will provide a one-time tax incentive of $5 per sq/ft for up to $100,000 for commercial and residential green roofs.

The City of Chicago is not currently accepting green roof grant applications at this time. The Grant Program had offered up to up to 50% of cost or $100,000 for green roof development of green roofs covering 50% or more of a rooftop space.

Green Permit: a program that fast tracks green roof or LEED certifiable bulding project permits

All city of Los Angeles building projects 7500 sq/ft or larger are required to meet LEED standards.

Stormwater Management: any building that improves their stormwater management, such as installing a green roof, receives a 50% credit against mandated stormwater usage fees paid to the city.

New York State Law in larger cities (only NYC meets the size requirement) you can receive a one year tax credit of up to $100,000 (or $4.50 per sq/ft) for green roof installs that encompass at least 50% of available roof space. Law is effective from January 1,2009 - March 15, 2013.

New York Buildings Department's Green Roof and Solar Tax Abatement Program Team have revised the PC1 form to reflect new required items: PTA3 and PTA4 Abatement Eligibility Approval. These must be checked off in order to be considered for a green roof or solar panel property tax abatement.

State Green Building Construction Act will require that all new government buildings adhere to green building standards set by the New York Office of General Services. These rules will apply to all future construction and any major renovation projects.

The Bloomberg administration wants to invest $1.5 billion over the next 20 years on new environmental techniques in storm water management. The plan calls for building infrastructures like green roofs, porous pavement for parking lots, rain barrels, wetlands, and depressions for capturing and retaining storm water before it reaches the sewer system.

Proposed legislation in the city council may provide a personal income tax credit for residential and commercial green roofs in amount of 25% of costs or up to $100,000 per year for 6 years.

City of Philadelphia: offers a credit against the Business Privilege Tax of 25% of all costs incurred to construct a green roof up to $100,000. To qualify, green roof must cover 50% of the rooftop to qualify.

FAR Bonus: the city of Portland offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra 3 sq/ft per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits. They also offer a grant reimbursement of up to $5 per sq/ft for reducing stormwater infrastructure with a green roof.

Expedited permits for all green building projects.

Green Building Ordinace of 2008 sets standards for CO2 emmissions and reducing stormwater runoff.

FAR Bonus: the city of Seattle also offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra 3 sq/ft per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits.

Green Factor Program requires a certain amount of green space in certain building zones.

Green Roof By-law: green roofs are required for all new development above 200 sq/m. Coverage requirement ranges from 20-60% of the available roof space and the law effects all new application made after January 31, 2010.

Port Coquitlam Green Roof By-law All new commercial and industrial buildings over 5000 square meters must have a green roof. The city has also just enacted a zoning development bylaw, which allows a developer to be exempt from development permit fees if a green roof is planned with no variances.

Richmond Proposed Green Roof By-law office and industrial developments that are 2,000 square meters or larger would need a minimum of 100 green points, which could be achieved through the development of a green roof, meeting a LEED Silver standard, or using the roof for parking and landscaping the grounds.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation has $ 300,000 in funds to provide green roof grants. Individual grants may fund up to 20% of the total cost of a green roof installation.