Legally Green – Should Businesses be Forced to Have Eco-Friendly Roofs?

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Legally Green – Should Businesses be Forced to Have Eco-Friendly Roofs?

In recent months, there’s been considerable buzz about the so-called ‘law’ about to be passed in France, which insists that all retail buildings currently under construction must be fitted with a green roof or renewable energy devices.

As you might imagine, this has resulted in considerable good cheer amongst ecological campaigners across the world. However, it’s not time to get excited quite yet – the facts are as follows.

Green Roofs – Not Quite a Law in France, Just Yet…

The current situation, as it stands, is that the ‘law’ has not yet been legally enshrined, and at present, still remains a statement of intent, rather than a legally binding decree.

This may be disappointing to those who are passionate about environmentally friendly construction. However, whilst the law had yet to be passed, the proposed suggestion has certainly had real impact, not only in France, but further afield.

Why the Emphasis on Green Roofing?

Sustainable, eco-friendly construction is gradually becoming more popular across the world. Most people are now very familiar with the advantages of solar panelling. However, green roofs still remain something of an enigma in the UK. Most people recognise that they create a pleasant area for wildlife, including birds and insects, but beyond that is where things get a little hazy.

In actual fact, green roofs offer a number of other benefits.

• Heat retention. They’re an exceptionally effective form of insulation, which means they keep heat in more efficiently during the winter months. A big bonus of this is that you can turn the heating down and save on energy bills.
• Heat moderation. Additionally, they’re well suited for moderating temperatures in the summer. This reduces the need for air conditioning. In fact, in Canada, a report found that green roofing reduced the daily usage of air conditioners by over 75%.
• Air quality. Any plants grown on a green roof will naturally capture airborne pollutants, not to mention reduce amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere.
• Fire retardant. Green roofs burn far slower than other conventional roof materials, which is good news if a fire breaks out in your business premises. Most green roofs are all fully compliant with safety standards.

Should the UK Make Green Roofs a Legal Requirement?

Of course, the big issue that has prevented the government from imposing such a legislation is cost. Green roofs tend to be slightly more expensive than conventional roofing, which is an unappealing prospect for cost-conscious developers or business-owners.

However, when examined as part of the bigger picture, it’s easy to draw a different conclusion. Green roofing helps to reduce heating and air conditioning bills. It is an effective way of addressing the problem of carbon emissions. It encourages local wildlife to flourish.

Whether or not this means that it should be made a legal requirement is debateable. However, the advantages of green roofing certainly shouldn’t be ignored, and indeed, they should be made more publicly known.

Getting a Green Roof for Your Business

If you’re keen to discover more about green roofing, then get in touch with IPS Roofing today. We specialise in green roofing installation and we’ll be happy to answer any questions that you might have. To get in touch, simply call 01969 625000.