Policy Order O-40

WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has long prided itself on its commitment to environmental sustainability and continual improvements to the general city landscape; and

WHEREAS: Green roofs, roofs that are partially or completely covered with plants, provide numerous benefits to both the individual buildings they adorn and the greater community, including energy conservation, storm-water drainage reduction, smog and carbon dioxide reduction, improved aesthetics, and increased open space; and

WHEREAS: Several cities, most notably Toronto and Chicago, have adopted programs to encourage the development of green roofs, such as Toronto’s policy to wherever it is feasible and practical to construct green roofs on City-owned buildings that are due to be replaced; and

WHEREAS: Many other cities have also included pilot programs which provide City grants to developers who construct green roofs whenever possible, additionally providing technical information developers and educational programs about the benefits of green roof construction; and

WHEREAS: The City of Chicago has mandated that projects that “receive tax-increment financing support from the city” include some level of green roof coverage; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager investigates the feasibility and desirability of a similar policy in Cambridge to replace city-owned buildings with green roofs upon scheduled roof replacement; and be it further

ORDERED: The City Manager be and hereby is requested to investigate the possibility of initiating zoning, educational, and financial incentives similar to those aforementioned for the development of green roofs within Cambridge and report back to the Council of his findings.