On June 21, 2023, ASLA helped Representative Nydia Velázquez (NY) reintroduce the Public School Green Rooftop Program Act. Green roofs provide various economic, environmental, and public health benefits. For schools, green roofs lower energy costs and water use while regulating classroom temperature to support academic achievement. On community scales, green roofs reduce stormwater runoff, improve air and water quality, mitigate excess heat, and create habitat patches for biodiversity.
Specifically, this measure:
- Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize State energy conservation plans to allow grants for green roofs at public schools.
- Prioritizes projects for public schools that serve low-income and high-pollution neighborhoods.
- Prioritizes projects that meet performance and nationally recognized standards for green roofs, including The Sustainable SITES Initiative® (SITES®).
- Allows additional funding for up to five years for the maintenance of the green roof.
- Recognizes the role of landscape architects as leaders in planning and designing green roofs.
“Energy savings, heat mitigation, and a nature-based learning environment that supports local wildlife makes the Public School Green Rooftop Program Act a victory for students and budget-conscious administrators alike,” said Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Learn more about the benefits of ASLA's own green roof.
Write your legislators today and urge them to support the Public School Green Rooftop Program Act!