Ten Steps Toward Sustainability -- Step 9: Support Green Roofs and Porous Pavement

Municipalities can build green roofs on city structures and create incentives for private building owners and developers to use them. Green roofs typically have a layer of soil with plants; their greatest advantage is water management, since they can absorb 50-60% of the rainwater that falls on them. This means that storm water enters the municipality's drainage system in a slow, controlled flow, rather than the typical high-volume surge from impervious surfaces that frequently cause storm water overflows to mix with sewage. Green roofs also help buildings stay cool in the summer and retain heat in the winter. Portland, Chicago and Toronto all have green roof programs.

Similarly, porous pavement can reduce storm water flooding and pollution by permitting water to pass directly through concrete or asphalt into the soil rather than sheeting off. Philadelphia recently announced it intends to use porous pavement in its storm water management program.

For general information on green roofs, see www.greenroofs.com.

See also:

Act Locally: Ten Steps Toward Sustainability:

What is Sustainability?
Step 1: Create a Sustainability Task Force
Step 2: Support Local Business
Step 3: Incorporate LEED and Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings
Step 4: Set A Goal of Zero Waste
Step 5: Enact Environmentally-Friendly Land Use Laws
Step 6: Create Biotic Corridors
Step 7: Encourage Green Transportation
Step 8: Bar "Formula" Restaurants

Comments

[Jorge]

I have dedicated a good hour to finding a "green" legal service that can potentailly deal with an important obstacle in making schools green. It seems that most of the states require public institutions to publicly bid work. Public institutions cannot grant a contractor a bid for service without a competative process.

Currently, in the energy market, there are private business who are willing to investin the development of alternative energy sources. These investors are willing to pony up the costs for the installation of solar panels in every school roof in america. The generated enrgy would be sold back to the district at a substantial savings. In time, the school district can potentially buy the enterprise.

My question for the legal profession is one that suggests the use of "air rights". If the school districts can lease
the air rights to these enterprises, the need of competative bidding would vanish.

The school districts do not have the funds to mount such a valuable enterprise. Please provide me some legal direction my suggestion.

jorge

[Stephen Filler]

Jorge,

I'm not sure I understand your question -- are you asking whether the lessee would be subject to the public bidding process? My guess is that it depends upon the language of the statute requiring public bidding and may turn on whether the public entity is getting the benefit -- in this case yes. Also, the lease itself may be subject to the public bidding process.

Also, are you proposing a model that would make it less expensive for schools to install solar? How would that work?