Thursday, May 24, 2007

Seattle Implements the "Green Factor"



New Seattle building codes will bring more green roofs, rain gardens, green walls, trees and other vegetation to commercial zones.

Urban landScaping: Not Just an Aesthetic Amenity
(from http://www.seattle.gov)
  • Increases property values

  • Cools buildings with shade

  • Cools cities – urban heat island effect

  • Insulates buildings

  • Green roofs increase the life of roof membrane

  • Green walls increase life of building cladding

  • Increases evapo-transpiration due to increase of surface area

  • Increases tree canopy

  • Absorbs carbon, releases oxygen

  • Captures urban dust, helps clean air

  • Muffles sound reflectivity

  • Provides habitat for birds and bees
  • No comments: