Green Cities Reaching for the Skies
Green infrastructure can be implemented at the building-scale to restore and enhance the natural environment in urban settings while providing multiple co-benefits.
Green roofs and vertical walls provide a whole host environmental, economic, and social benefits. For instance, green roofs and walls reduce stormwater runoff, reduce building energy usage, improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, reduce the urban heat island effect, create green jobs, provide habitat, and provide educational opportunities.
Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme 2.0
To increase greenery in Singapore, the National Parks Board has developed the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme (SGIS 2.0) that will fund up to 50% of the installation costs of rooftop greenery and vertical greenery. The SGIS was first introduced in 2009 and has since assisted in greening more than 110 existing buildings across the city-state by retrofitting them with extensive green roofs, edible gardens, recreational rooftop gardens, and lush green walls.
SGIS 2.0 is an enhanced version of the original scheme and features a revised maximum cap for both rooftop greenery and vertical greenery. The scheme aims to:
- Encourage the installation of skyrise greenery on existing buildings across the city
- Create a distinctive image of the city in the tropical climate through extensive greenery adorning building facades and skyrise levels
- Maximise environmental benefits including mitigating the urban heat effect and improving air quality
Eligibility and funding
All buildings must be physically existing and occupied at the time of the application with residential and non-residential buildings able to apply for funding under two categories:
- Rooftop greenery: Eligible applicants will receive 50% of installation costs for rooftop greenery. The reimbursement is capped at $200 per square metre of planted area within the green roof
- Vertical greenery: Eligible applications will receive 50% of installation costs for green walls or vertical greenery. The reimbursement is capped at $500 per square metre of green coverage within the installation. Vertical greenery installations on ground level and elevated level are eligible
The take-out
Cities can incentivise the retrofit of existing buildings to green the skyline.
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