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Image of an Eco-Roof
Photo courtesy of Flynn Canada Ltd.

Eco-Roof Incentive Program

Toronto’s Eco-Roof Incentive Program is designed to promote the use of green and cool roofs on Toronto’s commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, and to help Toronto’s business community take action on climate change.

The environmental benefits of eco-roofs are many. Green and cool roofs help reduce urban heat and associated energy use, which is a particular concern as global temperatures rise. Green roofs also help manage stormwater run-off (reducing the pollutants that enter our waterways), enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and beautify our city.

The Eco-Roof Incentive Program complements the City’s Green Roof Bylaw and is a key element of the City’s Climate Change Action Plan, an aggressive environmental framework aimed at reducing Toronto’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

In 2009, the City approved 49 applications for funding, totalling a combined eco-roof area of more than 66,000 square metres.

Criteria and guidelines for the Eco-Roof Incentive Program are currently under review, pending Council approval. Applications for the spring round will be accepted, online, starting March 1, 2010.

WHAT IS AN ECO-ROOF?

An “eco-roof” may be either a “green roof” that supports vegetation, or a “cool roof” that reflects the sun’s thermal energy.

  • A “Green Roof” is a roof surface that supports the growth of vegetation over a substantial portion of its area for the purpose of water or energy conservation. It is comprised of a waterproofing membrane, drainage layer, organic growing medium (soil) and vegetation. For more information on green roofs, visit www.toronto.ca/greenroofs and www.greenroofs.org
  • A “Cool Roof” is a roofing system with high solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity to reduce the urban heat island effect. It may be either a coating applied over an existing roof system or a new single-ply waterproofing membrane. For more general information on cool roofs, visit www.coolroofs.org/HomeandBuildingOwnersInfo.html

While all types of sustainable roofs are encouraged, the City of Toronto’s Eco-Roof Incentive Program does not apply to alternative green technologies such as photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels or rainwater harvesting equipment. For more information on photo voltaic or solar thermal technologies and incentives, contact Toronto’s Energy Efficiency Office. For more information on rainwater harvesting, contact Toronto Water.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Program guidelines for the spring 2010 round of funding are currently under review, pending Council approval.
  1. The Eco-Roof Incentive Program provides funds for green or cool roof retrofit projects on existing commercial, industrial and institutional buildings.
  2. For 2010, the program will also provide funding for green and cool roofs on new industrial building with a Gross Floor Area of 10,000 m2 (107,600 sq ft) or greater
  3. Eligible green roof projects will receive $50 / square metre up to a maximum of $100,000. Eligible cool roof projects will receive $2 - 5 / square metre up to $50,000.
  4. Funding recipients will be selected based on the Eligibility Criteria.
  5. Successful applicants will be required to sign a funding agreement with the City that specifies the following:
    1. The Applicant shall assume all financial and other responsibility for all work related to installation, performance, maintenance, repair and use of the Eco-Roof including, without limitation, the selection of the installers (where applicable), the proper installation of the roof and any consequence arising from the installation of the roof and the compliance with all Laws in respect to such work.
    2. The City will issue payment upon completion of the project provided that:
      1. a complete and compliant Program application has been approved.
      2. the installation is fully completed in accordance with all terms and conditions of this Program.
      3. a permit has been obtained from the Chief Building Official in accordance with the requirements of the Green Roof Bylaw (for Green Roofs only).
      4. documentation provided by the manufacturer or materials supplier has been received by the City verifying the installed Eco-Roof has been completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Program, along with accompanying photographs of said Eco-Roof; OR an inspection by the City or its agent verifying the installed Eco-Roof has been completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Program.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Eligibility criteria for the spring 2010 round of funding are currently under review, pending Council approval.
  1. All commercial, industrial and institutional buildings located in the City of Toronto are eligible.
  2. Priority will be given in the selection process to buildings located in the City’s designated “employment districts” (PDF) since these are areas where the urban heat island issue is of particular concern.
  3. “Green Roof” means an extension of an above grade roof, built on top of a human-made structure, that allows vegetation to grow in a growing medium and which is designed and maintained in accordance with the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard (Toronto BY-law 583-2009). To be eligible for the Eco-Roof Incentive Program, a Green Roof must meet the following specifications:
    1. Have a continuous coverage of growing media measuring at least 10% of the ground floor area of the building for industrial buildings, and at least 20% for commercial and institutional buildings.
    2. Be designed and constructed in conformance with the requirements of the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard.
  4. “Cool Roof” means a roofing system with high solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity to reduce the urban heat island effect and can be either a coating applied over an existing roof system or a new waterproofing membrane that meets the performance specifications outlined below. To be eligible for the Eco-Roof Incentive Program, a Cool Roof must meet the following specifications:
    1. Cover 100% of the roof area of the building, excluding mechanical equipment or other environmental technologies.
    2. Be comprised of a roof material or coating system that:
      1. has a minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) rating of 78 for low sloped roofs. Low sloped roofs have a surface slope less than 16.7% (9.5 degrees).
      2. has a minimum SRI of 29 for steep slope roofs. Steep sloped roofs have a surface slope greater than 16.7% (9.5 degrees) and less than 41.7% (22.6 degrees).
      3. has an emissivity greater than 0.9 and an initial solar reflectance of 0.65 (equivalent to an SRI of 78).
      4. is asbestos and mercury-free and emits zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone depleting substances (ODSs).

APPLICATION PROCESS / KEY DATES

  1. Review the Eco-Roof Program Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria.
  2. Apply online (will be available March 1, 2010).
  3. Submit your application for either the fall or spring session.
    Note: Spring projects must be completed by December 31, 2010. Fall projects must be completed by May 31, 2011**.

Spring Session
Application Steps Deadlines
Application process open March 1, 2010
Application deadline April 1, 2010
Committee decision April 16, 2010

**Fall 2010 dates to be posted shortly.

  1. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the City of Toronto’s Environment Office in advance of their application to discuss their proposals (416-397-0311).
  2. In addition to the Eco-Roof Application Form, Green Roof applicants must also submit the following supporting documentation:
    1. Detailed plans of the proposal showing percentage coverage, plant material and type of growing medium and construction details.
    2. A copy of the maintenance plan as required in the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard.
  3. In addition to the Eco-Roof Application Form, Cool Roof applicants must also submit the following supporting documentation:
    1. Detailed plans of the proposal showing percentage coverage, cool roof materials and manufacturer documentation and construction details.
    2. A 5 year maintenance plan and contract or equivalent assurance that includes:
      1. an annual roof condition assessment and resulting maintenance; all subsequent roof maintenance must meet the cool roof specifications as outlined in the terms and conditions.
      2. at minimum, an annual roof cleaning.
      3. if applicable, re-coating of cool roof spray as per the life expectancy of the material or site conditions.
      4. the inclusion of all maintenance recommendations provided by the manufacturer or materials supplier.
  4. The City reserves the right to request additional supporting documentation demonstrating that the materials meet the above specifications.
  5. Compliance with Laws - All applicants shall comply with all applicable laws, by-laws, regulations, orders, directives, requirements and policies of the federal, provincial and municipal governments, including the City, and all applicable court orders, judgments and declarations of a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, including, without limitation, those laws and regulations applying to building methods and health and safety (collectively referred to as “Laws”).
  6. Applications will be reviewed by an independent Review Committee, comprised of staff from the Toronto Environment Office, City Planning and Toronto Building. Toronto Water staff will also assist with the review of green roof applications. Eligible projects will be evaluated on the basis of:
    1. Completeness of the application
    2. The scale and expected environmental benefits of the project
    3. The visibility and opportunities for public education created by the project
    4. The location of the project. Priority will be given to applications in a designated employment areas
  7. Notwithstanding the above application deadlines, if the City determines that it has received a sufficient number of acceptable applications to achieve the objectives of the Program, it may cease to accept further applications.
  8. Notwithstanding the above application deadlines, if the City determines that it has received an insufficient number of acceptable applications to achieve the objectives of the Program, City Council may suspend the program or further extend the application deadline date at its discretion.
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