Sustainability Factor for the Cost–Benefit Analysis of Building-Integrated Greenery Systems
Building-integrated greenery (BIG) systems, which include green roofs and green facades, are well-established nature-based solutions (NBS) with proven scientific benefits. However, initial costs and economic apprehensions stemming from potential negative outcomes act as adoption barriers. Furthermor...
| Autores: | , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo General de la Arquitectura Técnica de España (CGATE) |
| Repositorio: | RIARTE |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:www.riarte.es:20.500.12251/3818 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12251/3818 https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010157 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Vegetación Cubiertas verdes Fachada verde Clasificación Int. Común Servi. Ecosist.(CICES) Lleida Emisiones de CO2 Huertos urbanos Análisis coste-beneficio 3305.14 Viviendas 3103.01 Producción de Cultivos 3308.01 Control de la Contaminación Atmosférica 3308.04 Ingeniería de la Contaminación |
| Sumario: | Building-integrated greenery (BIG) systems, which include green roofs and green facades, are well-established nature-based solutions (NBS) with proven scientific benefits. However, initial costs and economic apprehensions stemming from potential negative outcomes act as adoption barriers. Furthermore, the lack of standardized indicators and assessment methodologies for evaluating the city-level impacts of BIG systems presents challenges for investors and policy makers. This paper addresses these issues by presenting a comprehensive set of indicators derived from widely accepted frameworks, such as the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) and the NBS impact evaluation handbook. These indicators contribute to the creation of a ‘sustainability factor’, which facilitates cost–benefit analyses for BIG projects using locally sourced data. The practical application of this factor to a 3500 m2 green roof in Lleida, Catalonia (Spain) demonstrates that allocating space for urban horticultural production (i.e., food production), CO2 capture, and creating new recreational areas produces benefits that outweigh the costs by a factor value of nine during the operational phase of the green roof. This cost–benefit analysis provides critical insights for investment decisions and public policies, especially considering the significant benefits at the city level associated with the implementation of BIG systems. |
|---|