Zoning Goes Green

Howard Slatkin
Director of Sustainability and Deputy Director for Strategic Planning
New York City Department of City Planning

Note: This blog was originally published on Urban Green Council blog.

Any building in New York City should be allowed to generate solar energy on its rooftop. Buildings should be rewarded, not penalized, for adding insulation to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions. It’s a great addition to the urban landscape when green roofs and urban farms sprout on top of our buildings.

No-brainers, right? Well, until yesterday, New York City’s zoning inadvertently discouraged or prevented all these green building strategies. But now, our zoning has gone green.