Chicago Mayor Richard Daley wants to pay building owners an incentive to create "green roofs" by planting gardens on top of their buildings.
The plan, scheduled for introduction during Wednesday's Chicago City Council meting, is designed to draw attention to the benefits of green roofs, Connie Buscemi, a city spokeswoman told The Chicago Tribune.
The plan, if approved, would match each building owner's rooftop investments up to $100,000.
Supporters of the green-roof plan say the benefits include the collection of rainwater that otherwise flows into the city sewer system and the absorption of summer heat, thereby cooling surrounding areas and reducing air conditioning costs.
The roof of Chicago City Hall became green in 2001, a project that resulted in a substantial reducing of the rooftop temperature, Buscemi told the newspaper.
More than 200 buildings have since become green, with Chicago now having more green roofs than any other U.S. city, the Tribune said.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
Related stories:
Cincinnati wants to lead green roof movement in US
(AP) -- Officials want to see more green roofs on building tops in Cincinnati. The City Council on Wednesday became the first in Ohio with a plan to channel grants and loans to residents and businesses to replace tar and shingles with vegetation.
Molecular mechanism provides intra-cellular traffic signal
City planners could learn a lesson or two from tiny cells on how to maximize traffic flow. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have found that intra-cellular trafficking is tightly coordinated for maximum flow through cellular compartments -- much as vehicles on a crowded road are allowed to pass quickly through a succession of green traffic lights.
U.S. cities rated for 'sustainability'
SustainLane has issued its 2006 ranking of U.S. cities across 12 major "sustainability" categories, with West Coast cities taking the top spots.
The search for 'green' gold in the Amazon rain forest
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a hunt for plants in the Amazon rain forest that have potential to be used for sustainable light-weight construction beams, electronic cases or other high-performance materials, Cornell fiber science professors Anil Netravali and Juan Hinestroza are forging new collaborations with researchers in Brazil.
Researchers find potentially toxic substance present in Chicago air
Although the industrial compounds known as polychlorinated biphenols or PCBs have been found in previous air samples collected in the city of Chicago, a University of Iowa researcher says that a new study of Chicago air sampled between November 2006 and November 2007 found PCB11, a byproduct of the manufacture of paint pigments and a potentially toxic substance, present throughout the city.
Western initiative proposes emissions-trading plan
(AP) -- Seven western states and four Canadian provinces on Tuesday proposed a comprehensive program to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, manufacturers and vehicles.
More parents ponder cancer gene tests for kids
(AP) -- Women are going for breast cancer gene testing in record numbers, forcing more parents to face a tough question: Should we test the kids? About 100,000 tests for breast cancer gene mutations were done last year, double the number in 2005. The trend may grow even more because of widening insurance coverage and a new law banning genetic discrimination.
UCLA study of satellite imagery casts doubt on surge's success in Baghdad
By tracking the amount of light emitted by Baghdad neighborhoods at night, a team of UCLA geographers has uncovered fresh evidence that last year's U.S. troop surge in Iraq may not have been as effective at improving security as some U.S. officials have maintained.