Last week the French Parliament approved a law requiring all new buildings in commercial zones to be partially covered in plants or solar panels. In a bid to make France more eco-friendly, all new buildings in commercial zones across the country must comply with new environmental legislation.

The law will sanction business to either partially cover any roof space with plants or install solar panels to generate electricity. Green roofs are becoming an increasingly popular feature of city infrastructure around the world. This is because they:

• Can absorb 50-80% of annual rainfall
• Create habitats for biodiversity
• Are aesthetically pleasing
• Transform city roofs into useable amenities, such as parks, vegetable gardens or office recreation areas
• Reduce indoor temperatures and the urban heat island effect

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