National and Local Regulations and Programs Are Stimulating the Green Roof Industry in Poland

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*Intensive green roof on the Podlasie Opera building in Białystok. Photo: M. Weber-Siwirska*

*Biosolar roof in Cracow. Photo K. Wolańska*

The green roof industry has been developing intensively in Poland for about 20 years, and more dynamically with each passing year. At present, we can observe the development of a trend consisting in local governments supporting the creation of green roofs and living walls in cities, as a way of adapting to climate change impacts. Green roofs have also been included in two national scale funding programmes.

The problems of Polish cities are similar to those in other parts of the world: stormwater flooding and the need to introduce distributed retention (catch rain where it falls), the rising urban heat island, and the need to support biodiversity and improve air purification. In response to these issues, two nationwide programmes have been introduced and, in addition, several local authorities have introduced legislation to support the creation of green roofs and green walls.

*Sedum roof covering multi-apartment* *building in Wrocław. Photo: M. Weber-Siwirska*

On March 2, 2021 (World Water Day) the second edition of the nationwide programme 'Moja woda' (My Water) was launched, under which one can submit applications for funding to build backyard retention facilities. According to the response of the Ministry of Climate and Environment to the petition submitted by the Polish Green Roofs Association, the possibility of subsidizing the construction of green roofs has been explicitly included in the provisions of this second version of the 'Moja Woda' programme.

Thanks to a petition by the Polish Green Roofs Association (submitted by the authors of this article), a sentence relating directly to the retention of rainwater, including snowmelt, in the drainage layer of green roofs was included in the programme. In the first edition of the programme, introduced in 2020, there were no such provisions for green roofs.

Under the 'Moja Woda' programme, each owner of a single-family house can receive a grant of up to PLN 5,000 (about $900 USD) with up to 80 per cent of the costs allocated for the purchase, installation, construction and commissioning of installations allowing for the collection, retention and use of rainwater and snowmelt. The funding programme will continue until 2024.

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The second major national programme that includes funding for green roofs is dedicated to Family Allotment Gardens. Allotment owners can receive support from the European Union. It covers all measures that are intended to make a wider contribution to increasing biodiversity, creating and renewing greenery, reducing air pollution, using rainwater and mitigating the negative effects of climate change. Green roofs have been included among the eligible solutions for funding. Funding amounts to a maximum of 30 per cent of total project costs. The call for applications for the programme started on 30 May 2022.

*The oldest green roof open for public in Poland, Warsaw University Library. Photo: M. Weber-Siwirska*

In addition to the national programs, some local authorities have introduced resolutions through which economic benefits are possible if a green roof or living wall is established. These solutions can be divided into two types: one can receive a property tax reduction or a subsidy. Cities such as Wrocław, Katowice, Toruń, Kalisz, Częstochowa and Opole have so far opted for a solution that introduces (partial or total) tax reduction in exchange for a green roof. The city of Poznań has also just announced the development of such a resolution.

Subsidies for the construction of green roofs have been introduced by local government resolutions in such cities as Dąbrowa Górnicza, Bielsko-Biała and Wrocław.

The city of Wrocław deserves special mention, having introduced both solutions. In the case of property tax reduction, Wrocław has become a forerunner in Poland, as already in 2015, a reduction in property tax was introduced there for buildings with green roofs or living walls. After six years, in 2021, the resolution was amended and its duration was extended to 2027. In addition, independently of the resolution allowing property tax relief, Wrocław also introduced retention provisions, under which it is possible to obtain up to PLN 5,000 ($900 USD) for backyard installations to "catch" rainwater. And this year's novelty is the possibility of obtaining a subsidy for the creation of a retention roof - green or gravel based.

An interesting policy development has also appeared in Warsaw. In 2021, the Warsaw Green Building Standard was developed as a milestone towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bringing the Polish capital closer to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. The document is a set of guidelines to be used by city investors in the planning, construction, modernisation and use of buildings. The proposals put forward are intended to reduce the energy and carbon intensity of city buildings over their entire life cycle. The document is now awaiting implementation.

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The new standard applies to public buildings, both newly constructed and retrofitted, as well as municipal buildings. In the future, the city wants to encourage private investors, such as developers or owners of single-family houses, to apply the standard as well. The Warsaw Green Building Standard also includes green roofs as an important element of sustainable construction.

In addition to the above-described programmes and municipal resolutions, there is a nationwide Ordinance of the Minister of Infrastructure and Construction (dated November 14, 2017, effective from January 1, 2018) which has given new wording to the concept of 'biologically active area'. According to these provisions, a biologically active area is defined as an area with a surface arranged in such a way as to ensure natural vegetation of plants and retention of rainwater, as well as 50 per cent of the surface of terraces and flat roofs with such a surface, and other surfaces, ensuring natural vegetation of plants, with an area of not less than 10 m2 and water on this area. This provision formulated in this way in terms of building law greatly stimulates the use of green roofs in newly designed and constructed buildings.

*Biodiverse green roof on the shopping centre in Lublin. Photo: M. Weber-Siwirska*

Described activities are the realization of the postulates popularized by the Polish Green Roofs Association since its inception. The Association's members organize numerous training courses for various professional groups to raise awareness of the multifaceted benefits of building green roofs and walls in cities. These topics are also increasingly becoming the subject of conferences and debates to which representatives of the Polish Green Roofs Association are invited as experts. With each passing year, there is a growing interest in green roofs and walls also among private residents. This was particularly strong immediately after the lockdown caused by the pandemic. The development of the sector is evidenced by the emergence of new companies on the Polish market, whose range of services now includes the construction of green roofs or walls. The Association plans to carry out further intensive educational activities aimed at further development of the green roof industry and the entire suite of green infrastructure opportunities.

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Katarzyna Wolańska - board member of the Polish Green Roof Association responsible for cooperation with cities and PR. Publicist specialising in green infrastructure. Since 2013 she has been running her own thematic portal: www.ZielonaInfrastruktura.pl

Marta Weber – Siwirska, PhD researcher at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Landscape Architecture. She is also the Chairperson, Polish Green Roof Association and board member of the World Green Infrastructure Network.