The Rooftop Beekeeping Buzz: Why Buildings Are Using Bees To Go Greener
Sourced from Facility Executive
In 2015, Beacon Capital Partners installed honey beehives on the roofs of most of its buildings nationwide. In doing so, Beacon became one of the first and largest institutional property owners to introduce a large-scale beekeeping program in the United States.
Urban corporate beekeeping – companies hosting beehives on city rooftops or grounds — is a growing trend on office buildings, apartment complexes, and corporate campuses. As recently as 10 years ago, many U.S. cities prohibited beekeeping based on erroneous information about bees. In 2010, after New York City lifted its beekeeping ban, other cities followed suit. Today, hundreds of companies in cities across the U.S. are hosting beehives on their grounds and rooftops.
Now, owners and developers are rethinking their urban rooftops to do more with this typically underutilized real estate, from green roofs to rooftop solar and beyond. Rooftop beehives are a cost effective way to bring biodiversity to a building. It’s worth noting that research has revealed that bees thrive in urban areas, more so than in suburban or rural locations. In light of this, corporate urban rooftops have huge potential to be crucial sites of pollinator support.
For companies taking that step, managed beekeeping service providers are a key partner for facilities executives who want to bring honey beehives to their property. A strong relationship with a beekeeping service can create a thriving “pollinator program” that goes far beyond a box of bees on the roof.
From the Living Architecture Monitor
