Sustainability Factor for the Cost–Benefit Analysis of Building-Integrated Greenery Systems
| dc.contributor.author | Reyes, Marcelo | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pérez Luque, Gabriel | |
| dc.contributor.author | Coma Arpón, Julià | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-01-18T09:51:01Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-01-18T09:51:01Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Building-integrated greenery (BIG) systems, which include green roofs and green facades, are well-established nature-based solutions (NBS) with proven scientific benefits. However, initial costs and economic apprehensions stemming from potential negative outcomes act as adoption barriers. Furthermore, the lack of standardized indicators and assessment methodologies for evaluating the city-level impacts of BIG systems presents challenges for investors and policy makers. This paper addresses these issues by presenting a comprehensive set of indicators derived from widely accepted frameworks, such as the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) and the NBS impact evaluation handbook. These indicators contribute to the creation of a ‘sustainability factor’, which facilitates cost–benefit analyses for BIG projects using locally sourced data. The practical application of this factor to a 3500 m2 green roof in Lleida, Catalonia (Spain) demonstrates that allocating space for urban horticultural production (i.e., food production), CO2 capture, and creating new recreational areas produces benefits that outweigh the costs by a factor value of nine during the operational phase of the green roof. This cost–benefit analysis provides critical insights for investment decisions and public policies, especially considering the significant benefits at the city level associated with the implementation of BIG systems. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The author Julià Coma is a Serra Húnter Fellow. This research has been partially funded by the projects “Verd de proximitat BCN: Pla de monitoratge I avaluació del funcionament I funcionament i l’impacte de les cobertes i façanes verdes a la ciutat de Barcelona” (21S09258-00) funded by the Barcelona City Council and the ’La Caixa’ Foundation within the 2021 Pla Barcelona Ciència, and “Desarrollo de cubiertas verdes avanzadas e inteligentes de acuerdo a criterios de xerofilia” (TED2021-129882B-I00) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Spanish Government. | |
| dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010157 | |
| dc.identifier.idgrec | 034428 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2071-1050 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repositori.udl.cat/handle/10459.1/464880 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher | MDPI | |
| dc.relation | info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/TED2021-129882B-I00/ES/ | |
| dc.relation.isformatof | Reproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010157 | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, núm. 1, 157 | |
| dc.rights | cc-by (c) Marcelo Reyes, Gabriel Pérez, Julià Coma, 2024 | |
| dc.rights | Attribution 4.0 International | * |
| dc.rights.accessRights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess | |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | * |
| dc.subject | Nature-based solutions | |
| dc.subject | Green roofs | |
| dc.subject | Green facades | |
| dc.subject | Cost–benefit ratio | |
| dc.subject | Sustainability | |
| dc.title | Sustainability Factor for the Cost–Benefit Analysis of Building-Integrated Greenery Systems | |
| dc.type | info:eu-repo/semantics/article | |
| dc.type.version | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |