Abstract
Green infrastructure, such as green roofs/walls, plays a key role in addressing urban problems. Despite the well-established sustainable mentality, aspects such as aesthetics, recreation, and welfare are still the main drivers for undertaking such investments. Several studies have focused on proving the benefits of green infrastructure, namely, thermal insulation, air quality, and others. However, significant soft benefits have not yet been properly addressed. It is, therefore, important to understand how much citizens are willing to invest in those mitigating measures and list the aspects that influence that value. This study suggests a methodology based on stated preferences to evaluate the willingness-to-pay of owner/tenants for green roofs/walls in residential buildings and determine the influence of multiple factors. Results show that consumers reveal higher willingness-to-pay for accessible green roofs. Knowledge of benefits and the accessibility of green roofs have a great impact on the willingness-to-pay. Recreation benefit is at the forefront of individuals’ concerns; even more than aesthetics.
Highlights
The intense process of urbanization shows no signs of slowing or even breaking, especially with an increasing number of people moving to the cities
The results reveal a consensus of consumers, of wchoicnhsuTtmhheeermds,iasotjfroiwrbiuhtytiicoihnstwhoefilmltihnaegjoWrtiotTyiPnisviwessitallpiunppgrottoxoim5in%avteefslotyrugnproetromen5a%lr.ofToohfrsegarrneeedsnuglrtroseoerfsnevawenadallglasr.eceOonnnsweanavlsleusr.saOgonef, the average, the WTP is lower for green walls than for green roofs
Several economic evaluations have been carried out to assess the real value of green roofs and walls and promote their widespread use across the world
Summary
The intense process of urbanization shows no signs of slowing or even breaking, especially with an increasing number of people moving to the cities. Demographic projections keep growing, and 67% of the world population is expected to be living in urban centers by 2050 [1] This is heading for reduction of green spaces, resource scarcity, climate change, loss of biodiversity, flood risk, urban heat island effect, air and water pollution, among other environmental problems [2]. Green infrastructure has been recognised to tackle and lessen urban impacts Within this framework, green roofs and green walls offer major improvements in buildings performance, e.g., less energy-consuming because of thermal insulation [3], increase in photovoltaics panels efficiency [4], and others. Green roofs and green walls offer major improvements in buildings performance, e.g., less energy-consuming because of thermal insulation [3], increase in photovoltaics panels efficiency [4], and others They provide several ecosystem services at a city scale [5]. Among other socio and environmental benefits such as habitats creation and biodiversity preservation [9], the widespread installation of green infrastructure in the urban environment reduces the outdoor noise levels and mitigates the temperature, i.e., the urban heat island effect [10]
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