Water, Energy, and Rooftops: Integrating Green Roof Systems into Building Policies in the Arab Region

Abstract

Recent research claim that adopting green roof systems in building sectors in the Arab region is becoming necessary because of the current environmental, social, and economical challenges. Some Arab countries have already developed green building rating systems and recognized the importance of green roofs; however, they still do not fully benefit from such systems owing to limited supporting policies and financial incentives. The purpose of this article is to contribute to a better understanding of the potential role of green roof systems in effective planning and moving towards sustainable urban development in the Arab region. We argue that integrating green roof systems within governmental policies and green building strategies would potentially help in saving energy, enhancing water management, and coping with climate change. This paper presents a conceptual framework to help governments in the Arab region to adopt green roofs in their environmental policies. To present this framework; first, we studied the current international policies that adopt green roof systems and practices, then proposed a conceptual framework for adopting green roof systems in the Arab region. Second, we have chosen Cairo, Egypt, and Amman, Jordan from the Arab region to demonstrate the applicability of this framework at city level while considering the national and local context. This demonstration provides a novel perspective for the benefits of green roof systems in energy savings and water management in the Arab region.