Green Roofs May Get Boost In Boston

The movement to build green roofs may get help from Boston's City Council.

City Councilor and mayoral candidate Sam Yoon wants to give a one-year tax break to anyone wishing to build a green roof in Boston.

Rooftop gardens are considered to help air quality, lower energy costs and cool down cities. However, they're costly to install, ranging from $7 to $25 per square foot. Yoon's legislation would give building owners a reduction of $5 per square foot on their property taxes.

Yoon said he got the idea from other cities that have given grants and tax breaks for green roofs. "Chicago's city hall is like, it's like the Hanging Garden of Babylon on top of city hall," Yoon said. "So they're actually promoting it there."

Yoon said Boston's city hall has the perfect flat roof and lots of space for its own garden.