Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires adoption of certain rules and regulations by DCA and DEP concerning blue roofs and green roofs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning blue roofs and green roofs and supplementing P.L.1981, c.32 (C.40:55D-93 et seq.) and P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Within one year after the date of enactment of this act, the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall adopt a subcode, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), setting forth building standards for the installation of a blue roof or green roof. The subcode shall not preclude the use of energy conservation, energy efficiency, or renewable energy technologies or other components of green building, provided that the technologies and other components of green building do not interfere with the functions of the blue roof or green roof. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall, upon adoption of the subcode, incorporate the building standards for the installation of a blue roof or green roof as part of the State Uniform Construction Code.
b. As used in this section:
"Blue roof" means a roof constructed with mechanical controls that drain stormwater, including but not limited to gravel beds, perforated pipes, rooftop detention systems, or weirs, designed to improve stormwater management.
"Green building" means those building construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and their occupants and may consider, but need not be limited to five broad areas: sustainable site planning; safeguarding water and water efficiency; energy efficiency and renewable energy; conservation of materials and resources; and indoor environmental quality.
"Green roof" means a roof that includes, among other things, a growth medium and a vegetation layer of drought resistant and hardy plant species, designed to improve stormwater management.
2. a. Any person who installs or operates a blue roof or green roof shall comply with the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto.
b. A storm water management planning agency shall permit the installation and operation of a blue roof or green roof that complies with the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and shall incorporate requirements related to the use of a blue roof or green roof into any adopted storm water management plan or storm water management ordinance.
c. Within one year after the date of enactment of this act, the Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to include the consideration of any planned or operational blue roof or green roof in the calculation of runoff volume and rate control, groundwater infiltration, water quality, and nonstructural storm water management strategies.
d. As used in this section:
"Blue roof" means the same as the term is defined pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Green roof" means the same as the term is defined pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Storm water management planning agency" means a public body authorized by law to prepare storm water management plans.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the adoption of certain rules and regulations by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as it relates to blue roofs and green roofs.
Within one year after the date of enactment of this bill into law, the DCA, in consultation with the DEP, would adopt a subcode setting forth building standards for the installation of a blue roof or green roof. The subcode would not preclude the use of energy conservation, energy efficiency, or renewable energy technologies or other components of green building, provided that the technologies and other components of green building do not interfere with the functions of the blue roof or green roof. Upon adoption of the subcode, the Commissioner of Community Affairs would incorporate the building standards for the installation of a blue roof or green roof as part of the State Uniform Construction Code.
A storm water management planning agency would be required to permit the installation and operation of a blue roof or green roof that complies with the provisions of this bill and any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and would incorporate requirements related to the use of a blue roof or green roof into any adopted storm water management plan or storm water management ordinance. Within one year after the date of enactment of this bill into law, the DEP would adopt rules and regulations to include the consideration of any planned or operational blue roof or green roof in the calculation of runoff volume and rate control, groundwater infiltration, water quality, and nonstructural storm water management strategies.
The bill defines a "blue roof" as a roof constructed with mechanical controls that drain stormwater, including but not limited to gravel beds, perforated pipes, rooftop detention systems, or weirs, designed to improve stormwater management. A "green roof" is defined as a roof that includes, among other things, a growth medium and a vegetation layer of drought resistant and hardy plant species, designed to improve stormwater management.