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Green Roof Cost-Benefit Analysis: Special Emphasis on Scenic Benefits

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  • Nurmi, Väinö
  • Votsis, Athanasios
  • Perrels, Adriaan
  • Lehvävirta, Susanna

Abstract

This article presents a green roof cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Green roofs are roofs which are partially or completely covered by vegetation. We discuss the benefits and costs of light self-sustaining vegetated roofs. The benefits of the ecosystem services (ES) provided by green roofs can be classified into private and public benefits. We apply the selected valuation methods first in Helsinki, Finland and subsequently explain how results can be transferred to other urban locations. Past research and this study show that private benefits are usually not high enough to justify the expensive investment for a private decision maker. However, when the public benefits are added to the private benefits, social benefits are higher than the costs of green roofs in most cases. Past research quantified most types of the benefits, excluding scenic and biodiversity benefits. Scenic benefits denote the intangible benefits that people derive from the presence of green space, including at least aesthetic and psychological ones. In this article, special emphasis is placed on the valuation of the scenic benefits; these are among the most challenging benefits to valuate in monetary terms. We employ hedonic pricing theory, implemented via spatial regression models, and green roof implementation scenarios in order to estimate the aggregate willingness to pay for a “unit†of green roof. The results show that the scenic benefits can be a significant attribute in cost-benefit calculations. Yet, the amount of benefits strongly depends on the green roof design.

Suggested Citation

  • Nurmi, Väinö & Votsis, Athanasios & Perrels, Adriaan & Lehvävirta, Susanna, 2016. "Green Roof Cost-Benefit Analysis: Special Emphasis on Scenic Benefits," Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(3), pages 488-522, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jbcoan:v:7:y:2016:i:03:p:488-522_00
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Deely, John & Hynes, Stephen, 2020. "Preferences for Blue-Green or Grey Infrastructure to Reduce Flood Risk: A Choice Experiment," Working Papers 309506, National University of Ireland, Galway, Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit.
    2. Väinö Nurmi & Karoliina Pilli-Sihvola & Hilppa Gregow & Adriaan Perrels, 2019. "Overadaptation to Climate Change? The Case of the 2013 Finnish Electricity Market Act," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 161-190, July.
    3. Johnson, Daniel & Geisendorf, Sylvie, 2019. "Are Neighborhood-level SUDS Worth it? An Assessment of the Economic Value of Sustainable Urban Drainage System Scenarios Using Cost-Benefit Analyses," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 194-205.
    4. Teotónio, Inês & Oliveira Cruz, Carlos & Matos Silva, Cristina & Lopes, Rodrigo Ferreira Reis, 2023. "Bridging CBA and MCA for evaluating green infrastructure: Proposal of a new evaluation model (MAGICA)," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    5. Sojung Kim & Burchan Aydin & Sumin Kim, 2021. "Simulation Modeling of a Photovoltaic-Green Roof System for Energy Cost Reduction of a Building: Texas Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-13, September.
    6. Eunha Shin & Heungsoon Kim, 2019. "Benefit–Cost Analysis of Green Roof Initiative Projects: The Case of Jung-gu, Seoul," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Inês Teotónio & Carlos Oliveira Cruz & Cristina Matos Silva & José Morais, 2020. "Investing in Sustainable Built Environments: The Willingness to Pay for Green Roofs and Green Walls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, April.
    8. Jan Vanstockem & Liesbet Vranken & Brent Bleys & Ben Somers & Martin Hermy, 2018. "Do Looks Matter? A Case Study on Extensive Green Roofs Using Discrete Choice Experiments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, January.

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