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ONE LATE-SPRING MORNING in New York, several visitors gathered in the sunshine, admiring the site of butterflies flitting through flower blossoms and birds resting on a nearby tree.
"It was like a day in the park," recalls Caroline Harris, a lawyer at Troutman Sanders.
The "park" was actually eight stories up, on the roof of 641 Sixth Ave.
"It makes it easy to imagine the entire city with these parks in the sky," says Ms. Harris, whose firm works pro bono for Storm Water Infrastructure Matters, a coalition devoted to ensuring swimmable waters around the city through sustainable storm water management practices. Green roofs are touted for their ability to mitigate storm water runoff which can overload sewage systems.
Tax savings
MS. HARRIS' VISION could soon start becoming a reality, as state lawmakers have approved a bill to give tax breaks to building owners who install "green roofs" - essentially rooftop gardens.
For landlords, the roofs' biggest advantage is that they can substantially lower energy costs - as much as 25% in some cases.
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