We are very happy to inform you that our member city Bielsko-Biała, which had been recently involved actively in the GRAD project, by means of a resolution of the City Council of 21 December 2021 adopted the “Green Roofs for the City of Bielsko-Biała Programme”, funding the construction of green roofs and walls.

The aim of the GRAD project was to develop, in 8 Polish cities: Bielsko-Biała, Bydgoszcz, Gdynia, Lublin, Kalisz, Kraków, Warsaw and Wrocław model strategies for the development of green roofs using the experience of the City of Hamburg. Since April 2014 Hamburg has had and implemented its own strategy on simulating the establishment of green roofs in the city.

Funding introduced by the City of Bielsko-Biała is adressed to private investors, communities implementing green roof both voluntarily and in connection with legal requirements of local spatial development plans or decisions on planning permission. More details about the funding may be found  in a short informational video,  in which Danuta Przybyło – the head of Department of Environmental Protecion and Energy in Bielsko-Biała explains, who can receive the funding and in what amount.

Promoting green roofs will bring many benefits to the city, such as improving air quality, reducing the urban heat island phenomenon, lowering temperatures, increasing the attractiveness of urban space (especially in the city centre) and increasing biodiversity. In addition, a green roof system will protect the buildings facades and contribute to saving energy used for heating