Those buying New York property can often get incentives to install green roofs, it has been reported.

Such installations, which provide environmental benefits such as absorbing water to reduce storm run-off and improving insulation, can be fitted with the help of tax incentives and other help in a number of American cities, the Wall Street Journal reports.

This includes New York property, where owners of buildings who cover at least half of their roof in greenery can get tax credits worth up to $100,000 (£57,000).

Also, while putting such a roof in place may cost between 30 per cent and 50 per cent more than a normal roof, senior resident fellow for sustainable development at Washington’s Urban Land Institute Ed McMahon said this would pay for itself in five years.

A study by Columbia University has found that the energy demands of a building can be reduced by up to 15 per cent because of the insulation capacity of green roofs.

Other US cities announcing help and incentives for green roofers include Cincinnati, which said last week it would provide homeowners with grants and loans to encourage this.

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