Climate-Resilient Housing

The climate is changing. Heat, drought, and extreme rainstorms are becoming more common. You can adapt your home and garden to these changes by making your garden greener (using fewer pavers), installing a green roof, or collecting rainwater.

The benefits of more greenery (planting):

  • Greenery absorbs rainwater;
  • Greenery provides shade and cooling during increasingly hot summers;
  • Greenery is good for insects, birds, and other animals;
  • Greenery helps keep the air cleaner and reduces ambient noise;
  • Greenery reduces stress and is good for your health.

There is a wealth of information available to help you make your garden greener and easier to maintain. You really don't need to have a green thumb or a lot of time or money to garden.

Green Roof

A green roof keeps your home cool in the summer and absorbs rainwater. If you want to create a rooftop garden, have your roof structure inspected to ensure it can support the weight. A roof with low-growing plants (a sedum roof) weighs less and requires little maintenance. You can find more information, advice, and practical tips on the Milieucentraal website at.

Green garden, patio, or balcony

What’s it like in your garden, on your patio, or on your balcony? Does water pool there after a heavy rain? Does it get too hot on a summer day because the sun shines on your garden all day long? By replacing some of the pavers with greenery, you give the water room to drain away after a heavy rainstorm. You can also collect rainwater in a rain barrel or an underground storage system. For more tips, visit the websites of Milieucentraal ( ) and Steenbreek( ).

Green Spaces in Your Neighborhood

Could the green spaces in your neighborhood use a little color? Then adopt a small public green space. You can also plant and maintain the ground around a tree on your street by adopting a tree pit. It’s a fun activity to do with a few neighbors. You can also create a facade garden. You’re allowed to remove one and a half tiles along the facade and plant flowers there.