Moving forward, commercial developers should consider and implement rooftop pollinator gardens and/or solar panels over shopping centers and parking garages. The initial investment will have great returns for energy usage and surrounding natural crop fields.
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I agree with the pollinator gardens although not so sure about solar panels. While it does make sense to use them to produce power and reduce heat, the technology is not that efficient relative to cost to produce them. At present, we still don’t know what will become of them in the future; they contain hazardous trace metals.
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And what punishment are you planning for those who decline to go along with it?
I don’t know about punishment… Commercial developers would be encouraged to be proactive before ground-breaking - similar to the idea of infrastructure expansion to accommodate additional population to the developed area. It’s an up-front investment that is beneficial to all of us. Why have a plain cement roof when that square footage could be used for good?
I’m unfamiliar with parking garages that have plain cement roofs, it was my impression that the top levels are typically open to the air because it’s not cost effective to add an extra level that’s not doing anything and anyone who wants protection from the elements can just park on a lower level.
Though for things like ‘shopping centers’, the thing is that the things you propose are not going to be maintenance free; if there were any real tangible benefit to what you’re proposing I think people would be doing it already.